Funding Opportunities
Clean Energy to Communities Program: In-Depth Partnerships
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has an open request for proposal for communities of all types for two to four new in-depth partnerships under the Clean Energy to Communities Program: In-Depth Partnerships, each including up to $500,000 in subcontracting funding and $3,500,000 of technical assistance from one or more national laboratories. Successful community teams will bring electric utilities and local governments together to solve cross-sectoral energy transition challenges. In-depth partnerships help communities develop a validated plan to put clean energy ambitions into action and address key energy challenges. Partnerships are composed of local government, community-based organizations, electric utilities, and other key organizations that can represent the community. These partnership teams work alongside national laboratory staff to apply robust modeling and analysis tools and conduct hardware-in-the-loop demonstration of solutions adapted to the community’s unique conditions and contexts. This multiyear partnership allows local decision makers to evaluate and test potential scenarios and strategies in their energy transition before full technology deployment, thereby lowering risks to implementation.
Eligibility: Local Governments, Community-based organizations, and utilities are eligible to apply.
Deadline: Proposals are due June 14, 2024.
Community Change Grants
U.S. EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.
Eligibility: At least two partnering community based organizations (CBOs), or a CBO partnered with a local government, institution of higher education, or federally-recognized tribe. Additional collaborators encouraged, but not required.
Deadline: Deadline to apply is November 21, 2024.
Interested in partnering on a Community Change Grant application? Explore the 30 plus organizations already participating in the Teaming Partner List, administered by Sustainable Pittsburgh. With teaming lists, organizations from various sectors can explore potential partnerships with others and gain a better understanding of available expertise and resources.
Click the button below to access the Teaming Partner List and learn more about the organizations already engaged in this collaborative effort.
Webinar
Getting Cashback for Clean Energy: Direct Pay Tax Credits for Nonprofits
The DOE Renew America’s Nonprofits Program is hosting a webinar Tuesday, May 21 at 1PM ET highlighting a new funding opportunity: Elective Pay (also called “direct pay”). As a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, nonprofits are now eligible to receive direct cash payments equal to the full value of tax credits for qualifying clean energy or transportation projects.
Hospitals, housing providers, religious institutions, and other community-based organizations are invited to learn more about eligible technologies and how tax-exempt entities can take advantage of tax credits worth up to 70% of the project cost.
Speakers include:
- Alex Kate Halvey, AAAS Fellow, DOE Office of Policy
- Daniel Bresette, President, Environmental and Energy Study Institute
- Ben Evans, Federal Legislative Director, U.S. Green Building Council
Technical Assistance
Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy (C-SITE) Program
The U.S. Department of Energy’s new annual program will provide $18 million for the Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy (C-SITE). The program provides direct funding and technical assistance for implementing high-impact clean energy projects. Funded projects may span a variety of technology areas including, but not limited to: building efficiency and/or electrification, electric transportation, energy infrastructure upgrades, microgrid development and deployment, renewable energy, resilience hubs, and workforce development. C-SITE awards will deliver long-term local economic development and community revitalization opportunities and direct benefits to workers and residents, such as workforce agreements, reduced energy costs, and improved air quality. Awarded communities will receive comprehensive technical assistance (TA) from experts to help facilitate the development and implementation of projects or programs.
Nonprofits can partner with local or Tribal governments, potentially strengthening an application since DOE will prioritize projects with clear demonstrated support from local community partners and relevant decision-makers.
Eligibility: Prime recipients must be local or Tribal governments representing disadvantaged communities, energy communities, or small- and medium-sized jurisdictions.
- Applicants may partner with other organizations, which may receive funding as a subrecipient. Subrecipients can include nonprofit organizations, academic and/or research institutions, local and regional planning organizations, philanthropic organizations, and more.
- For eligibility definitions and an illustration see the C-SITE Eligibility Map.
Deadline: Deadline to apply is May 31, 2024.