alternative fuel

Rural Energy Grants, Small Grant Deadline Oct. 31

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Provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements.

Who may apply?

  • Agricultural producers with at least 50% of gross income coming from agricultural operations, and
  • Small businesses in eligible rural areas.
    NOTE: Agricultural producers and small businesses must have no outstanding delinquent federal taxes, debt, judgment or debarment.

What is an eligible area?

  • Businesses must be in an area other than a city or town with a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area of that city or town. Check eligible business addresses.
  • Agricultural producers may be in rural or non-rural areas.

How may the funds be used?
Funds may be used for renewable energy systems, such as:

    • Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels)
    • Geothermal for electric generation or direct use
    • Hydropower below 30 megawatts
    • Hydrogen
    • Small and large wind generation
    • Small and large solar generation
    • Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation

Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements, such as:

  • High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC)
  • Insulation
  • Lighting
  • Cooling or refrigeration units
  • Doors and windows
  • Electric, solar or gravity pumps for sprinkler pivots
  • Switching from a diesel to electric irrigation motor
  • Replacement of energy-inefficient equipment

What funding is available?
Loan guarantees on loans up to 75% of total eligible project costs
Grants for up to 25% of total eligible project costs
Combined grant and loan guarantee funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs

What are the grant terms?
Renewable Energy System Grants:
$2,500 minimum; $500,000 maximum

Energy Efficiency Grants:
$1,500 minimum; $250,000 maximum

Are there additional requirements?

  • Applicants must provide at least 75% of the project cost if applying for a grant only.
  • Applicants must provide at least 25% of the project cost if applying for loan, or loan and grant combination.
  • Projects greater than $200,000 require a technical report.
  • Energy efficiency projects require an energy audit or assessment.

Contact us for more information. To learn more about GFA please visit our website, http://gfa.tc

Rural Energy Grants, Small Grant Deadline Oct. 31

Rural Energy for America Program, Deadline July 7

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RURAL ENERGY FOR AMERICA PROGRAM (REAP)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking applications from Agricultural Producers and Rural Small Businesses for funding the installation of Renewable Energy Systems or to make Energy Efficiency Improvements. Rural Small Business projects must be located in a rural area with a population of 50,000 or less, while Agricultural Producer projects have no rural limitations. For this funding round, USDA plans to award up to $12.3 million in grants and $57.8 million in guaranteed loans. Additional REAP funds provided by the 2014 Farm Bill will be made available with a subsequent notice.

Applications will be accepted for grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for the development and construction of Renewable Energy Systems and for the installation of Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects. Grants can cover up to 25 percent of total eligible costs, while Guaranteed loans can cover up to 75 percent of total eligible cost.

Eligible projects in the accepted technology areas include: Anaerobic Digesters, Biomass / Biofuels, Geothermal (including electric generation and direct use), Hydropower projects (30 megawatts or less), Hydrogen, Solar (small and large), Wind (small and large), and Energy Efficiency Improvements.

Examples of Energy Efficiency Improvement projects include, but are not limited to: the installation and replacement to more energy efficient motors, pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, grain dryers, irrigation projects, refrigeration units, ventilation systems, windows, insulation, heating systems, lighting systems, and energy shade curtains.
Grant applications & combined grant and guaranteed loan applications are due to the USDA Rural Development State Office or Area Offices, on or before July 7, 2014.

Guaranteed loan only applications will be accepted on a continual basis, but must be submitted by July 31, 2014 to compete for FY2014 funding.

Contact us for more information!

 

Rural Energy for America Program, Deadline July 7

Clean Diesel Grants, Deadline Nov 29

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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) is pleased to announce the availability of its 2010-2011 Request for Projects (RFP) for the State Clean Diesel Grant Program. Interested parties should visit the Michigan Clean Diesel Initiative (MiCDI) website to obtain a copy of the RFP and supporting application materials.

Approximately $1 million in grant funding is available for this RFP competition. Applicants are encouraged to apply for grant funds from municipalities, townships, and villages, county and non-profit agencies, school districts, municipal planning organizations and private industry. Projects must be located in one or more of 30 Michigan counties where implementation of diesel engine emissions reduction projects would be most beneficial.

All projects must utilize EPA- or California Air Resources Board-verified technology solutions, which include anti-idling and retrofit equipment, aerodynamic technologies, and engine, vehicle and equipment upgrades or replacements. The type of diesel engine fleets covered under this RFP include: school buses; medium and heavy duty trucks; buses, and marine, agricultural, energy production, mining and construction vehicles, and equipment.

This solicitation will be open for a period of 60 days, and completed applications, along with supporting materials are due back to the DNRE’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance (OPPCA) on Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, 5 p.m. EST. Applications that are late will not be accepted and applications that are on time, but not in the required format or those that are not complete will not receive consideration. Please note that project proposals and applications will be not be accepted by FAX or e-mail.

Clean Diesel Grants, Deadline Nov 29

Upcoming funding opportunities for alternative fuel projects

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$480 Million Solicitation for Integrated Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Biorefineries
Projects selected under this Funding Opportunity Announcement will work to validate integrated biorefinery technologies that produce advanced biofuels, bioproducts, and heat and power in an integrated system, thus enabling private financing of commercial-scale replications.
DOE anticipates making 10 to 20 awards for refineries at various scales and designs, all to be operational in the next three years. The DOE funding ceiling is $25 million for pilot-scale projects and $50 million for demonstration scale projects.
These integrated biorefineries will reduce dependence on petroleum-based transportation fuels and chemicals. They will also facilitate the development of an “advanced biofuels” industry to meet the federal Renewable Fuel Standards.

Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations, Application Deadline May 29.

Advanced Water Power, Deadline June 4
The three Topic Areas are: 1. Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy Conversion Device or Component Design and Development 2. Marine and Hydrokinetic Site-specific Environmental Studies/Information 3. Advanced Water Power Market Acceleration Projects/Analysis and Assessments In addition a parallel Program Announcement (PA) directed at Department of Energy Laboratories to address technical challenges in water power development, as well as market acceptance barriers has been issued.

Biomass Research and Development Initiative, Application Deadline June 11
The purpose of the Initiative is to competitively award grants to eligible entities to carry out research on and development and demonstration of
(A): biofuels and biobased products; and
(B) the methods, practices and technologies, for the production of biofuels and biobased products. Project Description DOE and USDA/CSREES are, therefore, seeking pre-applications to address the Technical Areas as set out in Section 9008 of the FCEA. The Technical Areas defined in the FCEA are the only eligible topic areas under this FOA.

The Technical Areas are: (A) FEEDSTOCKS DEVELOPMENT Research, development, and demonstration activities regarding feedstocks genetic, and feedstock logistics (including the harvest, handling, transport, preprocessing, and storage) relevant to production of raw materials for conversion to biofuels and biobased products.
(B) BIOFUELS AND BIOBASED PRODUCTS DEVELOPMENT. Research, development, and demonstration activities to support (i) the development of diverse cost-effective technologies for the use of cellulosic biomass in the production of biofuels and biobased products; and (ii) product diversification through technologies relevant to production of a range of biobased products (including chemicals, animal feeds, and cogenerated power) that potentially can increase the feasibility of fuel production in a biorefinery.
(C) BIOFUELS DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS.
(i) STRATEGIC GUIDANCE. Development of analysis that provides strategic guidance for the application of renewable biomass technologies to improve sustainability and environmental quality, cost effectiveness, security, and rural economic development.
(ii) ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. Development of systematic evaluations of the impact of expanded biofuel production on the environment (including forest land) and on the food supply for humans and animals, including the improvement and development of tools for life cycle analysis of current and potential biofuels.
(iii) ASSESSMENT OF FEDERAL LAND. Assessments of the potential of Federal land resources to increase the production of feedstocks for biofuels and biobased products, consistent with the integrity of soil and water resources and with other environmental considerations. Detailed descriptions and desired outcomes of each topic are found in Appendix C. Research, Development, or Demonstration projects will be considered for all Technical Areas.

Contact your GFA client rep for more information on preparing applications for these grant programs!

Upcoming funding opportunities for alternative fuel projects