Funding Opportunities
New! DOE: Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) – $25 million
Eligible Entities: Federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, for-profit entities, educational institutions, and nonprofits
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office’s (SETO) Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) funding opportunity will award $25 million for projects to enable communities to utilize solar and solar-plus-storage to prevent disruptions in power caused by extreme weather and other events, and to rapidly restore electricity if it goes down.
Projects will foster engagement and ongoing communication among multiple stakeholders such as utilities, municipal planners, emergency responders, community groups, and others, especially in underserved communities located in areas vulnerable to extreme events causing frequent energy and power service disruptions. In addition, projects will develop and demonstrate rapid energy restoration technologies based on the community resilience plan in order to increase the durability of photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Applications Due: May 27, 2022
For more information, visit funding opportunity
USDA (NRCS): Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
Through this new program aimed at a wide cross-section of U.S. agriculture and forestry, including small and underserved producers and early adopters, USDA will finance partnerships to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects lasting one to five years. Pilots will provide technical and financial assistance to producers who implement climate-smart practices on a voluntary basis on working lands; pilot innovative and cost-effective methods for quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas benefits; and market the resulting climate-smart commodities. The goal is to help increase the competitive advantage of U.S. farmers, ranchers and forest landowners, including early adopters to strengthen rural and agricultural communities.
| Eligible Applicants: | For profit organizations; small businesses; City, township, county and state governments; Nonprofits; private and public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments and organizations |
Applications due:
April 8, 2022 for first funding pool:
May 27 for second funding pool
Funding: $5 million to $100 million per proposal for first funding pool:
$250,000 to $4.99 million for second funding pool
Project funding for Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities will be made available through the Commodity Credit Corporation.
Refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for full details on application requirements, including USDA’s intended overarching and market expansion outcomes.
NEW! USDA: Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP) – $10 million
The Rural Energy Pilot Program (REPP) provides the secretary of agriculture $10 million until expended to carry out a pilot program to offer financial assistance for rural communities to develop renewable energy. The REPP meets a recognized need for federal support to further develop renewable energy to help meet our nation’s energy needs and combat climate change while prioritizing environmental justice, racial equity, and economic opportunity.
Eligible Entities: Non-profits, state and local entities, Tribal entities, Municipalities and other public bodies
Applications Due: April 19, 2022
For more information, visit the funding opportunity.
NEW! DOI BIA: Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) – $2.5 million
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, through the Office of Trust Services, Division of Energy and Mineral Development, is soliciting proposals from Indian Tribes for projects that conduct resource inventories and assessments, feasibility studies, or other pre-development studies necessary to process, use and develop energy and mineral resources. These resources and their uses include, but are not limited to, biomass (woody and waste) for heat or electricity; transportation fuels; hydroelectric, solar, or wind generation; geothermal heating or electricity production; district heating; other forms of distributed energy generation; oil, natural gas, and helium; sand and gravel, coal, precious minerals, and base minerals (lead, copper, zinc, etc.).
Eligible Entities: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Applications Due: April 27, 2022
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
NEW! EPA: Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities – $10 million
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing community-engaged research that will address the drivers and environmental impacts of energy transitions in underserved communities. “Underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, including people of color, low income, rural, tribal, indigenous, and other populations that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks.
Eligible Entities: State governments, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, U.S. territories or possessions, Public and private nonprofit institutions/organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and hospitals located in the U.S. and its territories or possessions
Applications Due: April 28, 2022
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
Focus on Energy: Energy Efficiency Competitive Incentive
A second round of the Business Customer Competitive RFP is now available for business customers, including commercial, industrial, school (public or private), government, and agricultural, to bid for Focus incentives on their next energy efficiency project. This opportunity provides customers with the potential to cover up to 100% of the project costs. The proposed project must have a payback between 1 to 12 years, achieve annual energy savings of at least 1,000 MMBtu, and be completed no later than December 1, 2023.
Proposal Due: April 29, 2022 at 5:00pm CDT
More information is available here.
RENEW: Solar for Good Grants
Through a generous partnership with the Couillard Solar Foundation, RENEW Wisconsin awards grant-funding or solar panels to nonprofit organizations, helping them switch to clean, renewable, solar energy. Solar for Good also offers small grants for engineering reviews and technical assistance to get projects started and see them through to success.
Winning organizations will be provided with up to 50% of the modules needed to complete their project. The remaining modules (same brand/model) can be purchased from the Couillard Solar Foundation (CSF) while supplies last. ). All proceeds from the sales of additional panels go back to providing grants and administration for CSF.
Cash grants are also available for the Spring 2022 cycle. Winning organizations can receive a grant for up to 20% of the cost (max of $5,000 for projects < 75 kW and a max of $10,000 for projects > 75 kW) of their solar array.
Grant opens April 1, 2022
Due Sunday May 1, 2022
New! DOE: Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) – $25 million
Eligible Entities: Federal agencies, state, local, and tribal governments, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, for-profit entities, educational institutions, and nonprofits.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office’s (SETO) Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) funding opportunity will award $25 million for projects to enable communities to utilize solar and solar-plus-storage to prevent disruptions in power caused by extreme weather and other events, and to rapidly restore electricity if it goes down.
Projects will foster engagement and ongoing communication among multiple stakeholders such as utilities, municipal planners, emergency responders, community groups, and others, especially in underserved communities located in areas vulnerable to extreme events causing frequent energy and power service disruptions. In addition, projects will develop and demonstrate rapid energy restoration technologies based on the community resilience plan in order to increase the durability of photovoltaic (PV) systems.
Applications Due: May 27, 2022
For more information, visit funding opportunity
New! DOT: Low or No Emission Grant Program – $1.1 billion
The Low or No Emission Grant Program for FY 2022 provides $1.1 Billion in funding for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities such as recharging, refueling, and maintenance facilities.
Eligible Entities: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), county governments, state governments, city or township governments
Applications Due: May 31, 2022
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description
Building Resilient Infrastructure in Communities (BRIC) 2022
It’s not too early to prepare for 2022 BRIC funding. The notice of funding will come out August 2022 with mandatory letters of interest due October 3. A review panel will put out an invitation to apply October 14 to a subset of those that submitted letters. If chosen, sub-applications will be due November 18, 2022.
Watch “How to write a winning BRIC application” webinar
See winning applications – including BCA’s – from BRIC 2020
NEW Focus: Pump Assessment Offering — Municipal & Ag
Focus on Energy now offers a comprehensive pumping system assessment to identify performance issues and provide opportunities for energy efficiency improvements for municipal water/wastewater and agriculture customers are eligible to receive $500/pump assessed, up to 100% of the assessment cost. Qualifying motors must be 75 HP or greater and operate a minimum of 500 hours per year.Focus on Energy also offers a 50% bonus, up to $2,000, for installing a VSD on a pump system following a pump assessment. The total incentive, including the bonus, may not exceed the cost of the equipment and projects must be completed within six months of the assessment (no later than December 31, 2022).
Learn more by visiting the Water & Wastewater Facilities or Agribusiness pages.
Focus on Energy Special Sector Solar Incentive
As of September 1, 2021, FOCUS ON ENERGY® offers a new Special Sector Solar Incentive for non-profits, schools, government and Native American tribes and nations that are not eligible for federal tax credit.
This incentive will help organizations that do not qualify for the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to offset the cost of installing solar electric systems. The table below (click on download pictures) provides an incentive overview and additional details can be found on the Focus
Solar Incentives page.
Contact renewables@focusonenergy.com with any questions
Focus: Pump Assessment Offering – Municipal & Ag
Focus on Energy now offers a comprehensive sumping system assessment to identify performance issues and provide opportunities for energy efficiency improvements for municipal water/wastewater and agriculture customers are eligible to receive $500/pump assessed, up to 100% of the assessment cost. Qualifying motors must be 75 HP or greater and operate a minimum of 500 hours per year.
Focus on Energy also offers a 50% bonus, up to $2,000, for installing a VSD on a pump system following a pump assessment. The total incentive, including the bonues, may not exceed the cost of the equipment and projects must be completed within six months of the assessment (no later than December 31, 2022).
Learn more by visiting the Water & Wastewater Facilities or Agribusiness pages.
Focus: Staffing Incentives for Rural Healthcare facilities
Rural healthcare facilities are now eligible to receive up to an additional 20% in financial incentives to help offset the internal administrative costs to identify and implement energy efficiency projects. Find out more by visiting focusonenergy.com/ruralhealthcare.
NOTE: Offerings for rural industrial customers remain available through the end of 2022. Visit focusonenergy.com/ruralindustrial to learn more.
Solar on Schools
Through a vision and generous support from the Couillard Solar Foundation, MREA launched Solar on Schools to provide resources and grants to Wisconsin K-12 schools and select colleges pursuing solar PV systems.
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For more information and Couillard Solar Foundation
Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Funding
Solar PV Incentive Funding Status are available for commercial and multifamily businesses, local governments and schools, and residents. Of the $2.5 million allocated for 2022,a substantial amount has already been applied for in the first quarter. The amount remaining, as of February 8, 2022, in each incentive category listed below.
| Incentive | Total Budget | Amount Remaining |
| Residential Renewable Incentives | $1,500,000 | $1,165,000 |
| Multifamily and non-Residential Incentives – 0 to 100 kW | $1,000,000 | $436,846 |
| Multifamily and non-Residential Incentives – 100 to 300 kW | $1,000,000 | $584,190 |
| Multifamily and non-Residential Incentives – 300+ kW | $1,000,000 | $335,153 |
| Rural Bonus Incentives | $450,000 | $308,000 |
| Agricultural Producer Bonus Incentives | $240,000 | $74,546 |
2021 Focus on Energy Renewables Incentives
Residential Solar PV Incentives $1.5 million in 2021
| Residential Customer Solar PV Incentive |
| $500 per system |
- Residential customers can receive up to $500 to offset interconnection and permitting costs
- Rural incentive bonus = additional $500 per system in specified zip codes ($450,000 budgeted)
Business Solar PV Incentives
| System size in kW (DC) | Incentive | Max Incentive |
| 0 to 5 kW | $200 per kW | $1,000 |
| 5 to 10 kW | $1,000 + $150 per kW above 10 kW | $1,750 |
| 10 to 100 kW | $1,750 + $125 per kW above 100 kW | $13,000 |
| 100 to 300 kW | $13,000 + $100 per kW above 100 kW | $33,000 |
| 300 to 500 kW | $33,000 + $85 per kW above 300 kW | $50,000 |
NOTE: 2021 Solar Electric PV Reservation Application form is recommended to secure funding (in 2020, funds were used up quickly). The form can be used for PV systems for single family (1-3 units), Commercial or multi-family (4+ units), and agricultural producers. Be aware that the date of interconnection entered will be the final date funds are reserved for the project.
Grant Writing Basics Blog Series
Learn tips and advice for writing federal grant applications through the Grant Writing Basics Blog Series. The goal of the series is to provide the essential basics to begin writing on a solid foundation.
Topics covered include:
· How to Start Working on Future Funding Opportunities
· Demystifying Funding Opportunity Announcements
· Tips to Avoid Last Minute Problems
· Making Sure You Are Eligible before Writing
For more information and Couillard Solar Foundation
BCPL Funds School Clean Energy Projects
The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) makes loan funds available to Wisconsin School Districts for school energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The Board recognizes the economic materiality of climate change and potential impacts of climate change on investments. BCPL manages $1.2 billion in State Trust Funds that benefit K-12 public schools and the University of Wisconsin.
Applications
For more information about the funding opportunity. Direct questions to BCPL Loan Officer.
COVID-19 Financial Assistance
UW-Madison Small Business Development Center
The UW-Madison Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides no- cost consulting and assistance in this time of economic challenges due to COVID-19. There are SBDC offices across the state.