Grid / Transmission Buildout

Where it stands

Each step compares the last four complete quarters with the two years before. A theme usually moves left to right: companies push, Congress and the White House act, the government buys, and markets respond.

1. 1. Companies pushing
   Steady

   135 companies and groups lobbied on it in Q2 2026, against 128 a year earlier.

2. 2. Congress
   Rising

   9 bills introduced and 0 became law in the last four quarters, against 3 and 0 a year before that.

3. 3. White House and agencies
   Falling

   1 proposed rule, 0 final rules and 0 presidential actions in the last four quarters, against 5 a year before that.

4. 4. Government buying
   Steady

   200 purchase plans and award notices in the last four quarters, against 239 a year before that (records start October 2023).

5. 5. Markets
   Falling

   0 insider purchases in the theme's companies in the last four quarters, against 5 a year before that. Their stocks: +56% over the same year, against +14% for the S&P 500. Among the 50 largest holdings of the funds we track, these stocks were worth $20.7B at the end of Q1 2026, against $6.9B a year earlier; the figure moves with prices and with how many funds rank them that high.

The setup

The US government is making a significant, coordinated push to modernize and expand the national electric grid, with a particular focus on integrating renewable energy and enhancing resilience. This effort is spearheaded by the Department of Energy, backed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and reinforced by a Presidential Determination invoking the Defense Production Act to secure domestic supply chains for grid components.

How this developed

1. Oct 16, 2024DoD seeks small businesses for Ford Class CVN infrastructure upgrades at Naval Base Coronado, CA, including electrical infrastructure.Procurement notice
2. Oct 23, 2024DoD seeks contractors for converting overhead powerlines to underground at an unspecified Army location.Procurement notice
3. Oct 30, 2024US Army Corps of Engineers seeks contractors for a new high-voltage electrical primary substation at Redstone Arsenal, AL.Procurement notice
4. May 22, 2025DOE's Western-Upper Great Plains Region seeks contractors for facility maintenance and repair, including a seed project for VT Hanlon Substation, Stage 02, SD.Procurement notice
5. Apr 20, 2026Presidential Memorandum invokes DPA Section 303 to expand domestic capacity for grid infrastructure, equipment, and supply chains.Executive action
6. Sep 24, 2026DOE awards $2.3B to Minnesota Department of Commerce for a transmission study and portfolio to accelerate interconnection for 28 GW of new generation across seven Midwest states.Federal contract
7. Sep 29, 2026DOE awards $4.3B for the North Plains Connector Interregional Innovation project, a major HVDC transmission line connecting western and midwestern grids.Federal contract
8. Oct 12, 2026DLA Weapons Support issues a solicitation for 6 power transformers (NSN 5950011954490).Procurement notice

The full story, year by year

* Year to date. Lobbying is the most companies and groups naming the theme in any one quarter. Insider buys are officer and director open-market purchases in PWR, MYRG, POWL, AZZ, IESC. Fund holdings are the value of these companies among the top 50 positions of the funds whose 13F filings we track, at the latest quarter of each year. Stock returns are an equal-weight basket of the same companies with prices on file, split-adjusted, without dividends, against the S&P 500 over the same quarters.

• Lobbying before 2025 is still loading for this theme, so earlier years undercount.
• Lobbying reports for Q3 2026 are still being filed, so the comparison uses Q2 2026.

Why it matters

• The Presidential Memorandum (E9) invokes the Defense Production Act, signaling that grid infrastructure and its supply chain are now considered critical to national defense, allowing for expedited federal action and funding.
• The Department of Energy has committed $6.6 billion in grants (E10, E11) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for large-scale grid modernization, including a major HVDC transmission line and studies to integrate 28 GW of renewable energy.
• Multiple DoD agencies are actively seeking contractors for electrical infrastructure upgrades, substation construction, and powerline conversions (E1, E2, E3, E5), indicating a broad, agency-wide push to improve energy resilience at military installations.
• The DLA's solicitations for power transformers (E13) and the DPA invocation (E9) highlight a federal focus on securing and expanding the domestic supply chain for critical grid components, potentially creating new opportunities for manufacturers.

Companies exposed to this theme

The record · 8 items, oldest first

• Oct 16, 2024Procurement noticeP-1073 FORD CLASS CVN INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES, PIER LIMA NAVAL BASE CORONADO, CA
• Oct 23, 2024Procurement noticeConversion of Overhead (OH) to Underground (UG) Powerlines
• Oct 30, 2024Procurement noticeSubstation (Primary 4), Redstone Arsenal, AL
• May 22, 2025Procurement noticeY--Construction Facility Maintenance and Repair IDIQ
• Apr 20, 2026Executive actionPresidential Memorandum: Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Grid Infrastructure, Equipment, and Supply Chain Capacity
• Sep 24, 2026Federal contractDEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MINNESOTA: $2.3B Department of Energy Grant
• Sep 29, 2026Federal contractDEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MONTANA: $4.3B Department of Energy Grant
• Oct 12, 2026Procurement notice59--TRANSFORMER,POWER

Some keyword matches were judged unrelated to this theme and are excluded from the record above.

How this story evolved

• Oct 14, 2026, 5:14 AM ETreal48 recordslatest record Oct 6, 2026

  DOE commits $6.7B in grants for grid modernization and transmission, following DPA invocation for supply chain capacity.

  The US government is making a significant, multi-billion dollar push to modernize and expand the national electric grid, with a particular focus on transmission infrastructure and supply chain resilience. This effort is being driven by the Department of Energy through large grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and reinforced by a Presidential Determination invoking the Defense Production Act.

• Oct 13, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal48 recordslatest record Oct 6, 2026

  DOE commits $6.7B in grants for grid modernization and transmission, following DPA invocation for supply chain capacity.

  The US government is making a significant, multi-billion dollar push to modernize and expand the national electric grid, with a particular focus on transmission infrastructure and supply chain resilience. This effort is being driven by the Department of Energy through large grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and reinforced by a Presidential Determination invoking the Defense Production Act.

• Oct 12, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal48 recordslatest record Oct 6, 2026

  DOE commits $6.7B in grants for grid modernization and transmission, following DPA invocation for supply chain capacity.

  The US government is making a significant, multi-billion dollar push to modernize and expand the national electric grid, with a particular focus on transmission infrastructure and supply chain resilience. This effort is being driven by the Department of Energy through large grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and reinforced by a Presidential Determination invoking the Defense Production Act.

• Oct 11, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal125 recordslatest record Oct 9, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid modernization and transmission, following a DPA order to boost domestic production of grid infrastructure.

  The US government is making a concerted push to modernize and expand the domestic electric grid, driven by both national security concerns and renewable energy integration goals. This effort began with the Department of Defense identifying specific infrastructure needs, but significantly accelerated with a Presidential Determination under the Defense Production Act. The Department of Energy is now executing large-scale grants to support new transmission projects and grid resilience.

• Oct 10, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal48 recordslatest record Oct 6, 2026

  DOE commits $6.7B in grants for grid modernization and transmission, following DPA invocation for supply chain capacity.

  The US government is making a significant, multi-billion dollar push to modernize and expand the national electric grid, with a particular focus on transmission infrastructure and supply chain resilience. This effort is being driven by the Department of Energy through large grants funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and reinforced by a Presidential Determination invoking the Defense Production Act.

• Oct 9, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal128 recordslatest record Oct 7, 2026

  DOE awarded $6.6B in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grants for grid modernization and transmission, following a DPA order on grid infrastructure.

  The US government is making a concerted effort to modernize and expand its electrical grid infrastructure, driven by both national security concerns and renewable energy integration goals. This initiative gained significant momentum with a Presidential Determination under the Defense Production Act, followed by multi-billion dollar grants from the Department of Energy. The focus is on enhancing resilience, expanding transmission capacity, and supporting domestic manufacturing of critical grid components.

• Oct 8, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal126 recordslatest record Oct 7, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid resilience and transmission, following DPA order to expand domestic capacity.

  The US government is making a concerted effort to modernize and secure the national electric grid, with a particular focus on expanding transmission capacity and domestic manufacturing. This initiative, driven by the Department of Energy and backed by presidential authority, aims to integrate more renewable energy and enhance overall grid resilience. The strategy involves significant federal grants and the use of the Defense Production Act to bolster supply chains.

• Oct 7, 2026, 5:16 AM ETreal125 recordslatest record Oct 7, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid resilience and transmission, following DPA order on infrastructure capacity.

  The US government is making a concerted effort to modernize and expand its electric grid infrastructure, driven by national defense concerns and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This initiative began with the Department of Defense identifying critical infrastructure needs and culminated in significant Department of Energy grants for large-scale transmission projects.

• Oct 6, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal335 recordslatest record Oct 6, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid modernization and transmission projects after DPA invocation for supply chain capacity.

  The US government is making a concerted effort to modernize and expand the national electric grid, driven by a Presidential Determination under the Defense Production Act. This action prioritizes domestic manufacturing of grid components and is followed by multi-billion dollar grants for transmission infrastructure. The focus is on enhancing resilience and integrating renewable energy sources across the Midwest.

• Oct 5, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal211 recordslatest record Oct 4, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid modernization and transmission, driven by DPA invocation for supply chain capacity.

  The US government is accelerating efforts to modernize and expand the national electric grid, with a significant focus on domestic supply chain resilience. This push is underpinned by a Presidential Determination invoking the Defense Production Act, authorizing the Department of Energy to bolster domestic manufacturing of critical grid components. This has quickly translated into multi-billion dollar grants for transmission infrastructure and studies.

• Oct 4, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal210 recordslatest record Sep 30, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid modernization and transmission projects under DPA authority, while Congress debates smart grid funding.

  The US government is actively pursuing a dual strategy for grid infrastructure: leveraging Defense Production Act authority and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to rapidly expand and modernize the grid, while simultaneously facing legislative efforts that could curtail smart grid investments. This push is driven by national security concerns and the need to integrate renewable energy, with significant federal dollars now flowing into large-scale transmission projects.

• Oct 3, 2026, 5:13 AM ETreal210 recordslatest record Sep 30, 2026

  DOE commits $6.6B to grid modernization and transmission projects under DPA authority, while Congress debates smart grid funding.

  The US government is actively pursuing a dual strategy for grid infrastructure: leveraging Defense Production Act authority and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to rapidly expand and modernize the grid, while simultaneously facing legislative efforts that could curtail smart grid investments. This push is driven by national security concerns and the need to integrate renewable energy, with significant federal dollars now flowing into large-scale transmission projects.