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OEI October Newsletter

OEI Grant Programs

Rural Energy Startup Program

• A Commission memo has been issued for public comment on the scope of the 2024 round of the Rural Energy Startup Program (RESP).
• Comments must be submitted through the Commission's website. On the Commissions website, click the "File a Comment" button and then navigate to the docket 9714-FG-2024. Comments must be submitted by Friday, November 5, 2024, at 1:30pm CT.
• Be sure to subscribe to the program docket, 9714-FG-2024, using EZ-subscribe to receive updates.
• Scoping decisions will be made at a future Commission meeting. The Commission meeting with be held in-person and broadcasted virtually through the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin's Youtube channel. To get more details about the Commission meeting, visit the PSC Event Calendar.

Focus on Energy 

• Multifamily Property Owners:
  • Check out the resources and incentives Focus on Energy provides to help you reduce energy costs while improving building comfort and tenant satisfaction.
  • Focus on Energy offers incentives for in-unit and common area upgrades for multifamily properties with four or more units under one roof.
• To find out about Focus offerings available to you, visit the link below.

IRA Home Energy Rebates

• Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) are now available. Take advantage of these rebates to save money and improve your energy efficiency.
• IRA Home Energy Rebates are not the only way to save money and improve energy efficiency. To find out about all rebates and credits available to you, use the rebate finder tool.

Federal Funding Opportunities

U.S. Department of Energy's

Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Program

• The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program is now accepting applications for a new round of peer-learning cohorts. Eligibility for each cohort depends on the cohort topic, but ideal participants may include local and regional governments, not-for-profit economic development districts, municipal and cooperative utilities, Tribes, and community-based organizations.
• The three peer-learning cohort topics in the upcoming round include:
  • Distributed wind in rural and agricultural communities.
  • Planning for microgrids to increase energy resilience.
  • Renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements in Appalachia.
• In previous rounds, participants from nearly 200 communities joined peer-learning cohorts for strategic and technical assistance, including access to training materials, tools, and best practices, and the chance to collaborate with peers.
• Each peer-learning cohort is free to join and lasts six months. Participants are expected to commit about four hours per month starting in January 2025.
• Applications are due by Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 11:59pm ET.
• To learn more and to apply, visit the links below.

U.S. Department of Energy

Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization Collaborative

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Industrial and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), in collaboration with the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), has announced $3 million in funding available for a new Industrial Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Decarbonization (ISEED) Collaborative.
• This collaborative will assist partners across the manufacturing sector to develop and disseminate instructional curricula and training programs focused on industrial sustainability, energy efficiency, and decarbonization.
• IEDO is seeking proposals from organizations with experience and networks in industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization; industrial heat electrification and hydrogen production; low-carbon fuels; feedstocks; and energy sources.
• Applications are due Friday, November 1, 2024, at 5pm ET.
• To learn more and to apply, visit the link below.

Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation

BUILT Nonprofits

• Applications are now open for the Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits). 
• The BUILT Nonprofits program will support nonprofit organizations by funding energy efficient equipment and installation upgrades to reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and generate long-term energy cost savings.
• $2 million is available for eligible upgrades. 501(c)(3) nonprofits that own and operate their own buildings are encouraged to apply for an award of up to $100,000 with a 20% cost-share requirement.
• Applications are due Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at Midnight ET.
• To learn more and to apply, visit the link below.

Environmental Protection Agency

Community Change Grants Program

• The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.
• Eligible applicants include:
  • A partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs).
  • A partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a Federally Recognized Tribe, a local government, an institution of higher education.
• Deadline to apply is Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 11:59 ET.
• To learn more about this funding opportunity and to apply, visit the link below.

Environmental Protection Agency

Clean School Bus Rebate Program

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the latest round of funding for the Clean Bus Rebate Program with up to $965 million available to school districts.
• Applicants can request up to $325,000 per bus for up to 50 buses per application. Funds can be used to cover bus and infrastructure costs for awardees requesting electric school buses, as well as eligible training costs for bus drivers, electricians, and others working with the new buses or infrastructure.
• Applications are due to the online portal by Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 4pm ET.
• To learn more and to apply, visit the links below.

Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas

• The U.S.Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) recently opened applications for up to $400 million in new funding to spur innovative, community-focused, clean energy solutions for rural and remote communities.
• This funding will include awards from $2-50 million to help communities in developing tailored clean energy projects best suited for their unique needs.
• Eligible projects must address at least one of the following:
  • Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation.
  • Transmission or distribution systems.
  • Siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines.
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas.
  • Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities.
  • Developing microgrids.
  • Increasing energy efficiency.
• OCED plans to fund between 20-50 projects with a 5-50% minimum non-federal cost share per project.
• Concept papers are due by February 27, 2025, and full applications are due by August 28, 2025.
• To review the Funding Opportunity and to learn more on how to apply, visit the links below.

More Like Home Repair and Renew Loan Program

• Governor Tony Evers together with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) recently announced the new More Like Home Repair and Renew Loan program that will help owners of older homes make critical repairs and improvements to increase energy efficiency, safety, and security.
• The program will provide low-interest loans ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 for owners of houses that are more than 40 years old. Homeowners will be able to use these loans to finance crucial structural repairs and energy-efficiency updates such as roofing, insulation, plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning. Loans are available through WHEDA's participating lenders.
• To read the WHEDA announcement and to learn more about the program, visit the links below.

Learning Opportunities 

ENERGY STAR Industrial Assistance Network

Free Energy Management Training Program

• ENERGY STAR is offering a new and free energy management training program for industrial facility managers and staff called the ENERGY STAR Industrial Assistance Network.
• This network will provide the following to plant managers and staff to help them improve energy efficiency, save energy, and reduce operating costs:
  • Training: There will be live, online training to understand and improve plant energy performance. It will be an eight-month training program with one training per month.
  • Tools & Resources: Free access will be given to dozens of ENERGY STAR tools and resources for industrial/manufacturing facilities.
  • Networking: Opportunities will be available to connect and share best practices with regional and national peers.
  • Coaching: There will be group and individual guidance from successful, experienced plant energy managers.
  • Professional Development: An opportunity to earn valuable recognition from ENERGY STAR for completing energy management training will be available.
• Registration for the current training group closes on October 23, 2024. After October 23, 2024, interested applicants will be able to sign up for the next training group which will kick off in January 2025, using the same registration link.
• To learn more about this new program and to sign up for the training group, visit the links below.

In-Person Events

Midwest ASHP Collaborative

Free Contractor Training Heat Pump Summit

• The Midwest ASHP Collaborative will be holding two free contractor training heat pump summits. The summits will be half-day training events for area HVAC contractors that will provide the opportunity for attendees to learn about ASHPs from technical experts, manufacturers, and distributers.
• The half-day training events will also cover topics such as heat pump sizing and selection, load calculations, available and upcoming rebates and incentives and more.
• The days and locations of the half-day training events are as follows:
  • Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 7:30am-1pm at Madison College, Room D1630, 1701 Wright Street, Madison, WI 53704.
  • Wednesday, October 30, 2024 from 7:30am-1pm at Chippewa Valley Technical College, Room BEC 103 A&B, 620 West Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI, 54701.
• To learn more and to sign up, visit the links below.

2024 Climate Fast Foward Conference

• Registration is now open for the third Climate Fast Foward Conference. This year the conference will be over two days in which attendees will be able to attend skills-based workshops, participate in collaborative spaces, hear from engaging plenary speakers, and engage with an interactive art display.
• The conference will be held on Thursday, November 14 and Friday, November 15, 2024, and will be held at the Central Wisconsin Convention and Expo Center in Rothschild WI.
• To learn more and to register, visit the link below.

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