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Federal Programs: 

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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:

  • Track I: Community-Driven Investments for Change - focused on multi-faceted applications with Climate Action and Pollution Reduction Strategies to meaningfully improve the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities. Approximately 150 grants to be awarded ranging from $10-20 million each. Track 1 applicants who score well on the written application will be invited to participate in an oral presentation to share information about the community-oriented nature of their projects and how they will successfully implement the grant.
  • Track II: Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance – projects to facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental processes to advance environmental and climate justice. Approximately 20 grants will be awarded, ranging from $1-3 million each. The Track II application process does not involve an oral presentation.
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
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).

  • Clean Energy Production Tax Credits available for clean electricity for facilities that begin construction and are placed in service after 2024; credits starting in 2025. 
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).

  • Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit available for facilities that begin construction and are place in service after 2024. 
  • Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit available for small-scale solar and wind or clean electricity facilities on Indian land, federally subsidized housing, in low-income communities, and benefit low-income households. Allocated through an application process. Credit Amount: 10 or 20 percentage point increase on base investment tax credit.
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. 
  • 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: 

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: