Ten different federal funding opportunities, totaling more than $569 million shared through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s State and Local Climate and Energy newsletter are shared below.
To sign up for EPA’s newsletter, or learn more, visit the EPA State and Local Climate and Energy Program site.
1) DOE State Energy Program 2016 Competitive Awards – $5 million
- Applications Due: March 31, 2016
- Eligible Entities: State governments
- Summary: DOE has issued this funding opportunity announcement designed to increasing funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy through technology deployment, communications and outreach activities, and access to new partnerships and resources. DOE is seeking projects involved in state energy planning, opportunities for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy practices, and technical assistance to advance clean energy activities. For more information, visit the funding opportunity announcement.
2) EPA Environmental Education Local Grants Program – $2.7 million
- Applications Due: April 8, 2016
- Eligible Entities: State and local education agencies, colleges and universities, nonprofits
- Summary: EPA is making available funding to support locally focused environmental education projects that increase public awareness and knowledge about environmental issues. Proposals should address climate change and air quality, chemical safety, waste management, water conservation, and state, tribal, and local partnerships. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
3) DOE Establishment of an Inter‐Tribal Technical Assistance Energy Providers Network Grant Program – $4 million
- Applications Due: April 14, 2016
- Eligible Entities: Tribal governments
- Summary: DOE announced funding to maximize the development and deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska native peoples. DOE is seeking to establish internal energy experts to provide technical energy assistance and informational resources to their member Indian tribes including Alaska Native villages, on a regional basis. The program is intended to promote Indian tribal energy development, efficiency, and use; reduce energy costs; enhance and strengthen Indian tribal energy and economic infrastructure relating to natural resource development and electrification; and bring electric power and service to Indian land and homes for tribal members located on Indian lands or acquired, constructed, or improved (in whole or in part) with federal funds.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
4) EPA Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program – $26 million
- Applications Due: April 26, 2016
- Eligible Entities: Regional, state, and local agencies, tribal governments
- Summary: EPA is seeking proposals for projects that achieve reductions in diesel emissions and improve air quality. The funding is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, as well as black carbon and other pollutants. Eligible solutions can include zero emission vehicles. For more information, visit the request for proposals.
5) DOT Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Program – $500 million
- Applications Due: April 29, 2016
- Eligible Entities: State, local, and tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations
- Summary: DOT is seeking funding for capital investments in surface transportation that increase environmental sustainability, economic development, and quality of life. Consideration will be given to projects that improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate other environmental impacts. Consideration will also be given to projects that improve access to reliable, safe, and affordable transportation for disconnected communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas. For more information, visit the notice of funding opportunity.
6) EPA National Tribal Air Association Operations Program – $1 million
- Applications Due: May 4, 2016
- Eligible Entities: State, local, and tribal governments
- Summary: EPA is making available funding for entities to provide air quality policy and regulatory analysis support for tribes. Applicants must state how they will make progress in addressing climate change and improving air quality. The program is designed to help educate tribes about climate change and air quality impacts on the human and environmental health of tribal communities. For more information, visit the funding opportunity announcement.
7) EPA FY 2016 and FY 2017 Pollution Prevention Grant Program – $8 million
- Applications Due: May 9, 2016
- Eligible Entities: State and tribal governments
- Summary: EPA announced funding to reduce the environmental footprints of local and regional businesses. Applicants should implement projects that achieve significant and measureable reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy efficiency through technical assistance to businesses. Example activities include reducing fuel consumption, installing renewable energy, and increasing appliance energy efficiency. For more information, visit the request for proposals.
8) DOT Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program – $5 million
- Applications Due: May 13, 2016
- Eligible Entities: Tribal governments
- Summary: DOT is making available funding to support planning, capital, and operating assistance for tribal public transit services. Proposals will be evaluated based on four factors: whether the project (1) improves transit efficiency or increase ridership, (2) maintains mobility or eliminates gaps in service for the tribes, (3) improves or maintains access to important destinations and services, and (4) results in other qualitative benefits such as greater access to jobs, education and health care. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
9) DOE Cities-LEAP FOA for Data-Driven Decision Frameworks by Local and Tribal Governments – $1.25 million
- Concept Paper Submission Due: May 17, 2016
- Full Application Submission Due: June 17, 2016
- Eligible Entities: Local or tribal governments; entities such as academic institutions, technology companies, utilities, regional planning bodies, and non-governmental organizations may be included as part of a project team
- Summary: DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Cities Leading through Energy Analysis and Planning (Cities-LEAP) project helps cities integrate energy analysis and data into their strategic decision making. Cities-LEAP is making funding available to support the development and piloting of data-driven decision frameworks by local and tribal governments. These frameworks should advance model practices and processes that improve the ability of local and tribal governments to integrate, analyze, and understand varied datasets in order to pursue opportunities across all clean energy sectors. In order to develop these frameworks, local and tribal governments are strongly encouraged to partner with entities such as academic institutions, technology companies, utilities, regional planning bodies, and non-governmental organizations.
Successful applications will include or aim to produce strong evidence that proposed model practices and processes
- Increase the ability of local or tribal governments to make data-driven decisions regarding actions under their authority that affect energy intensity or energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a reasonable cost; and
- Identify and support implementation of local or tribal government actions that can lead to significant and quantifiable reductions in community-wide energy intensity or energy-related GHG emissions.
Applicants are also encouraged to propose energy-related metrics beyond the primary GHG emissions and energy intensity metrics (e.g., air quality, climate change adaptation, quality of life indicators). While this FOA focuses on energy-related actions, other ancillary benefits may be necessary to stimulate action and may even serve as the stronger motivating factor for communities.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity announcement.
An informational webinar will be held on March 31, 2016, at 2:30 p.m. ET. Register here.
10) FWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program – $17 million
- Applications Due: June 29, 2016
- Eligible Entities: State governments
- Summary: FWS has announced funding to acquire, restore, and enhance wetlands in coastal states through competitive matching grants to state agencies. Ranking criteria for proposals include describing how the proposed project addresses climate change concerns, how it will be affected by climate change impacts, and references to any relevant plans and models. For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.