Net-Zero Resilience Preparation for Municipal and Rural Electric Providers

The Net-Zero Resilience Preparation for Municipal and Rural Electric Providers (RFP 6129) is a funding opportunity administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, a state agency tasked with advancing clean energy innovation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience across New York. NYSERDA’s mission centers on accelerating the state’s transition to a clean energy economy while ensuring reliability, affordability, and equitable benefits. This solicitation reflects the agency’s focus on addressing climate impacts on the electric grid, particularly for municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives that serve as critical infrastructure providers in their communities. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support projects that integrate decarbonization and resilience strategies within municipal and rural electric utility service territories. The program emphasizes the deployment of net-zero emissions technologies and deep decarbonization solutions that can withstand increasing climate-related disruptions such as extreme weather events and temperature fluctuations. By aligning resilience planning with emissions reduction goals, NYSERDA aims to maximize long-term investment value while enabling innovative, scalable solutions tailored to local jurisdictions. A total of one million dollars is available under this solicitation, with individual awards capped at five hundred thousand dollars. Funding is intended for demonstration projects that deploy commercially available technologies capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving system resilience. Priority is given to projects that incorporate heat pump technologies, building shell retrofits, and air sealing improvements. Projects must demonstrate strong technical merit, measurable emissions reductions, and the potential for replication or scaling to other communities. Eligibility is centered on municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives located in New York State. These entities may apply directly or partner with other organizations that submit proposals on their behalf. However, all proposals must include a formal letter of commitment from at least one qualifying utility partner. Projects must be implemented within the service territory of such utilities, and proposals lacking this alignment or required documentation are deemed ineligible. The program explicitly requires that funded technologies be commercially available rather than experimental or early-stage. The application process requires submission through NYSERDA’s online portal, although alternative submission methods are permitted when necessary. Applicants must provide a comprehensive proposal package that includes a cover letter, detailed narrative, project scope, team description, letters of commitment, a proposed budget, and a statement of work. The proposal narrative must address organizational background, climate-related challenges, long-term resilience goals, technical solution details, risk mitigation strategies, anticipated outcomes, and project metrics. Applicants are also required to disclose any use of artificial intelligence in preparing deliverables. Proposals are evaluated by a scoring committee based on criteria including technical feasibility, potential for replication, alignment with identified challenges, and expected community and environmental impacts. Additional considerations include cost-effectiveness, reasonableness of budget estimates, and the degree to which projects benefit disadvantaged communities. NYSERDA may request interviews or additional information during the evaluation process. Contracts are expected to span one to three years, with milestone-based payments and final deliverable retention until project completion. The application deadline for the first round is August 24, 2026 at three o’clock in the afternoon Eastern Time, and late submissions are not accepted. NYSERDA anticipates notifying applicants of award decisions approximately ten weeks after the deadline. While the solicitation does not explicitly state recurring cycles, the structured round designation suggests potential future funding rounds. Designated contacts for this opportunity include Crystal Soo and Hafiz Bello, who handle technical inquiries, with additional contractual support available through NYSERDA staff.

Emphasize scalable solutions with strong emissions reduction potential and clear cost justification while demonstrating benefits to disadvantaged communities