Grid Forward, also known as Smart Grid Oregon, is a business league that represents technology and utility companies. It promotes environmentalist policies and subsidies that fund the improvement of electric grids to reduce reliance on conventional energy. ¹

Background

Grid Forward was founded in 2010 and was originally named Smart Grid Northwest before changing its name first to Smart Grid Oregon and later Grid Forward in 2019 (though it still does business as Smart Grid Oregon). It is a business league that consists of utility companies, technology providers, and other interested parties that advocate on public policies affecting the electric grid. ²

Grid Forward favors changes that support environmentalist energy sources and changes that incorporate data monitoring technology. It claims that its advocacy aligns with governmental initiatives to lower carbon emissions and that its member businesses can achieve environmentalist goals. ¹

Federal Funding Member Resources

Following the passage of the Biden administration-backed Infrastructure and Investments Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act, Grid Forward has compiled resources on available federal funding and how to obtain it for its member organizations. Grid Forward provides a database of available grants and funding programs that is organized by the programs’ applicability to its different members. It also reports that it lobbied in support of the Inflation Reduction Act and IIJA and continues to lobby in favor of government programs that would subsidize the activities of its member organizations. ³

Activities

Grid Forward advocates increased funding and subsidies related to updating or expanding the electric grid. It supports subsidies for changes that would allow for increased reliance on solar and wind energy, including electricity storage, and for the electric grids to handle the increased electricity usage. Grid Forward lobbies in support of these subsidies by claiming that they are necessary for making progress toward reducing carbon emissions. It also claims that the subsidies will lower utility costs for consumers. ^{4 1}

Grid Forward provides its members and other interested advocates with a policy brief to send to their U.S. Representatives and Senators. The brief states that as of 2019, there was a $208 billion shortage of funding for improvements to the electric grid, and it advocates that legislators enact policies that will cover the alleged shortfall with taxpayer money. The brief makes claims that the subsidies are the only way to prevent service interruptions by utility companies and can be used to lower utility costs for consumers. ⁵

Leadership

Bryce Yonker is the co-founder, executive director, and CEO of Grid Forward. He was also an original board member of Grid Forward. Yonker also owns Enertec Development, an energy and technology consulting firm. He previously worked as the senior director of business development and strategy for Clean Edge. ⁶

Financials

In 2023, Grid Forward (also doing business as Smart Frid Oregon) reported $796,221 in total revenue, including $235,3000 from membership dues and $464,510 from its Resiliency Conference. ⁷ It also reported $748,408 in total expenses, including $139,000 in compensation for executive director Bryce Yonker. ⁸

1. “Why A Modern Grid.” Grid Forward. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://gridforward.org/about/modern-grid/.
2. Smith, David. “Why Grid Forward? Why now? The view from executive director Bryce Yonker.” Grid Forward. June 20, 2019. https://gridforward.org/why-grid-forward-why-now-the-view-from-executive-director-bryce-yonker/.
3.  “Federal Funding.” Grid Forward. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://gridforward.org/resources/federal-funding/.
4. “Advanced Grid Projects Benefit Citizens, Businesses and the Nation as a Whole.” Grid Forward. March, 2025. https://gridforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Grid-Forward-grid-modernization-briefing-2025-Feb-2025.pdf.
5. “Advanced Grid Impacts.” Grid Forward. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://gridforward.org/resources/advanced-grid-impacts/.
6. “Team.” Grid Forward. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://gridforward.org/about/team/.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Smart Grid Oregon. Part VIII.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Smart Grid Oregon. Part IX.