Please share this information widely! And please sign up to receive these updates in your inbox every 2 weeks or so.
1) EPA Regions 1 and 8 are accepting applications to stand up additional Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs), up to $10 million each to help communities and other environmental justice stakeholders access federal assistance and resources to address environmental and energy justice concerns. Region 1 applications are due September 29, 2023, and Region 8 applications are due October 11, 2023.
2) EPA’s Solar for All Competition – The application deadline has been extended to October 12, 2023.
***EPN volunteers are able to provide project narrative review! Narratives must be received by October 2nd to ensure enough time for the review process and the opportunity to incorporate notes and feedback. Please reach out to info@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org as soon as possible to schedule a review or receive other individualized assistance!***
Meanwhile, please use EPN’s Solar for All Application Guide, which includes suggested step-by-step instructions and a timeline on how to submit a competitive application. Our guide contains a checklist, a project narrative template that can be copied and shared with partners to divvy up work, a sample project narrative, and other resources.
Solar for All Updates:
- EPA released the list of Notices of Intent (NOI) that it has received from states and territories, municipalities, eligible nonprofit recipients, and Tribal governments.
- The enthusiasm and demand for Solar for All funding has resulted in a revision to the maximum award amount an applicant can request from the Solar for All program as detailed in Section II.A: Number and Amount of Awards of the updated Solar for All Notice of Funding Opportunity.
- More information about updates and changes to the Notice of Funding Opportunity were presented on an EPA-hosted webinar on Monday, September 11, 2023. To request slides used in the webinar as well as an audio recording and transcript, please email ggrf@epa.gov.
3) $50 million Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) Program: Only invited applicants are eligible to apply for this opportunity based on selected pre-application submissions. Full applications are due by October 12, 2023. EPN has created a suggested 6-step application process—including a checklist with suggested timeline, a project and community benefits plan template, and a sample project and community benefits plan.
4) Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP): DOE announced that applications can now be submitted for a $10 million funding and technical assistance program to expand state and local government capacity to support the planning, siting, and permitting of large-scale renewable energy projects on private land. The deadline to apply is November 3, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET.
DOE anticipates awarding approximately five to seven state-based collaboratives up to $2 million each to establish or expand their programs or initiatives. Collaboratives will also benefit from tailored technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities.
DOE highly encourages state energy offices (or equivalent 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. Collaboratives can also include, but are not limited to, Tribal governments, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations.
Learn more about this opportunity and submit an application on ENERGYWERX’s Ratio Exchange website. Interested applicants can join R-STEP Office Hours on October 11 between 1-2 pm ET. Questions about the R-STEP program can be submitted to info@energywerx.org.
5) EPA’s Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant Program: EPA has earmarked $19 million to assist public water systems in disadvantaged communities or communities with a population of less than 10,000 individuals to increase drinking water system resilience to natural hazards. Applications are due November 6, 2023.
Questions can be sent to ResiliencyGrant@epa.gov until October 16, 2023. Please reach out to info@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org for individualized assistance
6) The Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) Implementation Grants Competitions: EPA announced the availability of $4.6 billion across two implementation grant competitions, one general competition and one specifically for Tribes and territories. Under these competitions, eligible applicants will compete for CPRG implementation grants to fund measures in their state-, municipality-, Tribe-, or territory-specific climate action plans. As part of its evaluation of applications, EPA will prioritize measures that achieve the greatest amount of GHG emissions reductions.
The deadline to apply to the general competition is April 1, 2024. There will be informational webinars about the general competition on October 3 at 3:00 pm eastern (same content as the September 21 webinar).
The deadline to apply to the Tribes and territories competition is May 1, 2024. There will be informational webinars about the Tribes and territories competition on September 27 at 2:00 pm eastern and October 5 at 1:00 pm eastern (same content for both).
Recordings of the webinars and more information will be posted to the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants webpage.
**All applicants to the above funding opportunities must have an active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registration in order to apply. You should register in these systems now if you are planning to apply, and reach out to info@environmentalprotectionnetwork.org immediately if you need assistance.**
Thank you for your continued support. We could not continue to meet this moment without you!