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February 16, 2024
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other state and 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 state and federal programs.
Announcements: Department of Commerce Energy Programs
On-Site Energy Storage Grant Stakeholder Feedback Sought
In the 2023 session, the Legislature established two energy storage grant/incentive programs. These programs will support the adoption of battery storage up to 50kWh paired with solar energy systems. The Minnesota Department of Commerce will administer the program for applicants outside the Xcel Energy electric service area. Commerce is seeking stakeholder feedback in the development of this program via stakeholder meetings and written submissions.
Online stakeholder meetings will include a brief presentation on the statute language, other storage programs, and ideas for Minnesota. There will be questions for attendees and discussion regarding how to make the program effective. Stakeholder meetings are targeting specific stakeholder groups, but you are welcome to attend any meeting. Click on a date below to register to attend.
Submit written feedback on this form by the end of the day on March 8, 2024. At the completion of stakeholder engagement, a report of stakeholder feedback will be created to inform the development of the program. Additional information about the program can be found here.
New Commerce Energy Program Web Pages
The 2023 Minnesota Legislature has provided funding for a number of New Energy Programs. The Department has previously announced the New Energy Programs web pages, which will be updated with information as the programs are implemented. Information on these new programs, as well as the IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs have recently been added:
Residential Electrical Panel Upgrade Grant
Residential Heat Pump Rebate
Home Energy Rebates
Strengthen Minnesota Homes
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 energy Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). More information can be found on the Commerce Federal Funding Opportunities web page 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), Requests for Applications (RFA)
- Low or No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities - IIJA 30018
- Cybersecurity for Research, Development, and Demonstration – IIJA 40125b
- Career Skills Training – IIJA 40513
- Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
- Carbon Negative Shot Pilots
- Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Technology Integration
Request for Proposals (RFP)
- Transmission Facilitation Program – Second Round – IIJA 40106
Notice of Intent
- IRA: Methane Emission Reduction Program, Oil and Gas Methane Monitoring and Mitigation (OGM3) - Section 60113
- Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity (Macro)
Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities (FOA)
- Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid – Formula Grants to States and Tribes - IIJA 40101d
Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs
- IRS Guidance on Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit
- Proposed Ruling for Section 48 Investment Tax Credit
- Proposed Regulations on Section 45V Hydrogen Credit
- Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act of 2022 Pre-Filing Registration Tool
Prizes/Awards
- SOLVE IT – Hydrogen Projects and Other Clean Energy Solutions
Student Scholarships/Competitions/Fellowships
- 2024 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Webinars
- US DOT Climate Change Center Webinar Series
Workshops, Meetings, Conferences
- Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit 2024
- IES & DOE Research Symposium
Publications/Videos/Webpages
- 2023 Annual Report: All Hands on Deck: Securing America’s Net-Zero Future with State-Led, High Impact Action
- Accelerating Clean Energy Ambition: How the U.S. Can Meet its Climate Goals While Delivering Public Health and Economic Benefits
- Attack Surface of Wind Energy Technologies in the United States
- How Extreme Weather and System Aging Affect the U.S. Photovoltaic Fleet
- Residential Solar Adopter Income and Demographic Trends
- Deploying Purpose-Grown Energy Crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel – Workshop Report
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IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)
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Low or No Emission Grant Program and Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities - IIJA 30018
The Federal Transit Administration has released a NOFO with two grant opportunities; applicants can apply to either or both programs. The Low-No Program provides funding to purchase or lease zero or low emission transit buses and purchase, build, or lease supporting facilities. Eligible applicants include states, local governments, and Indian Tribes; required cost-share is 10 – 15% match.
The Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program provides funds for buses and bus facility capital projects including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, and leasing buses or related equipment or facilities (requires a 10 - 20% match). Eligible applicants include recipients that allocate funds to fixed-route bus operators, states or local governments that operate fixed-route bus service, and Indian Tribes; required cost-share is 10-20%.
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Cybersecurity for Research, Development, and Demonstration – IIJA 40125b
The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) Risk Management Tools and Technologies (RMT) program, is issuing this FOA with $30 million in funding to support multi-year research, development, and demonstration of tools and technologies to reduce cyber risks to energy infrastructure. There is four Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1: Address Forensic Analysis of Infected Renewable Systems
Topic Area 2: Enhancing Cybersecurity for Inverter-Based Resources
Topic Area 3: Enhancing Communications Security for Distributed Energy Resource Aggregations (DERA)
Topic Area 4: Innovative Technologies that Enhance Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Cybersecurity
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Career Skills Training – IIJA Section 40513
DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs has extended the submission date of this FOA for full applications to February 27, 2024. The program promotes collaboration between labor organizations and industry to attract, train and employ workers to install energy technologies in buildings. Funding is only available to nonprofit partnerships that include one labor organization and one industry partner. Cost share must be 50% of total project costs.
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Other Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)
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Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
- DE-FOA-0003209
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Deadlines: Concept Paper: March 24, 2024 | Application: June 13, 2024
DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has issued a FOA with up to $29 million in funding to support research, development, and demonstration on mobilizing low carbon intensity, purpose-grown energy crops necessary to support the production goals of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge and the sustainability goals of the Clean Fuels & Products Shot™. Under this FOA, the DOE intends to award two to five financial assistance awards in the form of cooperative agreements lasting from four to 10 years.
This FOA has only one Topic Area comprised of four Subtopic Areas:
Subtopic Area 1a: Algae
Subtopic Area 1b: Herbaceous Energy Crops
Subtopic Area 1c: Intermediate Energy Crops
Subtopic 1d: Short-Rotation Woody Crops
- Carbon Negative Shot Pilots
The DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, along with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and in coordination with several DOE offices, intend to issue multiple funding opportunities over several years. These funding opportunities will be focused on progressing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies to enable reaching the Carbon Negative Shot (CNS) target of gigaton-scale deployment for less than $100 per net metric ton (tonne) of CO2- equivalent (CO2e) within a decade. Part of DOE’s larger Energy Earthshots Initiative, the Carbon Negative Shot is a DOE-wide call for crosscutting innovation and commercialization of a wide range of carbon dioxide removal technologies and approaches.
The current FOA aims to support achievement of CNS objectives across CDR pathways through support for integrated pilot-scale testing of advanced CDR technologies in relevant environments. Applications are currently being sought in the following subtopics:
Area of Interest 1: Small Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) Pilots
Area of Interest 2: Small Mineralization Pilots
Area of Interest 3: Multi-Pathways CDR Testbed Facilities
Area of Interest 4: is anticipated to be issued under future amendments to the FOA
- Fiscal Year 2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Technology Integration
- DE-FOA-0003250
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Deadlines: Concept Paper: March 12, 2024 | Application: April 30, 2024
DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office has announced a $15 million funding opportunity for technologies that will achieve net-zero emissions in transportation. This FOA will fund innovative approaches to address pressing transportation efficiency and equity needs in three areas of interest:
Topic Area of Interest 1: Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance
Topic Area of Interest 2: Training on Zero Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Technologies for Critical Emergency Response Workers
Topic Area of Interest 3: Clean Transportation Demonstration and Deployment
Where possible, applicants are encouraged to align proposed project activities with the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization | U.S. Department of Transportation.
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Request for Proposals (RFP)
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Transmission Facilitation Program – Second Round – IIJA 40106
The DOE Grid Deployment Office has issued a Request for Proposals with potential funding obligations of up to $1.2 billion; all TFP projects must demonstrate that DOE can recover its costs as the TFP is a revolving fund and not a grant program. DOE is offering a second opportunity for capacity contracts to identify additional commercially viable large-scale new and upgraded transmission line projects that have the potential to significantly address transmission needs but that would not be constructed or would be constructed with less-than optimal capacity without TFP support.
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Notice of Intent (NOI)
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IRA: Methane Emission Reduction Program, Oil and Gas Methane Monitoring and Mitigation (OGM3) - 60113
In collaboration with the EPA, DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory intends to issue this FOA sometime in February or March 2024. If released, the FOA may award up to $1 billion for three Areas of Interest.
Area of Interest 1: Methane Emissions Reduction for Existing Wells and Infrastructure
Area of Interest 2: Accelerating Deployment of Innovative Methane Reduction Solutions
Area of Interest 3: Regional Methane Emissions Reduction Consortia
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Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity (Macro)
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue a FOA entitled MACRO: Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity to address R&D challenges in converting various seaweeds, other waste algae, and wet waste feedstocks to low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and agricultural products. Topic Areas anticipated to be included in the FOA may include:
Topic Area 1: Conversion of Seaweeds and Waste Algae to Low Carbon Fuels and Products
Topic Area 2: Conversion of Algal Biomass for Low Carbon Agricultural Products
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Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities (FOA)
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Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid – Formula Grants to States and Tribes - IIJA 40101d
DOE’s Grid Deployment Office and National Energy Technology Laboratory has issued this FOA with approximately $561.8 million for FY 2024 funding for new awards. Funds will be distributed on formula basis in accordance with the formula allocations posted at Section 40101(d) Formula Grants to States & Indian tribes. Tribes sharing geography within the borders of MN have been allocated a total of $2,366,453. GDO is available to answer questions and offer guidance for tribes during the following office hours:Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm CT and Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm CT.
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Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs
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IRS Guidance on Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit
The Department of Treasury and the IRS has issued proposed regulations for the advanced manufacturing production credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The new Section 45X provides a credit for the domestic production and sale of certain eligible components including solar and wind energy components, inverters, qualifying battery components and applicable critical minerals. The proposed regulations affect taxpayers who produce and sell eligible components and intend to claim the credit.
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Proposed Ruling for Section 48 Investment Tax Credit
The IRS and Treasury proposed rules on the renewable gas investment tax credit that would limit the ability of biogas facilities to benefit from the Section 48 investment tax credit (ITC).
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Proposed Regulations on Section 45V Hydrogen Credit
The IRS and Treasury have proposed regulations related to the Section 45V credit for the production of Clean Hydrogen. The comment period is open until February 26.
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Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS Act of 2022 Pre-Filing Registration Tool
The IRS has released this User Guide and Instruction Manual for the Pre-Filing Registration Tool for tax credits established under the IRA. The Pre-Filing Registration Tool for elective payment and transfer options can be found here.
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Prizes/Awards
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SOLVE IT – Hydrogen Projects and Other Clean Energy Solutions
The DOE’s Solutions for Lasting, Viable Energy Infrastructure Technologies (SOLVE IT) Prize is now accepting submissions. The SOLVE IT Prize has a total of $5 million in cash prizes, including $175,000 from the DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office to solve community energy needs and promote commercialization of clean hydrogen and other clean energy technologies. Teams may win up to $730,000 each across three phases of the prize. Individuals or organizations with a history of successful participatory community-based initiatives, especially in disadvantaged and energy-burdened communities, are encouraged to join.
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Scholarships/Student Competitions/Fellowships
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2024 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
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Application Deadline: March 3, 2024 | Application
- August 4 – 9, 2024 | Pacific Grove, CA
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) is currently accepting applications for the Linda Latham Scholarship. Undergraduate and graduate students who are studying energy, climate change, environmental science or policy are eligible to apply. Latham Scholars will interact with experts in energy fields from around the world. Students can apply for one of three scholarship levels:
Level 1: includes registration, lodging, and travel stipend (lowest chance of selection)
Level 2: includes registration and lodging
Level 3: includes registration (highest chance of selection)
Visit the 2024 Buildings Summer Study page for updates.
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Webinars
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USDOT Climate Change Center Webinar Series
- March 25 – Transit-Oriented Development | 2:00 – 3:30pm CT
- April 26 – Intermodal Freight Decarbonization | 12:30 – 1:30 pm CT
- May 30 – Climate Adaption and Resilience in Transportation | 12:00 – 1:00 pm CT
- June 18 – Climate Change Research and Technology | 1:00 – 2:30 pm CT
- Registration
Monthly webinars from the USDOT Climate Change Center will be held from February through June 2024. Discussions on greenhouse gas reduction strategies and climate resilience activities including transit development, intermodal freight decarbonization, and climate change research and technology advancements will be presented. Learn more about the USDOT Climate Change Center.
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Workshops/Meetings/Conferences
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Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit 2024
The DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Sumit will be held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. See the Agenda At-A-Glance for an overview of the workshops in energy efficiency, decarbonization, water and waste reduction.
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IES & DOE Research Symposium
- May 15 – 16, 2024 | Portland, OR | Register
The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and DOE are hosting this symposium focused on next-generation lighting tools, methods to determine health impacts, ways to mitigate climate change and support sustainable lighting. There is also an optional tour of research conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Lighting Science and Technology Lab.
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Publications/Videos/Webpages
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2023 Annual Report: All Hands on Deck: Securing America’s Net-Zero Future with State-Led, High Impact Action
The 2023 Annual Report has been published by the United States Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 25 governors committed to a net-zero future. The report assesses progress towards their climate goals and outlines high-impact actions that states and territories can take to achieve emission targets and to ensure communities are prepared for extreme weather events. Alliance members work together to advance bold, high-impact actions across 10 key policy areas — GHG targets and governance; buildings; climate finance; electricity generation; industry; just transition and equity; natural and working lands; pricing carbon and valuing damages; resilience; and transportation.
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Accelerating Clean Energy Ambition: How the U.S. Can Meet its Climate Goals While Delivering Public Health and Economic Benefits
Published in November by the Union of Concerned Scientists, this report presents the feasibility of zero-carbon emissions and discusses the associated health cost savings, energy cost reductions, and avoidance of climate damages that could be possible by 2050.
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Attack Surface of Wind Energy Technologies in the United States
“China and Russia have become more sophisticated in their attacks and likely possess the means to put the U.S. energy sector at risk” (from the report by Freeman, et. al. 2024). The DOE Idaho National Laboratory has published this report with an overview of potential cybersecurity threats that could impact wind farms. This document raises awareness of high-risk areas, as well as ways to mitigate attacks.
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How Extreme Weather and System Aging Affect the U.S. Photovoltaic Fleet
After four years of research, the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory has compiled a data set from 2,500 PV systems to provide a glimpse of the factors impacting performance of the U.S. PV fleet.
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Residential Solar Adopter Income and Demographic Trends
The DOE Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has published an annual report on Residential Solar Adopter Income and Demographic Trends. This latest edition looks at address-level data for 3.4 million U.S. residential households that installed solar through 2022, which represents 86% of all residential PV systems. The report is accompanied by an online solar demographics data visualization tool that enables users to further explore the data at the national, state, county, and Census tract level.
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Deploying Purpose-Grown Energy Crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel – Workshop Report
In June 2023, the DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office hosted a wide-range of stakeholders for a workshop on Purpose-Grown Energy Crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Participants of the workshop provided a wide variety of information and identified knowledge gaps, which are captured in this report.
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Energy-specific funding opportunities, Commerce is here for you
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 here are funded by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and other federal and state energy programs. Interested in partnering with Commerce on funding opportunities or have questions? Stay updated by clicking subscribe below and e-mail us at [email protected].
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