Grants

Current Funding Opportunities Available

EPA National Clean Diesel Campaign American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law on February 17, 2009, includes $300 million in grant funding opportunities to support clean diesel activities. The competitive announcement Request for Proposals and Applications for the ARRA Funding for National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program is now available. The applications are due April 28, 2009.

Recovery Act of 2009 Guide to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Local and Tribal Governments
This document provides information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as well as links to EPA resources and other organizations. In addition, this document focuses on key funding opportunities for local and tribal government efforts in clean energy and describes tax incentives and bond programs relevant to clean energy efforts. The paper highlights potential opportunities to maximize clean energy investments; but local and tribal governments should refer to guidelines published by the federal agency administering each funding stream for more detail about allowable activities.

Carl Moyer Multi-District Solicitation
This year the Multidistrict funds are being used towards the new Voucher Incentive Program (VIP). The VIP takes the current criteria of the Carl Moyer Program Fleet Modernization program and streamlines the requirements for both small fleet owners and air districts.

Different from previous years; the only eligible applicants are Air Quality Management Districts and Air Pollution Control Districts who are willing and able to administer the VIP since the only project eligible is the administration of the VIP.

However, small fleet truck owners can receive funds from the VIP to replace their old trucks. This is possible through applications that will be available at participating air districts and dealerships starting in May 2009. Beginning mid April 2009 a list of all the participating air districts and dealerships will be available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/voucher/voucher.htm.

The Air Resources Board staff will be holding several informational sessions on the VIP and the new AB 118 Providing Loan Assistance for California Equipment (PLACE) Program, and regulations affecting on-road heavy-duty vehicles in California. The informational sessions notice is located at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/voucher/voucher.htm.

For more information on the VIP or the upcoming informational sessions, please go to http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/moyer/voucher/voucher.htm or contact Sam Gregor at (916) 323-0005 or sgregor@arb.ca.gov. For more information on multidistrict solicitation, contact Lynsay Carmichael at (916) 322-0407 or lcarmich@arb.ca.gov.

Variety of Funding Available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart the U.S. economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century.

Climate Trust Greenhouse Gas Offset Project Solicitation
The Climate Trust is currently soliciting high-quality greenhouse gas offset projects. We are particularly interested in transportation projects. Through this solicitation, diesel projects that cannot be implemented without additional funding can sell the greenhouse gas emission reductions they produce to The Climate Trust. More information is available here. Please contact Peter Weisberg (pweisberg@climatetrust.org, 503-238-1915x207) with any questions.

Past Funding Opportunities

U.S. DOE Clean Cities/Biomass Program Solicitation for Education and Outreach Project
The Clean Cities/Biomass Program FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector, Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS26-09NT01236 solicitation is out on Grants.Gov. The solicitation includes a request for education and outreach projects related to biofuels. Proposals are due on February 27, 2009.

To access the solicitation:

1. Go to http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp

2A. You can search by Funding Opportunity Numbers:
a. DE-PS26-09NT01236-01 (Infrastructure)
b. DE-PS26-09NT01236-02 (Incremental Cost of Vehicles)
c. DE-PS26-09NT01236-03 (Education & Outreach Workshops)

2B. Or you can click on "Browse by Category" and then click on "Energy" and scroll ahead to the closing date of 2/27/09, and you will find the 3 above funding categories.

3. Once you click onto one of the three "Opportunity Titles" (i.e. the above numbers), you can scroll down to "Link to Full Announcement" and "Click here to view the Opportunity" to see the entire solicitation.

The ability to apply and the required application files will not be available until the first week of January. If you have general questions on accessing the solicitation, please contact jfisher@bcs-hq.com. If you have solicitation-specific questions, they must be submitted via IIPS.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service announced up to $58.4 million in financial assistance is available to agricultural producers and entities through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), established in the new farm bill to promote ground and surface water conservation and water quality improvement. A Request for Proposals was published in the Federal Register. Proposals must be submitted by March 2, 2009.

The AWEP Request for Proposals can be viewed at the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service's (USDA-NRCS) web site; at the official government regulation web site; and at the Federal Register.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or 2008 Farm Bill, established AWEP as a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), USDA's largest conservation program on working agricultural lands. All EQIP requirements and policies will apply to AWEP.

USDA-NRCS administers EQIP, a voluntary conservation program that provides technical assistance and payments to help crop and livestock producers address environmental concerns through conservation improvements on agricultural and non-industrial private forests lands. Farmers and ranchers can use EQIP to farm in an environmentally friendly manner and still meet their agricultural production goals. In addition, it is designed to produce significant environmental benefits to the public, such as improved soil, water and air quality, and enhanced wildlife habitat.

The new farm bill expanded EQIP to include AWEP. AWEP offers financial and technical assistance to help farmers and ranchers carry out water enhancement activities that conserve ground and surface water and improve water quality on agricultural lands such as cropland, pasture, grassland and rangeland.

Agricultural water enhancement activities include:

• water quality or water conservation plan development;
• water conservation restoration or enhancement projects, including conversion to the production of less water-intensive agricultural commodities or dry land farming;
• water quality or quantity restoration or enhancement projects;
• irrigation system improvement or irrigation efficiency enhancement;
• activities designed to reduce drought's impacts; and
• other related activities that will help achieve water quality or water conservation benefits on agricultural land.

Under this new program, USDA-NRCS can contract directly with agricultural producers who are included in approved partner proposals. Eligible partners include federally- recognized tribes, states, units of local government, or agricultural or silvicultural associations. Producers who apply for AWEP assistance must meet EQIP eligibility requirements. All AWEP funding must go to producers. Like EQIP, contract terms for producers under AWEP run from 1 year to 10 years.

Agricultural producers in selected project areas can apply for available AWEP funds at their local USDA service center.

For additional information about the AWEP under EQIP, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP or call (202) 720-1845 during business hours.

$9.1 Million Available for Research, Development and Demonstration of Community-Scale Renewable Energy Projects from California Energy Commission's PIER Renewables Program
The goal of this grant program is integration within a single community of multiple renewable energy technologies, including wind, solar, biomass, biogas, geothermal, energy storage, combined heat and power, energy efficiency, etc. Projects in Exploratory, Pilot, or Implementation stage are all eligible for funding.

Funding
Total Funds Available: $9,100,000. Maximum funding levels for RESCO Technical Integration projects are: Exploratory: $200,000; Pilot: $1,000,000; Implementation: $2,000,0000.

Maximum funding levels for RESCO Collateral projects are:

1. RE Integration, piloting and implementation of smart grid concepts: $1,000,000 (PIER Natural Gas funding)
2. Dairy bio-gas or bio-power technology characterization, assessment and validation: $1,000,000 (PIER Natural Gas funding)
3. Demonstration of low cost, low emission technologies for conversion of biogas, e.g. homogenous charge compression ignition engines: $300,000 (PIER Electricity funding)

Required Matching Funds
This solicitation requires match funding except for Collateral Category 2 (dairy bio-gas and bio-power characterization, assessment and validation). For exploratory stage projects, minimum match funding is 25% of the total project cost (cash and in-kind). For pilot, implementation, and collateral projects, minimum match funding is 50% of the total project cost (cash and in-kind match).

Eligible Applicants
Prime Applicants should be based in California and must be empowered to act on behalf of a specific community in the matters of RESCO planning and implementation.  Eligible organizations include:

• California cities and counties targeting net-zero communities and buildings.
  Chartered California institutions of higher education aiming to shift a campus energy supply mix toward RE.
• Likewise, California school districts aiming to shift district-wide on-campus energy supply toward RE.
• California public agencies engaged in shifting the energy supply mix for specific community-scale operations (e.g., prisons and/or water treatment and pumping operations) toward RE.
• California utilities engaged in facilitating RE deployment in (or for) a particular community area they are currently serving, e.g. RE deployment dedicated to supply specific, identifiable communities and sub-divisions.
• California jurisdictions jointly or individually exploring or moving to implement community choice aggregation in order to achieve locally determined clean energy supply and climate mitigation targets.
• California chartered industry or agriculture associations engaged in development and aggregation of RE supply by local industry members, e.g. bio-methane collection and distribution grids organized by dairies and/or food processors that are integrated in energy systems that include other complementary RE sources.
  
• California-based Native American governments exploring or implementing a RESCO vision.
  
• Corporate entities or industry associations exploring or implementing a RESCO vision and empowered to represent the energy users in a proposed or already established business park or industrial zone.

For complete details, please see the announcement below and the full solicitation at
http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/PON-08-004/PON-08-004_Application_Manual.pdf

Washington State Department of Ecology Accepting Applications
The Washington State Department of Ecology is pleased to announce our intent to solicit Requests for Qualifications and Quotations (RFQQ) to purchase, or purchase and install, retrofit emissions control technologies on heavy duty diesel vehicles: Retrofit Emissions Control Technology [California Air Resources Board (CARB) verified “Level – 2 Type Device”] for privately owned diesel fleets. The contract term date will be about February 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010, with the option to extend for two additional one year terms. Ecology will accept vendor bids to provide US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or California Air Resource Board (CARB) verified technologies that reduce particulates by greater than 50%, commonly known as CARB Level 2 – Type devices. Ecology intends to use this contract to install these retrofit technologies on about 100 pieces of diesel cargo handling equipment owned by port tenants at the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma. The expected project budget is about $500,000.

Our project bid schedule is as follows:

• December 10, 2008 – Post RFQQ to Ecology and General Administration website
• December 18, 2008 – Mandatory pre-bid conference at Dept. of Ecology
• January 9, 2009 – Bid proposals due

Please direct all inquiries to: Cheryl Witt, RFQQ Coordinator, Air Quality Program, Washington Department of Ecology, 360-407-6805, e-mail: cwit461@ecy.wa.gov.

Hybrid Technology
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for Engineering Excellence Through Hybrid Technology. Through this RFP, EPA seeks collaboration in the study and investigation of EPA's Clean Automotive Technology Program pilot projects. These pilot projects will require using state of the art experimental techniques in advanced engine development technology to optimize Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle technology, unique clean and efficient engines for full-series hybrid vehicles, and clean low-greenhouse gas transportation fuels. $1.35 million expected to be available, up to 5 awards anticipated. Letters of Intent are requested but not required and are due 11/21/08. Final proposals due 12/15/08. For more info contact Kimberly Derksen at derksen.kimberly@epa.gov or go to: http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html. Refer to Sol# EPA-OAR-OTAQ-08-09. (Grants.gov 11/05/08).

Oakland Army Base Ancillary Maritime Support Services Development Request for Proposals

Sacramento Emergency Clean Air Transportation (SECAT) Program
The SECAT program, run by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, was created as a way to help truck owneres and fleet operators reduce their vehicles' emissions in a business-friendly manner. SECAT has $45 million left to pay for the retrofit of your existing engine with a newer, cleaner-burning one, or pays a significant amount of the cost of a newer vehicle.

For more information, visit http://www.4secat.com or email Freya Arick at farick@airquality.org.

South Coast Air Quality Management District Carl Moyer Program Solicitation - 2008
The Carl Moyer Program provides monetary grants to help businesses and public agencies clean up their heavy duty diesel engienes more than required by air pollution regulations. The grants cover some or all of the cost differentce between purchasing a newer cleaner engine/vehicle, and rebuilding the existing engine. All project proposals must be received no later than 1:00pm on Friday, May 2, 2008. Click here for more information.

USDA Rural Development Accepting Applications for Energy Projects
The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2008 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. This solicitation is issued pursuant to Section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Agricultural producers can apply for grants, loan guarantees, or both. Eligible renewable energy systems include anaerobic digester projects that use animal wastes and other substrates to produce thermal or electrical energy. For 2008, USDA is allocating $15.9 million to fund grants (with a ceiling of $500,000 per grant) and hopes to award $205 million in loan guarantees.

First Application Deadline: April 16, 2008
Second Application Deadline: June 16, 2008

The USDA has established two grant cycles this year. 50% of the grant funding will be set aside for each cycle. Applications not funded in the first cycle will be reconsidered in the second cycle. Notification on the first grant cycle is expected before June 16, 2008 and the second by September 16, 2008. Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where your project is located. More information on the funding and application process for this funding opportunity can be found at www.farmenergy.org.

Carl Moyer Program Solicitation
The Carl Moyer Program provides monetary grants for the incremental cost of cleaner than required technology. Section 44286 of the Health and Safety Code gives ARB the authority to reserve up to ten percent of Carl Moyer Program funding for multidistrict projects.

February 15, 2008, the ARB released a solicitation seeking projects that qualify for this multidistrict funding: projects that operate in more than one air district, or that impact air quality in more than one air district as a result of air pollutant transport.

The official solicitation is available at this link.

West Coast Collaborative Innovations in Clean Diesel
EPA Region 9 is soliciting proposals on a competitive basis for innovative projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines within the jurisdiction of Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, tribal nations). Projects must demonstrate effective emissions reductions (including, but not limited to, reductions in particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons) from existing diesel engine operations through a variety of strategies such as emissions control technologies; idling reduction strategies; cleaner burning fuels; and alternative and biofuels production, distribution, and use. All projects must demonstrate applications, technologies, methods or approaches that are new, innovative or experimental. A demonstration project that is carried out through a routine or established practice is not eligible for funding.

EPA Region 9 anticipates awarding a total of approximately $500,000 under this announcement. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 2-3 assistance agreements under this announcement ranging from no less than $75,000 to no more than $300,000. Matching funds are not required under this program.

Proposals are due February 15, 2008. Download the full RFP for more information. Questions about the RFP can be directed to EPA at (206) 553-0532 and/or e-mail dieselgrants@epa.gov.

California Energy Commission Energy in Agriculture Loan Solicitation
The California Energy Commission is offering below market rate loan funds for the purchase of proven cost-effective energy efficient and renewable generation emerging technologies applicable to the agricultural and food processing industries.

These emerging technologies include: thermal heat pumps, electrodialysis membrane systems, enterprise energy management systems, heating and cooling topping cycle systems, ultra-low NOx controlled energy efficient burners, solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems, utilization of food and animal waste for bio-energy generation.

No other technologies will be considered for this solicitation.

These technologies have been subjected to comprehensive research, development and demonstration efforts under commercial working conditions. These efforts have been funded by the Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program and the U.S. Department of Energy.

An energy efficient emerging technology is defined as a technology that:

• Is commercially available
• Is proven through an independent evaluation to reach new efficiency performance benchmarks when compared to current technologies
• Has yet to be adopted by no more than 10 percent of the agricultural and food industries in California

Economic Development
The U.S. Economic Development Administration requests proposals under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, and the Trade Act of 1974. This program supports projects that promote comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts to enhance the competitiveness of regions, resulting in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher wage jobs in areas experiencing substantial and persistent economic distress. $250.7 million expected to be available, proposals accepted on a continuous basis. Refer to Sol# EDA03222007. (Grants.gov 3/26/07)

Transportation Emission Reduction and Fuel Savings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) announces its intent to seek bids for services to support OTAQ in accomplishing various air quality improvements. Work areas will include both regulatory/compliance programs such as Transportation Conformity and Inspection/Maintenance and voluntary programs such as SmartWay Transport Program, Clean School Bus, and may include the development and advancement of future programs. EPA anticipates issuing the RFP in early May 2007. Refer to Sol# PR-CI-07-10295. (FBO 4/7/07)

Transportation Air Pollution Control
The U.S. Environmental Protection, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, announces its intent to request bids for conducting economic impact and benefit analyses in support of the development of mobile source air pollution control regulations and standards. The mobile source standards may include standards for on-road and non-road engines and equipment, air toxics standards, renewable fuels standards, fuels standards and other regulatory standards. EPA anticipates opening the RFP in early May and closing it 30 days later. Refer to Sol# PR-CI-07-10055. (FBO 4/15/07)

Emission, Air Quality, and Meteorological Modeling
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, announces its intent to request quotes for Emission, Air Quality, and Meteorological Modeling Support. The RFP is scheduled to open on or about 4/20/07 and close 30 days later. Refer to Sol# PR-NC-07-10067. (FBO 4/12/07)

Small Business Innovation Research - Phase I Program Solicitation
Applications due by noon on 05/23/2007—Awards up to $70,000. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites small business firms to submit research proposals under this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitation. The SBIR program solicits proposals and awards funding for research (R) or research and development (R&D). For this solicitation EPA is interested in advanced technologies that address several topics, including Animal Waste and Waste to Energy (gasification and anaerobic digestion).

Transportation Fund for Clean Air through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) is a grant program funded by a $4 surcharge on motor vehicles registered in the Bay Area. This generates approximately $22 million per year in revenue.

TFCA's goal is to implement the most cost-effective projects in the Bay Area that will decrease motor vehicle emissions, and therefore improve air quality. Projects must be consistent with the 1988 California Clean Air Act and the Bay Area Ozone Strategy.

Eligible Project Types:
The fund covers a wide range of project types, including purchase or lease of clean fuel buses; purchase of clean air vehicles; shuttle and feeder bus service to train stations; ridesharing programs to encourage carpool and transit use; bicycle facility improvements such as bike lanes, bicycle racks, and lockers; arterial management improvements to speed traffic flow on major arterials; smart growth; and transit information projects to enhance the availability of transit information.

For more information, visit: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/grants_and_incentives/tfca/index.htm

Carl Moyer Funds through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Air District administers the Carl Moyer Program in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (ARB). The Carl Moyer Program provides grants to reduce exhaust emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines. Funding is available for projects to:

• replace old diesel engines with cleaner engines in existing equipment
• retrofit existing diesel engines with emission control devices
• purchase new vehicles or equipment with emissions below applicable state and federal standards

For more information, visit: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/grants_and_incentives/carl_moyer/index.htm

For a fact sheet about the Carl Moyer program, visit: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/grants_and_incentives/carl_moyer/Moyer%20Fact%20Sheet-Apr-2006.pdf