Up to $5 Million in funding available to improve the resilience, reliability, and affordability of energy systems
The ERA program received $1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and provides financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that are replicable and scalable. ERA aims to fund community-driven energy projects with three specific goals:
- Deliver measurable benefits to energy customers in rural or remote areas by funding replicable energy projects that lower energy costs, improve energy access and resilience, and/or reduce environmental harm
- Demonstrate new rural or remote energy system models using climate-resilient technologies, business structures that promote economic resilience, new financing mechanisms, and/or new community engagement best practices
- Build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance throughout rural America
The maximum amount of funding that can be requested is $5M per proposal.
Eligible Projects and activities
- Overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems
- Siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation by rural or remote areas
- Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities
- Developing microgrids
- Increasing energy efficiency
Who Can Apply
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Special district governments
- County governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- City or township governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
Funding Details
To ensure that these benefits are spread equitably across affected communities, applicants are required to submit a Community Benefits Plan (CBP).
This plan outlines how the project will support community and labor engagement, invest in the American workforce, contribute to the President’s goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities, and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
A minimum of 50% non-federal cost share is required. This 50% cost share is based on total allowable costs (i.e., the sum of the government share and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the total allowable cost of the project) and must come from non-federal sources unless otherwise allowed by law.
Funding Deadline
Applications will be accepted until 5pm EST on June 27, 2023.
