Grants for Small businesses - Energy

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.

This initiative provides funding and support for innovators and startups developing transformative technologies in energy and resilience, enabling them to pitch their solutions to key decision-makers and access significant federal and private funding opportunities.

This grant provides financial support for innovative projects that integrate solar energy production with cattle grazing, aimed at U.S.-based teams of solar developers and cattle ranchers.

This program provides financial assistance to eligible small businesses in California to help them enter or expand into international markets through subsidized events and reimbursement for export-related expenses.

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.

This program provides funding to communities facing extremely high energy costs to improve their energy infrastructure and promote renewable energy solutions.

This initiative provides funding opportunities for private sector entities in Jordan to collaborate with USAID in addressing key development challenges, focusing on economic growth, water security, governance, education, and the empowerment of women and youth.

This program provides free technical assistance to small Pennsylvania businesses to help them improve their operations and competitiveness by connecting them with expert resources and solutions for specific technical challenges.

This program provides support, mentorship, and funding to early-stage cleantech startups in Tennessee and surrounding regions to help them commercialize innovative technologies.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that partner with startups to advance and scale innovative clean energy technologies in Massachusetts, helping them navigate challenges to achieve commercial success.

This grant provides funding to public and private entities to develop a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations along major highways in Minnesota, promoting accessible and reliable EV infrastructure.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, public sector entities, and scalable for-profit companies in the U.S. to develop and promote innovative wood products and value chains that enhance sustainable forestry and rural economic development.

This program provides financial assistance to small business and commercial property owners in Decatur, Georgia, to improve the exteriors of their buildings and enhance the community's aesthetic appeal.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help underrepresented communities in Massachusetts access training and career pathways in the clean energy sector, addressing systemic barriers and workforce gaps.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to develop training programs that prepare workers for energy efficiency jobs in small buildings, helping to meet upcoming energy performance standards in Washington, D.C.

This initiative provides funding to Pennsylvania's industrial sector to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions through decarbonization efforts, targeting small to large manufacturers and facility operators.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and federally recognized tribes in Washington state to improve the planning and permitting processes for clean energy projects like solar and wind, helping to reduce delays and enhance site readiness.

This grant provides funding to electric vehicle service providers, contractors, and public entities in California to repair, replace, or install non-operational EV chargers, particularly in disadvantaged communities, to improve accessibility and reliability of the state's charging network.

This program provides funding to organizations in Colorado for transitioning their vehicle fleets to low- and zero-emission alternatives, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.