Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and other federal funding announcements

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is seeking 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 offered through federal funding opportunities, including those funded by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA).?

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 IIJA web page or by clicking the links below.

--Open?IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA):

GRIP - Grid Resilience Innovation Program (Sections 40101c, 40103b, 40107)
- 40101c Topic Area 1?Grid Resilience Grants -?Concept Paper (CP)? Due:?December 16, 4 pm CST;? Full Application Due:4pm CST, April 6, 2023
- 40107?Topic Area 2 Smart Grid Grants -?CP Due:?December 16, 4 pm CST;? Full Application Due:4pm CST, March 17, 2023
- 40103b Topic Area 3 Grid Innovation Program?- CP Due:?January 13, 4 pm CST;? Full Application Due:4pm CST, May 19, 2023
- DE-FOA-0002740
- Slides from November 29 DOE Informational Webinar

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) The Grid Deployment Office (GDO), in conjunction with the Office of Clean Energy?Demonstrations (OCED), issued the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the GRIP Grid Resilience Innovation Program. The three grid resilience?programs covered by?this FOA ? each with specific statutory requirements? will invest approximately?$10.5 billion for the five-year period encompassing FY22 through FY26 to deploy?technologies to increase grid reliability and resilience.? ?These programs are competitive grant programs, and application will be made by eligible applicants/entities directly to the U. S. DOE.? Each section has unique lists of what stakeholders are eligible to apply for funding under that specific program; please use the link above to review full details of the funding announcement and details of each topic area.??

NOTE:? The DOE has clarified previously released information regarding whether eligible entities can apply for both 40101d sub-grants (from a State or Tribe) and apply directly to the DOE for a grant under 40101c. The clarification reads: "An eligible entity is not allowed to submit the same application for a grant under IIJA?Section 40101(c) and Section 40101(d) in the same application cycle. DOE considers a?"grant" to have a specific scope (i.e., a unique project). Accordingly, an eligible entity?may not submit a grant application with the same scope under both Sections 40101(c)?and 40101(d) in the same application cycle. Eligible entities can submit proposals to?both Sections 40101(c) and 40101(d) in the same application cycle as long as they are?separate scopes of work that address different resilience measures." SOURCE:? November 17 issue of 40101d FAQ

40305?Long-Duration Energy Storage Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Announcement
- Letter of Intent Due:? December 15, 4 pm CST
- Full Application Due: March 3, 2023, 4 pm CST
- DE-FOA-0002867?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit emerging Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) demonstration projects capable of delivering electricity for 10-24 hours or longer to support a low-cost, reliable, carbon-free electric grid. This $349 million effort seeks LDES demonstration projects that will validate new technologies, enhance the capabilities of customers and communities to integrate LDES more effectively, and sustain American global leadership in energy storage.

40106 Transmission?Facilitation Program Request for Proposals (RFP) - Capacity Contracts
- Part I Submission Due Date:? February 9m 2023, 4 pm CST
- Full (Part 2) Application Due: TBA, based on DOE invite
- RFP Number: GDO-TFPFY23CAP

The IIJA provides funding to enable the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to facilitate the construction, replacement, or capacity upgrade of certain?eligible electric power transmission lines and related facilities (Eligible Projects). The goals of?the TFP program are to facilitate the construction of transmission infrastructure and?technologies that improve and enhance the capacity, efficiency, resiliency, or reliability of the?electric power transmission system and improve and enhance access to low cost and low?carbon energy resources while ensuring repayment of TFP support.??DOE can offer three types of support under TFP to facilitate construction of Eligible Projects:??-1) capacity contracts (which provide a commercial source of revenue), 2)?loans (providing debt?support), and 3) public private partnerships (providing equity support).

This Request for Proposals?(RFP) specifically solicits applications for capacity contracts (Applications) through a two-part?application, screening, and in-depth review process to support the TFP program goals to accelerate the development and construction of high voltage transmission lines that to the?maximum extent practicable advance the priorities set forth in 42 U.S.C. 18173(j)(8).? After submission of the Part 1 application, applicants must be invited by the DOE to submit a more in-depth Part 2 application to remain in the consideration set.

More information can be found on the DOE web page, on the TFP Fact Sheet?and on the Grid and Transmission Program Conductor.?

-- IIJA Funding Notice of Intent (NOI)

40552 Energy Efficiency?and Conservation Block Grants
- Allocations to Local Units of Government (Counties and Cities)
- Allocations to Tribal Government
- MN State Allocation:?$2,248,830
- DE-FOA-0002882

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) has issued a NOI regarding issuance of the the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD) for the 40552 EECBG program.? ?The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program provides federal grants to states, units of local government, and Indian Tribes to assist eligible entities in implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, to reduce total energy use, and to improve energy efficiency.?The ALRD guidance is expected to be issued in January 2023.

Along with the NOI issuance, SCEP has released the funding allocations for states, cities, counties, and tribes who qualify to receive a direct allocation under the EECBG program.?Tribes sharing geography within the borders of Minnesota have been allocated a total of?$131,110, and cities and counties qualified to receive EECBG funding directly have been allocated a total of $4,870,320.? Each eligible unit of government that receives a grant under this program must submit an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (EECS) for approval by DOE. DOE intends to provide a template that local governments and Indian tribes may use when submitting their proposed EECS.

- Allocations to specific counties, municipalities and tribes may be found by referencing the two excel files linked above.? More information on the EECBG program, including information on the formula used to determine what cities and counties receive direct allocation, may be found on the?SCEP web page and the eere-exchange.energy.gov listing.

--Non-IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
- Letter of Intent Due:? January 3, 2023, 4 pm CST
- Full Application Due: February 21, 2023, 10:59 pm CST
- SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2

The DOE Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO) is soliciting projects for funding around the following topics:

- Wide-Bandgap Power Electronics?? proposals for the development of the next generation of power-electronic systems for the solar industry that integrate solar generation with energy storage and/or electric vehicle charging.

- Photovoltaic (PV) Recycling???technologies that can improve the overall recyclability and refurbishment of PV modules and/or other hardware or balance-of-system components of a solar system.

- Solar Systems Resilient to Weather-related or Cyber Threats???proposals to improve the ability of solar assets or electronic devices associated with solar energy generation (such as inverters, direct current (DC)-DC optimizers, and smart meters) and systems to quickly recover in response to weather-related or cyber threats.

- Heliostat Components and Systems for Low-Cost, Autonomous, and High-Concentration Solar Collectors???proposals for the design of heliostat components to support SETO?s goals of low-cost solar-thermal energy for both high-temperature industrial process heating, as well as high-efficiency electricity production, coupled with thermal energy storage.?

- Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power (CSP) Technologies for Gen3 CSP or Industrial Decarbonization?? development of CSP technologies, components, systems, and materials relevant to either low-cost electricity production or the decarbonization of industrial thermal processes.

-??Solar Hardware and Software Technologies: Affordability, Reliability, Performance, and Manufacturing?? solutions that can advance solar energy technologies by lowering costs and facilitating the secure integration into the nation?s energy grid.

-?Transferring Novel Solar Technologies from Research Laboratories to the Market?? spinning out solutions from research institutions, such as universities and national laboratories. (Eligible for STTR funding only.)

--Open?IRA Requests for Information (RFI):

EPA Public Notices regarding the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
- Responses due: January 18, 2023, 10:59 pm CST

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on development of initiatives funded by the Inflation Reduction Act related to air quality projects and climate projects addressing clean energy, transportation, methane emissions, and climate super-pollutants.

- Docket Number 1:?EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0873-0004?Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (IRA Section 60114)

- Docket Number 2:?EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0874-0002 Transportation Programs (IRA Section 60101, 60102)

- Docket Number 3:?EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0875-0002 Methane Emissions Reduction Program (IRA Section 60113)

- Docket Number 4:?EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0876-0002 Funding to Address Air Pollution (IRA Section 60105, 60106)

- Docket Number 5:?EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0877-0002 Funding for Implementation of American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act (IRA Section 60109)

- Docket Number 6:?EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0878-0002?Low Emissions Electricity Program & GHG Corporate Reporting (IRA Section?60107)

Resources

-- Webinars

U.S Treasury and Guidance on Labor Protections?and Requirements to Qualify for IRA Tax Credits
- December 1, 2022, 3:00 PM CST - Register

The U.S. Treasury Department has released initial guidance on the Inflation Reduction Act?s labor standards for enhanced clean energy and climate tax incentives.?The guidance, is an important first step toward making sure the Inflation Reduction Act supports good-paying jobs in the clean energy industry, expands workforce training pathways into these jobs, and lowers costs for American families.?

Under IRA,?prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements apply to the following tax incentives: 1)?Advanced Energy Project Credit; 2)?Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit; 3)?Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration; 4)?Clean Fuel Production Credit; 5) Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen; 6)?Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction; 7)?Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit; 8) Renewable Energy Property Investment Tax Credit

The prevailing wage requirements also apply to the following tax incentives: 1) New Energy Efficient Home Credit; and, 2)?Zero-Emission Nuclear Power Production Credit.

In addition to guidance and prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, the guidance released includes guidance on recordkeeping requirements and beginning of construction guidance.? Thursday's webinar will provide more information on the guidance; register to attend at the link above.

National?League of Cities?Webinar: Clean Energy Project Eligibility for Local Governments in the Inflation Reduction Act
- December 8, 2022, 11:00 AM CST - Register

The National League of Cities is holding a webinar to help local governments better understand funding options under the Inflation Reduction Act.? The Inflation Reduction Act provides a variety of clean energy tax credits and for the first-time, local governments are positioned to take advantage of two of these credits directly. With investments in clean commercial vehicles and renewable vehicles and renewable energy projects at municipal utility, local governments have the option for a direct payment in lieu of a tax credit.? ?Click the register link to attend the webinar and find out about this option.

-- Fact Sheets

ACEEE and GPISD Fact Sheets for Local Governments regarding Federal Funding?

ACEEE and the Great Plains Institute (GPI) have together released a series of fact sheets designed to assist small and medium midwestern local governments in pursuit of federal funding for energy efficiency, clean energy, and transportation efficiency projects. The factsheets focus on opportunities through Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, as well as highlight Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs. Though designed with midwestern local governments in mind, these fact sheets are also relevant to rural communities across the country.

?These fact sheets describe and highlight federal programs currently available to rural communities through recent federal investments, as well as best practice strategies to apply for funds. However, as new program details continue to emerge, individuals should monitor and subscribe to updates from state and federal agencies to stay aware of upcoming Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs) and other news.

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 feature on SAM.gov. 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.

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

Interested in partnering with the Department of Commerce around funding opportunities? Have questions? Send an email, detailing the program, your organization and contact information to IIJA Initiatives Project Manager, Kellye Rose:?[email protected].

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