Farm Energy Funding Opportunities

The Small Renewables Initiative (SRI) provides rebates for the installation of wind and small hydroelectric projects that are up to 10 kilowatts and located at residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public facilities. The applicant (and project site) must be a customer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility. SRI involves the distribution of approximately $3.6 million of rebates each year through FY2010.

This Department of Energy funding opportunity announcement for $7 million is seeking applications offering practical, cost-effective methods for stabilizing biomass fast pyrolysis oil. The funding supports advanced research and development in converting non-food based biomass to advance clean and affordable biofuels. Applicants are encouraged to partner with other organizations having capabilities uniquely suited to the objectives of this announcement. A 20 percent match is required.

This program provides grants to qualifying individuals from We Energies’ electric service territory to attend a renewable energy conference. Eligible participants include faculty members in good standing at secondary schools, colleges, technical colleges and universities, full-time staff members of non-profit organizations, and representatives from private renewable energy companies. Awards in this annual capped program are made based on eligibility and highest level of suitability. Applications must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month, two months prior to the conference date.

The Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) is soliciting applications to implement renewable energy projects limited to solar electric, wind electric, and solar thermal systems for all non-residential customer classes in Ohio. Qualifying projects will be eligible to apply for grants to cover a portion of the costs of eligible projects located in the service territories of four investor-owned electric distribution companies. Incentive funds are limited, but qualifying applications will be funded until all the funds for this NOFA are awarded.

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund is happy to announce the release of Project 150 Round 3 Request for Proposals. CCEF intends to award $50,000 to each project selected for recommendation to the electric distribution companies. Eligible renewable energy resources include wind, solar, fuel cells, wave or tidal power, ocean thermal, low emission advanced biomass conversion technologies, and landfill gas resources. Selected projects must primarily generate electricity for the wholesale electricity market and must deliver at least 50 percent of the rated capacity and associated energy produced to the wholesale electricity market.

Puget Sound Energy is interested in encouraging small-scale renewable energy projects that develop and/or apply clean, environmentally preferred, renewable power. Accordingly, PSE will make grants and investments in projects that displace thermal generation resources with new, small-scale renewable energy resources in its electric service area. Letters of Enquiry are accepted at any time.

EPA issues annual solicitations for Phase I and Phase II research proposals from science and technology-based firms. Under Phase I, the scientific merit and technical feasibility of the proposed concept is investigated. EPA awards firm-fixed-price Phase I contracts of up to $70,000. Phase II contracts are limited to small businesses that have successfully completed their Phase I contracts. EPA has opened its 2008 SBIR Phase I solicitation requesting research proposals from small businesses in the following areas: Innovation in Manufacturing; Nanotechnology; Green Buildings; Drinking Water and Water Monitoring; Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation; Monitoring and Control of Air Pollution; Biofuels and Vehicle Emissions Reduction; Waste Management and Monitoring and Homeland Security.

The "SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program" notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emission reduction projects through national or multi-EPA regional innovative financing program(s). The total estimated funding available under this competitive opportunity is approximately $3 million. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 1-4 cooperative agreement(s) from this announcement.

Governor Doyle is launching a $150 million, ten-year grant and loan program to make Wisconsin a leader in renewable energy. The program will support cutting-edge research and development, the manufacture and production of new clean energy products, and ways to make clean energy use widespread and cost-effective. Average awards may range between $100,000 and $500,000. Matching funds of at least 50% of total project costs are required.

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announces the second round of a grants competition to assist Appalachian communities in leveraging renewable-energy and energy-efficiency resources to revitalize their economies. ARC expects to provide eight to ten awards of up to $75,000 each, for a total of $500,000 in awards, to help communities implement these strategies. Nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, and public educational institutions located within the Appalachian Region are eligible to apply.

We Energies offers Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants to its business and not-for-profit electric customers as well as to organizations teamed with We Energies business and not-for-profit electric customers. This program helps to cover the costs of studying the feasibility of installing a renewable electricity generation project at a customer’s facility. Funds also can be used to conduct research on a renewable energy product or technology, or to help demonstrate or commercially advance a renewable energy product or technology into the marketplace. We Energies funds half the cost that remains after other funding sources are applied to the cost of the study or project, up to a maximum grant of $200,000. Grant proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability of funds.

USDA will accept $220.9 million in loan and grant applications within USDA's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. Loan guarantees and grants are available to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project's cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. USDA will issue one grant solicitation for two separate competitions in FY 2008. For the first competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no later than April 15, 2008. For the second competitive window, grant-only applications must be submitted no earlier than April 16, 2008, and no later than June 16, 2008. Applications for loan guarantees, as well as those for loan/grant combinations must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development State Office no later than June 16, 2008. ATTRA has also put together a 'Farm Bill Section 9006' informational paper. It is available here [PDF/67KB]

EPA announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emissions reductions projects to be funded jointly by EPA Regions 6 and 7, and carried out in the ten-state geographic area encompassed by the Blue Skyways Collaborative, which includes the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Estimated total program funding is $5 million, with individual awards not to exceed $2 million. Local governments and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

US EPA announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emissions reduction projects in EPA Region 4, which includes the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and Tribal lands belonging to the federally recognized tribes in these states. Estimated total program funding is $3,600,000, with a a maximum award of $750,000.

US EPA announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emissions reduction projects in EPA Regions 1 and 2, which include the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont—including Tribal lands belonging to the federally recognized tribes in these regions, or the territory of the US Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emissions reductions projects in EPA Region 8, which includes the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Estimated total program funding is $2 million, and grants of $100,000 to $750,000 are available.

This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits proposals for diesel emissions reductions projects in EPA Region 5, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Total program funding is $5 million, and grants from $100,000 to $750,000 are available.

EPA Region 3, as part of the Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative, announces the availability of funds and solicits project proposals from eligible entities to reduce diesel emissions in EPA Region 3. The total estimated funding is approximately $3.1 million available for the deployment of EPA-verified and certified technologies. EPA Region 3 anticipates making 5-10 awards ranging from $200,000 to $1,000,000.

Energy Trust is working with the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and Oregon State University to help Oregon dairies invest in anaerobic digesters to turn manure into biogas that can be used as a fuel to generate electricity. Cash incentives are available to qualifying dairies. Dairies can learn what a standard incentive offering for a project would be by using an online spreadsheet. Initial applications are accepted continuously.

This program provides low-interest loans to small businesses in Minnesota to finance environmental projects such as capital equipment upgrades that meet or exceed environmental regulations, and costs associated with the investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites. These loans help small businesses help themselves with environmental projects.

Southern California Gas Company offers its food service customers rebates of up to a total of $25,000 for updating the gas equipment in kitchen facilities with high-efficiency models. Rebates range from $125 to $2000 for specified equipment, properly installed.

MDU Resources Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit institutions, organizations and programs within the geographic areas where member companies conduct business. (This includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.) One of the Foundation priorities is environment, including organizations which promote the wise use of resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Application forms are available from the Foundation by mail.

The Energy Foundation is a partnership of major donors interested in solving the world's energy problems. Their mission is to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy—new technologies that are essential components of a clean energy future. The foundation's Board of Directors meets three times a year (the first week of March, the third week of June, and the first week of November). Proposals are accepted on a continuous basis, for projects in line with the Foundation's identified funding priorities.

Schoolteachers at qualifying public, private and parochial schools near major PPL facilities in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Illinois, Montana and New York can receive up to $1,500 in funding for school projects that focus on issues like watersheds and wetlands, air quality, renewable and non-renewable resources, energy conservation and the greening of schools. Grants are available for projects that enhance established classroom curricula and academic standards, or support extracurricular activities of school organizations and clubs.

This program provides low interest loans to small PA businesses undertaking projects in the Commonwealth that reduce waste, pollution or energy use. Loans will be used to fund 75 percent of the total eligible project cost, up to a maximum of $100,000.

The Mississippi Energy Investment Program, administered by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), is designed for making loans to qualified borrowers to promote development and demonstration of efficient, environmentally acceptable and commercially feasible technologies, techniques and processes while effectively utilizing the state's existing alternative and conventional energy resources to foster economic and social growth. Eligible projects include retrofits and energy design process developments. Rate will be 3% below New York Prime Rate and fixed rate will be set upon loan approval.

The Iowa Energy Center announces its solicitation for Conference and Small Demonstration Projects for FY 07-08. This RFP seeks to provide funds to develop and present conferences, workshops, exhibits, events and small demonstrations in support of the Center’s mission areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Rural Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program has been established by MARBIDCO to help agricultural operations and other resource-based businesses to install equipment or make operational improvements that reduce the consumption of energy. The goal of this program is to help rural businesses to reduce energy consumption while at the same time to increase profitability. Under this program, businesses may apply for a grant up to 10% (not to exceed $5,000) of the cost of purchasing and installing equipment or technology related to lowering business-related energy consumption.