Funding Opportunities
Alliant Energy Foundation Offering Community Grants
The Alliant Energy Foundation partners with 501(c)3 customers and communities in Alliant territory in Wisconsin to solve problems, create opportunities, and help make life better through community grant and scholarship programs. In any of the following categories: Hunger and Housing — Workforce Readiness — Environmental Stewardship — Diversity, Safety and Wellbeing — Community Engagement. Under workforce readiness, programs in STEM and workforce development are included. These might relate to clean energy. Grants may range $500-$5,000.
Deadline: March 1, 2021
Learn more about this funding opportunity
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.
EPA 2021 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants – $46 million
Eligible Entities: regional, state, or local agencies; tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) and native villages; or port authorities, which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, and nonprofit organizations or institutions that: a) represent or provide pollution reduction or educational services to diesel fleets or b) have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality
To address diesel emissions and protect public health and air quality, EPA is authorized under Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) to offer funding assistance to accelerate the upgrade and turnover of the legacy diesel fleet. EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting applications nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions. DERA grants provide funding to eligible recipients so that they may implement programs which incentivize and accelerate the upgrading or retirement of the legacy diesel fleet. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles and equipment with EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies.
Applications Due: March 16, 2021
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description
Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants for Worker Training
The Wisconsin Fast Forward grant program awards funds to businesses from all Wisconsin industry sectors that reimburse the costs of customized occupational training for unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers. The customized, business-driven training will qualify workers for full time employment, higher level employment, or increased wages. Companies, public agencies, tribal governing bodies and consortia that include nonprofit organizations, UW and tech colleges can train workers in energy efficiency and renewable energy through this program.
$3 million is available with grant awards of $5,000-$400,000 per grantee
Applications due: Thursday, April 8, 2021
Submit grant proposals online to: http://wisconsinfastforward.com/wff_standard.htm
For more information: Grant Program Announcement
DOE Funding for Solar Hardware and Systems Integration
On December 16, DOE announced it will award up to $45 million for research projects that will advance solar hardware and systems integration, including the creation of a grid-forming technologies research consortium dedicated to advancing technologies that support the resiliency of the modernized electric grid. SETO’s 2021 Systems Integration and Hardware Incubator funding program will issue 10 to 20 awards, ranging from $500,000 to $25 million.
The funding program seeks research, development, and demonstration projects that enable solar to connect reliably and securely to the nation’s electric grid, while developing next-generation solar technologies and boosting U.S. solar manufacturing.
Register for the informational webinar on January 6, 2021, at 12 p.m. CT
Submit a mandatory letter of intent by January 11, 2021, at 4 p.m. CT
Full application due: March 29, 2021 4 p.m. CT
Learn more about this opportunity and its topic areas or apply here
ASHRAE Design Competition for Undergrads
ASHRAE sponsors competitions to encourage undergraduate students to become involved in a profession that is crucial to ensuring a sustainable future for our Earth – the design of energy-efficient HVAC systems. ASHRAE will recognize the outstanding student design projects at the 2022 ASHRAE Winter Meeting scheduled for January in Las Vegas, Nevada, and provides funding to attend.
The Integrated Sustainable Building Design (ISBD) competition’s aim is to encourage students to extend their knowledge beyond the core mechanical systems. For the ISBD category, the final design level presented may be in a preliminary stage, as the competition’s basic intention is to challenge students’ imaginative thinking and creative engineering approach to the building and all of its systems.
Teams may compete in one of the three categories:
- HVAC Design Calculations
- HVAC System Selection
- Integrated Sustainable Building Design (ISBD)
Amount: First Place: $2,000 plus a representative from the team will receive free transportation, two nights lodging and $100 expenses for attendance at the 2022 ASHRAE Winter Meeting
Entries due: May 4, 2021
ASHRAE website for more information
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.
|
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
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.