This is the first in a series of messages about resources available from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) pertaining to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Over the past year and a half, hundreds of billions of dollars have been approved by Congress to invest in infrastructure, address the climate crisis, and help our nation recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and inflation. This funding is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make a difference for Michigan communities and residents.?

The majority of this funding is designated through two main pieces of legislation: the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) passed in November 2021 ? also known as the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) ? and the Inflation Reduction Act?(IRA) passed in August 2022. These documents provide an overview of the new grants, rebates, and incentives that will be made available to states, local and tribal governments, organizations, and individuals. Some incentives were released in 2022, with many more to come. It will take time to get everything up and running given the novelty of this funding and the resultant programs. As such, EGLE plans to use this series as one way to share updates on relevant BIL and IRA information related to energy and sustainability. This series will occur monthly and provide a snippet of upcoming federal grants, trainings, and other resources.

Further, EGLE has partnered with 5 Lakes Energy to offer webinars and technical assistance to support local and tribal governments who are navigating these programs. More information can be found on EGLE?s Federal Funding Technical Assistance Webpage, which is part of the Catalyst Communities Initiative.

See below for the first update in the BIL & IRA Resources Series.

BIL & IRA Resources Series January Update

GRANT SEEKING TOOLS: The White House recently released its?Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Guidebook, as well as a downloadable list of all the IRA funding programs.?

University of Michigan researchers have created the IIJA Funding Tracker, a helpful tool to assist local governments, tribes, and researchers to identify funding opportunities relevant to Michigan and sustainability projects in the BIL/IIJA.

FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES: Applications for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program will open soon (expected in January 2023). Most of the $550 million in funding will be allocated through formula grants to eligible local governments and tribes, who will need to submit an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy for approval by the Department of Energy (DOE). $8.8 million in funding will be made available to non-eligible local and tribal governments through competitive grants that are administered by state governments.

The DOE Office of Indian Energy is now accepting applications for two programs. One is the Clean Energy Technology Deployment on Tribal Lands program, which has $20 million available for projects that install clean energy systems, energy efficiency measures, or energy storage systems, and the deadline is February 9, 2023 deadline. The other is Powering Unelectrified Tribal Buildings program, which has $15 million to power unelectrified tribal buildings, and the deadline is February 23, 2023. Tribes, intertribal organizations, and tribal energy development organizations are eligible to apply for these grants, and there is a 20% matching funds requirement.

LIST OF OTHER FEDERAL GRANTS: For a select list of more energy-related federal grants for local and tribal governments that are currently open or opening soon, visit EGLE?s Federal Funding Technical Assistance Webpage.

GRANT SUPPORT: 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 on behalf of 5 Lakes Energy, to learn more.