State Energy Grants

The Agrivoltaics Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program supports innovation and research in the agrivoltaics industry to support agricultural producers and further Colorado’s renewable energy transition. Donor Name: Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) State: Colorado County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/21/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This grant encourages innovative projects, including demonstrations of agrivoltaics, research projects, and outreach campaigns to further agrivoltaics and Colorado’s agricultural economy. Funding Information Up to $500,000 is available for projects that study the potential, benefits, and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics in Colorado. The maximum grant award is $249,000 for a single project application. Eligible Expenses  All expenses must be directly related to the goals and outcomes in the grantee application. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to: Salaries Travel expenses (aligned with the rates defined by the US General Services Administration) Direct costs including but not limited to: Construction costs, including materials and labor Research supplies Payment or lease of needed equipment Marketing or outreach materials Permitting Project Assessments and feasibility studies Contractor payments Indirect costs (maximum 5% of grant award). Eligible Projects  Eligible project types include: Construction of agrivoltaics systems and agrivoltaics demonstration projects. Expansion of existing demonstration projects of agrivoltaic systems. Research projects that focus on understanding the benefits, incremental costs, and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics systems. Outreach and communication projects focused on agrivoltaics benefits and/or obstacles. Eligibility Criteria  Tribal or local government; Colleges, universities, or other institutions of higher education; Other research organizations; Energy providers, including electric cooperatives, utilities; 501(c)3s; For-profit entities; Farmers, Ranchers, other Individuals. For more information, visit CDA.

This program provides funding to Pennsylvania school districts, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to help them transition to cleaner transportation through projects like purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and installing refueling equipment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to various public and nonprofit entities for replacing outdated diesel marine engines with cleaner technologies and for training programs that prepare individuals for careers in zero-emission transportation.

This grant provides funding to local governments and private entities in Michigan to replace old diesel vehicles and equipment with all-electric alternatives, promoting cleaner air and sustainable practices.

This solicitation presents an opportunity to shift towards on-site clean, dispatchable generation technologies, addressing the evolving generation mix and ensuring an ample supply of resources to meet the demands of critical facilities during the net peak period while maintaining system reliability. These technologies are well-suited to ensure a reliable and resilient energy supply for critical infrastructure on-site, including communications, healthcare, government offices, and many more, to provide on-demand load and peak matching. As such, this solicitation will focus on advancing emerging clean, dispatchable generation technologies, such as fuel cells or linear generators, using 100 percent renewable fuels, especially for critical sectors like industrial and commercial that have operational needs during peak hours. The projects from this solicitation will be deployed in these critical sectors and will reduce their demand on the grid, thereby decreasing the reliance from fossil-gas power plants during times of high electricity demand. Expected outcomes include on-site pilot-scale deployment of cost-effective and highly efficient clean, dispatchable generation technologies that will support energy demand of critical facilities and reduce the strain from the state’s electric grid while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants by curbing fossil-based generation. Ultimately, these projects will contribute to supporting the state's decarbonization goals, enhancing the reliability and strengthening the resilience of the state’s electric grid by increasing the availability of on-site clean, dispatchable generation technologies.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to establish networks that help clean energy contractors and nonprofits in economically challenged areas of Illinois, including Waukegan, Champaign, Danville, Carbondale, East St. Louis, and Alton.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to public housing authorities, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for energy efficiency upgrades in single-family or duplex homes that assist residents in areas facing environmental justice challenges.

The Equitable Energy Future Grant Program, established by Public Act 102-0662, is intended to provide grants of up to $1 million promoting renewable energy1 and energy efficiency2 projects that will accomplish any or all of the following: • Provide benefits to low-income communities wherein at least 50% of projected energy produced or saved benefits low-income households3 or not-for-profit organizations providing services to low-income households, affordable housing owners, or community-based businesses providing services to low-income households; • Invest in equity investment eligible communities (defined below); • Provide on-the-job training; • Support contractors who are participating in or have demonstrated an intent to participate in the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program and the Clean Energy Primes Contractor Accelerator Program (when operational

The Community Solar Energy Sovereignty Grant Program will support pre-development and development of community solar projects that promote community ownership and energy sovereignty. Grants will be awarded to applicants that best demonstrate the ability and intent to create community ownership and other local community benefits including: • local community wealth building via community renewable generation projects. • Grants shall be prioritized to applicants for whom o the proposed project is located in and supporting an equity investment eligible community or communities; and on proposed project provides additional benefits for participating low-income households.

The purpose of the EECBG Program is to assist eligible local governments ("eligible entities") in implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy use, improve energy efficiency, and build a clean and equitable energy economy. The Illinois EPA Office of Energy identified the following project topic areas for funding eligibility: Energy Planning and Energy Efficiency: Energy Audits, Building Upgrades. Entities may develop various programs and projects that address one or more of the purposes in a cost effective manner that is of maximum benefit to the population served. Funding may not be used for regularly scheduled maintenance.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for its Ag Research Grants. Donor Name: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture State: Pennsylvania County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/07/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The Department of Agriculture (Department) is soliciting applications to conduct agricultural research on one or more of the following research topic areas, with the research to be conducted from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with the possibility, but not the assurance, of extending that research into subsequent years. All funding is contingent upon 2024-2025 budget appropriations. This notice establishes the procedures by which grant applications will be solicited and reviewed, and by which grants will be awarded. Research Topic Areas  Though not exclusive of original research topics, the Department is particularly interested in funding projects in the following areas: Ongoing multiyear research projects. The Department has, in previous years, provided funding for various multiyear research projects that might be continued or extended to complete research the Department identifies as addressing continued priorities of the agricultural industry, such as: Examining the economic impact of pest infestations like Phorid Flies and Spotted Lanternflies and identifying mitigating measures. Measuring the impacts on the Chesapeake Bay on farm management practices that have not received Federal or State Government cost-sharing assistance. Agriculture The Department requests applications for projects that: Gather and analyze food action plans. Study the impact of the Double Up Food Bucks program. Analyze of the Senior Food Nutrition Program and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program. Study of the surplus food recovery. Validate consumer affairs reporting on PA food prices. Analyze of the TEFAP program. Analyze/survey PA workforce. Study economic impact. Survey carbon community planners. Analyze Urban Agriculture capacity index. Incentivizing urban agriculture land stewardship. Identify current and potential funders for urban agriculture. Identify soil testing and remediation strategies for urban agriculture, particularly how these strategies can be operationalized, their benefits measured and the cost of implementation. Assess the quantity and quality of available on-farm and off-farm housing for agricultural workers, including farm owners. Study barriers to land access, particularly for BIPOC farmers and in rural communities. Energy in agriculture The Department is interested in further scientific study in areas such that: Analyze and map energy generation from agricultural products, plastic products and waste products. Analyze options to reduce greenhouse gases emitted by normal agricultural operations. Identify challenges and opportunities with Agrivoltaics such as gaps, barriers, implementation of panels modified to support Pennsylvania agriculture. Life Science The Department seeks applications that address animal health concerns, such as: Wildlife crop damage. Impacts to states on changing Medicare rules to allow more fresh foods to consumer health. One Health—Proposals that promote humans, the environment, animals, living together harmoniously. Animal Health—Proposals that improve or seek to understand aspects of animal health important to agriculture in this Commonwealth. Diagnosis of Animal Diseases—Proposals that promote the diagnosis of animal diseases that are important to Commonwealth animal agriculture. Animal Productivity—Proposals that seek to improve the productivity of agricultural animals in this Commonwealth. Animal Welfare—Proposals that seek to improve the welfare of agricultural animals in this Commonwealth. Review and recommend Federal Milk Marketing Order recommendations that would be most beneficial to PA dairy industry. Review and recommend alternatives to the current PA Milk Board Over-Order Premium that would be most advantageous to the PA dairy industry. Chronic Wasting Disease strategy development to reduce incidents and (or) live animal test development. Manufacturing The Department requests applications for projects that address: Food production residual waste. Assess incentives needed to increase organic processing. Biodegradable packaging and other environmental factors in selecting food and beverage products. Pharmaceutical or industrial uses for milk proteins or other milk components. Assess conversion of spent mushroom substrate to bio-char on energy and biomass uses and soil amendment uses. Robotic Technology Research what technology farmers use now and what technology they may use in five years. Assess the application and deployment of Augmented Reality on Pennsylvania animal and plant industries. For more information, visit Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The Oregon Department of Energy is now accepting applications for its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Donor Name: Oregon Department of Energy State: Oregon County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/08/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The purpose of this Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program Opportunity Announcement is to solicit subgrant applications and outline the procedures for the selection of subrecipients through a rolling process, following the requirements of the federal legislation and rules under which the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant is administered. Objectives  The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant provides grants to: Reduce fossil fuel emissions in a manner that is environmentally sustainable & maximizes benefits to communities. Reduce a community’s total energy use. Improve energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and other sectors. Build a clean and equitable energy economy that prioritizes disadvantaged communities and promotes equity and inclusion in workforce opportunities and deployment activities, consistent with the Justice40 Initiative. Funding Information ​The Oregon Department of Energy has about $1.2 million available for grants to eligible local governments for energy efficiency, renewable energy, or transportation-related projects. The minimum grant for a qualifying community is $50,000. The maximum grant amount is $100,000. Period of Performance If awarded, a grant applicant’s Performance Agreement will outline the timeframe required to receive the grant award. In general, EECBG Performance Agreements are anticipated to provide 24 months from the date of the agreement for the project to be completed. Eligible Applicants  An applicant must be an Oregon unit of local government which was not otherwise eligible to receive a direct EECBG formula grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE). For more information, visit DOE.

This grant provides funding for industrial facilities to implement projects that improve electrical grid operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while a separate program supports food production facilities in achieving similar goals.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance for water and energy audits to local governments, Native American tribes, and designated management agencies to improve their wastewater management facilities and practices.

This grant provides financial support to applicants seeking federal funding for clean hydrogen projects, specifically those applying for opportunities from the Department of Energy.

This solicitation will target technologies that have the potential to demonstrate cost-effectiveness and scalable to multiple industrial facilities with potential to increase confidence for adoption.

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.     

The purpose of this solicitation is to provide cost share funding to applicants that apply for and receive one of the following:  An award under an eligible federal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and meet the requirements of this solicitation, or  Follow-on funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to continue research from a previously awarded federal grant that also received Energy Commission federal cost share funding under PON-14-308, GFO-18-902, or this GFO and the proposed project meets the requirements of this solicitation.   Continuously Updated Eligible Cost Share Opportunities Before applying, applicants are encouraged to check Eligibility Requirements in Section II of this solicitation. As new eligible cost share opportunities are released, the Energy Commission will revise this document with corresponding information on how to apply for cost share for that funding opportunity. Information on currently eligible funding opportunities can be found in the Eligible Federal Funding Opportunities section of the Eligibility Requirements (Section II.A.). The Energy Commission will provide cost share only to applicants that are applying for a federal funding opportunity or follow-on funding as described above. If the applicant has already received a federal award or follow-on funding and is seeking retroactive cost share, that application will not be eligible for CEC cost share funds under this solicitation.

Carbon Removal Innovation Support Program (CRISP) This program was created under Assembly Bill (AB) 209 (The Energy and Climate Change budget bill, Chapter 251, Section 13, Chapter 7.8, Article 1, enacted in September 2022). The purpose is to implement advanced technologies for direct  air capture of atmospheric carbon.   Program and Funding Areas Eligible projects include, but not limited to, technology research, development and demonstrations and prototype and pilot research test centers to remove atmospheric carbon. Ineligible projects do not include a project to benefit petroleum or gas production, processing or refining through enhanced oil or gas recovery. 

The California Climate Crisis Act (AB 1279, 2022) established targets to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 85% below 1990 levels and reach carbon neutrality by 2045. Supporting this legislation, the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) 2022 Scoping Plan specifies that carbon removal activities such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are new approaches that will need to be deployed to help achieve these GHG emissions reduction goals. Carbon dioxide (CO2) utilization is a promising approach in facilitating adoption of carbon capture and carbon removal while partially diverting the need for long term transportation and underground storage of CO2. Current CO2 utilization technologies are at an early stage of development and bear technical, economic, and market uncertainty. The carbon footprint associated with the energy consumption required to convert CO2 into value-added products prevents large-scale deployment of these technologies. The purpose of this solicitation is to improve the energy efficiency of innovative approaches and processes for manufacturing commodities using CO2 captured from industrial operations burning fossil gas. The goal is to decarbonize difficult-to-abate industrial fossil gas use via carbon dioxide utilization to create value-added products.