Funding Resources

Taking local action on climate change and clean energy is hard enough. Let us help you identify ways to pay for it.

Featured Active Funding Opportunities

Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation ($45M) – DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) is issuing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation.

DOE expects to make a total of approximately $45,000,000 of federal funding available for new awards under this FOA, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. DOE anticipates making approximately 10-30 awards under this FOA. DOE may issue one, multiple, or no awards. Individual awards may vary between $500,000 and $10,000,000.

The eXCHANGE system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants.

Application deadline is March 27th, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Department of Energy

Adaptation Planning Grant Program ($25M) – OPR

As communities in California experience more frequent, prolonged, and severe impacts of climate change, many are faced with planning for and responding to ongoing and worsening hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, drought, extreme weather events, and sea level rise. Furthermore, many jurisdictions lack the capacity, tools, guidance, and resources to effectively prepare for these climate impacts. This capacity gap hinders the ability of communities to develop and implement plans that build resilience and reduce future risk.

Application deadline is March 31, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Governor’s Office of Planning and Research

SGC: Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) ($750M)

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) and the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) are pleased to announce the release of this Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for approximately $750 million.

The AHSC Program will assist project areas by providing grants and/or loans, or any combination thereof, that will achieve GHG emissions reductions and benefit Disadvantaged Communities through increasing accessibility of affordable housing, employment centers, and key destinations via low-carbon transportation resulting in fewer vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through shortened or reduced trip length or mode shift from Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV) use to transit, bicycling, or walking.

Application deadline is April 4, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Strategic Growth Council

EPA: Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Program (EJG2G)

The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and tribal level to support  government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.

Model EJG2G programs should leverage existing resources to develop processes or tools that integrate environmental justice considerations into governmental decision-making at all levels.

EPA is soliciting applications for projects that transform overburdened and underserved communities into healthy, thriving communities capable of addressing the environmental and public health challenges they have historically faced, as well as current and future challenges. Applications must show successful partnerships with community-based nonprofit organizations (CBOs) and other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address disproportionate environmental and public health harms related to pollution and climate change at the state and local level.

 

Application deadline is April 10, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Environmental Protection Agency

EPA: Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS)

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working to address local environmental or public health issues in their communities.  The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions to environmental or public health issue(s) at the community level.

The EJCPS Program requires selected applicants, or recipients, to use the EPA’s Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Model to address local environmental or public health issues in a collaborative manner with various stakeholders such as communities, industry, academic institutions, and others. The case studies listed in the resources section below highlight some of the successful strategies of previous projects.

Application deadline is April 10, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Environmental Protection Agency

NFWF: National Coastal Resilience Fund 2023 (NCRF) ($140M total) – Pre-Proposal Deadline: April 12, 2023

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is pleased to announce the 2023 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) Request for Proposals (RFP). NFWF will make investments in planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions. The goal is to enhance protections for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural coastal hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife.

NFWF will award approximately $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems to increase protection for communities from current and future coastal hazards and improve habitats for fish and wildlife species. The availability of federal funds estimated in this solicitation is contingent upon the federal appropriations process; funding decisions will be made based on level of funding and timing of when it is received by NFWF.

Pre-Proposal Application deadline is April 12, 2023. 

Funding Organization: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

DOE: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) ($550M IILJ)

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.

Calling all EECBG entities! Please share your plans, ideas, and questions around EECBG. Responses are optional and will help shape the Department of Energy’s administration of the EECBG Program.

Pre-Award Information Sheet deadline is April 28, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Department of Energy

Caltrans: Clean California Local Grant Program ($100M total) (CCLGP) – Application Deadline: April 28th, 2023

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) developed the Clean California Local Grant Program through which funds will go to local communities to beautify and improve local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, and transit centers. Through the combination of adding beautification measures and art in public spaces along with the removal of litter and debris, this effort will enhance communities and improve spaces for walking and recreation.

Application deadline is April 28, 2023. 

Funding Organization: California Department of Transportation

EPA: Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) – Metro area Notice of Intent due April 28, 2023, application due May 31, 2023

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program will provide grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution. Section 60114 of the Inflation Reduction Act provides an investment of $5 billion to support efforts by states, municipalities, air pollution control agencies, tribes, and groups thereof to develop and implement strong, local greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

The CPRG program is designed to provide flexible support to states, local governments, tribes and territories regardless of where they are in their climate planning and implementation process.

Notice of Intent is due April 28, 2023.

Application deadline is  May 31, 2023

Funding Organization: Environmental Protection Agency

California Automated Permit Processing Program – CalAPP

The CalAPP Program is accepting applications for grant funding. The application deadline is May 2, 2023. Please review the Solicitation Manual and Terms and Conditions prior to completing an application. These documents and the application form can be accessed via the link provided in the Solicitation Information tab below.

Application deadline is May 2nd, 2023. 

Funding Organization: California Energy Commission

Program Upgrading Our Electric Grid and Ensuring Reliability and Resiliency ($5B from IIJA) – Grid Innovation Program

The Program Upgrading Our Electric Grid and Ensuring Reliability and Resiliency is designed to provide federal financial assistance to demonstrate innovative approaches to transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure to harden and enhance resilience and reliability; and to demonstrate new approaches to enhance regional grid resilience.

Application deadline is May 19th, 2023. 

Funding Organization: Department of Energy

DOE: Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) Phase 1 – winners selected March-May until funds are expended

Developed by the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office (BTO), Buildings UP aims to build capacity to rapidly and equitably transform U.S. buildings. Teams will submit innovative concepts to leverage the billions of dollars available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), utility rebate programs, and many other funding sources, capitalizing on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to equitably transform a wide variety of buildings across diverse geographies. As teams progress through the prize, they will receive cash prizes and technical assistance to help bring their ideas to life.

Applications Submitted Ongoing Through May 2023 or Funds are Exhausted

Funding Organization: Department of Energy

OGALS: Recreational Trails Program ($6.7M total) – Application Deadline: June 15th, 2023

The non-motorized RTP funds recreation trail projects are for pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians that may also serve as non-motorized transportation corridors.

Eligible applicants are Cities and Counties, Districts, State Agencies, Federal Agencies, and Non-Profit Organizations with management responsibilities of public lands.

Application deadline is June 15th, 2023. 

Funding Organization: The Office of Grants and Local Services 

OGALS: Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) ($7.5M total) – Application Deadline: June 15th, 2023

The Habitat Conservation Fund allocates approximately $2 million each year to cities, counties, and districts. Funding from several Fiscal Years are being combined for the upcoming cycle. The program requires a 50% match. Eligible projects include: nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails.

Application deadline is June 15th, 2023. 

Funding Organization: The Office of Grants and Local Services 

SGC: Transformative Climate Communities – due August 1, 2023, free TA available now

The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program funds development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits in California’s most disadvantaged communities. TCC is one of many California Climate Investments programs.

SGC invites applications for TCC Round 5 Implementation, Project Development, and Planning Grants.

Application deadline is August 1, 2023

Funding Organization: Sustainable Growth Council

Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)

The CPUC’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) offers rebates for installing energy storage technology at both residential and non-residential facilities. These storage technologies include battery storage systems that can function during a power outage.

Application deadline is ongoing. 

Funding Organization: CA Pubic Utilities Commission

Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD)

Application deadline is ongoing. 

Funding Organization: CA Energy Commission

Making Our Homes More Efficient: Clean Energy Tax Credits for Consumers

Homeowners, including renters for certain expenditures, who purchase energy and other efficient appliances and products. Fill out IRS Form 5695, following IRS instructions, and include it when filing your tax return. Include any relevant product receipts. Consumers can claim the same or varying credits year after year with new products purchased, but some credits have an annual limit.

This opportunity is live now. 

Funding Organization: Internal Revenue Services

CA Clean Mobility Options Voucher Program

The Clean Mobility Options Voucher Pilot Program (CMO) is making $1 million in voucher funding available to eligible applicants and communities to conduct Community Transportation Needs Assessments. The vouchers, worth up to $100,000 each, help underserved communities identify and address their transportation challenges; increase residents’ awareness on clean transportation; educate community members about zero-emission mobility options such as car sharing, bike sharing, and other unique transportation modes; and prepare residents to share input on preferred solutions. Additionally, a set-aside of at least $200,000 is available to eligible tribal governments. The application window opens at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 2, 2022, and vouchers will be awarded on a first‑come, first-served basis.

Application deadline is ongoing. 

Funding Organization: CA Air Resources Board

Cost Share for Federal Clean Energy Funding Opportunities

To provide cost share funding to applicants that apply for and receive one of the following: An award under an eligible federal Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and meet the requirements of this solicitation, or follow-on funding from the U.S. DOE to continue research from PON-14-308, GFO-18-902, or this GFO and the proposed project meets the requirements of this solicitation.

Application deadline is ongoing. 

Funding Organization: CA Energy Commission

On the Horizon

TSAF: 2023-2024 Tribal Solar Facility/Residential Grant – Opens March 31st 2023

The TSAF Facility/Residential Grant is for federally-recognized tribes and tribal-led organizations who are seeking up to $200,000 for solar pv distributed energy systems on tribal residential homes or tribal facility structures.

Sign up for the informational webinar here.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.

Deployment of Technologies to Enhance Grid Flexibility

The Deployment of Technologies to Enhance Grid Flexibility Program provides funding and expansion of eligible activities under the Smart Grid Investment Matching Grant Program established under section 1306 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Building Codes Implementation for Efficiency and Resilience

The Building Codes Implementation for Efficiency and Resilience Program is a competitive grant program to enable sustained, cost-effective implementation of updated building energy codes to save customers money on their energy bills.

EPA: EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program

EPA is seeking public input on the new Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) program that will distribute $3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding through grants and technical assistance. This Request for Information (RFI) related to the Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) Grant Program, is seeking public input on multiple aspects of the program.

Regional Resilience Planning & Implementation Grant

The Regional Resilience Planning & Implementation Grant Program will support regional projects and plans that improve regional climate resilience and reduce risks from climate impacts, including wildfire, sea level rise, drought, flood, increasing temperatures, and extreme heat events.

Energy Improvement in Rural and Remote Areas

To help inform Department of Energy’s (DOE) implementation of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program, this Request for Information (RFI) seeks input on:

Outcomes the program should seek to deliver for residents of rural or remote areas, and the types of innovative energy projects that achieve those outcomes and meet the authorization language; considerations that could impact programmatic design or strategy; community benefits, including energy and environmental justice (EEJ), diversity, equity inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) considerations; and quality jobs, and ways to broadly share knowledge gained and impacts.

Responses to this RFI will be used by DOE for planning purposes to develop the ERA Program, which may include the use of Technical Assistance, Prizes, Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), Other Transactional Authorities (OTAs), or Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIAs). The information collected will not be published.

DOE: Home Energy Rebate Program (IRA, $582M allocated to CA) see summary ($582 State allocation)

The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced nearly $9 billion will be available to states and Tribes from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act for consumer home energy rebate programs, enabling communities to make homes more energy efficient, upgrade to electric appliances, and cut energy costs. DOE estimates that the historic home energy efficiency and electrification consumer rebates authorized will save households up to $1 billion annually.

DOE will issue a Request for Information for public input in early 2023. DOE anticipates that the funding to states and Tribes will be available by Spring 2023, and the rebates will be available to the public later in the year.

Applications Anticipated Within the Next Year

Behind-the-Meter Zero-Emission Backup Technologies

The California Energy Commission is gathering information for a potential future solicitation focused on research needed to develop emerging solutions to enable plug-and-play, zero-emission resiliency at reduced costs through standardized design. Stakeholders are not required to respond to every question of this RFI. In fact, stakeholders are encouraged to respond specifically to the questions they feel most suit their knowledge and background.

Behind-the-meter zero-emission renewable backup power is feasible, but effective and safe integration requires additional costly equipment such as battery storage, battery inverters, and transfer switches. Resilient systems require expensive customization in comparison to lower-cost, drop-in backup power generators that use diesel or gasoline as their fuel source. These fossil fuel-powered generators, emitting large amounts of criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, are deployed during outages from extreme heat, nearby wildfire, and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events that are exacerbated by climate change. Breaking this unsustainable feedback loop requires transitioning to zero-emission backup power, which has affordability challenges that can be especially difficult for low-income and under-resourced communities.

Microgrid Incentive Program

The Microgrid Incentive Program is intended to provide funding for community, local and tribal government-driven, reliability and resilience projects with benefits including:

  •  Increased electricity reliability and resiliency in communities that may be at higher risk of electrical outages.
  • Increased reliability for critical infrastructure facilities such as fire stations, schools, and nursing homes that keep communities safe.
  • Reduced impacts of power outages and minimized disruptions for low-income households, individuals who rely on un-interrupted power, utilize assistive and/or medical equipment, or experience other access and functional needs.
  • Reduced Greenhouse Gas emissions by deploying clean generation technologies and expanding the market for resiliency solutions that do not rely upon diesel generation.

While the program concept is approved, the program design and implementation details still need to be worked out.  Staff and the program administrators will continue to seek input from a wide range of stakeholders via public workshops and other public processes on how to best serve the electrical needs of vulnerable communities with the program investments.

Community Resilience Centers (CRC)

SGC’s CRC program will fund new construction and upgrades of neighborhood-level resilience centers to provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies. The program will also fund year-round services and ongoing programming that build overall community resilience.

Local Government Energy Program

Foundational programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program, which both have more than 40 years of successfully delivering energy savings across the country, will complement newly formed programs such as the Local Government Energy Program and Energy Futures Grants, enabling DOE to work for the first time ever, with local governments and communities for the long term.

Through the disbursement of formula grants, DOE will extend the core capabilities of state energy offices and expand the weatherization provider network to assist low-income families with home energy retrofits. Competitive awards will further the innovation by states and local governments seeking to implement high-impact and self-sustaining clean energy projects. In addition, technical assistance will help to facilitate clean energy programs and practices through “best practice” tools, “lead-by-example” methods, peer-to-peer forums, and other strategic partnerships.

Energy Storage Demonstration and Pilot Grant Program – Application Estimated to Open Q3 of 2023

The Energy Storage Demonstration and Pilot Grant Program is designed to enter into agreements to carry out 3 energy storage system demonstration projects.

Eligible uses include the following:

  1. To improve the security of critical infrastructure and emergency response systems.
  2. To improve the reliability of transmission and distribution systems, particularly in rural areas, including high-energy cost rural areas.
  3. To optimize transmission or distribution system operation and power quality to defer or avoid costs of replacing or upgrading electric grid infrastructure, including transformers and substations.
  4. To supply energy at peak periods of demand on the electric grid or during periods of significant variation of electric grid supply.
  5. To reduce peak loads of homes and businesses.
  6. To improve and advance power conversion systems.
  7. To provide ancillary services for grid stability and management.
  8. To integrate renewable energy resource production.
  9. To increase the feasibility of microgrids (grid-connected or islanded mode).
  10. To enable the use of stored energy in forms other than electricity to support the natural gas system and other industrial processes.
  11. To integrate fast charging of electric vehicles.
  12. To improve energy efficiency.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

The Inflation Reduction Act amended the Clean Air Act to create a new program: the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. This first-of-its-kind program will provide competitive grants to mobilize financing and leverage private capital for clean energy and climate projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions – with an emphasis on projects that benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities – and further the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice.

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) NEVI Formula Program will provide funding to states to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability. Funding is available for up to 80% of eligible project costs, including:

  • The acquisition, installation, and network connection of EV charging stations to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability;
  • Proper operation and maintenance of EV charging stations; and,
  • Long-term EV charging station data sharing.

Other Assistance

Climate Action and the Inflation Reduction Act Guide for Local Government Leaders

Climate Mayors, a bipartisan coalition of nearly 500 mayors, and C40 Cities, a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities, recently released, “Climate Action and the Inflation Reduction Act: A Guide for Local Government Leaders,” a guidebook to help local leaders understand the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and all the resources available to them through the law. The guidebook – supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies – advises U.S. mayors and city staff on the opportunities for local governments, organizations, and businesses to implement the Inflation Reduction Act and address climate change. It highlights where funding could flow directly to cities and where cities will need to collaborate with other partners, including state governments and community organizations, to deploy funding in a way that accelerates climate action and advances equity.

Reach Codes Newcomers Webinar Series Recordings

this webinar series helps reach code newcomers (and anyone who wants to learn more about reach codes) gain a greater understanding of the options, resources and timeframes involved. Sessions are timed for jurisdiction staff who are exploring reach code adoption in alignment with the new statewide 2022 Building Energy Code, effective January 1, 2023.

Transformative Climate Communities Program

The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program funds development and infrastructure projects that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits in California’s most disadvantaged communities. TCC is one of many California Climate Investments programs.

Grant support workshops available through February: TCC Application Assistance

CCEC Funding and Assistance Program Database

Opportunities to Provide Input

Funding agencies will often request input on funding programs before they are made available. These are critical opportunities for local governments to influence these programs so they are scoped and designed to better meet local energy and sustainability needs. Your participation is completely optional, but for those that can spare the capacity, a little input could lead to a lot of outcomes!

Find External Funding

Information on external funding opportunities for climate and energy initiatives for which local governments are eligible recipients.

CCEC Funding and Assistance Program Database

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