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
CEC: Decarbonizing Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems in Large Buildings
The purpose of this solicitation is to fund applied research and development projects that develop decarbonization solutions for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in large commercial buildings with an emphasis on technology advancements, energy efficiency, replicability, and use of ultra-low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants.
Application deadline is September 15, 2023
Funding Organization: California Energy Commission
Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program
The goal of the PACE Program is to support clean, affordable energy growth across America. The PACE Program provides loans to eligible entities, with varying levels of loan forgiveness, for Projects that generate and/or store electricity from RER.
Letter of Interest deadline is September 29, 2023
Funding Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Energy for America Program Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants in California
The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Application deadline is September 30, 2023
Funding Organization: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Energy Future Grants (EFG): Phase 1
EFG will provide support for at least 50 multi jurisdictional teams. Teams should be ideally comprised of 3-4 or more state, local, and/or tribal government partners joining together on a planning project. Multi-jurisdicational teams (e.g.,,, cities and state, tribes and cities, states, cities and tribes, etc.) are encouraged to also partner with community benefit organizations. Additional partners can including academia, think tanks and/or utilities positioned to turn innovative (novel or early action) ideas into solutions that address barriers to clean energy deployment. EFG plans will provide direction for ensuring measurable benefits reach communities and support Justice 40, which directs 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to flow to disadvantaged communities.
Application deadline is September 30, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
Community Power Accelerator Prize – Round 2
Round 2 of the American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize: Accessing Capital to Deploy Equitable Community Solar launched in July 2023. The $10 million prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is designed to fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support multiple successful community solar projects. The goal of this prize is to expand a robust ecosystem of community solar project developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into projects across the United States.
Application deadline is October 4, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
Equitable Community Revitalization Grants (ECRG)
The Department of Toxic Substances Control’s (DTSC) Site Mitigation and Restoration Program Office of Brownfield manages the Equitable Community Revitalization Grant, which provides approximately $185 million in grants through a competitive process for investigations and cleanup of brownfields, in disadvantaged, vulnerable communities, to protect public health and provide opportunities for community revitalization.
Application deadline is October 9, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Toxic Substances Control
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
Application deadline is October 10, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Transportation
DOE: Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Fixed Award Grant Program
DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program is managed by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). OCED will provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that benefit rural and remote communities. ERA aims to fund clean energy projects with three specific goals:
- Fund energy projects in rural areas for cost reduction, improved access, resilience, and environmental benefits.
- Back innovative rural energy systems with climate-resilient tech, resilient business models, financing, and community engagement.
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Foster clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural America.
Application deadline is October 12, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
Annual Awards Program to Support Tribal Climate Resilience for Federally Recognized Tribes and Authorized Tribal Organizations – Implementation
The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Trust Services, Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR or Branch) solicits proposals from Federally recognized Tribes and authorized Tribal organizations to receive awards to support Tribal climate resilience planning and strategy implementation
Application deadline is October 13, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of the Interior
FY 2023 Emergency Relief Grants for Public Transportation Systems Affected by Major Declared Disasters in Calendar Years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $109,975,497 in grants under the Public Transportation Emergency Relief Program (Emergency Relief Program) for states, territories, local government authorities, Indian tribes, and other FTA recipients affected by major declared disasters in calendar years 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Projects may include costs for disaster response, recovery, and rebuilding activities. Costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic are not eligible for this funding.
Application deadline is October 31, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Transportation
Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program
The Community Wildfire Defense Program, or CWDG, is intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes; plan for and reduce the risk of wildfire.
This program, which was authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, or have been impacted by a severe disaster that affects the risk of wildfire.
Application deadline is October 31, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Agriculture
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) 2023
BRIC aims to implement projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to reduce future losses, by funding priority projects and activities. Priorities include risk reduction of both acute events and chronic stressors, driven by climate change, which are either observed or expected.
Application deadline is November 8, 2023
Funding Organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment Tribal Research Grant Program
The purpose of this solicitation is to provide funding for tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal-serving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to conduct tribally-led climate change research, assessments, and similar projects deemed a priority by the applying tribe. Senate Bill 170 (Skinner, Chapter 240, Statutes of 2021) appropriated $3.625 million in grant funds for the California Energy Commission (CEC) to administer pursuant to this purpose.
Application deadline is November 17, 2023
Funding Organization: California Energy Commission
Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) program
The AFFECT program is managed by DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and provides funding to federal agencies to help meet energy- and water-related goals by identifying affordable solutions, facilitating public-private partnerships, and leveraging best practices to promote energy leadership.
The AFFECT opportunity seeks applications from federal agencies that would use the funding to make energy and water efficiency upgrades to new and existing federal buildings and help them achieve net-zero through initiatives like efficiency and conservation improvements, electrification, on-site clean energy generation, and sustainable design.
Application deadline is November 29, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
Energy Storage Demonstration and Validation
The FOA will contain three areas of interest based on eligible technology: 1. Lithium Batteries 2. Flow Batteries 3. Other Innovative Technologies, that will each be eligible for up to $5 million in federal funding available with 50% cost share provided by the applicant organization(s). These projects will support DOE priorities such as the Long Duration Storage Shot and Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) and address challenges identified in DOE’s Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Pathways to Commercial Liftoff report, Electricity Advisory Committee’s (EAC) 2022 Biennial Energy Storage Review, and the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries (FCAB) blueprint for lithium batteries.
Application deadline is December 4, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
Small Community Drought Relief Program
The purpose of the Small Community Drought Relief Program is to provide immediate and near-term financial and technical support to help small communities survive this and future droughts.
Eligible Applicants:
Non-profit, Public Agencies, Tribal Governments
Application deadline is December 29, 2023
Funding Organization: Department of Water Resources
Community Energy Innovation Prize
The $7.49 million Community Energy Innovation Prize is the successor of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) prizes related to community-based clean energy innovation: the Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize and the Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize.
The goals of this new combined prize are to support community-based organizations, the private sector, nonfederal government entities, and collegiate teams in developing and carrying out activities related to clean energy that enable business and technology incubation and acceleration as well as other community-based capacity building, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Application deadline is February 2, 2024
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
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)
The Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program is designed to provide technical assistance and incentives for new all-electric low-income residential buildings that reduce GHG emissions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Strengthening Mobility & Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants
The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
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.
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.