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 |
| Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) | HUD funding to support critical investments such as repairs, infrastructure improvements, resiliency upgrades, and other services for low- and moderate-income residents of manufactured housing units and manufactured housing communities. |
July 10, 2024 |
| Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants | The USDOT program will fund up to $500 million in grants over five years to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems that improve transportation safety and efficiency. The funding opportunity is open to public sector entities seeking to carry out transportation projects that demonstrate at least one of the following technology areas: Coordinated automation, Connected vehicles, Sensors, Systems integration, Delivery/logistics, Innovative aviation, Smart grid, Traffic signals. | July 12, 2024 |
| Geothermal Resources' Value in Implementing Decarbonization (GRID) | DOE’s funds to support regional grid modeling studies that quantify the potential contribution of clean, firm geothermal power in supporting an equitable transition to a future decarbonized grid and economy. Project teams are required to propose grid modeling and/or analysis approaches tailored to their specific grid region of interest examining one or more of the following geothermal power attributes: 1) Firm capacity to support resource adequacy 2) Flexible geothermal power and ancillary services a) to the grid and/or b) to a deferrable load 3) Integrated value of geothermal power with storage technologies 4) Total system impact of geothermal power to cost of grid decarbonization. | Letter of Intent: July 24, 2024 |
| Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grants | The EPA will award up to $932 million in support of zero-emission vehicle projects benefitting communities disproportionately burdened by air pollution. States, municipalities, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit school transportation associations can apply for one of two sub-programs: 1) the School Bus Sub-Program (for applicants replacing school buses), and 2) the Vocational Vehicles Sub-Program, (for applicants replacing non-school bus Class 6/7 vehicles). | July 25, 2024 |
| Housing Preservation Grant | USDA funds to repair or rehabilitate housing occupied by very low and low-income families in rural areas and towns with 20,000 or fewer people. Eligible expenses include repairing or replacing foundations, roofs, insulation, electrical wiring, heating systems, and water and waste disposal systems disposal systems. | July 29, 2024 |
| Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program | The US DOT has up to $1.3 billion to fund new applications submitted in this round. Two separate grant categories are included in the CFI Program: Community Charging and Fueling Program Grants, to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, hydrogen fueling infrastructure, propane fueling infrastructure, and natural gas fueling infrastructure located on public roads or in other publicly accessible locations; and Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants, to strategically deploy charging and alternative fueling infrastructure located along designated alternative fuel corridors. |
August 28, 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 |
| 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)
- 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 |
| Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER) | DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) intends to issue a $15 million funding opportunity by the fall of 2024. Funding will support a competitive pilot demonstration grant program for energy storage projects that are wholly U.S.-made, sourced, and supplied. In the anticipated FOA, partnerships between storage technology providers, beneficiary organizations, and resiliency analytics partners will be required. | Fall 2024 |
| Grid Connected Buildings and Vehicles Field Validation | DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has released a Notice of Intent for over $100 million in support of field demonstrations and other research projects. Eligible projects will enhance grid planning and operation and help optimize systems with grid-connected buildings and vehicles powered by clean, distributed energy generation and demonstrate these advanced technologies as reliable, secure, and ready for wide-spread use. - Connected Communities 2.0 (DE-FOA-0003136) - Solar Technologies’ Rapid Integration and Validation for Energy Systems (DE-FOA-0003331) - SuperTruck Charge (DE-FOA-0003344) |
September 2024 |
| Water Power Innovation Network | DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, on behalf of the Water Power Technologies Office intends to release a FOA that will support entrepreneurship and accelerate water power innovation, business creation, collaboration, and expand incubators and accelerators in water power. This FOA will have approximately $5 million in cooperative agreement funding for the anticipated Topic Area: Water Power Incubation and Acceleration. | April or May 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