Need help?
- Check out the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator.
- Identify potential Federal Funding Sources for Municipal Sustainability and Climate Action using the National League of Cities tool.
- The Federal Funding for the Midwest spreadsheet is a crowdsourced list - feel free to add info on grants you're tracking or your org if you're available to support applicants. BE MINDFUL OF FORMATTING PLEASE.
- The Local Infrastructure Hub empowers local leaders to access federal infrastructure dollars with a Grant Search, learning opportunities, and technical assistance.
- Reach out to your regional development commission/organization if located within one.
- MN Council of Nonprofits grant writing/seeking courses are open to the public (filter using "Fundraising & Grantseeking").
- Connecting Rural Communities with Historic Federal Clean Energy Investments (ACEEE and Great Plains Institute)
- Federal Funding Opportunities for Local Decarbonization (American Cities Climate Challenge)
Federal Programs:
- Now Open
Funding Opportunity: |
Summary: |
Due Dates: |
Empowering Rural America New ERA Program |
The program prioritizes greenhouse gas reductions rather than requiring the use of specific technologies. Applicants can seek funding for renewable and zero-emission systems that eliminate aging, obsolete, or expensive infrastructure. Applicants can also change purchased-power mixes to support cleaner portfolios, manage stranded assets, and boost the transition to clean energy. Funding provided to make energy efficiency improvements to eligible generation and transmission systems, to purchase, build, or deploy renewable energy, zero-emission systems, carbon capture storage systems, or to purchase renewable energy. |
September 15, 2023 |
Microgrid Technologies for Underserved and Indigenous Communities | Funding for multi-year research, development, and demonstrations (RD&D) of microgrid-related technologies. The goal is to bring microgrid solutions to underserved and Indigenous communities in remote, rural, and islanded regions in the United States. Programs such as this will ensure that low-cost reliable, resilient, clean energy is available to support and improve the lives of every American. | September 15, 2023 |
Energy Future Grants |
Energy Future Grants will encourage local, tribal, and state governments to partner and build ideas in the power, transportation, and/or building sectors that will benefit disadvantaged communities. The grants (up to $500,000 each) will provide support for at least 50 multi jurisdictional teams. Teams should be ideally comprised of 3-4 or more state, local, and/or tribal government partners joining together on a planning project. Applicants are required to submit a Community Benefits Plan outlining how the project will achieve four goals: (1) support community and labor engagement, (2) invest in the American workforce, (3) promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and (4) contribute to the President’s goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities (the Justice40 Initiative). |
September 30, 2023 |
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) |
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for $1 billion in grants to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses (including some munis and rural electric coops) invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. |
September 30, 2023 (with four additional quarterly competitions through 2024) |
Solar for All - EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund |
This competition will award up to 60 grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofit recipients to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for distributed solar investment—enabling millions of low-income households to access affordable, resilient, and clean solar energy. Grantees will use funds to expand existing low-income solar programs or design and deploy new Solar for All programs nationwide. |
DEADLINE EXTENDED - Notice of Intent: Oct. 12, 2023 |
Clean Energy Innovation in Underserved Communities |
Up to $7.5 million in cash prizes and mentorship opportunities to organizations supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in climate and energy technology funding. Prizes are awarded in three tracks: Clean Energy Ecosystem Track: $4.9 million is available for community-led projects across a wide range of clean energy initiatives, technologies, and areas of focus that advance local clean energy transitions. Manufacturing Ecosystem Track: $2.1 million is available for projects that advance clean energy manufacturing innovation ecosystems in historically underserved communities. Awarded projects will bring together public, private, and community stakeholders to address key barriers to advancing manufacturing innovation, business models, and market development. Collegiate Track: $450,000 is available for student-led teams to work alongside a community partner on a project related to the clean energy transition. Students from minority serving institutions, universities located in rural and/or disadvantaged communities, and community colleges are especially encouraged to apply. |
Collegiate Track: Nov. 3, 2023 Ecosystem Track: Feb. 2, 2024 Manufacturing Track: Feb. 2, 2024 |
Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets | Up to $3.5 million to help local communities create a roadmap towards repurposing existing energy assets. The Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets initiative will assist communities where a significant portion of their local economy has historically been supported by energy assets, such as coal, oil, and/or natural gas power facilities and accompanying equipment and infrastructure. The initiative will help these communities build technical capacity and develop a workforce necessary to help revitalize energy systems, address environmental impacts, and tackle challenges associated with energy assets that have been retired or are slated for retirement. | November 6, 2023 |
DOE Energy Efficient Transformers Rebate Program | The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains is accepting applications for its $10 million energy efficient transformers rebate program. The rebate program aims to help domestic manufacturers, utilities, tribes, hospitals, schools, and other operators replace aging grid infrastructure by financing equipment upgrades, which will conserve energy and reduce costs while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. | December 31, 2023 (or until funds are expended) |
HUD Green and Resilient Retrofit Program |
GRRP is the first HUD program to simultaneously invest in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, energy generation, green and healthy housing, and climate resilience strategies specifically in HUD-assisted multifamily housing. All the investments under the GRRP will be made in affordable housing communities serving low-income families. This Notice of Funding Opportunity makes $140,000,000 available to: 1) Lower carbon emissions and improve energy and water efficiency, 2) Incorporate renewable energy use, where appropriate, 3) Further climate resilience to better withstand the impacts of natural hazard events and protect residents; 4) Reduce resident exposure to health risks and environmental hazards, 5) Improve the quality of HUD-assisted multifamily housing for residents, 6) Support long-term housing preservation through extended affordability requirements. |
March 28, 2024 |
Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grants |
Competitive EPA grants for implementing measures contained in the State of Minnesota, any tribal, or Twin Cities metropolitan area Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs). Individual grants grants between $2 million and $500 million ($1 to $25 for tribes and territories). Partnerships are highly encouraged. GreenStep can help interested communities connect project needs with potential partners and projects. |
General: April 1, 2024 Webinars: Sept. 21 and Oct. 3 Tribes and territories: May 1, 2024 Webinars: Sept. 27 and Oct. 5 |
- Clean Energy Tax Incentives: Elective Pay Eligible Tax Credits (Direct Pay)
- The IRA makes several clean energy tax credits available to businesses; tax-exempt organizations; state, local, and tribal governments; other entities; and individuals. The IRA also enables entities to take advantage of certain clean energy tax credits through its elective pay provision (also colloquially known as direct pay). Elective pay allows several types of entities, such as tax-exempts and governments, to treat the amount of certain credits as a payment against tax on their tax returns and as a result receive direct payments for certain clean energy tax credits.
- Getting Started: New Elective Pay Option for Local Clean Energy Projects (NLC, 2023)
- Making Clean Energy Tax Credits Deliver for the Public: A User Guide for Governments, Schools, and Nonprofits (BlueGreen Alliance, 2023)
- Cities Advancing Climate Action - Unlocking the Potential of the Inflation Reduction Act (Alliance for Sustainable Future, 2023)
Tax Provision |
Summary |
Production Tax Credit for Electricity from Renewables |
For production of electricity from eligible renewable sources, including wind, biomass, geothermal, solar, small irrigation, landfill and trash, hydropower, marine and hydrokinetic energy. Credit Amount (for 2022): 0.55 cents/kW (2.75 if PWA met).
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Investment Tax Credit for Energy Property |
For investment in renewable energy projects including fuel cell, solar, geothermal, small wind, energy storage, biogas, microgrid controllers, and combined heat and power properties. Credit Amount: 6% of qualified investment (30% if PWA met).
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Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit | For purchasers of commercial clean vehicles. Qualifying vehicles include passenger vehicles, buses, ambulances, and certain other vehicles for use on public streets, roads, and highways. Credit Amount: Up to $40,000 (max $7,500 for vehicles <14,000 lbs) |
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit | For alternative fuel vehicle refueling and charging property, located in low-income and non-urban areas. Qualified fuels include electricity, ethanol, natural gas, hydrogen, and biodiesel. Credit Amount: 6% of basis for businesses and can increase to 30% if PWA is met. |
- Opening Soon
Funding Opportunity: |
Summary: |
Announcement Dates |
Distributed Energy Systems Demonstrations |
Up to $50 million to support the demonstrations that de-risk technologies needed to manage variable generation; control flexible loads; and integrate energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and other facilities into the U.S. transmission and distribution grids. |
September, 2023 |
Neighborhood Access and Equity Program | Addressing walking, biking, and transit access, especially in low-income areas. | Not announced |
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA): Also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, became law on November 15, 2021. The IIJA authorized $1.2 trillion in funding opportunities across a wide variety of infrastructure subject areas, including:
- Energy - Funding opportunities authorized under IIJA include grid modernization, new electric transmission, energy system resiliency and reliability updates, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, improvement to the energy efficiency of buildings, smart manufacturing, carbon capture and carbon utilization projects, renewable energy technologies and demonstration projects and other innovative initiatives.
- MN Dept. of Commerce: available grants, email updates, and opportunities to partner on funding.
- Transportation - provides higher funding levels and many new formula and discretionary grant programs that will expand the definition of transportation infrastructure and address health and community-driven outcomes.
- MnDOT: available grants and information about formula funding.
- DOT Navigator, US DOT: technical assistance to help communities understand the best ways to apply for grants, and to apply for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services.
- Water Infrastructure
- More resources:
- IIJA Guidebook: a roadmap for all available funding for state, local, tribal, and other territorial leaders. See also the Tribal and Rural playbooks.
- MN Senate Fiscal Issue Brief: provides an overview of IIJA funding coming to Minnesota.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): became law on August 16, 2022. The IRA authorized billions of dollars in funding opportunities across a wide variety of investment subject areas, including:
- Energy security and climate change investments - The bill includes funding for climate protection, household tax credit/rebates for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, and investments in clean energy production and other projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- CERTs: The IRA, what you need to know about residential and commercial incentives
- MN Dept. of Commerce: Federal funding opportunities for energy infrastructure, grid improvement, energy-related research, rebates, and more.
- Clean Energy Economy Minnesota's IRA breakdown
- CleanEnergy.gov: Find IRA tax credits or rebates by activity, as well as incentives available in 2022 vs. what's coming in 2023.
- Rewiring America's Savings Calculator
- Climate action and the Inflation Reduction Act: A guide for local government leaders (Climate Mayors and C40)
- Funding for Tribes in the Inflation Reduction Act (The White House)
- Inflation Reduction Act Miniguide (Urban Sustainability Directors Network)
- The Inflation Reduction Act and Cities - City Climate Corner podcast
- How Cities Can Make the Most of IRA Dollars — Local Energy Rules podcast