State Natural Resources Grants

The Indiana Office of Energy Development seeks proposals for Empowering Energy Partnerships in Indiana Communities to address energy needs at a community or regional scale. The program supports comprehensive solutions aligned with the state’s pillars of reliability, resiliency, stability, affordability, and environmental sustainability, and encourages partnerships with measurable public benefits. Eligible project topics include energy efficiency such as building upgrades and energy management technologies, alternative fueling and charging infrastructure that is publicly accessible, energy security and reliability including backup generation, microgrids, and cybersecurity, and clean energy resources such as solar, storage, geothermal, wind, and biomass. Vehicle purchases and certain high speed charging are not allowable under program rules. Projects should also demonstrate connections to state priorities such as economic development, workforce development, education, and public safety. Eligible entities include local units of government, nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, and institutions of higher education that are Indiana based and registered federally and with the state. Approximately 2,500,000 dollars is available, with anticipated awards averaging 300,000 to 500,000 dollars for project periods of up to three years. One proposal per eligible entity is allowed; applicants may coordinate regional submissions but cannot make tiered subawards. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the state’s process. Additional information is available from the Indiana Office of Energy Development.

This funding opportunity supports scientific research projects that evaluate the effectiveness of California's forest management regulations, targeting a wide range of applicants including government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations focused on sustainable land management.

This grant provides up to $750,000 in matching funds to public entities for the cleanup and restoration of local landfill sites, with the aim of protecting public health, safety, and the environment.

EBIP is intended to encourage adoption for low-income individuals of electric bicycles as a replacement for motor vehicle trips. Consistent with the goals of SB 375, EBIP would increase access to clean transportation options while offsetting vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by way of incentivizing electric bicycles (e-bikes). A portion of project funds would support the development and administration of a virtual bike safety class, so that consumers understand bicycle road safety. EBIP will provide incentives for eligible e-bikes to income-qualified consumers at the time of purchase, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Furthermore, EBIP will pilot an approach that aims to 1) help people replace car trips with e-bike trips, 2) increase access to electric bicycles, and 3) reduce GHG emissions. EBIP will be administered and implemented through a partnership between CARB and a Grantee, selected via this completive solicitation. Eligible applicants wishing to apply for the role of project administrator must submit an application via mail or in person to CARB no later than 5:00 p.m. (PDT) May 11, 2022. More information regarding the application process can be found in Section IX, Application Instructions of this solicitation.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program is a federal program authorized by Congress for the purpose of acquiring federal lands and assisting states and local governments with funds to acquire lands and develop and renovate outdoor recreation facilities. LWCF funds are appropriated by Congress to the U. S. Department of the Interior, National Parks Service (NPS), and NPS allocates the funds through state agencies as a grant program to state and local governments.

This program provides funding to county conservation boards in Iowa to improve and enhance fish habitats in local water bodies, promoting better fishing opportunities and water quality.

The Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC) Site Mitigation and Restoration Program Office of Brownfield manages the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant, which provides approximately $185 million in grants through a competitive process for investigations and cleanup of brownfields, in disadvantaged, vulnerable communities, to protect public health and provide opportunities for community revitalization.

The PEPO Statewide Initiatives Grant focuses on funding education and outreach initiatives that have a statewide or multi-basin impact in Colorado. Part of the Public Education, Participation, and Outreach (PEPO) Grant Program established in 2022, this category supports efforts such as developing new statewide education campaigns, conducting statewide water awareness surveys, and creating education materials to bolster public awareness on water issues. These initiatives must demonstrate support across multiple basins and align with priorities of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), guided by the Colorado Water Plan. This grant category underlines the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing water education and outreach across the state. Grant renewed every year. Grant Summer annual deadline: June 1st

This grant provides funding to municipalities, non-profits, and educational institutions in New York to restore and improve the health of tributaries in the Hudson River Estuary watershed, enhancing habitats and community resilience to flooding.

The City Parks and Open Space Grant, funded by 15% of REAP funds derived from gaming revenues, is a competitive grant program administered by the Iowa Legislature. This program is designed to support cities across Iowa in developing and maintaining their park and open space areas. The mission of this grant program aligns with fostering community well-being and environmental stewardship by providing accessible green spaces for public use. While not explicitly stating a foundation, the grant operates with a strategic priority of enhancing public spaces within cities through a state-level funding mechanism. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant are cities across all counties in Iowa, which then, in turn, benefit their residents by providing enhanced recreational and natural areas. The overarching impact goal is to improve the quality of life for Iowa citizens by increasing the availability and quality of public parks and open spaces. This goal is achieved through the allocation of funds based on city size categories, ensuring equitable distribution and impact across different community scales. The grant prioritizes projects that focus on the development and improvement of city parks and open spaces, with a clear exclusion of facilities for organized sports, athletic fields, pools, and playgrounds. This focus ensures that the funds are directed towards passive recreational areas and natural spaces, promoting a specific type of outdoor engagement. The program's theory of change appears to be that by providing financial incentives for cities to develop and maintain these specific types of public spaces, the overall health, happiness, and connection to nature for residents will improve. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number and quality of accessible city parks and open spaces throughout Iowa. While specific measurable results like the number of new parks or acres of open space created are not detailed, the competitive nature and funding distribution by city size suggest an intent for widespread improvement. The grant's no-local-matching-funds requirement also serves to ensure that smaller or less affluent cities are not excluded, thereby maximizing the reach and impact of the program across the state. Applications for this grant are due by August 15, 2024.

The 2024 Dairy Plus Program is a $58 million grant initiative aimed at supporting advanced manure management practices in dairy farming, offering up to $1,250,000 per project that proposes innovative methods for reducing methane emissions and nitrogen and salt surplus, with the funding being provided on a reimbursement basis after project completion.

This grant provides funding to agricultural landowners to implement projects that enhance wildlife habitats while supporting sustainable farming practices.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical assistance to New York municipalities for projects that revitalize waterfront areas, enhance climate resilience, and improve public access and water quality.

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is offering a grant to evaluate the feasibility of using existing underground gas storage facilities to store clean renewable hydrogen in California. This project aligns with the CEC's mission to advance California's clean energy goals by exploring innovative solutions for energy storage. The overarching goal is to assess the technical and economic viability of converting these facilities for hydrogen storage, contributing to the state's renewable energy infrastructure. The grant specifically targets projects that will benefit California Gas Investor Owned Utility (IOU) ratepayers. The project focuses on developing comprehensive technical and economic assessments of storing and retrieving hydrogen blends and/or pure hydrogen. Key priorities include engaging with local communities and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) around selected sites to assess awareness and support for underground hydrogen storage, and leveraging this feedback to inform experimental design. The project also emphasizes studying the characteristics of at least two existing underground gas storage facilities, conducting experiments to assess the impacts of hydrogen introduction on well integrity and reservoir dynamics, and proposing necessary mitigation measures for safety and reliability. Expected outcomes include quantitative risk assessments and techno-economic analyses for converting selected facilities, comparing costs and risks of various use cases, and estimating levelized costs of hydrogen storage, capital costs, and operations and maintenance costs. The project will also develop recommendations for Gas IOUs, CBOs, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders to guide decision-making on the future role of underground hydrogen storage in California. Optional but desired elements include comparing the levelized cost of hydrogen storage and life-cycle emissions with alternative storage options and examining the potential of storing hydrogen in saline aquifers. The CEC's strategic priority in offering this grant is to support the integration of clean renewable hydrogen into California's energy mix. The theory of change is that by thoroughly assessing the feasibility, risks, and economic implications of underground hydrogen storage, the state can make informed decisions about deploying this technology, thereby accelerating the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system. The grant, with a funding range of $2.5 million to $3 million and a duration of three years (November 1, 2024 – September 30, 2027), aims to produce actionable insights that can directly influence future policy and infrastructure development in California's hydrogen economy.

This grant provides financial assistance to local agencies and organizations in California for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities that help recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage waste, promoting cleaner waterways and safer boating experiences.

This program provides funding for community tree planting projects in areas affected by transportation developments, aimed at enhancing urban forestry and environmental quality.

This funding opportunity supports public agencies in California to create regional conservation plans that protect and restore habitats for vulnerable species through collaborative efforts and the use of scientific data.

Eligible Applicants: Local public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations qualified to do business in California, Public Utilities, Federally and non-federally recognized Native American tribes on the Native American Heritage Commission’s list, and Mutual water companies. Eligible Uses: Eligible projects include recycled water treatment; recycled water storage, distribution, and pumping; groundwater recharge; and indirect potable reuse. Ineligible Uses: Operation and maintenance costs.  Eligible Costs: All costs necessary to determine the feasibility of using recycled water and to select an alternative to offset or augment the use of fresh/potable water from state or local supplies may be eligible for the planning grant. Eligible Communities: All community types are eligible for funding.  This includes small and large communities, non-disadvantaged, disadvantaged, and severely disadvantaged communities. For more information, please review the Water Recycling Funding Program (WRFP) Guidelines: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/docs/wrfp_guidelines.pdf  

Eligible applicants include: • Manufacturers that produce (or will produce) an eligible product.• Waste tire processors that also manufacture an eligible product.• Manufacturers of devulcanized rubber.• Rubber compounders.• Manufacturers of calendered rubber sheeting products.• Manufacturers that produce products on a contract basis for other companies provided they have that other company’s written permission to produce an eligible product and receive the incentive. Eligible products include: • A new or existing product that has not benefited from the Tire-Derived Product Grant Program.• An existing or new/improved product currently manufactured with virgin rubber, plastic or other material which will be produced with a minimum of five percent crumb rubber and may be co-extruded, injected, compounded, calendered or otherwise combined (also known as “feedstock conversion”). This includes compounded rubber and calendered sheet rubber as intermediate products.• An existing or new/improved product currently manufactured with virgin rubber, plastic or other material which will be produced with a minimum of five percent devulcanized crumb rubber and may be co-extruded, injected, calendered or otherwise combined. This includes devulcanized crumb rubber as an intermediate product.• An existing or new/improved product that will use fine (≤50) mesh crumb rubber. Particle size and particle size distribution are determined in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D5644 and D5603 and will be verified by CalRecycle or a CalRecycle contractor.

Grants will be awarded for specific eligible activities, such as speaking on a panel, participating in a working group, or participation in other decision-making processes. The PP Grant Account cap per organization of $15,000 will ensure a proportional distribution of funds over time and across various organizations. Submissions for grant awards will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the grant period and payment for these discrete engagements will be prompt.