Opportunities for Funding

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $49 million in competitive grants under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (ELEF) (Federal Assistance Listing #20.532). ELEF makes funding available competitively to assist in the financing of capital projects for the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems and related charging infrastructure to reduce emissions or produce zero onboard emissions under normal operation.

The purpose of this NOFO is to solicit applications for the Highway Construction Training Program (HCTP) to award highway construction workforce development grants. The NOFO will result in the distribution of up to $4,226,871.

The purposes of the HCTP as described in 23 U.S.C. 504(f) are to:
1) Develop, test, and review new curricula and education programs to train individuals at all levels of the transportation workforce; and

2) To implement the new curricula and education programs to provide for hands-on career opportunities to meet current and future needs.

As further described in 23 U.S.C. 504(f)(2), in making grants, FHWA may consider the extent to which the project will:
A) Develop new curricula or education program to meet the specific current or future needs of a segment of the transportation industry, States, or regions.

B) Provide for practical experience and on-the-job training.

C) Be oriented toward practitioners in the field rather than the support and growth of the research community.

D) Provide for new curricula or programs that will provide training in areas other than engineering, such grants as business administration, economics, information technology, environmental science, and law.

E) Provide programs or curricula that train professionals for work in the transportation field, such as construction materials, information technology, environmental science, urban planning, and industrial or emerging technology.

F) Demonstrate the commitment of industry or a State DOT to the program.

Amendment 000001 - DOE is amending this FOA to extend the Full Application Submission deadline, update the Replies to Reviewer Comments deadline, update the Expected Date for DOE Selection Notifications, and update the Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations. Inflation Reduction Act Funding for Advanced Biofuels Bioenergy Technologies Office’s 2024 Systems Development and Integration (SDI) FOA is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. IRA Section 60108(b) authorized $10 million to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for new grants to industry in advanced biofuels. EPA and DOE entered an Interagency Agreement to transfer the funds to DOE and allow DOE to manage a FOA with substantial involvement from EPA. The FOA’s topic areas are of mutual interest for both the EPA’s priority in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and DOE BETO’s priority in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge as well as SDI’s priority in supporting four demonstration-scale integrated biorefineries by 2030. For both topic areas, the application must discuss how the proposed technology would meet the RFS definition of advanced biofuel, which means using allowable feedstocks, producing allowable fuel types, and with lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 50% compared to petroleum base baseline.

Purpose:
Eligible projects/programs will enhance connections to local cultural history, local parks, open space or natural areas through artistic community events, programming or art installations that help to build sustainable community connections, health and well-being. The Local Parks Grants Program will be managed and administered by Parks California https://parkscalifornia.org/

Description:
Both program operations and art installations in local parks are eligible. Project/Programs must be in a "local park". Local parks include land that is owned or managed by a local city, county, park or community service district, land trusts, regional park or open space district, non-profit organization or foundation, or any other entity other than federal and state agencies. For more information see https://artsincaliforniaparks.org/local-parks-grant-program/

Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) is a collaborative research effort administered by NREL and supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). C2C seeks to foster local clean energy transitions across multiple sectors (grid, buildings, and transportation).

Through C2C activities, the DOE will bring electric utilities, local governments, and community-based organizations together to build confidence in the feasibility of existing clean energy ambitions, develop plans and actions that are technically valid and data-driven, and drive implementation decisions to ensure more socially equitable clean energy-sector outcomes.

The purpose of the DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program is to fund public-private partnerships to develop, strengthen, and scale promising and evidence-based training models in H-1B industries and occupations critical to meeting the goals of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and to maximize the impact of these investments. The United States (U.S.) will need a proficient workforce to fill the good-paying jobs created by this historic investment, and this grant program will train job seekers in advanced manufacturing; information technology; and professional, scientific, and technical services occupations that support renewable energy, transportation, and broadband infrastructure sectors.

2024 Renew America’s Schools PRIZE to Cooperative Agreement Overview: The 2024 Renew America’s School Prize will provide up to $6.9M in cash prize awards of $300,000 each, followed by grant awards between $7.5M and $15M. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE’s) Renew America’s Schools program provides investments to transform decaying public school infrastructure into healthier, more energy efficient learning environments. The program supports the implementation of infrastructure improvements in schools, with a focus on local educational agencies (LEAs) that qualify as rural and/or high poverty. Through Renew America’s Schools, DOE will help create healthier learning environments, lower utility costs, and redirect funds to support students and teachers. PHASE 1 (PRIZE): Portfolio + Team = Up to 23 Winners at $300,000 cash prize each In Phase 1 (“Portfolio + Team”), competitors will identify a minimum of 10 schools/school facilities to be included in their application. The portfolio may span multiple LEAs. The portfolio should exhibit a high need for energy assessments and, ultimately, energy improvements. The goal of Phase 1 is for competitors to successfully assemble their project team, assemble their portfolio of school facilities, demonstrate the need for energy improvements at schools and school facilities in the defined portfolio, and outline their process to complete the tasks in Phase 2. Based on successful completion of Phase 1, winners may be invited to enter into negotiations with DOE for a Cooperative Agreement. PHASE 2 (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT): Strategic Plan + Energy Audits = $500,000 to $1,000,000 per grantee ONLY winners from the Phase 1 Prize will be eligible to negotiate with DOE to receive a Cooperative Agreement for Phase 2 and Phase 3 funding. Phase 2 (“Strategic Plan + Energy Audits”) will be synonymous with Budget Period 1 of the Cooperative Agreement. Funding in Phase 2 will reimburse Grantees for costs associated with energy audits and strategic planning and design. DOE will allocate a set amount of funding per Grantee, determined by the number of schools or school facilities submitted in their Phase 1 application [see Table 1 below]. In Phase 2, Grantees conduct The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 2 energy audits of all the schools/school facilities in the portfolio and develop a comprehensive Strategic Plan for implementing energy improvements. Energy audits and the Strategic PHASE 3 (COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT): Implementation = $7,000,000 to $14,000,000 per grantee Phase 3 (“Implementation”) will be synonymous with Budget Period 2 of the Cooperative Agreement. In Phase 3, DOE will allocate a set amount of funding per grantee, determined by the number of schools/school facilities submitted in their Phase 1 application. In Phase 3, Grantees oversee implementation of the energy improvements identified at the end of Phase 2. DOE will work with Grantees to ensure high-priority energy improvements are implemented within the allotted budget for Phase 3. Phase 3 should directly advance the measurable goals of energy savings and high impact health and safety benefits outlined in Phase 1. Submit questions to Schools@DOE.gov. Please refer to the HeroX website to find the answer to your emailed question. To apply, please register with the online application portal, HeroX, at [https://www.herox.com/renewschoolsprize]. Rules and required documents for application packages are available on the HeroX website.

Through this R-STEP Opportunity, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is requesting applications from state-based collaboratives aiming to increase state and local capacity for large-scale renewable energy planning and siting. R-STEP will also serve as a platform for Collaboratives to share learnings and best practices with other stakeholders.

A single application should be submitted by a team of organizations interested in working together to form a collaborative. DOE highly encourages state energy offices (or equivalent state agencies) and university extension offices to lead or participate in applications but recognizes that the organizations best suited to perform these activities will vary from state to state. Applicants are encouraged to team with other organizations including, but not limited to: Tribal governments, universities, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. DOE also recommends that teams include organizations familiar with the needs of local communities in the state. They should have experience providing educational or technical assistance services to local communities and have technical expertise on renewable energy siting topics (e.g., environmental impacts, tax policies, land use, zoning ordinance development).

Applications should:
1. Focus on plans to establish or expand a state-level initiative that improves decision-making by state, local, and/or Tribal governments on large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting;
2. Prioritize equitable and inclusive community engagement both to identify local needs and disseminate technical resources; and
3. Be submitted by cross-disciplinary collaboratives with experience engaging local communities and technical expertise on siting issues.

Applicants can request up to $2 million to execute proposed activities over the course of up to 3 years (36 months).

Applications should primarily focus on activities that expand the planning and evaluation capacity of state and local decision makers regarding the siting of large-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage infrastructure. Where there is appreciable need within a state, proposals may include activities related to other clean energy technologies, such as geothermal power, agrivoltaics, offshore wind, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Applicants must provide sufficient detail and reasoning to justify the technologies included in the scope of activities. In addition, applicants are encouraged to consider whether and how software tools, including those that utilize machine learning (ML) or similar technology, could improve the efficacy, speed, and/or environmental justice outcomes of renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting.

The EPA, together with states, Tribes, and its many partners, protects public health by protecting current and future drinking water sources and ensuring the availability of high-quality drinking water. Two programs within the EPA that protect drinking water sources are the Underground Injection Control (UIC) and Source Water Protection (SWP) programs. The EPA is soliciting applications from eligible applicants to provide training to develop and expand the capability of state and Tribal UIC and SWP programs. Applicants should describe their proposed approach to providing training that will achieve these objectives. Applicants are encouraged to identify additional project elements in their applications that may not be included in this funding opportunity that may contribute to overall project success.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA, Pub. L. 117-169, August 16, 2022) established the Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) Program Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 179), which provides funding for the use of construction materials that have substantially lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is requesting applications from State DOT as part of the LCTM Program. This RFA will result in the distribution of up to $1.2 billion, subject to the availability of funds. Funds made available for the LCTM Program will be awarded for the use of substantially lower carbon materials and products on construction projects funded under 23 U.S.C. and necessary work to identify appropriateness for use of these materials on eligible projects. This RFA describes the application requirements, selection, and evaluation factors.