This is part of a series of messages from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), to share updates on relevant Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) information related to energy and sustainability. This series will occur monthly and provide a snippet of upcoming federal grants, trainings, and other resources.

See below for the August 2023 update in the BIL and IRA Resources Series.?

SURVEY:?We need your feedback!?Please respond to a short?survey?to help us evaluate our federal funding technical assistance work and improve the ways we?re supporting communities.

FUNDING IN ACTION:?It has been one year since the passage of the IRA, and Michigan is leading all other states?in the clean energy boom. There has been $21.3 billion in clean energy investments and 15,800 new clean energy jobs in Michigan alone. The IRA and BIL combined are putting the U.S. on track to cut climate emissions 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, according to a new U.S. Department of Energy report.

FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES:?The U.S. Department of Energy opened applications for States and tribes to apply for the Home Energy Rebate Programs: rebates to?help single-family and multi-family households save money on energy bills, improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution.?EGLE plans to hire a consultant to help develop Michigan?s program and application. While these rebates are not available to Michiganders yet, interested parties can check out EGLE?s Home Energy Rebate Programs Website and sign up for EGLE?s Home Energy Rebate Programs Notification List for status updates.

The?U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program?has $9.7 billion for grants and loans for rural electric cooperatives to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, or carbon capture storage. The deadline for letters of intent was extended to September 15, 2023.

The U.S. Department of Energy?s Underserved and Indigenous Community Microgrids Program?will allocate $14.7 million in funding for multi-year research, development, and demonstration of microgrid-related technologies, to bring microgrid solutions to underserved and indigenous communities in remote, rural, and island regions. Applications are due September 15, 2023.

The?Tribal Electrification Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Interior, provides $145.5 million in funding for clean energy household electrification that will benefit tribal communities nationwide. Pre-applications are due September 18, 2023, and full applications are due December 22, 2023.

The?U.S. Department of Agriculture?s Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program?provides loans between $1 and $100 million for renewable energy and storage projects that serve rural communities. Loan forgiveness between 20 and 60 percent is also available. Letters of intent are due September 29, 2023.

The?Energy Future Grants, administered by the U.S. Department of Energy, has $27 million in grants and technical assistance to support 50 teams of three or more state, local, and tribal government-led partnerships, to advance clean energy program innovation and ensure benefits flow to disadvantaged communities. Applications are due September 30, 2023.?

The U.S. Department of Transportation?s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning will award $13.4 million in grant funding this year for site specific and comprehensive land use and transportation planning that improves public transit. Applications are due October 10, 2023.

The?U.S. Department of Transportation?s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART)?Program has $100 million in grant funding for demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety. Applications are due October 10, 2023.

The Tribal Climate Resilience Annual Awards Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Interior,?will award $120 million in funding to tribes for planning or implementation projects that address the unique impacts of climate change affecting vulnerable tribal communities. Applications are due October 13, 2023.?

For a longer list of open grants and resources, visit EGLE?s?Federal Funding Technical Assistance website.

GRANT SUPPORT: The next?Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamp?will begin in September, supporting communities with fewer than 150,000 residents, to complete competitive applications for IRA and BIL grants. Registration opens August 28, 2023.

?Michigan local and tribal governments have the opportunity to get one-on-one technical assistance to help identify and apply for grants. Contact Kate Madigan ([email protected]), a consultant working with EGLE, to learn more.?

The Michigan Infrastructure Office also has a Technical Assistance Center that funds communities to directly contract with consultants through their Metropolitan Planning or Economic Development Organizations for grant writing, administration, and other services.