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OEI Special Edition June 2025

Rural Energy Startup Program Grant Period Now Open!

• The Rural Energy Startup Program (RESP) Round 2, funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG), opened on May 30, 2025.
• RESP supports communities taking initial steps to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
• The initial application period will remain open until 1:30 PM CT July 16, 2025. The grant system may remain open, allowing later filed applicants to submit an application for consideration if funds remain available. The Commission may authorize the awarding of additional grants accepted in the PSC Grants System after the initial due date, as time and funds allow.
• RESP eligible applicants include cities, villages, towns, and counties that were not eligible to receive a direct allocation from the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) and are considered rural for the purposes of this program. Click here to see EECBG Formula Award Recipients.
  • Applicants can use the OEI Map to check whether their county or municipality is rural by turning on the “Wisconsin Rural Region” layer and searching their project location.
  • Priority will be given to rural applicants that are considered Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) by the OEI Map by making sure the “Disadvantaged and Tribal Communities” layer is on and visible. While it is not necessary for an applicant to be located within a DAC or have a DAC located within the planned project area, priority will be given to applicants meeting those qualifiers.
• There are three types of eligible activities: comprehensive energy planning, renewable resource planning, and energy audits and building upgrades/retrofits. Eligible applicants can receive up to $75,000 for comprehensive energy planning and renewable resource planning, and up to $125,000 for energy efficiency audits and building upgrades or retrofits, with no match required.
• To read more about program eligibility requirements and eligible activities, visit the links below.