The following entities are eligible to apply: (1) Indian Tribes; (2) state and local governmental entities; (3) nonprofit organizations; and (4) for-profit organizations. This program serves rural and remote communities with 10,000 people or fewer.
Applicants must identify at least one area in the United States (including U.S. territories) with a population of not more than 10,000 (using the 2020 Census Bureau figures) that will benefit from the proposal. The identified area must be either: (a) a city, town, or other incorporated municipality, or (b) a Census Designated Place (CDP), Census County Division (CCD), or similarly discrete and identifiable community that is not located within an incorporated municipality
Rural and remote areas often have higher energy costs and burden, less resilient energy systems, and fewer alternatives for accessing clean energy compared with their urban counterparts. Furthermore, small communities do not always have the available time, money, or other resources to pursue clean energy options. This program serves communities of 10,000 people or fewer. Applicants must propose projects that support at least one of these eligible activities:
A. Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems;
B. Siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines;
C. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas;
D. Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities;
E. Developing microgrids; and
F. Increasing energy efficiency. Applications may include any technology that meets these eligible activities, as long as those technologies are commercially available.
Applicants must choose one of the four topic areas for their project’s application.
For further information, please see the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement at https://oced-exchange.energy.gov/.
All application materials must be submitted through the OCED Funding Opportunity Exchange.