Partner Clean Energy Business Opportunities
EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement
Issued By: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA
Topic Areas: environmental justice, community resilience, clean energy
Application Deadlines: Applicants must submit application packages on or before April 10, 2023.
The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $30 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding through 83 cooperative agreements to provide funding for projects that address local environmental and public health issues within an affected community. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities. Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofit organizations or partnerships of community-based nonprofit organizations. More details. (Credit: EPA)
Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Issued By: US Department of Energy (DOE)
Topic Areas: rural infrastructure, clean energy
Application Deadlines: The current closing date for applications is Jun 28, 2023.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) authorizes DOE to invest $1 billion in energy improvements in rural or remote areas. DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program will provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that are replicable and scalable. This opportunity is designed to enable citizens in rural or remote communities to realize material benefits as the result of investment in their energy infrastructure. Learn more.
Eligible applicants include small businesses, local governments, public institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state governments, Native American tribal governments and more. (Credit: US DOE)
North Carolina Green Business Fund
Issued By: NC Green Business State Grant Program
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy
Application Deadlines: N/A
The North Carolina Green Business Fund State Grant Program is a Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional, Commercial, and Nonprofit program for those who have energy efficient improvements made with the following: Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Custom, Photovoltaic, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrogen, Renewable Energy Technologies, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies, Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, and Solar Thermal Process Heat. The program offers up to $500k. More details. (Credit: energy-grants.net)
Low or No Emission Vehicle Program
Issued By: US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Topic Areas: rural infrastructure, clean energy
Application Deadlines: The current closing date for applications is April 13, 2023
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $1.22 billion in competitive grants under the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. Synopses and full announcement will be posted on Grants.gov as opportunity FTA-2023-002-TPM-LWNO. More details. (Credit: grants.gov)
Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electrical Grid Program
Issued By: NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) State Energy Office
Topic Areas: grid, resilience, clean energy, infrastructure
Details: Public hearing on proposed grant application to be held 3/17/23 @ 10am. Comments accepted via email 3/10/23-3/24/23 (Location: First-floor training room, Green Square building 217 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC 27603)
NC DEQ’s State Energy Office will be holding a public hearing to solicit public input on its proposed grant application to the US Department of Energy’s Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electrical Grid program that was created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Interested participants can attend in-person or online.
More information, including a one-pager detailing highlights of the proposed grant application, will be posted here. Public comments may be submitted by email to: seo.publiccomments@ncdenr.gov.
To participate remotely: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting (Meeting ID: 280 106 513 652; Passcode: obcKY3)
EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement
Issued By: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Topic Areas: environmental justice, community resilience, clean energy
Application Deadlines: Applicants must submit application packages on or before April 10, 2023.
The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $30 million of Inflation Reduction Act funding through 83 cooperative agreements to provide funding for projects that address local environmental and public health issues within an affected community. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships to help them understand and address environmental and public health concerns in their communities. Eligible applicants include community-based nonprofit organizations or partnerships of community-based nonprofit organizations. More details. (Credit: EPA)
Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Issued By: US Department of Energy (DOE)
Topic Areas: rural infrastructure, clean energy
Application Deadlines: The current closing date for applications is Jun 28, 2023.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) authorizes DOE to invest $1 billion in energy improvements in rural or remote areas. DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program will provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that are replicable and scalable. This opportunity is designed to enable citizens in rural or remote communities to realize material benefits as the result of investment in their energy infrastructure. Learn more.
Eligible applicants include small businesses, local governments, public institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state governments, Native American tribal governments and more. (Credit: US DOE)
North Carolina Green Business Fund
Issued By: NC Green Business State Grant Program
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy
Application Deadlines: N/A
The North Carolina Green Business Fund State Grant Program is a Local Government, State Government, Agricultural, Institutional, Commercial, and Nonprofit program for those who have energy efficient improvements made with the following: Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Custom, Photovoltaic, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal Heat Pumps, CHP/Cogeneration, Hydrogen, Renewable Energy Technologies, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy, Renewable Fuels, Other Distributed Generation Technologies, Passive Solar Space Heat, Solar
Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, and Solar Thermal Process Heat. The program offers up to $500k. More details. (Credit: energy-grants.net)
Low or No Emission Vehicle Program
Issued By: US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Topic Areas: rural infrastructure, clean energy
Application Deadlines: The current closing date for applications is April 13, 2023
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of approximately $1.22 billion in competitive grants under the Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No Program) for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. Synopses and full announcement will be posted on Grants.gov as opportunity FTA-2023-002-TPM-LWNO. More details. (Credit: grants.gov)
Large Wind Turbine Materials and Manufacturing (FOA)
Issued By: The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on behalf of the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO)
Topic Areas: renewables, manufacturing, wind turbines, technology
Application Deadlines: Concept papers (3/23/2023 @ 5pm EST) and Full applications (5/9/2023 @5pm EST)
The goals of this FOA are to:
- Further develop broad, foundation, manufacturing “platform” technologies and address gaps and barriers that are limiting use of composite materials in clean energy and decarbonization-related applications with wind energy applications as the primary FOA focus;
- Enable additive manufacturing processes for rapid prototyping, tooling, fabrication, and testing of large wind blades;
- Apply additive manufacturing to non-blade wind turbine components; anMature nascent technologies, processes, and methods that improve one or more aspects of advanced composites manufacturing, including automation, and sustainability (including recycling) of these materials.
- Apply (Credit: US DOE Office of EERE)
Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (FOA)
Issued By: The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on behalf of the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO)
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, renewables, decarbonization, onsite energy technology
Application Deadlines: Letter of Intent (2/28/2023 @ 5pm EST) and Full applications (4/21/2023 @5pm EST)
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is issuing, on behalf of the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships.” This FOA will invest up to $23 million for the development and operations of the Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs). This FOA supports DOE’s industrial decarbonization strategy by providing technical assistance to help industrial facilities and other large energy users increase the adoption of clean onsite energy technologies.
This FOA will make awards in two Topic Areas.
Topic Area 1: Regional Onsite Energy TAPs will fund up to 10 entities to serve as regional Onsite Energy TAPs. Each TAP will represent a multi-state region and serve as the primary technical, market, and policy point of contact for end-users and other state and local stakeholders that engage with the Onsite Energy TAP Program.
Topic Area 2: Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center (TASC), will fund one (1) national entity to serve in the role of Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center. The TASC will centrally coordinate technical analysis and programmatic activities of the Onsite Energy TAP Program. The TASC will serve as the liaison between the regional Onsite Energy TAPs, the IEDO Program Manager, and national lab experts supporting this program.
Apply (Credit: US DOE Office of EERE)
Career Opportunities—NC Department of Environmental Quality
Issued By: NC Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ)
Topic Areas: clean energy, energy efficiency, weatherization, environmental services, natural resources, technology, engineering, recycling and waste management
Application Deadline: Depends on position
NC DEQ is in the process of hiring for a wide variety of positions across the state. These jobs will play key roles in funding allocation and project management as the state pursues its clean energy transition. Postings are typically on the website for an average of 5-10 business days so checking regularly is a good idea.
Clean School Bus Program Funding
Issued By: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Topic Areas: electric vehicles, electrification, transportation
Application Deadline: See timeline below
With funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s new Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years (FY 2022-2026) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models. EPA is offering $500 million through the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates for zero-emission and low-emission school bus rebates as the first funding opportunity. EPA will continue to update this page with additional Clean School Bus Program funding information and educational resources.
Two Resources for Findings Federal Funding Opportunities
Issued By: American Cities Climate Challenge and Interagency Working Group on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization
Topic Areas: federal funding, clean energy, local communities, economic development
Application Deadline: N/A
- Created by the American Cities Climate Challenge, the Federal Funding Opportunities for Local Decarbonization (FFOLD) tool helps users learn about the many federal funding opportunities that exist for advancing local decarbonization efforts.
Navigating these opportunities and making strategic decisions on how to best utilize the funds available can be challenging. This tool helps local governments prioritize and leverage existing federal funding to advance system-wide energy transition goals—from block grants and technical assistance to competitive grants, loans, and revolving loan funds.
Find more information on and download the FFOLD Tool at the American Cities Climate Challenge website.
- The Interagency Working Group on Coal & Power Plant Communities & Economic Revitalization created a centralized clearinghouse that features billions of dollars in existing federal funding sources. This government-wide list offers easy access to energy communities applying to fund infrastructure, environmental remediation, job creation, and community revitalization efforts.
Electric Coalition’s EV Funding Finder
Issued By: Electric Coalition (EC)
Topic Areas: electric vehicles, federal funding, transportation electrification
Application Deadlines: N/A
The Electric Coalition (EC) has released a new tool to enable cities, states, businesses, and other partners to identify EV funding opportunities across the country. Sources will span the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and other programs that have increased EV and EV charging infrastructure eligibility. The finder, which will be updated regularly, can be found here.
Please contact us at infrastructure@electrificationcoalition.org for further questions.
One North Carolina Small Business Program
Issued By: NC Department of Commerce
Topic Areas: small business, technology, community development, clean energy, workforce development
Application Deadline: Dependent of Solicitation Period and county status
The One North Carolina Small Business Program is comprised of two programs:
- The SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program (***new this year)
- The SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds Program.
As authorized by North Carolina General Statute § 143B‑437.80 the SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program provides reimbursement to qualified NC businesses for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposals to federal agencies. The goal of the Incentive Program is to increase the number, quality, company and technology diversity, and geographic breadth of NC applications for Federal SBIR and STTR Phase I awards.
As authorized by North Carolina General Statute § 143B‑437.81 the SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds Program awards matching funds to NC businesses who have received a federal SBIR or STTR award. The goals of the Matching Program are to help NC companies bridge the funding gap period between the final Phase I payment and the first Phase II payment in the Federal Program and increase the intensity of the research conducted under Phase I, making NC small businesses more competitive in the competition for Phase II funds.
If you have questions regarding the programs overall or eligibility, please contact the OSTI staff.
American Cities Climate Challenge Justice40 Capacity Building Fund (J40 Fund)
Issued By: Bloomberg Philanthropies
Topic Areas: environmental justice, community development, clean energy, workforce development
Application Deadline: Awards issued on a rolling basis, early applications encouraged
The J40 Capacity Building Fund provides capacity building and technical assistance services to community-based organizations to implement projects which support the investment areas of the federal Justice40 Initiative. Some of the J40 investment areas include clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, and training and workforce development. Selected community-based organizations will receive awards of up to $30,000 to partner with their local government to carry out community-led projects which help expand access to the benefits of federal climate and clean energy investments. All proposed projects must be completed before August 1, 2022 and led by a community organization that serves environmental justice communities. To access additional application support and materials, please visit the J40 Capacity Building Fund webpage.
Clean Energy to Communities Program
Issued By: Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program
Topic Areas: renewables, partnerships, collaboration, clean energy innovations, systems analysis
Application Deadlines: N/A
This $50 million program provides communities with the expertise and tools needed to achieve clean energy goals, with funding by the US Department of Energy and managed by NREL. C2C connects local governments, tribes, electric utilities, and community-based organizations with national laboratory experts and analysis to achieve clean energy systems that are reflective of local and regional priorities. To support communities. C2C offers three types of involvement: in-depth partnerships, peer-learning cohorts, and expert match. See details.
(Credit: NREL)
Energizing Rural Communities Prize
Issued By: US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
Topic Areas: clean energy, partnerships, financing
Application Deadlines: Application period opens March, 2023
The $15 million Energizing Rural Communities Prize asks individuals and organizations to develop partnership plans or innovative financing strategies to help rural communities improve their energy systems and advance clean energy demonstration projects. There will be two tracks:
- The Partner track ($10 million): Supports plans to connect rural communities to government funding, technical assistance, or a network of partners that can help implement clean energy demonstration projects.
- The Finance track ($5 million cash prize pool): Supports plans to access capital or to develop community ownership models to help finance clean energy demonstration projects in rural or remote areas.
(Credit: American-Made Challenge)
Buildings Upgrade Prize
Issued By: US Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO)
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, building codes, clean energy
Application Deadlines: Dependent on phase (see details)
$22 million will be awarded by the US DOE’s BTO to support scalable solutions to advance energy efficiency and electrification of existing buildings. Upgrades can include the move to efficient electric appliances (heat pumps and water heaters) and improving building efficiency through insulation and air sealing. These efforts will help reduce carbon emissions and energy costs, while improving indoor air quality and occupant comfort.
(Credit: US DOE BTO)
All of the following positions can be credited to: NASEO’s The Week Ahead
DOE Notice of Intent: Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
Issued By: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Topic Areas: electric vehicles, recycling, second use battery
Application Due Date: TBD
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released this Notice of Intent (No. DE-FOA-0002679) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement. DOE anticipates making $60 million available to fund research, development, and demonstration projects in two areas. First, Recycling Processing and Reintegration into the Battery Supply Chain. Second, Second Use Battery Scale Up and Demonstration.
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) Funding Opportunity Exchange
Issued By: US Department of Energy (DOE)
Topic Areas: clean energy, renewables, energy efficiency, building codes, clean energy
Application Deadlines: N/A
Stay up to date with the most recent DOE funding opportunities here.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Resilient and Efficiency Codes Implementation Program
Issued By: US Department of Energy
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, building codes, clean energy
Application Deadlines: TBD
Applicants may now apply for the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Program first $45 million disbursement, which was announced in a Notice of Intent and shaped by responses to a Request for Information. Applicants must include a state agency to be eligible, and they may apply in strategic partnership with other organizations, such as state or local building departments, builders, contractors, architects, engineers, other design and construction professionals, academia, research, trade organizations, consumer advocates, regional energy efficiency organizations, and other stakeholder interests who play an important role supporting the successful implementation of building codes.
To apply for this Funding Opportunity Announcement, applicants must register with and submit application materials through EERE Exchange here. Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 5:00 p.m. ET on the due date to be eligible to submit a Full Application.
(Credit: US DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program: Notice of Intent and Funding Allocations Released
Issued By: US Department of Energy Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP)
Topic Areas: state, local, tribal, energy efficiency, conservation
Application Deadlines: Unspecified
The US DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) has released a Notice of Intent (NOI) and draft State, Local, and Tribal allocation amounts for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG), which was authorized $550 million by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Approximately $123 million will go as formula grants to State Energy Offices, who are required to sub-grant at least 60 percent of their allocations to cities and counties in the state not receiving direct formula grants under the program. According to the NOI, DOE anticipates issuing further guidance and application materials in January 2023.
DOE Notice of Intent to Fund Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships
Issued By: US Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy
Application Deadlines: Unspecified
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced a Notice of Intent to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that will establish a regional network of Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) to help industrial facilities and other large energy users increase the adoption of onsite energy technologies. Such technologies include battery storage, combined heat and power (CHP), district energy, geothermal, industrial heat pumps, renewable fuels, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, thermal storage, and wind power. The FOA is expected to include about $23 million in federal funding through cooperative agreements, with periods of performance of one to three years, for the following:
- Topic 1 - Regional Onsite TAPs:Funding up to 10 entities to serve as regional Onsite Energy TAPs, each serving a multi-state region.
- Topic 2 - Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center:Funding one national entity to serve as the Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center.
EERE plans to issue the FOA via EERE Exchange in January 2023. To encourage a diverse range of project teams, EERE will provide a Teaming Partner List where interested parties can provide contact information and indicate areas of expertise and interest. Please submit questions and comments electronically to onsiteenergy@ee.doe.gov.
DOE Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Funding Opportunity Announcement
Issued By: US Department of Energy
Topic Areas: community, resiliency, energy efficiency
Application Deadlines: Concept papers due January 31, 2023- full applications due March 27, 2023
The US DOE published the Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation program of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Monday, December 19, 2022. Grants are available for between $500,000 and $10 million. State Energy Offices and state department responsible for building energy codes are eligible recipients for these funds, and partnerships will be prioritized for funding. U.S. DOE indicates that it anticipates awarding between 10 and 30 grants. Concept papers are due on January 31, 2023. Full applications are due on March 27, 2023. If you have questions, please contact Ed Carley, Senior Program Director (ecarley@naseo.org).
RFP – State Energy Security Plan (Nevada)
Issued By: Nevada Governor's Office of Energy (GOE)
Topic Areas: energy, planning
Application Deadlines: TBD
The Nevada Governor's Office of Energy (GOE) is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to write a State Energy Security Plan (SESP). The State desires solutions that focus on early results and outcome driven design. The State desires solutions that can affect positive change quickly and have a lasting effect. The expected start date of this study will in March 2023, with an expected end date of September 30, 2023.
DOE Releases Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Revolving Loan Fund Program Guidance
Issued By: US Department of Energy
Topic Areas: energy efficiency, loans, energy finance, residential, commercial, building codes
Application Deadlines: Applications are due no later than April 21, 2023.
The US DOE has released guidance documents for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Revolving Loan Fund Program (RLF Program). The RLF Program allocates $250 million to State and Territorial Energy Offices to capitalize revolving loan funds to conduct audits and finance energy efficiency improvements in the residential and commercial building sectors. The guidance documents include application instructions for the capital available under the program, the capital allocations for the program (including priority state allocations), an application checklist, the reporting template, a template for declining funds for the program, and the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document for the states.
For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact Sam Cramer, Senior Program Director, at scramer@naseo.org.
