Funding Resources and Incentives for Energy-Related Programs
Fall 2024 Edition
Dear Colleagues,
In Fiscal Year 2025, NCTCOG will once again focus on sending out quarterly updates with a digest of funding resources and incentives related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy resilience and other related topics that may be of interest to our members. This email is the fourth of these quarterly updates. We hope that you find this curated list helpful as you are considering implementing new projects or programs at your entity and are looking for funding. When considering any funding source or incentive program, please confirm your eligibility first and start the application process early!
A copy of these quarterly updates will be posted on the Energy Management, Efficiency, and Renewable Energy webpage for ease of reference. Did we miss an important resource or incentive that you are aware of? Share your feedback with our team!
Check out these new resources now available on the Conserve North Texas website!
Featured Funding and Incentives
Notice of Intent: Solar Module and Solar Hardware (SMASH) Incubator
The Department of Energy has announced its intention to address the lack of sufficient private investment that is available to bring innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) technology to market by awarding up to $20 million for research and development (R&D) and research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects. Successful applications will be selected from three topic areas:
- Crystalline silicon (c-Si) module technology;
- Cadmium telluride (CdTe) module technology; and
- Non-module hardware technology.
This potential NOFO will encourage innovations in photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing across the supply chain, with the aim of reducing our reliance on imported materials and technologies.
Deadline: EERE plans to issue the NOFO on or about November 7, 2024
Eligibility: For-profit entities will be the primary recipients of awards through this NOFO. Institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, nonprofit entities, state and local governmental entities, and federally recognized Indian Tribes are all eligible subrecipients.
WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants
The second application period for the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Water and Energy Efficiency Grants is now open. The WaterSMART program supports States, Tribes, and local entities as they plan for and implement actions to increase water supply sustainability. Through the Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Program, the Bureau of Reclamation provides financial assistance to support projects that implement renewable energy components, lead to sustained and quantifiable water savings, and ultimately support broader sustainability benefits. Projects should aid in conserving and using water more efficiently, increasing the production of renewable energy, mitigating conflict risk in areas at high risk of future water conflict, and contributing to resiliency and sustainability in the Western United States.
Deadline: November 13, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. CT.
Eligibility: Applicants eligible for Category A include States, Tribes, irrigation districts, or water districts; state, regional, or local authorities, the members of which include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority. Nonprofit conservation organizations acting in partnership with Category A entities are eligible to apply for Category B. All applicants must be located in one of the 17 western states, under which Texas is included.
Community Power Accelerator Round 3
Following the success of Rounds 1 and 2, the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Technologies Office has opened Round 3 of the Community Power Accelerator. Organizations interested in developing and financing a portfolio with two or more projects totaling at least 1 MW AC of distributed solar generation, such as community solar or microgrids, are invited to apply for Round 3. Portfolios must include the benefits of Equitable Access and Consumer Protections and Meaningful Engagement, along with one of the following:
- Resilience, Storage, and Grid Benefits
- Community-Led Economic Development
- Solar Workforce Development
An informational webinar covering the details of the Community Power Accelerator Round 3 will be held on November 13, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. CT. Those interested in attending should register here.
Deadline: December 17, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. CT.
Eligibility: In addition to solar developers, Round 3 welcomes co-developers, organizations partnering with a project developer, and other non-developers to apply. These may include community-based organizations; state, local, and tribal governments and their agencies; and more.
Learn more here: Community Power Accelerator Prize – Round 3
2024 Clean School Bus Rebates Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the fourth round of funding for the Clean School Bus Rebates Program with up to $956 million available for school districts to transition to cleaner school bus technologies. This round of funding builds on almost $3 billion worth of prior investments, with funding going towards further improvements to air quality in and around schools, reductions in greenhouse gas pollution, and the acceleration towards developing clean vehicles of the future. Applicants may request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses, which can go towards covering both bus and infrastructure costs and eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses and infrastructure. Additionally, electees may also be able to apply Inflation Reduction Act tax credits towards their bus and infrastructure purchases.
The EPA will be hosting an informational webinar and reviewing frequently asked questions about the Clean School Rebate Program on November 18, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. CT. Those interested can register here.
Deadline: January 9, 2025
Eligibility: Local or State governmental entities responsible for either providing school bus service to one or more public school systems, or for the purchase, lease, license, or contract for service of school buses; a public charter school district responsible for service of school buses for that charter school; or Regional Education Service Agency or Joint Transportation Agency with an NCES ID specific to either RESA or JTA.
Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize
The Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has launched the Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize (Prize) under the American-Made Challenges Program umbrella. The Prize aims to create quality jobs and foster an inclusive and equitable workforce in clean energy through the formation of place-based coalitions. Each coalition will be working to address a specific workforce development challenge. These groups will also focus on a clean energy employment opportunity for a target audience in a defined geographical area. Through the Prize, coalitions will be equipped with the tools to ensure that good jobs and access to these jobs by target populations are being achieved through clean energy programs and investments.
Deadline: January 31, 2025
Eligibility: Each coalition is required to have at least one representative from each of the following stakeholder groups:
- Labor organizations
- Clean energy employers
- Community-based organizations
- Public agencies
- Education and workforce providers
Grant Writing and Application Resources
One Last Note
In Case You Missed It - Funding Opportunities Still Open
The following funding opportunities, shared in previous funding digest emails, are still available or open for application.
Deadline: November 21, 2024
Deadline: March 6, 2025
NCTCOG Staff Contacts:
|
|
|
