Need help?
- Check out the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator.
- The Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC) hub will support underserved and overburdened (i.e. Justice40) communities fund environmental projects. See the Grants and Funding database.
- The State Competitiveness Fund Match Program is a cost-share match program in support of eligible entities applying for eligible federal funding opportunities.
- 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 Investing in America: State Directed Technical Assistance Resources (White House, 2023) share a list of state and local resources to help communities access IIJA and IRA funding.
- The Local Infrastructure Hub empowers local leaders to access federal infrastructure dollars with a Grant Search, learning opportunities, and technical assistance.
- Seeking Federal Funding: A Guide for Local Governments (USDN, 2024) resource guide that provides insights, lessons learned, best practices, along with challenges and pitfalls faced by local governments seeking federal funding.
- 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").
- Federal Energy Funding for Rural and Remote Areas: A Guide for Communities (DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations)
- 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: |
| Clean Energy to Communities Program - Expert Match |
Through the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program, NREL, other national laboratory experts, and select organizations provide Expert Match—free, short-term technical assistance to address near-term clean energy challenges and questions. Expert Match is a a 3–4-month program that pairs communities with national laboratory experts for 40-60 hours of technical assistance to address near-term clean energy challenges and questions. Great Plains Institute can provide free application assistance! Reach out to Sydne Tursky stursky@gpisd.net. |
Open on a rolling basis |
| Clean Bus Planning Awards | DOT support to reduce barriers to zero-emission bus deployment by providing school and transit bus fleets with free technical assistance to develop comprehensive and customized fleet electrification transition plans. | Rolling basis |
| Weatherization Assistance Program - Enhancement & Innovation Grant | The purpose of WAP E&I grants is to increase the number of dwelling units occupied by low-income persons that are weatherization-ready, have renewable energy, and healthy indoor environments. The grant will help disseminate new methods and best practices among entities providing weatherization assistance and encourage entities providing weatherization assistance to hire and retain diverse employees. Applicants are encouraged to deploy demonstration projects that have potential to be scaled nationally, enhance the benefits realized by underserved communities, and ensure an equitable transition to a clean-energy economy. | September 29, 2024 |
| Clean Energy and Manufacturing Workforce Training and Technical Awards | DOE $ to establish new industrial training and assessment centers to train students and incumbent workers for high-quality careers in clean energy, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing, and to help small and midsized manufacturers save money, reduce energy waste, and improve productivity. | October 1, 2024 |
| 2024-2025 Energy Class | DOE’s program to promote building and energy management in school districts by offering trainings, resources, and a peer-to-peer learning network of schools seeking energy improvements. Energy Class is an opportunity for school staff to receive coaching and 1:1 expert advice on strategic energy management, project development, funding pathways, and related topics to advance their district’s sustainability goals. |
Webinar: Sept. 18 October 4, 2024 |
| Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) | Round two of HUD $ to support communities who are actively taking steps to remove barriers to affordable housing such as barriers caused by outdated zoning, land use policies, or regulations, inefficient procedures, or gaps in available resources for development, among others. | October 15, 2024 |
| Funding to Support Tribal Climate Resilience | BIA $ to support Tribes and authorized Tribal organizations as they prepare for and address climate change impacts on Tribal Treaty and Trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety. Funding will be prioritized for projects that address imminent climate-related threats to human health and safety (including relocation, managed retreat, and protect-in-place efforts) and Tribal capacity to address such threats. Funding is available for Planning; Implementation; Relocation, Managed Retreat, Protect in Place, Staff Salary. | October 18, 2024 |
| Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program | FTA $ to support investments that: enhance safety, renew transit systems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the public transportation sector, improve equity, and connect communities. Eligible activities include planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal transit services in rural areas. | November 13, 2024 |
| Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (MARC) grant | EPA $ to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum. | November 14, 2024 |
| Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants |
EPA funds for community-driven projects which address climate challenges, reducing pollution and strengthening communities. Projects to be funded will enable disadvantaged communities to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement meaningful solutions. EPA will also dedicate $200 million in funding to technical assistance to awardees under this program. Applications will be considered under the following tracks:
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Application reviewed on a rolling basis until November 21, 2024 |
| Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Tribal and Territory Grants | EPA funding with~$9 million to incentivize and accelerate the upgrading or retirement of diesel engine vehicles. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. | December 6, 2024 |
| Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize | Encourages building new and newly focused placed-based coalitions to create quality, accessible jobs and training partnerships in their community. Each coalition is required to include, at a minimum, one coalition representative from each of the five key stakeholder groups: 1. Labor organizations; 2. Clean energy employers; 3. Community-based organizations; 4. Public agencies; 5. Education and workforce providers. | January 31, 2025 |
| Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Program for Tribes | DOE funds to provide rebates to low- and moderate-income households installing efficient electric technologies. Rebates for home electrification upgrades range from $840 to $14,000 per household. Once DOE has approved a Tribe’s HEAR application, the Tribe may launch its program and begin issuing rebates. | Application reviewed on a rolling basis until May 31, 2025 |
- 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.
- COMING SOON: State Contract for tax credit calculations, audit projections, registration, and 990-T prep and file (MN Admin)
- Register for Elective Payment or Transfer of Credits (IRS) (see the user guide)
- IRS Office Hours: Pre-filing registration and elective payment and transfer of clean energy and CHIPS credits assistance.
- The Clean Energy Tax Credit Navigator (L4GG) can help you learn about and receive assistance on elective pay tax credits for your potential, planned, or completed project.
- 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 |
| Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking | Provides subgrants to community-based nonprofits and other eligible subrecipients for assessment, planning, and project development activities. | Fall 2024 |
| Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant | EPA $ to improve post-consumer materials management, infrastructure, and recycling. | Fall 2024 |
| Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) | New round of DOE to support community-driven projects that demonstrate clean energy systems, deliver measurable and sustained benefits to people who live in rural or remote areas, and build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance throughout rural America. | September 2024 |
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:
- All IIJA Opportunities for Minnesota (MN Management and Budget)
- 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
- Catalyzing Local Clean Energy: A Roadmap for Maximizing Inflation Reduction Act Opportunities and Community Benefits (American Cities Climate Challenge)
- 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)
- Tribal Nations and Native Communities Resource Guide (DOE)
- 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