energy specific funding opportunties




________________________________________________________________________



May 23, 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

*Upcoming High-Interest Webinar: DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) STEADy mapping tool*

* June 5, 2024 | 12:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

The DOE’s NREL will present information about a new dataset developed through the Solar Energy Innovation Network. The Screening Tool for Equitable Adoption and Deployment of Solar (STEADy Solar) helps identify specific locations where solar projects may be economical, allowing stakeholders to focus limited resources and deploy solar more equitably.

STEADy Solar is a spreadsheet tool that combines publicly available information about eligibility for the Federal investment tax credit (ITC) bonus adders, modeled residential and commercial solar economics, demographic data, and building count information - at the census tract level for the entire country. The STEADy Solar tool can help stakeholders understand where private funds or local government funding or programs can leverage this federal funding or fill gaps in federal funding for solar deployment.

NREL has generously offered to hold additional webinars, if need be, for Minnesota stakeholder groups by “entity-type” groupings.  Those developing community solar gardens or other solar projects and interested in utilizing the IRA bonus tax credit "adders" should plan on attending NREL's June 5 webinar. Afterwards, entities with further questions on STEADy should send a note to [email protected] including a request to Commerce for further STEADy webinar training and providing specifics on what additional information the entity would like to explore on a targeted webinar, or to provide use-case scenarios the entity would like to discuss with NREL.

 

Public Engagement Opportunities

*Energy Storage Incentive Program Implementation *

A Request for Information is currently open to inform the Department of Commerce’s planning for the Storage Incentive Program (Outside Xcel Energy’s Territory). August 1, 2024, installation incentives will be available for battery storage systems up to 50kWh paired with solar energy systems. Broad stakeholder feedback will help ensure an effective application process, inform marketing and outreach plans, and more.

*Please consider sharing your input by *filling out this form [ [link removed] ]*by June 4, 2024.* 

 

Federal Home Energy Rebates

The Department of Commerce will seek public input during the program planning and design phase of the federal Home Energy Rebates programs.

*Online Input Sessions*  


* _Save the date_: Wednesday, June 12, 2024 | 12:00 to 1:00 PM CT

The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Elevate Energy, and Inova Energy Group are hosting a virtual public meeting to kick off the planning of Minnesota’s Home Energy Rebates (HER) program. Attendees will learn about the Home Efficiency Rebates (IRA 50121) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (IRA 50122) programs, receive an overview of the timeline and next steps, and discover opportunities for public participation and involvement. A Q&A session will provide a chance for attendees to ask questions about the program design and planning process. Please check the program website [ [link removed] ] for registration information, coming soon. A second online public input session will be held in September 2024.  

*In-Person Public Forums*   

There will be six in-person forums across the state in June and July 2024. Locations, dates and times will be published on our program website [ [link removed] ]. 

 

Energy-related Funding Awards to Minnesota Entities

Read on to learn more about the most recent innovative Minnesota energy projects (listed by Funding Opportunity Program), and the funding they have been awarded.  *Congratulations to all the recipients!*

*48C Tax Credits for DOE Hydrogen-Related Projects *

The DOE has announced $4 billion in tax credits [ [link removed] ] for over 100 projects across 35 states to accelerate domestic clean energy manufacturing and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities. Tax credit allocations were made in Round 1 of the program as follows: *1)* Clean Energy and Manufacturing (67% or $2.7 billion in tax credits), *2)* Critical Materials recycling, processing, and refining (20% or $800 million in tax credits), and *3)* Industrial Decarbonization (15% or $500 million in tax credits).


* *Cummins Incorporated, Fridley *received $10.6 million in tax credits under category 3, Industrial Decarbonization to invest in large-scale PEM electrolyzer manufacturing and testing at its Fridley plant.

*NOTE: *The second-round application window [ [link removed] ] is currently open for allocations under the 48C(e) program, including approximately $2.5 billion for projects located in 48C(e) designated energy communities. Concept paper submissions are due June 21, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT.

* *

*Charging Smart Program*

Nine Minnesota Communities Earn Nation’s First “EV-Ready” Designation from the DOE Charging Smart Program [ [link removed] ]being piloted in 8 states including Minnesota. Charging Smart offers free technical assistance to help municipalities set and achieve policies that align with nationally recognized best practices to advance EV adoption. The program standardizes core best practices around six areas of EV-readiness ("Planning, Regulations, Utility Engagement, Education and Incentives, Government Operations, Shared Mobility") while also giving communities the flexibility to adopt measures that work best for them. Local governments who want to join the program should click the link above to register their interest.

*Congratulations to Minnesota Charging Smart participating communities: *Eden Prairie, Falcon Heights, Faribault, Hopkins, Inver Grove Heights, La Crescent, Oakdale, Roseville, and St. James.

________________________________________________________________________



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 [ [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), Requests for Applications (RFA) [ #FOA1 ]


* Carbon Capture Technology Program, Front-End Engineering and Design for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Transport
* Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants
* Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA) Program: Future Growth Grants – Deadline Extension
* Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) – Extended Deadline

Request for Proposals (RFP) [ #RequestforProposals ]


* Development Assistance Opportunity for Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing of Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Water Electrolyzer Materials CRADA Call

Notice of Intent [ #NoticeofIntent ]


* Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER)
* Carbon Capture, Removal, and Conversion Test Centers
* Joint Notice of Intent for Field Validation

Request for Information (RFI) [ #RequestforInformation ]


* National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors
* Highly Insulating Building Enclosures
* Progression of Net-Zero Emission Propulsion Technologies for the Off-Road Sector
* Strategies to Decarbonize America’s Industrial Sector
* Accelerating the Catalyst Development Cycle for Net Zero Applications
* Recovery of High Energy-Value Materials from Wastewater
* Transforming Industry: Strategies for Decarbonization

Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities & Items of Interest [ #Tribal ]


* 2024 Tribal and Territory Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act

Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs [ #taxes ]


* Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program

Prizes/Awards [ #PrizesAwards ]


* American-Made Data Driven Distributed (3D) Solar Visibility Prize
* Science Synthesis Prize: Identifying Key Barriers to Renewable Integration

Technical Assistance [ #PrizesAwards ]


* Technical Assistance Voucher Program for Long Duration Energy Storage

Webinars [ #webinars ]


* A Closer Look at FERC’s Transmission Order (Part 1)
* Going Deeper on IRA Tax Credits for Schools
* Winding Down: End of Service and Recycling for Wind Energy
* USDA REAP Funding for Your Distributed Wind Energy Project

Workshops, Meetings, Conferences [ #workshops ]


* Affordable Home Energy Shot Summit
* 2024 Community Solar Innovation Summit

Publications/Videos/Webpages [ #videos ]


* DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office Releases Multi-Year Program Plan
* Resources for Funding Opportunity Announcement Applicants
* Personal Electrification Planner
* Multi-State Transportation Electrification Impact Study: Preparing the Grid for Light, Medium, and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles





________________________________________________________________________



*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*

* *Carbon Capture Technology Program, Front-End Engineering and Design for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - Transport IIJA Section 40303 *
* DE-FOA-0002730 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline: *July 9, 2024

The DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has re-opened this FOA with an additional $24 million available for front-end engineering and design studies for regional CO2 transport networks. Selected projects will focus on carbon transport costs, transport network configurations, and technical and commercial considerations that enable industrial-scale deployment of carbon capture, conversion, and storage.

 


* *Carbon Dioxide Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (CIFIA) Program: Future Growth Grants – IIJA Section 40303 – Deadline Extension *
* DE-FOA-0002966 Amd. 1 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines:* Letter of Interest: August 15, 2024 | Application: September 30, 2024

DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has *amended this FOA to include a Letter of Interest deadline and an extension on the application deadline to September 30, 2024*. This FOA will fund projects that support and accelerate the development of CO2 transport by a variety of modes, such as through pipelines, rail, trucks, and ships or barges. The CO2 must be derived only from anthropogenic sources (which could include CO2 derived by direct capture from ambient air) and must ultimately be delivered to CO2 conversion sites or geologic storage facilities.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



*Other Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*

* *Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants (IRA S. 138 Clean Air Act)*
* EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04 [ [link removed] ] - Modification 2
* *Deadline: *November 21, 2024

EPA released this Notice of Funding Opportunity on November 21, 2023, with a total of $2 billion in funding, and is receiving applications on a rolling basis through November 21, 2024. EPA will consider applications under two separate tracks:

_Track I Applications_ - Community-Driven Investments for Change will focus on strategies to improve the environmental, climate, and resilience conditions affecting disadvantaged communities.

_Track II Applications_ – Meaningful Engagement for Equitable Governance will facilitate the engagement of disadvantaged communities in governmental processes to advance environmental and climate justice.

Eligible applicants for the Community Change Grants include a partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs), or a partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a Federally recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education, including Minority Serving Institutions.

 


* *Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) – Extended Deadline *
* FR-6700-N-99 [ [link removed] ] – Modification
* *Deadline: *July 10, 2024 – Extended

HUD’s PRICE program provides competitive grant funding to support critical investments such as repairs, infrastructure improvements, resiliency upgrades, and other services for low- and moderate-income residents of manufactured housing units and manufactured housing communities.  The FOA modification adds $10 million in funding to the previously announced $225 million of support (for a total of $235 million), clarifies and changes the previous FOA, and extends the application deadline to July 10, 2024.

- $210 million will support the main competition (PRICE Main) to accomplish repairs, infrastructure investments, resilience upgrade, eviction prevention, housing counseling and more. $11 million of this allotted funding is intended for Tribal Applicants;

- $25 million is reserved for a pilot program (PRICE Replacement Pilot) to enable the replacement of manufactured housing units, especially those in disrepair, with up to four units of affordable housing.

Eligible applicants to the program include local and state governments, Indian Tribes or their Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs), multi-jurisdictional entities, resident controlled MHCs, cooperatives, non-profit entities (including consortia of non-profit entities), Tribal non-profits, community development finance institutions (CDFIs), and Native CDFIs. Entities that partner with one or several residents of eligible manufactured housing communities or that propose to implement a grant program that would assist residents of eligible MHCs are also eligible.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________







*Request for Proposals (RFP)*

* *Development Assistance Opportunity for Roll-to-Roll Manufacturing of Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Water Electrolyzer Materials CRADA Call *
* Request for Proposal & Information [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: June 3, 2024 | Application: July 15, 2024
* The concept paper, full proposal, and all communications and questions regarding eligibility, the CRADA template, and application process should be directed by email to: [email protected]

The DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) Roll-2-Roll (R2R) Consortium has released a call for proposals for collaborative projects between industrial partners and the consortium. The HFTO R2R Consortium mission is to advance efficient, scalable, high-throughput, and high-quality manufacturing methods and processes for clean hydrogen technologies to accelerate domestic manufacturing and reduce the capital cost of durable and high-performing fuel cells and water electrolyzer systems. HFTO will provide funding (up to $1,500,000 per project) to the R2R Consortium national lab partner(s) to tackle challenges that are of mutual interest to the industrial partner and consortium.

_Project Topic Areas_:

- Scaling catalyst or ionomer synthesis and processing methods.

- Roll-to-roll coating processes for catalyst layers, membranes, or other components.

- Advanced drying processes, such as infrared or microwave, for reduced energy intensity and/or emissions.

- Development or demonstration of in-line/at-line quality control or near real-time inspection tools and instruments.

- Process modeling or advanced data analytics (e.g., machine learning [ML], artificial intelligence [AI]).

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________







*Notice of Intent (NOI)*

* *Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER) *
* DE-FOA-0003381 [ [link removed] ]

DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) intends to issue a $15 million funding opportunity by the fall of 2024. Funding will support a competitive pilot demonstration grant program for energy storage projects that are wholly U.S.-made, sourced, and supplied. In the anticipated FOA, partnerships between storage technology providers, beneficiary organizations, and resiliency analytics partners will be required.

* *


* *Carbon Capture, Removal, and Conversion Test Centers  *
* DE-FOA-0003368 [ [link removed] ]

DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) intends to issue a funding opportunity in calendar year 2024. Funding will support the development and implementation of a facility or facilities for the testing of new carbon capture, removal and conversion technologies. Projects of interest to the DOE will include technologies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from point sources such as electric generating units and industrial manufacturing facilities, remove CO2 from the atmosphere, and/or convert captured CO2 into valuable products. Areas of Interest anticipated to be named in the FOA are:

- Carbon Capture, Removal, and Conversion Test Center at an Electric Generating Unit

- Enabling Capital Improvements at an Existing Carbon Capture Test Center

- Carbon Capture, Removal, and Conversion Test Center at a Cement Manufacturing Facility

 


* *Joint Notice of Intent for Grid Connected Buildings and Vehicles Field Validation*
* DE-FOA-0003372 [ [link removed] ]

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has released a Notice of Intent for over $100 million in support of field demonstrations and other research projects.  Eligible projects will enhance grid planning and operation and help optimize systems with grid-connected buildings and vehicles powered by clean, distributed energy generation and demonstrate these advanced technologies as reliable, secure, and ready for wide-spread use. Three coordinated but separate competitive FOAs are planned, for release by September 2024:

- Connected Communities 2.0 (DE-FOA-0003136)

- Solar Technologies’ Rapid Integration and Validation for Energy Systems (DE-FOA-0003331)

- SuperTruck Charge (DE-FOA-0003344)

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Request for Information (RFI)


* *National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors*
* *Deadline for Public Comment: *June 24, 2024 submitted to: [email protected]
* Additional Information [ [link removed] ]

The DOE has released a preliminary list of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) to accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for expanded transmission. There is a 45-day window for public comments on the geographic boundaries and potential impacts of NIETC designation on environmental, community, and other resources. The DOE is seeking public input on these announcements:

1) Preliminary list of 10 potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) to accelerate the development of transmission projects in areas that present an urgent need for expanded transmissions;

 2) DRAFT announcement of minimum eligibility criteria for direct loans under the Transmission Facility Financing (TFF) program. 

 


* *Highly Insulating Building Enclosures *
* DE-FOA-0003385 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments: *June 7, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT - submitted in PDF format to the email address [email protected]

DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has issued an RFI to solicit input for a potential ARPA-E program focused on the development of highly insulating R-10-rated glass for windows and R-50-rated walls for residential and commercial building retrofit and new construction. Areas of Interest for Responses to this RFI include (but are not limited to):

- R-10 Windows with Vacuum Insulated Glazing

- Aerogels and Other Nanoporous Materials

- R-50 Walls

 


* *Progression of Net-Zero Emission Propulsion Technologies for the Off-Road Sector*
* DE-FOA-0003353 [ [link removed](RFI)_Off-Road_Sector_Decarbonization.pdf ]
* *Deadline for Comment: *June 7, 2024 submitted to: [email protected]

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is requesting information to aid understanding of off-road sector alternative propulsion technology preferences, which technologies seem most promising, and what are the key barriers to achieving the transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. The propulsion technologies under consideration for this RFI includes: biodiesel, renewable diesel, renewable natural gas, battery electric, direct electrification (catenary), electric hybridization, hydrogen fueled internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells.

 


* *Strategies to Decarbonize America’s Industrial Sector*
* DE-FOA-0003363 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline:* June 10, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT submitted to: [email protected]

DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office has issued an RFI to inform a new DOE vision study," Pathways for U.S. Industrial Transformations: Unlocking American Innovation." The vision study will identify cost-effective and industry-specific strategic pathways to achieve a thriving U.S. industrial sector with net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.T This RFI seeks input on four categories:

*Category 1:* Industrial Decarbonization Challenges, Barriers, and Cross-Cutting Strategies

*Category 2:* Framework for Industrial Decarbonization Pathways;

*Category 3:* Impacts and Evaluation Criteria for Industrial Decarbonization Pathways;

*Category 4:* Net-zero Decarbonization Pathways for Specific Industrial Subsectors.

 


* *Accelerating the Catalyst Development Cycle for Net Zero Applications *
* DE-FOA-0003375 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments: *June 13, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT submitted in PDF format to the email address [email protected]

DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy is requesting input on a potential program focused on accelerating the heterogeneous catalyst development cycle for incorporation into reactors, devices, equipment, unit operations, and process technology applications relevant to the U.S. 2050 net zero goals.

* *


* *Recovery of High Energy-Value Materials from Wastewater *
* DE-FOA-0003374 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments: *June 5, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT submitted in PDF format to the email address [email protected]

DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) is requesting input on a potential program focused on the development of technologies to recover high energy-value materials from wastewater to reduce energy demands and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with conventional sourcing and waste stream treatment.

 


* *Transforming Industry: Strategies for Decarbonization *
* DE-FOA-0003363 [ [link removed] ]
* *Comments Due:* June 10, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT submitted electronically to [email protected]

DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) is requesting stakeholder input on industrial technological, financial, social, environmental, and health aspects pertinent to the challenges, barriers, opportunities, and pathways to achieve net-zero emissions from the industrial sector by 2050. This effort will build on the 2022 Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap [ [link removed] ] and Pathway to Commercial Liftoff: Industrial Decarbonization Repor [ [link removed] ]t [ [link removed] ] IEDO seeks input on the following categories:

- Industrial Decarbonization Barriers, Challenges, and Cross-Cutting Strategies

- Framework for Industrial Decarbonization Pathways

- Impacts and Evaluation Criteria for Industrial Decarbonization Pathways; and 

- Net-zero Decarbonization Pathways for Specific Industrial Subsectors 

- For six manufacturing subsectors: cement, chemicals, food and beverage, iron and steel, pulp and paper, and petroleum refining

- Rest of industry (other manufacturing; agriculture and forestry; mining, oil, and gas; construction; data centers; and water and wastewater treatment) 

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



*Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities & Items of Interest*

* *2024 Tribal and Territory Grants: Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA)*
* EPA-OAR-OTAQ-24-02 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Submission of Questions: *November 8, 2024
* *Application Deadline: *December 6, 2024

The EPA has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity with ~$9 million in funding to incentivize and accelerate the upgrading or retirement of diesel engine vehicles. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with the EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. Applications will be accepted from federally recognized Tribal governments (or intertribal consortia) which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs

* *Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program*
* Program Updates & Details [ [link removed] ]
* Applications are accepted on a rolling basis during 2024, however some of the application categories may become fully subscribed in the first 30 days of the application window.
* Applications received May 29 - June 27 will be considered to be submitted on the same date. Prioritization of requests with that 30-day window will be determining by scoring of the application across prioritization categories.
* Applications received after June 27 will be date-stamped and prioritized based on submission date and time.

The Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) established this program under section 48(e), added to the IRS Code by the Inflation Reduction Act and is administered by the DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity. A 10-percentage point tax credit increase is available to eligible solar and wind facilities installed in low-income communities or on Indian land and a 20-percentage point credit increase is available to eligible solar and wind facilities that are part of a qualified low-income residential building or a qualified low-income economic benefit project. *The number of tax credit authorizations is limited for some of the application categories.  *

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Prizes/Awards

* *American-Made Data Driven Distributed (3D) Solar Visibility Prize *
* Prize Rules & Competition Registration [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline:* July 7, 2024
* *Webinar: *May 29 | 2:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

The DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Solar Visibility Prize is designed to incentivize solar innovators to create models and algorithms that can provide accurate and real-time information about distributed solar generation in electric power distribution networks. The 3D Solar Visibility Prize is open to U.S. based for-profit and nonprofit private entities and states, counties, Tribes, municipalities, and academic institutions.  Projects for prize consideration will develop a distribution system state estimation (DSSE) tool to perform calculations using DOE-provided synthetic measurement data and will submit their DSSE tool results for two distribution system networks for 14 consecutive days. DSSE tools will be tested and judged through the Open Energy Data Initiative for systems integration (OEDI SI) platform [ [link removed] ], a SETO-funded, open-source, cloud-based web portal platform.

 


* *Science Synthesis Prize: Identifying Key Barriers to Renewable Integration *
* *Deadline: *August 30, 2024
* Official Rules [ [link removed] ]

A joint effort of DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) and the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), the Science Synthesis Prize is part of the Grid Resource Integration Technology (GRIT) Prize Series and designed to create new knowledge based on transdisciplinary synthesis of the state of the art in renewable integration literature and practice. Competitor teams will undertake research to highlight the state of the art in renewable energy technologies, address current and projected technology challenges, and identify gaps in renewable integration throughout the industry that would benefit from greater investment, research, development and/or awareness. Up to 10 teams will each receive $10,000, and up to 5 teams may be awarded an additional $5,000 each for exceptional submissions.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________







Technical Assistance

* *Technical Assistance Voucher Program for Long Duration Energy Storage*
* General Information [ [link removed] ]
* Voucher Opportunity 7: Long Duration Storage Technology Acceleration (Providers) [ [link removed] ]
* Voucher Opportunity 8: Long Duration Energy Storage Community Development (Providers) [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines for both Opportunities:* June 6, 2024* *

The DOE’s Office of Electricity (OE) announced a new $1 million storage technical assistance voucher program. Awardees will receive OE-funded vouchers worth $50,000-$150,000 for services that will spur innovations in Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technologies among developers, small businesses, research institutions, and communities. 

Voucher Opportunity 7: Long Duration Energy Storage Technology Acceleration 

For technology innovators, including vendors and manufacturers. Examples of services eligible include market assessment support, business plan formulation, technical modeling or analysis, testing, performance validation, and commercialization strategy support from providers.

Voucher Opportunity 8: Long Duration Energy Storage Community Development 

For first-time energy storage deployments in communities that wish to benefit from the decarbonization, resilience, and workforce benefits of energy storage. Examples of services eligible include siting/permitting support, storage project road mapping, regional modeling, energy use analysis, technical feasibility studies, technology solution decision-making, and community engagement.  

________________________________________________________________________



Webinars

* *A Closer Look at FERC’s Transmission Order (Part 1)*
* May 24, 2024 | 12:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

Advanced Energy United is hosting a webinar to discuss FERCs Transmission Order, including panelists’ perspectives on why FERC acted, what the Order does and doesn’t require, how utilities and RTOs will approach compliance, and when next steps will unfold.

 


* *Going Deeper on IRA Tax Credits for Schools *
* May 30,2024 | 12:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

The DOE’s Renew America’s Schools Program is hosting this webinar for schools on IRA Tax Credits. Featuring UndauntedK12 and Center for Green Schools, this webinar will provide examples and answer questions regarding eligibility, stacking credits with other sources of financing, and bonus requirements which can add significant value to the credit received.

* *


* *Winding Down: End of Service and Recycling for Wind Energy*
* May 30, 2024 | 12:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

Hosted by the DOE’s WINDExchange Initiative, this webinar will present experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory speaking on key concepts in end-of-service processes for wind energy technologies and infrastructure, including decommissioning, repowering, and recycling.

* *


* *USDA REAP Funding for Your Distributed Wind Energy Project*
* June 17, 2024 | 12:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

The USDA and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will present a 90-minute webinar focused on preparing an application for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________



Workshops/Meetings/Conferences

* *Affordable Home Energy Shot Summit*
* June 5, 2024 | 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]

The DOE is hosting this virtual Summit with sessions on DOE’s role to enable equity-driven building energy solutions, perspective on affordable housing, cost reduction strategies and regional building needs data.

* *


* *2024 Community Solar Innovation Summit*
* June 13 – 14, 2024 | Denver | Information & Registration [ [link removed] ]

The Coalition for Community Solar Access is hosting this summit. Speakers will discuss best practices in interconnection, customer management, consumer protection, access and inclusion processes for low-to-moderate income customers, siting/permitting and more.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________







Publications/Videos/Webpages

* *DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) Releases Multi-Year Program Plan*
* Download the Report [ [link removed] ]

The Multi-Year Program Plan (MYPP) is HFTO’s strategy and planning document that will guide clean hydrogen innovation and research.  The Program Plan provides an assessment of the challenges that must be overcome to realize large-scale adoption of clean hydrogen and a detailed, integrated plan for all RD&D and crosscutting activities conducted by HFTO.

* *


* *Resources for Funding Opportunity Announcement Applicants*
* Resources for Perspective Applicants [ [link removed] ]

* *The DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office has released new resources for applicants seeking DOE funding, including a step-by-step video, application guidance, how to determine if a FOA is a good fit, and general frequently asked questions about Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs).

* *


* *Personal Electrification Planner*
* Start a PEP Here [ [link removed] ]

Rewiring America has created a Personal Electrification Planner to assist those interested in upgrading to electric appliances and vehicles in generating plan based on their home, lifestyle, and priorities.

 


* *Multi-State Transportation Electrification Impact Study: Preparing the Grid for Light, Medium, and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles*
* Download the Report [ [link removed] ]

This DOE report provides the findings from a multi-state analysis, and which will guide electric distribution grid planning for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Top of page [ #gd_top ]

________________________________________________________________________







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].

*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] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;}