Farm Energy Funding Opportunities

Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority's objective is to provide grants for the development and evaluation of woody biomass as an input for the production of fuel ethanol and other energy sources while fostering sustainable forest management practices. Legal Missouri residents may apply for grants for evaluation and development of cellulosic ethanol systems and woody fuel production.

The Colorado Agricultural Value-Added Development Board administers the Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) Program which provides funding to promote energy-related projects beneficial to Colorado's agriculture industry. Funding in the amount of $500,000 will be available to the Board for allocation and award during the 2007/2008 fiscal year that began July 1, 2008. Funds are available for feasibility studies, project participation, and research.

The Agricultural Rural and Youth Grant Program offers eligible organizations the opportunity to apply for a matching grant up to $10,000 and a direct grant up to $2,500. Organizations comprised of persons eighteen years of age or younger and are organized and recognized within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to promote development of agriculture, rural community leadership, vocational training or peer fellowship are considered eligible applicants. Matching grants have been awarded to projects that include the construction of a building utilizing solar panels to showcase the most recent and innovative energy efficient barn structures.

Applications are being solicited for Biodiesel Education projects that will develop practical indicators or milestones to measure their progress towards achieving the following objectives: (1) Enhance current efforts to collect and disseminate biodiesel information; (2) Coordinate with other biodiesel educational or promotional programs, and with Federal, State and local programs aimed at encouraging biodiesel use, including the EPAct program; (3) Create a nationwide networking system that delivers biodiesel information to targeted audiences, including users, distributors and other infrastructure-related personnel; (4) Identify and document the benefits of biodiesel (e.g., lifecycle costing); and (5) Gather data pertaining to information gaps and develop strategies to address the gaps.

Minnesota is making available $2.7 million in funding for feasibility studies, feedstock development, and capital cost share projects that achieve a set of specific objectives. Owners of bioenergy facilities, research organizations, and non-governmental entities are among those eligible to apply for funding.

The purpose of the SBIR program is to provide an opportunity for US-owned, for-profit small business firms to submit innovative, applied, research and development projects that address important problems facing American agriculture and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Research proposals are accepted in any of the following topic areas: 1) Forests and Related Resources; 2) Plant Production and Protection - Biology; 3) Animal Production and Protection; 4) Air, Water, and Soils; 5) Food Science and Nutrition; 6) Rural Development; 7) Aquaculture; 8) Biofuels and Biobased Products; 9) Marketing and Trade; 10) Animal Manure Management; 11) Small and Mid-Size Farms; and 12) Plant Production and Protection - Engineering. The SBIR program exists in three phases. The purpose of Phase I is to prove the scientific or technical feasibility of the proposed research and development effort, and CSREES is currently accepting Phase I applications.

DOE is seeking to partner with geothermal stakeholders to alleviate some of the risks of Enhanced Geothermal Systems development. Topic Area 1 is Component Areas R&D. This topic area seeks projects that address key aspects of engineered reservoir creation, management, and utilization by developing tools and techniques. Topic Area 2 is System Demonstrations. This topic area seeks projects that will successfully characterize a geothermal system with low natural productivity, develop a plan to stimulate the productivity of the system, stimulate a well in the system and monitor the productivity or injectivity of the well in relation to other wells available in the system. Initial estimated total funding for this award is listed at $10,500,000 in FY2008 with additional anticipated funds of $79,000,000 in FY2009 and FY2010, subject to change and Congressional appropriations.

EPA has issued a notice announcing the availability of funds and soliciting proposals to advance energy efficiency and clean energy programming and policies, including corporate greenhouse gas management, through cost-effective strategies. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $6,000,000. EPA anticipates awarding 1-10 grants, ranging in annual value from $40,000 to $90,000, from this announcement. Additionally, EPA anticipates awarding 4-10 cooperative agreements, ranging in annual value from $100,000 to $250,000. Proposals will be accepted from States, local governments, territories, Indian Tribes, and possessions of the United States, including the District of Columbia, international organizations, universities and colleges, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private nonprofit organizations.

The Budweiser Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation Research Prize is being established by Anheuser-Busch and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to advance new technologies or practices that contribute to making renewable energy a more practical energy alternative. The $100,000 prize will be competitive and awarded in consideration of a project’s ability to develop or evaluate new cost-effective renewable energy technologies or practices for industrial applications and demonstrate the measurable benefits such practices may have in advancing wildlife conservation. Eligibility for the research prize is open to accredited post-secondary academic institutions, public agencies and nonprofit organizations working collaboratively on advancing renewable energy and wildlife conservation research.

Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Feasibility Study Grants provide financial support for assessing the feasibility of using complex, often large customer-sited renewable energy systems. Feasibility studies for simple solar and wind energy projects are funded through the Focus on Energy renewable site assessment program. A Feasibility Study Grant will cover up to 50 percent of the costs of feasibility study activities, with a maximum grant of $10,000.

The National Association of Conservation Districts, in cooperation with the Department of the Interior (DOI) and USDA Forest Service (USFS), is making a limited amount of financial support available for organizing and conducting state or regional sub-state multi-county woody biomass utilization workshops. Intended recipients are state and local governments, tribes and non-profit organizations and entities. Subject to funding availability, up to a maximum of $24,000 may be available for sponsoring such workshops across the United States between the dates of July 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. Please note that individual workshop sponsorships are limited to $2,000 each and funds will be disbursed upon successful workshop completion. Applications must be submitted no later than August 31, 2008 and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the total available funds have been obligated.

The Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Ohio Energy Office (OEO) is soliciting applications from interested and qualified applicants to implement distributed energy resources (DER) projects, including but not limited to industrial heat recovery, combined heat and power and landfill or biomass methane for electric generation. Projects financed through the Energy Loan Fund (ELF) will be eligible to apply for incentive grants to cover a portion of the costs of eligible projects located in the area of Ohio served by the ELF. The area includes the service territories of four investor-owned electric distribution companies. Projects from commercial, industrial, institutional and local government are eligible for funding under this NOFA. Qualifying applications will be funded until all funds for this DER grant fund are awarded.

The Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to fund research that will lead to the development of cost-competitive and durable automotive, stationary, and portable fuel cell power systems. This Funding Opportunity Announcement is requesting applications for hydrogen fuel cell systems in seven topic areas: Topic 1, Catalyst Studies; Topic 2, Innovative Concepts; Topic 3, Fuel Cell Degradation Studies; Topic 4, Transport within the PEM Stack; Topic 5, Portable Power; Topic 6, Fuel Cell System Demonstrations; and Topic 7, Market Transformation Activities. Awards up to $10,000,000 are available under the program.

The Efficiency Maine Business Program has prescriptive cash incentives on qualified lighting, HVAC equipment, NEMA Premium® energy efficient motors, system controls and refrigeration. All prescriptive incentives are available to all eligible business participants, regardless of the number of employees. As of March 2008, specific agricultural prescriptive cash incentives cover part of the cost of selected milk house equipment, potato storage house equipment, lighting, and fans.

The Small Renewables Initiative (SRI) provides rebates for the installation of wind and small hydroelectric projects that are up to 10 kilowatts and located at residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and public facilities. The applicant (and project site) must be a customer of a Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution utility. SRI involves the distribution of approximately $3.6 million of rebates each year through FY2010.

This program provides grants to qualifying individuals from We Energies’ electric service territory to attend a renewable energy conference. Eligible participants include faculty members in good standing at secondary schools, colleges, technical colleges and universities, full-time staff members of non-profit organizations, and representatives from private renewable energy companies. Awards in this annual capped program are made based on eligibility and highest level of suitability. Applications must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month, two months prior to the conference date.

The Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) is soliciting applications to implement renewable energy projects limited to solar electric, wind electric, and solar thermal systems for all non-residential customer classes in Ohio. Qualifying projects will be eligible to apply for grants to cover a portion of the costs of eligible projects located in the service territories of four investor-owned electric distribution companies. Incentive funds are limited, but qualifying applications will be funded until all the funds for this NOFA are awarded.

Puget Sound Energy is interested in encouraging small-scale renewable energy projects that develop and/or apply clean, environmentally preferred, renewable power. Accordingly, PSE will make grants and investments in projects that displace thermal generation resources with new, small-scale renewable energy resources in its electric service area. Letters of Enquiry are accepted at any time.

We Energies offers Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants to its business and not-for-profit electric customers as well as to organizations teamed with We Energies business and not-for-profit electric customers. This program helps to cover the costs of studying the feasibility of installing a renewable electricity generation project at a customer’s facility. Funds also can be used to conduct research on a renewable energy product or technology, or to help demonstrate or commercially advance a renewable energy product or technology into the marketplace. We Energies funds half the cost that remains after other funding sources are applied to the cost of the study or project, up to a maximum grant of $200,000. Grant proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability of funds.

Energy Trust is working with the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and Oregon State University to help Oregon dairies invest in anaerobic digesters to turn manure into biogas that can be used as a fuel to generate electricity. Cash incentives are available to qualifying dairies. Dairies can learn what a standard incentive offering for a project would be by using an online spreadsheet. Initial applications are accepted continuously.

Southern California Gas Company offers its food service customers rebates of up to a total of $25,000 for updating the gas equipment in kitchen facilities with high-efficiency models. Rebates range from $125 to $2000 for specified equipment, properly installed.

MDU Resources Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit institutions, organizations and programs within the geographic areas where member companies conduct business. (This includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.) One of the Foundation priorities is environment, including organizations which promote the wise use of resources without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Application forms are available from the Foundation by mail.

The Energy Foundation is a partnership of major donors interested in solving the world's energy problems. Their mission is to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy—new technologies that are essential components of a clean energy future. The foundation's Board of Directors meets three times a year (the first week of March, the third week of June, and the first week of November). Proposals are accepted on a continuous basis, for projects in line with the Foundation's identified funding priorities.

Schoolteachers at qualifying public, private and parochial schools near major PPL facilities in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, Illinois, Montana and New York can receive up to $1,500 in funding for school projects that focus on issues like watersheds and wetlands, air quality, renewable and non-renewable resources, energy conservation and the greening of schools. Grants are available for projects that enhance established classroom curricula and academic standards, or support extracurricular activities of school organizations and clubs.

The Open Solicitation program is designed to support renewable energy projects that are not eligible for other Energy Trust renewable energy programs. The program also provides opportunities to receive financial incentives and support for innovative commercial applications of renewable energy technology. Eligible projects must either be located in or deliver power to the Oregon service territories of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power. Applications are accepted throughout the year, but funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

NYSERDA announces approximately $1.5 million per year in incentives to encourage the development of a network of Eligible Installers who will install end-use wind energy systems for residential, commercial, institutional or government use. The incentives, of up to $150,000 per site, will be paid to Eligible Installers who install approved new grid-connected wind generation systems using Qualified equipment. The Eligible Installer must pass through incentives directly to their customers. Incentive levels depend on wind generator size, tower height, and customer type.

The Agricultural Pumping Efficiency Program is an educational and incentive rebate program developed to improve overall pumping plant efficiency and to encourage energy conservation. The Program is funded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company through 2008 using the Public Purpose Programs Fund under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Rebates for pump efficiency tests are paid directly to participating pump test companies. Incentives are available to individuals for retrofit of eligible and working electric- or natural gas-powered water pumps. There are several important eligibility factors regarding project type and timing of the incentive application.

The Small Agri-Biodiesel Producer Credit is a production incentive created in the 2005 Federal Energy Bill, providing 10 cents income tax credit for each gallon of qualified agri-biodiesel produced, up to 15 million gallons per year produced by a small producer. More information is available in an FAQ from the National Biodiesel Board (PDF / 21K).