Funding Opportunities
USDA: REAP Grants & Guaranteed Loans
Rural Energy for America (REAP) guaranteed grants and loans of $2 billion over the next decade for rural ag producers and rural small businesses are now available (rural = population less than 50,000). Grants were increased through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to offset 40% of project costs and they cover both energy efficiency and renewable energy. Note: this does not cover residential farm energy projects (unless install second meter). Funding for underutilized renewable energy technologies for $303.8 million is included.
Due Date: March 31, 2023, for Round 1 grants; for grants less than $20k and greater than $20k. $1million per applicant ceiling. Total $820 million available
Guaranteed loans on a continuous monthly cycle; up to $25 million per loan.
Contact your WI Rural Development Energy Coordinator early: Brenda.Heinen@usda.gov ; 715 619-3123
EPA: Environmental Justice Grants – $100 million
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting applications under two programs: the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program and the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program. Both programs provide funding for projects that address environmental and public health issues in underserved and overburdened communities. These grant programs further the President’s Justice40 initiative that directs that 40% of the overall benefits of some of the federal investments in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) flow to overburdened communities to promote environmental justice and access to healthy air, clean water, jobs, and a thriving future.
EJ Collaborative Problem-Solving Cooperative Agreement Program: ~$30 million provided to community-based nonprofit organizations and partnership of these organizations ($5million earmarked to nonprofits with less than 5 full-time employees).
Approximately 50 awards of $500,000 and 33 awards of $150,000 for a 3-year performance period.
The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issues in their communities.
Deadline: April 14, 2023 before 10:59 PM – CST
The EJCPS Program requires selected applicants, or recipients, to use the EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model to address local environmental or public health issues in a collaborative manner with various stakeholders such as communities, industry, academic institutions, and others.
EJ Government-to-Government (G2G) Program: $70 million in funding. Of this, $20 million will be for State governments to be used in conjunction with Community-Based Organization (CBO) partners $20 million will be for local government with CBO partners, $20 million will be for Federally Recognized Tribal Nations with CBO partners, and $10 million will be for U.S. territories and remote tribes with limited access to CBO partners.
Approximately 70 projects of up to $1 million each for a 3-year project
The program is designed to support and/or create model state activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms and risks.
Informational Video on the Environmental and Climate Justice Communities Grants Program
Deadline: April 14, 2023 before 10:59 PM – CST
DOE Grants for Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities – $80 million
This funding is the first tranche of funding in a $500 million investment, to make clean energy improvements in K-12 public schools. Funds will empower school districts to make upgrades that will lower facilities’ energy costs and improve student learning environments.
Deadline: April 21, 2023
Eligible Entities: Consortium of One Local Education Agency and one or more Schools, Non-Profits, For-Profits, and Community Partners
USDOE: Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program RFP
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program is accepting Requests For Proposals (RFPs) for in-depth technical partnerships. These partnerships will help address challenges to support communities in achieving local clean energy ambitions.
The C2C program will select four to five communities for in-depth technical partnerships that provide funding and technical assistance to develop sustainable energy solutions. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and other national labs will help the selected communities develop secure, reliable, resilient, and affordable energy systems that align with local and regional priorities.
Due Date: May 17, 2023
Learn more and access the RFPs
NEW DOT: Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant – $700 million
With funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), this first of 5 years in charging & fueling infrastructure (CFI) funding ($2.5 B total) is to bring EV charging stations to urban and rural areas, and low-income communities across the country. Funds will cover up to 80 percent of the cost of the mostly Level 2 electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure.
Eligible Applicants: States, cities, counties, Tribes, municipal planning organizations, local governments, and Public and State institutions of higher ed
Applications Due: May 30, 2023, 10:59pm CST
To Apply: grants.gov
DOT Webinars: Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program
March 21, 2023, 12:00 -1:00 Registration Link
March 22, 2023, 1:00-2:00 Registration Link
DOE: Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP)
Through the Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP), DOE is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy-efficiency and building electrification upgrades.
Eligibility: Community-based organizations, state governments, local governments, Indian tribes, building owners, utilities, nonprofit organizations, energy-efficiency program implementers, and other organizations are encouraged to team up and apply, with submissions accepted starting February 18, 2023.
Up to 50 Application Support Prizes of $5,000 and 10 hours of technical assistance are available to help new and under-resourced teams complete applications.
Deadline: The application period is open now and will be awarded on a rolling basis. Phase 1 submissions due: July 18, 2023
Informational Webinar (ACEEE): March 7, noon
Informational Webinar (USDOE): March 9, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CST
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program
$550 Million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is available to support community-based clean energy in state, Tribal, and local governments through US DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. There are two programs: formula grants and competitive grants.
DOE: EECBG Formula Grant Program is Accepting Applications
The US Department of Energy (DOE) opened the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Formula Grant Application January 2023 with $442 million in funds. These funds finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure), capital investments, projects, and programs.
Applications by States will be accepted through July 2023.
Applications by Local Governments and Tribes are accepted through January 2024 or until funds are expended.
Eligible Entities: More than 2,700 state, local, and Tribal governments are eligible for funding. There are 3 eligibility lists that include the entities and the allocation amount for each:
DOE published the EECBG Program Administrative and Legal Requirements Documents in January. Eligible entities use these to apply for formula funding.
Information about EECBG Funding, eligible expenses and more
EECBG Program Webinars
- January 25, 2023 12:00-1:00 p.m. CST: Introduction to the EECBG Program for States
- January 26, 2023 from 12:00-1:00 p.m.: Introduction to the EECBG Program for Local Governments
- February 1, 2023 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. ET: Introduction to the EECBG Program for Tribal Governments
DOE: EECBG Competitive Program
DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program sets aside more than $8 million for competitive grants for local governments, including Indian tribes, that were not eligible for a direct formula allocation from DOE. DOE released a Request for Information (RFI) for the competitive program with comments due January 13, 2023.
New! DOE Office of Indian Energy Powering Unelectrified Tribal Buildings – $15 million
Applications Due: to be determined
Eligible Entities: Indian Tribes, which include Alaska Native Regional Corporations and Village Corporations, Intertribal Organizations, and Tribal Energy Development Organization
Through this funding opportunity, the Office of Indian Energy plans to deploy energy infrastructure or integrated energy system(s) to provide electricity to unelectrified Tribal buildings.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity.
Grant Application & more information: Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships
Learn more about SETO’s workforce development programs and open funding opportunities
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.