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OEI Newsletter Special Edition Funding Opportunities |
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Focus on Energy Local Government Staffing Initiative
- Focus on Energy is supporting three Wisconsin communities in 2026 with a staffing grant to hire a part‑time sustainability lead (minimum 0.8 FTE).
- Focus will award three communities or groups of communities comprising 15,000-99,999 residents (per community/group). The community or group of communities cannot already have an acting energy or sustainability manager.
- The role includes:
- Auditing municipal buildings
- Tracking energy use
- Updating sustainability goals
- Engaging residents, schools, and businesses
- Community investment planning
- Creation of cross functional green team
- Additional activities allowed to promote energy efficiency (approval required to include them in your plan)
- Focus on Energy will provide grant support for two years. In year 1, Focus will provide $60,000, and in year 2 $20,000.
- Applications are due on Monday, March 30, 2026, with the desired position to be filled and starting by June 30, 2026.
- To learn more about the grant and to apply, visit the link below.
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Funding for Electricity Infrastructure
- On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (U.S. DOE) Office of Electricity announced a funding opportunity of up to $1.9 billion to catalyze electricity infrastructure investments and to meet electricity demand growth and resource adequacy requirements.
- This program is funded through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help states, tribes, electric utilities, and other eligible recipients strengthen grid resilience and innovation.
- The U.S. DOE outlines three topic areas with different eligible applicant pools:
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Topic Area 1: Grid Resilience: This topic area supports projects that strengthen grid reliability and resilience through reconductoring and deploying other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATT). These projects must expand the ability to transfer power between regions of the country of existing transmission or sub-transmission, improve system flexibility, and reduce the likelihood and consequences of disruptive events.
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Eligible Applicants:
- Electric grid operators
- Electricity storage operators
- Electricity generators
- Transmission owners or operators
- Distribution providers
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Topic Area 2: Smart Grid: This topic area supports projects focused on deploying advanced grid technologies, which may include new devices, materials, engineering designs, or software tools. These projects must enhance the efficiency, reliability, and operational flexibility of the electric grid through smart grid technologies that enable real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of grid assets.
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Eligible Applicants:
- Institutions of higher education
- For-profit organizations
- Non-profit organizations
- State and local government entities
- Indian tribes
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Topic Area 3: Grid Innovation Program: This topic area supports high-impact, innovative projects that enhance grid reliability and resilience, with a focus on transmission systems that facilitate development of new large loads. This topic prioritizes large-scale, multi-jurisdictional demonstrations aimed at expanding the ability to transfer between transmission planning regions in the country.
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Eligible Applicants:
- State and units of local government
- Indian tribes
- Units of local government
- Applicants must submit a concept paper by April 2, 2026, to be eligible to submit a full application. Full applications are due by May 20, 2026.
- To learn more about this funding opportunity, visit the links below.
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