Grants for Native American tribal organizations - Energy

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund demonstrations of community-based virtual power plant (VPP) approaches and demonstrations of innovative energy management systems (EMS) in commercial buildings with the goal of increasing demand flexibility. Demand flexibility refers to comprehensive programs and strategies that align electricity consumption with dynamic grid conditions. These can include both event-based demand response (DR) and load shifting strategies. Accelerating demand flexibility is a key strategy for California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate and clean energy goals reliably and affordably.    VPPs are portfolios of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as smart thermostats, rooftop solar photovoltaics, electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and smart water heaters that are actively controlled by software to benefit the power system, consumers, and the environment. While these resources have the potential to meet grid needs as reliably as conventional alternatives such as gas-fired generators, their advantages extend further, offering greater affordability and substantial decarbonization benefits.[3] However, research and development of both technologies and business models is needed to fully capitalize on and understand VPPs’ potential, especially the systems that feature predictive controls and require minimal consumer engagement. The examples of predictive controls relevant to this research include, but are not limited to, the use of artificial intelligence or model predictive controls for EV load shifting or building pre-cooling applications.   Projects will be funded in two groups. Group 1: Virtual Power Plants: Demonstrations that showcase community-based demand flexibility programs as a long-term (10 or more years) grid resource. Project teams must partner with local governments or non-profits to facilitate customer participation and smart device installations. Projects must evaluate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of community-based VPP approaches that use state-of-the-art DER management software (DERMS).   ·       Group 2: Commercial Building Energy Management in Low-Income or Disadvantaged Communities: Demonstrations of innovative EMS in commercial buildings focused on specific characteristics such as interoperability and adherence to open-source standards. Demonstrations require participation in electric investor-owned utility (IOU) or third-party DR programs and partnerships with device and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These projects must showcase the latest advancements in energy management in the commercial sector and ensure technology adaptability, efficiency, and collaboration within the broader energy landscape.       

This program provides financial support to public institutions in Colorado for upgrading their buildings to energy-efficient electric systems, particularly in communities that are disproportionately impacted or low-income.

CAL FIRE's Wood Products and Bioenergy team seeks to maintain and enhance the wood products infrastructure of California to promote healthy resilient forests throughout the state by supporting a diverse set of business development and workforce development projects.  ; Eligible business development projects include facilities, operations, and professional services that support the restoration of healthy, resilient forests.   Eligible workforce development projects include universities, colleges, government and community organizations, and businesses that aim to increase workforce capacity in the fields of logging, fuels treatment, transportation, manufacturing, or other support services that bolster the development of a resilient forest sector workforce.   Research and development projects related to both business and workforce development will also be considered. Check out the Wood Products website and subscribe for updates.     

This grant provides funding for research institutions, energy organizations, and technology developers to create open-source tools that improve climate resilience and wildfire risk management in California's electricity sector.

Hydrogen can serve as a zero-carbon energy carrier and act as a potential replacement for fossil fuels in hard-to-electrify applications, particularly for the transportation, industrial, and electricity generation sectors. For the purposes of this solicitation, clean hydrogen is defined as hydrogen produced from water using eligible renewable energy resources, as defined in Public Utilities Code 399.12, or produced from these eligible renewable energy resources. To achieve sustainable wide-scale deployment, hydrogen must be produced cleanly at increased scale and reduced cost. This solicitation aims to reduce the cost burden of clean hydrogen production through large-scale, centralized production coupled with storage, delivery, and pre-determined offtakers to support a comprehensive hydrogen value chain. Expected outcomes include the development and deployment of low-carbon, cost-competitive hydrogen production from renewable energy sources and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors.   The 2022 California Air Resources Board (CARB) Scoping Plan estimates that by 2045, demand for low-carbon hydrogen increases nearly two-fold the current levels of fossil hydrogen – or a 1,700-fold increase in existing low-carbon hydrogen supply – especially to support emerging end uses such as heavy-duty vehicles, power generation, industrial process heat, and synthetic fuels for aviation. Hydrogen produced from water using renewable energy resources or produced directly from renewable energy resources can provide low-carbon energy and act as an alternative to fossil gas, helping meet California's GHG reduction goals of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2045.     

This grant provides funding to organizations and institutions to develop a comprehensive maritime strategy for Michigan that promotes sustainability, equity, and environmental justice in the state's shipping and boating sectors.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for clean energy projects in rural and remote areas, targeting communities with 10,000 residents or fewer to reduce energy costs and improve access to sustainable energy solutions.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering the AGRI Value-Added Grant, a reimbursement grant ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, to support value-added businesses such as bioenergy producers and hemp processors in increasing sales of Minnesota agricultural products through investment in equipment, production capacity, market diversification, and market access.

The purpose of this solicitation is to award grants to fund projects focused on geothermal energy and lithium recovery from geothermal brine that support local jurisdictions and private entities to advance the geothermal sector and related activities per Public Resource Code (PRC) Sections 3800-3827 and California Code of Regulations (CCR) Sections 1660-1665. ; This solicitation aims to support the goals of Senate Bill 100 (SB 100, De Leon, Chapter 312, Statures of 2018), Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32, Nunez, Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006), and SB 32 (Pavley, Chapter 249, Statutes of 2016) to meet the eligible renewable energy, zero-carbon energy, and greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. The proposed projects must not exceed thirty-six (36) months in length – the project term must be in alignment with the proposed project scope and budget, and it is encouraged to explain that alignment in the Project Narrative (Attachment 3). The proposed projects are limited to addressing one of the eligible purposes allowed by the Geothermal Grant and Loan Program, as presented in Section I.C., Project Focus, per PRC Section 3823. This solicitation will be conducted as a two-phase process. Phase one is for local jurisdictions that want to compete for technical assistance funds to develop and prepare the full proposal for this solicitation. Phase one applicants need to complete a 1) Technical Assistance Application Form, 2) Technical Assistance Project Summary, and 3) Technical Assistance Scope of Work. Phase two is for local jurisdictions and private entities to submit the full proposal, as indicated in Section I E. (Key Activities Schedule) of this solicitation. See Part II of this solicitation for applicant and project eligibility requirements. Phase one and Phase two applications will be evaluated as follows: (1) proposal screening and (2) proposal scoring, as fully described in Section IV. Applicants may submit multiple applications, though each application must address only one of the eligible purposes identified in Section 1 C. (Project Focus) of this solicitation. If an applicant submits multiple applications, each application must be for a distinct project (i.e., no overlap with respect to the tasks described in the Scope of Work).

The National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program is investing $50 million in the Gulf Futures Challenge to fund projects addressing critical challenges in the Gulf region. The Challenge aims to discover and promote innovative and transformative solutions by leveraging the talent and knowledge of the Gulf's people. The competition focuses on three main areas: energy transition, environmental change along the coast, and healthy and resilient communities. Up to ten finalists will receive up to $1 million in project development support, with two finalists awarded $20 million each to implement their solutions. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, state, local, and tribal governments, and academic institutions from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas, with projects located within 100 miles of the Gulf coastline. The registration deadline is August 20, 2024, and the application deadline is September 20, 2024.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to U.S. entities involved in advanced nuclear energy projects to help cover regulatory review costs associated with licensing advanced reactors and related facilities.

Amendment 000002 - The purpose of this amendment is to publish Round 2 of the DE-FOA-0003126 Grid Development Office (GDO) Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The Concept Paper Submission deadline is 06/13/2024 at 5:00 PM ET and the Full Application Submission deadline is 08/22/2024 at 5:00 PM ET. Amendment 000001 - The purpose of this amendment is to extend the Concept Paper submission deadline for DE-FOA-0003126 Grid Development Office (GDO) Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) from November 3, 2023 to November 17, 2023. The Full Application submission deadline for DE-FO3-0003126 Grid Development Office (GDO) Wholesale Electricity Market Studies and Engagements Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is being updated from December 21, 2024 to December 20, 2024. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing, on behalf of the Grid Deployment Office (GDO), this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328). Creating more efficient and flexible wholesale markets that will support a more resilient and reliable grid will be critical as new load and generation come online. Functioning wholesale markets provide a platform for energy trading and the integration of electric resources into the grid. Efficient, fair, and transparent market constructs are thus foundational to transitioning to a clean, reliable, equitable electric grid. This FOA will assist applicantsStates, ISOs/RTOs, and domestic entities that have partnered with States and/or ISOs/RTOs that have formed partnerships with or otherwise include States, ISOs/RTOs to perform analytical studies on critical market issues or convene stakeholders to address issues facing developing or existing wholesale markets. GDO suggests five (5) broad priorities for proposed projects: 1) seams between markets, 2) regional resource adequacy, 3) market design and price formation, 4) regional footprint studies, and 5) integrated regional planning approaches. This Funding Opportunity Announcement can be viewed at https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/. Questions regarding the FOA must be submitted to GDO_FOA3126@hq.doe.gov. The required Concept Paper due date for this FOA is 06/13/2024 at 5PM ET. The Full Application due date for this FOA is 08/22/2024 at 5PM ET. In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (infrastructureexchangesupport@hq.doe.gov).

This initiative seeks input from energy stakeholders to identify and develop large-scale electric grid projects that can meet the increasing energy demands of industries like data centers and advanced manufacturing.

This initiative provides up to $100,000 in technical assistance vouchers to businesses and organizations seeking to commercialize scientific innovations through collaboration with experts at U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories.

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) intends to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) entitled Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas FY24. The goals of this investment area are to deliver measurable and sustained benefits to people who live in rural or remote areas by funding replicable clean energy projects that lower energy costs, improve energy access and resilience, increase economic opportunity, and/or reduce environmental harm; demonstrate rural or remote energy system approaches using climate-resilient technologies, business structures that promote economic resilience, accessible and appropriate financing mechanisms, and/or best practices in community leadership and engagement, and workforce development; and build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural and remote parts of America. Funding will support materials, equipment, time, labor, and other resources to build clean energy projects in rural or remote communities and run other allowable activities as proposed (e.g., collaboration, outreach, and engagement with Tribes and stakeholders, or workforce development programs). This Notice of Intent (NOI or Notice) describes a preliminary plan that will evolve during the Notice of Funding Opportunity development process.

This funding opportunity is designed to support domestic industrial facilities in recovering critical minerals and materials from byproducts, enhancing the U.S. supply chain and reducing reliance on foreign sources.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to arts organizations of color in New England with annual expenses under $500,000, helping them sustain and expand their cultural programming and community engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for domestic organizations to develop innovative technologies that enhance the supply chain for enriched uranium, ensuring its availability for nuclear reactors and strengthening U.S. energy security.

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund an applied research and development project that will support research to assess the impact of consolidated packages of electrified retrofit measures on air quality and other related impact categories, including resilience to extreme heat, indoor comfort, and energy and cost savings in California homes. Description: This research will identify and assess non-energy benefits of home electrification and evaluate key stakeholders’ (e.g., residents, contractors) experience with the retrofitting process. Ultimately, this work will provide guidance on how these benefits could be considered in strategies and decisions to retrofit or replace gas-fueled appliances with electric. The proposed research is intended to provide crucial support to the state’s efforts to address challenges in building decarbonization and to minimize air quality impacts to its residents. The research responds to the 2021-2025 California Energy Commission (CEC) Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Investment Plan research initiative “Evaluating Air Quality, Health, and Equity in Clean Energy Solutions.” CEC’s California Building Decarbonization Assessment report, required by Assembly Bill 3232 (Friedman, Chapter 373, Statutes of 2018) suggests that efficient electrification in California’s buildings presents the most readily achievable pathway for this sector to achieve a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gases relative to 1990 levels by 2030 (Kenney, et al. 2021). The same report acknowledges significant challenges associated with residential building decarbonization including high upfront costs, potential for increased utility bills, limited awareness of technology options and their benefits, constraints faced by renters, and systemic inequality faced by low-income and disadvantaged communities. There are many non-market factors to consider in decisions to retrofit or replace appliances, such as the non-energy benefits of home electrification (e.g., health, comfort, and household economics) that many are not aware of. Additionally, there are many not-yet characterized potential benefits of electrification retrofits in existing homes (e.g., improved air quality). These existing homes pose challenges — as well as enormous potential benefits — related to electrification; however, they are not typically covered under the Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which apply only to new buildings and buildings undergoing permitted upgrades. Improvements in indoor air quality and related health outcomes are of particular importance to populations in low-income and disadvantaged communities, which are often disproportionately burdened by energy-related air pollutants. For example, in August 2023, the operating lives of three once through cooling (OTC) fossil gas power plants were extended through 2026 to provide reserve generation during power emergencies (CalMatters 2023, California Energy Commission 2023) and the emissions from OTC smokestacks can impact the outdoor and indoor air quality of residents living near those plants. In addition, wildfire-generated air pollution poses an added threat, possibly compounding already existing air quality issues in these communities. Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants: Business Individual Nonprofit Other Legal Entity Public Agency Tribal Government This solicitation is open to all public and private entities with the exception of local publicly owned electric utilities. Eligible Geographies: No local publicly owned electric utilities. Matching Funding Requirement: Match funding is required in the amount of at least 5% minimum of the requested CEC funds.