Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, is successfully implementing Phase 1 of a multi-year technical assistance (TA) program to support utilities in strengthening wildfire risk management, preparedness, and resilience. This initiative is designed for electric cooperatives, public utility districts, Tribal utilities, and municipal utilities.
Phase 1: Custom Risk Assessments Underway
Following a competitive application and review process, eight selected utilities including rural cooperatives, public utility districts, and municipalities are currently participating in Phase 1. These cohort members are collaborating with leading wildfire technology experts to develop wildfire resilience objectives specific to each utility’s unique operational requirements and assess their risk. Incorporating utility-specific asset data, bespoke wildfire risk assessments modeling fire spread and associated socioeconomic impacts have already been delivered, and future delivered insights include high fire threat district mapping and tree strike potential. Phase 1 is expected to conclude in early 2027.
Phase 2: Now Open for Nationwide Applications
PNNL is pleased to announce the launch of Phase 2, which expands the availability of no-cost technical assistance to utilities across the country.
The TA program covers the breadth of the wildfire management lifecycle, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Support may take many forms—such as capacity building, consultations, workshops, resource development, hazard and consequence assessments, deep-dive technical analysis, benchmarking, modeling, and data assessments. Utilities are encouraged to propose areas where they need support; the program is designed to be flexible and responsive.
Example areas of assistance include:
- Developing technical material to support effective wildfire mitigation plans
- Supporting public safety power shutoff planning and operational risk assessments
- Wildfire mapping and fuelscape analyses including high-resolution strike tree analyses and vegetation growth forecasts
- Fire weather risk analysis for situational awareness
- Analyzing asset health, and load or customers for risk factors in disrupted energy supply
- Auditing current operations and planned practices
- System design / configuration for wildfire mitigation
- Assisting with post-wildfire recovery planning activities
- Assisting in developing resilient rebuilding strategies for wildfire-affected areas including restoration strategies
NOTE: The technical assistance program does not provide financial support for the purchase of software, power system equipment, situational awareness equipment, or other capital expenses.
Timeline
Eligibility
Technical assistance is open to all electric utilities including cooperatives, public utility districts, and Tribal utilities.
Apply
Please complete this interest form if you’d like to be considered in the Phase 2 program. Submitting an interest form does not guarantee selection for technical assistance. In addition to your contact and organization's information, the form will ask you to provide brief narrative responses to the following questions:
- What is the wildfire risk related challenge or issue for which you are seeking support?
- How does your organization currently address this challenge?
- What do you hope to accomplish through the requested technical assistance?
- What is your role in addressing the wildfire risk issue/challenge?
- Are there timing considerations for your request?
Informational Webinar
The Wildfire Risk and Resilience team at PNNL will be hosting an informational webinar on October 14, 2026 to describe the TA program, eligibility criteria, and how to apply. The webinar will be recorded, and both the recording and slides will be available here following the webinar.
There may be additional opportunities to participate in technical assistance in the future. If you would like to be notified of upcoming opportunities, email wildfire@pnnl.gov.