energy specific funding opportunties




Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other federal funding announcements





The *Minnesota Department of Commerce *seeks to work with and facilitate connections with local and Tribal governments, utilities, businesses, communities and other entities interested in energy-related partnerships. The opportunities outlined below are funded by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other federal programs. [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________



*Letters of Support from Minnesota Department of Commerce*

The Minnesota Department of Commerce will gladly consider supplying a letter of support for
funding proposals. Please send any requests for Commerce Letters of Support via email to
[email protected], allowing at least 3 weeks for processing, if at all possible.
Please include information on what funding opportunity is being applied to, and a short recap of the
proposal project being submitted, the total project cost, and how much federal funding is being
sought. In the Subject line of the email, please include ?Letter of Support request for XXXXX, due
date YYYYY? (where XXXXX is the title or section number of the funding request, and YYYYY is when
the proposal is due).






________________________________________________________________________







Recent and Expected Federal Funding Activity

The federal government issues a variety of announcements related to federal funding opportunities: Requests for Information (RFI), Notices of Intent (NOI) and Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). More information can be found on the Commerce Federal Funding Opportunities?web page [ [link removed] ] or by clicking the links below.

*To facilitate a quick review of this newsletter, the subject matter of included items is previewed here; full details can be found in the body of the newsletter.*


* *Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA), Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD), Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and Requests for Applications (RFA)*

* Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program
* Expansion of Industrial Assessment Centers and Building Training and Assessment Centers
* Traineeship in Accelerator Science & Engineering
* Transitioning Tribal Colleges and Universities to Clean Energy ? 2023
* Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS): Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power and Photovoltaics


* *Requests For Proposals (RFP)*
* Community-Based Retrofit Solutions
* Technical Assistance for Adopting the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes/Standards


* *Notices of Intent (NOI)*
* Technical Assistance of the Adoption of Building Energy Codes
* Zero Building Energy Codes/Standards
* Renew America?s Nonprofits


* *Requests For Information (RFI)*
* DOE seeks Input on Growing an Equitable Solar Manufacturing Workforce
* Technical Assistance for Adopting the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes/Standards
* Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants


* *Webinars*
* EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program Listening Sessions and Maximizing Opportunities for GHG Reductions Through CPRG?
* Clean Energy States Alliance Pre-Summit States Roundtable: Progress Toward 100% Clean Energy
* Overcoming the Market Barriers for Roof-top Unit (RTU) Retrofit Enhancement


* *Workshops, Meetings, Conferences*
* Midwest Solar Expo
* Forth Roadmap Conference


* *Publications/videos/webpages*
* FuelEconomy.gov
* Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator
* Video: What Does Energy Sovereignty Mean to You?


* *IRA Tax Deductions and Guidance*
* US Treasury and the IRS release guidance for the Clean Vehicle Credit (30D)
* US Treasury and the IRS Energy Community Bonus Tax Credit

________________________________________________________________________



*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*

* **Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program**
* *Deadline:?*Concept Paper: June 5, 2023 | Application: August 7, 2023
* DE-FOA-0002988 [ [link removed] ]
* The EECBG Competitive Program will award $8.8 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to teams of local governments and state-recognized Tribes that are ineligible for the program?s formula grant. Grantees will be able to use the funds to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce overall energy use.
* The EECBG Program provides communities with flexible funding for a variety of projects, such as developing regional clean energy strategic plans, creating investments in distributed energy technologies, or launching regional weatherization-based workforce development programs. DOE will also provide communities with access to technical assistance, peer-to-peer sharing, and on-the-ground support.
* DOE will host webinars to provide more information about the Competitive Program?on Tuesday, April 18 at 1:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ] and on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ]

* *Expansion of Industrial Assessment Centers and Building Training and Assessment Centers*

* *Deadlines:* Concept Paper: May 25, 2023 | Application: July 31, 2023
* Funding Opportunity Announcement [ [link removed] ]
* Informational Webinar: April 18, 2023 -?Register [ [link removed] ]
* $54 million funding opportunity to expand the Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) Program to community colleges, trade schools, and union training programs, and create new Building Training Assessment Centers (BTACs) at higher education institutions.
* The new IACs will focus on high-quality skilled trades job pathways in fields, such as industrial electrician, energy management, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing, while providing hands-on support to small and medium manufactures. The new BTACs will expand these benefits to commercial and institutional buildings to help lower utility costs and allow companies to reinvest in businesses, employees, and community services. The BTACs will train engineers, architects, building scientists, building energy permitting and enforcement officials, and building technicians in energy-efficient building design and operation.

________________________________________________________________________







Non-*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*

* *Traineeship in Accelerator Science & Engineering*
* *Deadline: June 6, 2023*
* DE-FOA-0003025 [ [link removed] ]
* This program is to assist domestic institutions of higher education in enhancing their graduate-level educational efforts to ensure that a diverse and highly trained future population of scientists is available to conduct cutting-edge research in the basic sciences. Up to 4 grants may be awarded to provide funding to universities or teams of universities to support tuition, stipend, and travel costs for students enrolled in specific accelerator science and engineering degree programs, and to provide modest support for topic-specific curriculum development and program administration. Award terms are expected to be up to five years, with the possibility of renewal for a second term.
* Accelerator Science is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the design and improvement of particle accelerators, the development of new methods of charged particle production and manipulation, and the development of unique supporting technologies needed for accelerators. Significant career specialization has evolved as the demand for ever greater performance has required reaching deep into mathematics, computation, materials science, plasma science, radio frequency technology, superconducting materials, laser engineering, and a variety of other disciplines.


* *Transitioning Tribal Colleges and Universities to Clean Energy*
* *Deadline: *July 27, 2023
* *DE-FOA-0002978* [ [link removed] ]
* DOE Office of Indian Energy is soliciting applications from Tribal Colleges and Universities for: (1) clean energy project and curriculum planning (Topic Area 1); and (2) clean energy technology and curriculum deployment (Topic Area 2).
* $15 million in federal funds (grants) are available. DOE anticipates making approximately 10 to 25 awards under this FOA.
* *Informational webinar April 27:?*The Office of Indian Energy will host an informational webinar on April 27 (2:00 ? 4:00 PM CT), to provide interested applicants with more information on the FOA and how to apply. Register for the informational webinar [ [link removed] ].


* *Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS): Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power and Photovoltaics*
* *Deadline: *June 1, 2023
* DE-FOA-0002888 [ [link removed] ]
* This annual funding opportunity from the DOE?s Solar Energy Technologies Office will award $6.5 million for seeding R&D projects that focus on innovative and novel ideas in photovoltaics and concentrating solar-thermal power and are riskier than research ideas based on established technologies.
* SETO expects to make about 14 to 24 awards each ranging between $250,000 and $400,000. Diverse teams from universities, federally funded research and development centers, nonprofits, community-based organizations, state agencies, local governments, and solar developers are encouraged to apply.

________________________________________________________________________



*Request for Proposals*

* *Community-Based Retrofit Solutions*
* *Deadline:* May 9, 2023
* RFX-2023-10145 [ [link removed] ]
* Applicant teams will consist of community organizations, research institutions, utility and industry trades, and other appropriate experts. Teams selected through the RFP will develop projects focused on reducing carbon emissions from homes through retrofit solutions. They will collaborate with DOE, the National Labs, and other industry experts to support community-focused retrofit projects. These projects will address technical challenges through field validation and demonstration, measurement and verification, and workforce training. This work will demonstrate equitable and scalable residential retrofit solutions and will produce guidance for broader implementation in communities across the country.

________________________________________________________________________



*IRA and/or IIJA Notice of Intent (NOI)*

* *50131 (IRA) **Technical Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes or Standards Adoption*
* DE-FOA-0003055 [ [link removed] ] - FOA anticipated release is October 2023: DE-FOA-0003056
* The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) anticipates funding state and local efforts to update building energy codes, or equivalent standards, and to develop effective code workforce, training, compliance and enforcement programs. The Notice of Intent (NOI) describes a preliminary plan that will evolve during the FOA development process.


* *40542 (IIJA) Renew America?s Nonprofits*
* DE-FOA-0003065 [ [link removed] ]
* FOA release anticipated in May 2023
* Section 40542 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 million (cooperative agreements) for the purpose of providing nonprofit buildings with energy-efficiency materials. The term ??nonprofit building?? means a building operated and owned by an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Renew America?s Nonprofits, to decrease energy use and utility costs, reduce carbon emissions, and redirect savings to mission-critical services for nonprofit organizations across America.
* SCEP is compiling a Teaming Partner List to facilitate widespread participation in this initiative. This will facilitate nonprofit subrecipients in need of facility upgrades to express interest in receiving subawards for building efficiency projects and for interested Prime Recipients and their potential partners (i.e., financial partners, community outreach organizations, technical partners, utilities, etc.) to identify one another. The Teaming Partner List is available on [link removed] under this NOI DE-FOA-0003065 until a potential FOA is posted.

________________________________________________________________________







*Request for Information (RFI)*

* *DOE seeks Input on Growing an Equitable Solar Manufacturing Workforce*
* *Due Date: *June 2, 2023, by 4:00 PM CT
* Visit the notice [ [link removed] ] to review the RFI and instructions for how to respond
* The RFI will solicit feedback from unions, industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities associated with a historic expansion of the U.S. solar manufacturing workforce. DOE?s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is specifically interested in feedback from manufacturers, suppliers, education and training providers, community-based organizations, and workers? rights organizations, including labor unions.
* This RFI pertains to job roles associated with operating U.S.-based manufacturing facilities involved in the production of:
* Photovoltaic (PV) modules (including crystalline silicon and thin film)
* Semiconductor materials and components (e.g., Si metal, polysilicon, ingots, wafers, cells)
* Materials used to construct PV modules (e.g., solar glass, frames, encapsulants, backsheets, etc.)
* Other equipment associated with PV systems.


* *50143 (IRA) Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants*
* *Deadline: *May 9, 2023, at 4:00 PM CT - RFI responses must be submitted electronically as an attachment to [email protected]?
* Through this RFI and workshops, DOE?s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains is soliciting feedback from manufacturers, minority-owned businesses, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, State and local officials, labor unions, Tribes, community-based organizations, and other parties on issues related to design and implementation of the manufacturing conversion program.?
* MESC will hold two workshops that will provide a forum for stakeholders to share perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for the domestic conversion of manufacturing across supply chains.
* Register for May 4, 2023 at 12:00?4:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ]
* Register for May 5, 2023 at 12:00?4:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ]


* *50131 (IRA) **Technical Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes or Standards Adoption ? Request for Information and Stakeholder Workshop*

* *Deadline:* April 26, 2023
* DE-FOA-0003054 [ [link removed] ]
* Stakeholder Workshop to gather additional information: April 18, 2023 ? 1:00 PM CT registration [ [link removed] ]
* Specifically, this RFI seeks input on:
* Selection Criteria
* Other Funding Sources
* Compliance Plans
* Existing-Building Opportunities

________________________________________________________________________



Webinars

* *EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program Listening Sessions*
* Engaging with Communities on CPRG Benefits
* Monday, April 17, 5:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ]


* *Maximizing Opportunities for GHG Reductions Through CPRG?*(identical sessions offered at 2 different times)
* Tuesday, April 18, 2:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ]
* Thursday, April 20, 5:00 PM CT [ [link removed] ]
* At each listening session, EPA will pose questions for feedback.?These sessions follow on from the 2022 listening sessions and Request For Information (RFI) and are meant to provide an additional opportunity for input on the CPRG implementation phase after stakeholders have had time to review the CPRG planning grant guidance [ [link removed] ] that was released in March.
* Registration is required (at the links provided above)


* *Clean Energy States Alliance Pre-Summit States Roundtable: Progress Toward 100% Clean Energy*
* April 26, 2023 ? 2:00 ? 3:00 PM CT
* Register [ [link removed] ]
* A panel discussion with state leaders from California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Carolina on the status of their states? efforts to decarbonize. They will discuss where they think their states are making the most progress, what the most significant challenges are, and what the opportunities are for close state-federal cooperation and for greater cooperation among states.


* *Overcoming the Market Barriers for Roof-top Unit (RTU) Retrofit Enhancement*
* June 8, 2023 ? 11:00 AM ? 12:00 PM CT
* Register [ [link removed] ]
* In this webinar, Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) will discuss the results from a recent Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) project that assessed the barriers for RTU retrofit technologies. Results will be discussed related to the following project goals:
* Perform a market scan to determine available technologies that exist for RTU retrofit.
* Characterize the existing market through interviews of key industry professionals, including mechanical contractors, distributors, manufacturers, and building owners.
* Assess current offerings from utility programs throughout Minnesota, as well as national programs.
* Perform field measurements on various RTU retrofit approaches and determine energy savings potential for each.
* Provide overall recommendations to promote market adoption of these technologies.

________________________________________________________________________



Conferences

* *Midwest Solar Expo ? Chicago, IL*
* May 1 ? 3, 2023
* Registration [ [link removed] ]
* The Midwest Solar Expo brings together solar and clean energy leaders to advance Midwest markets through education, hands-on training, exhibitions, receptions, and networking.


* *Forth Roadmap Conference ? Portland, OR*
* May 15 ? 17, 2023
* Registration [ [link removed] ]
* The Nation?s Premier Electric Transportation Event ? Connect with industry professionals in mobility, government, utilities, OEMs and nonprofits ? all with a shared focus on advancing equitable transportation electrification.

*?*

________________________________________________________________________



Publications/Videos/Webpages

* *FuelEconomy.gov *
* FuelEconomy.gov has developed a new tool [ [link removed] ] to help consumers shop for clean vehicles eligible for these tax credits and help car buyers navigate the requirements. The website provides a simple calculator to help buyers determine the credit for pre-owned vehicles, provides information on claiming each of the credits, and answers frequently asked consumer questions.

* *Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator*
* EPA?s most popular communications tool, the Calculator translates emissions and energy data into real terms, like annual emissions from cars, homes, smartphones, or natural gas-fired power plants. The Calculator may be useful in communicating your greenhouse gas reduction strategy, targets, or other initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
* Visit the Updated Calculator [ [link removed] ]


* *The IRA Guidebook for Tribes*
* Click Here for the Guidebook [ [link removed] ]
* Released April 4, 2023, with listings of multiple agencies IRA funding opportunities for Tribes


* *Video: What Does Energy Sovereignty Mean to You?*
* In a series of short interviews, tribal members and energy partners speak in their own words about energy sovereignty.
* Watch ?What Does Energy Sovereignty Mean to You?? [ [link removed] ].

________________________________________________________________________



IRA Tax Deductions and Guidance

* *US Treasury and the IRS release guidance for the Clean Vehicle Credit (30D)*
* Press Release [ [link removed] ]
* The Notice for Proposed Rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2023 and vehicles placed in-service on or after April 18, 2023 will be subject to the critical mineral and battery component requirements laid out in the rule.
* On April 18, 2023, FuelEconomy.gov [ [link removed] ] will contain a list of eligible clean vehicles that qualified manufacturers have indicated to the IRS meet the requirements to claim the new clean vehicle credit, including the amount of the credit.
* Additional information about the clean vehicle credit is available here [ [link removed] ].?


* *US Treasury and IRS Releases Guidance for the Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus*
* Press Release [ [link removed] ]
* The Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus provides developers with a bonus of up to 10 percentage points on top of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and an increase of 10 percent for the Production Tax Credit (PTC).
* The energy community bonus for the ITC and PTC is available to developers for locating projects in historical energy communities, including areas with closed coal mines, coal-fired power plants, or Brownfields contaminated by hazardous materials. A census tract or directly adjoining census tract where a coal mine closed after 1999, or where a coal-fired electric generating unit was retired after 2009 qualifies as an energy community.?See the searchable mapping tool [ [link removed] ] to locate those in Minnesota or elsewhere.

________________________________________________________________________







*Federal Tax Credits Under the Inflation Reduction Act*

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 created and updated several energy-related tax credits and deductions that may affect federal tax returns for individuals and businesses. For details ? including tax credits for clean vehicles, energy efficiency, and other provisions ? see?Credits and Deductions Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 [ [link removed] ]?on the IRS website.

For Stakeholders Planning on Applying Directly to the U.S. Government for Funding

*NOTE: Due to the high demand of UEI requests and SAM registrations, entity legal business name and address validations are taking longer than expected to process. Entities should start the UEI and SAM registration/update process immediately as the processing time to complete a registration/update currently may take weeks to months. *This includes address and expired registration updates. If entities have technical difficulties with the UEI validation or SAM registration process they should utilize the HELP [ [link removed] ] feature on SAM.gov [ [link removed] ]. SAM.gov will work entity service tickets in the order in which they are received and asks that entities not create multiple service tickets for the same request or technical issue. Additional entity validation resources can be found here: GSAFSD Tier 0 Knowledge Base - Validating your Entity. [ [link removed] ]

The MN Commerce Department is your partner for energy-specific federal funding opportunities

Interested in partnering with the Commerce Department on funding opportunities or have questions? [email protected].? <[email protected]>Stay updated on the latest programs, opportunities and RFPs by clicking subscribe below.?

*Subscribe* [ [link removed] ]








*Minnesota Department of Commerce | Energy Division
*85 7th Place East, Suite?280 | St. Paul, MN 55101*
*Email: [email protected]
Local: 651-539-1886 |?Greater MN: 1-800-657-3710

*Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ]??| ?Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]??| ?Help [ [link removed] ]? | ?mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ]
*

"Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ]."

________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Department of Commerce GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]