DOE Opens $400M for Rural or Remote Areas FY24 Funding Opportunity
Submission deadline is September 30, 2024.
Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (this program is accepting applications)
Opportunity: Rural or Remote Areas FY24 Funding Opportunity
Overview and Eligible Uses: This Funding Opportunity aims to support clean energy projects that provide lasting benefits to rural and remote communities by reducing energy costs, enhancing energy access and resilience, boosting economic opportunities, and minimizing environmental impacts. The program seeks to demonstrate innovative energy systems using climate-resilient technologies and promote economic resilience, community engagement, and workforce development while building local knowledge and self-reliance in clean energy from the following 4 categories:
Topic Area 1 - Open Category: Create opportunities for funding diverse clean energy infrastructure projects in rural or remote areas and overcome specific barriers to adoption.
Topic Area 2 - Dual use and co-location: The program funds clean energy projects in rural and remote areas that integrate with other land or water uses to reduce conflicts and maximize additional benefits like economic and environmental improvements
Topic Area 3 - Small-scale community-centered: The goal is to fund community-led clean energy projects that enhance local capacity for future initiatives. Collaboration with Tribal governments, local organizations, and experienced entities is encouraged to strengthen technical expertise and community support.
Topic Area 4 - Isolated microgrids & unelectrified buildings: The objective is to develop clean energy projects for either isolated microgrids, typically in ultra-remote areas relying on diesel generators, or for unelectrified homes and community buildings not connected to an electrical grid.
Amount: 16 to 69 projects with an anticipated total amount of $400,000,000.
Topic Area 1 - Open Category: Award ranging from $10,000,000 to $ 50,000,000 with an estimated total amount of $150,000,000.
Topic Area 2 - Dual use and co-location: Award ranging from $10,000,000 to $5,000,000M with an estimated total amount of $175,000,000.
Topic Area 3 - Small-scale community-centered: Award ranging from $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 with an estimated total amount of $50,000,000.
Topic Area 4 - Isolated microgrids & unelectrified buildings: Award ranging from $2,000,000 to $10,000,000 with an estimated total amount of $25,000,000.
Award Type: Cooperative Agreement
Eligible Applicants:
American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (Tribal Nations)
State, territorial, and local governmental entities
Non-profit entities
Labor unions
For-profit entities
Rural electric cooperatives
Farming associations and cooperatives
Institutions of higher education
Incorporated consortia
Unincorporated consortia
Key Dates: Submission deadline is September 30, 2024.
Key Links:
For a full list of currently available grant programs under the Infrastructure Law and other helpful tools, take a look at our Helpful Resources page.
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