July 10, 2015
Through its new Rev It Up Program, the Minnesota
Department of Commerce is soliciting request for proposals from local
government units that are seeking low-cost, long-term capital to finance
community energy efficiency and renewable energy system projects. The program allows units of local government to compete for
funding designed to increase community energy efficiency systems in the built
environments and to increase renewable energy production throughout the state
that result in reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Minnesota
Legislature provided Commerce with authority to issue up to $100 million in
revenue bonds, of which up to $20 million shall be reserved for community
energy efficiency and renewable energy projects taking place in small
businesses and public buildings, with the balance of funding reserved to
provide loans or other aids to industrial or commercial businesses and
healthcare facilities for cost-effective energy efficiency projects or to
install renewable energy systems.
The RFP and required forms are available for download
on the Commerce website. Proposals are due no later than 11:59 p.m., Aug. 7,
2015.
Public entity loan program supports energy audits, renewable energy feasibility studies
A loan program to provide public entities with funds
needed to pay for energy audits and renewable energy feasibility studies was
recently launched by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Loan applications
will be accepted from public entities on a first-come, first-served basis until
all program funds have been allocated. Eligible entities include any agency or
institution of the state, a county, a statutory or home rule charter city, a
town, a school district, or a special taxing district of the state. Read more for
program guidelines and an application.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division
of Energy Resources compiles some of the latest local, state, and federal
funding opportunities related to energy research, development, education, and
other energy-related topics. Several of the most recent funding opportunities are
highlighted below. A more extensive list of opportunities that are current and
open for application is available on the
Commerce website; it includes the two
opportunities above and several other energy financing programs supported by
Commerce.
Solar
DOE: Concentrating
Solar Power: Concentrating Optics for Lower Levelized Energy Costs (COLLECTS)
DE-FOA-0001268.
seeks to further CSP system technologies by
soliciting disruptive, transformative projects for the concentrating solar
collectors in the CSP plant. These innovative projects will seek to surpass the
targets set out in the SunShot Vision Study, enabling CSP to be
cost-competitive with conventional forms of electric power generation. Due Aug.
25, 2015.
DOE: Request for Information:
Photovoltaics Research and Development DE-FOA-0001361. The
purpose of this RFI is to gauge the issues and opportunities that the research
and industrial communities find most important in reducing the levelized cost
of energy associated with photovoltaic power generation. Due July 15, 2015.
Bioenergy
DOE: Request for Information: Advanced Biofuel Blends in Small Engine
DE-FOA-0001373. Seeks stakeholder input on (1) the potential to
optimize and/or modify small engines to utilize ethanol blends greater than 10%
(E10) and (2) the barriers limiting the expansion of overall biofuel
consumption in the small engine industry. Responses due Aug. 31, 2015.
DOE: Notice of Intent: Bioenergy Technologies Incubator 2 DE-FOA-0001343. It is anticipated that the FOA will
have two topic areas. Topic Area 1 will be open to all proposals that seek to
develop novel, non-incremental technologies that facilitate the goals of BETO’s
Algae platform, but are not represented in a significant way in the current
Algae project portfolio. Topic Area 2 will be open to all proposals that seek
to develop novel, non-incremental technologies that facilitate the goals of
BETO.
Biomass
USDA: Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). $11.5
million of federal funds is available for the restart of BCAP for costs
associated with harvesting and transporting agriculture or forest residues to
facilities that convert biomass crops into energy. Eligible crops may include
corn residue, diseased or insect infested wood materials, or orchard waste.
Facilities can apply for, or renew, their BCAP qualification status beginning
June 1, 2015. Supports delivery of biomass through Dec. 31, 2015.
Alternative
Fuel
DOE: Alternative Fuel
and Advanced Vehicle Procurement Aggregating Initiatives DE-FOA-0001237. The
objective of this FOA is to develop and implement an effective purchasing and
procurement process designed to coordinate and consolidate bulk orders of
alternative fuel vehicles, subcomponents, advanced vehicle technologies,
alternative fuels, and refueling and charging infrastructure. Due Aug. 21,
2015.
Hydropower
DOE: Request for
Information: Marine and Hydrokinetic Environmental Monitoring Technologies and
Field Testing Opportunities DE-FOA-0001372. EERE is
seeking a proposed framework for funding the advancement of environmental
monitoring technologies aimed at reducing the uncertainty of impacts due to
acoustic outputs, electromagnetic fields produced by MHK devices and their
associated cables, and physical interactions with marine animals. Due Aug. 7,
2015.
Research
& Development
DOE: Opportunities to Develop High Performance, Economically Viable, and Environmentally
Benign Technologies to Recover Rare Earth Elements from Domestic Coal and Coal
Byproducts DE-FOA-0001202. As part of its continuing investigation, the National Energy Technology
Laboratory is seeking financial assistance applications for projects to quickly
develop bench scale and pilot scale projects for recovering Rare Earth Elements
from coal and coal byproducts. Due Aug. 31, 2015.
Funding resources
The Minnesota Department
of Commerce has compiled a variety of energy-related funding resources for
those who want to conduct their own search of funding opportunities. Check out the Financial Assistance Directory for a list of state, federal, and foundation
funding resources. Readers are also encouraged to visit the Database of State
Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency website (www.dsireusa.org), a comprehensive source of information on
incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the
United States.
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