Grants

Current Funding Opportunities Available

Climate Trust Greenhouse Gas Offset Project Solicitation
The Climate Trust is currently soliciting high-quality greenhouse gas offset projects. We are particularly interested in transportation projects. Through this solicitation, diesel projects that cannot be implemented without additional funding can sell the greenhouse gas emission reductions they produce to The Climate Trust. More information is available here. Please contact Peter Weisberg (pweisberg@climatetrust.org, 503-238-1915x207) with any questions.

South Coast Air Quality Management District Carl Moyer Program Solicitation - 2008
The Carl Moyer Program provides monetary grants to help businesses and public agencies clean up their heavy duty diesel engienes more than required by air pollution regulations. The grants cover some or all of the cost differentce between purchasing a newer cleaner engine/vehicle, and rebuilding the existing engine. All project proposals must be received no later than 1:00pm on Friday, May 2, 2008. Click here for more information.

USDA Rural Development Accepting Applications for Energy Projects
The USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) is accepting applications for fiscal year 2008 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. This solicitation is issued pursuant to Section 9006 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Agricultural producers can apply for grants, loan guarantees, or both. Eligible renewable energy systems include anaerobic digester projects that use animal wastes and other substrates to produce thermal or electrical energy. For 2008, USDA is allocating $15.9 million to fund grants (with a ceiling of $500,000 per grant) and hopes to award $205 million in loan guarantees.

First Application Deadline: April 16, 2008
Second Application Deadline: June 16, 2008

The USDA has established two grant cycles this year. 50% of the grant funding will be set aside for each cycle. Applications not funded in the first cycle will be reconsidered in the second cycle. Notification on the first grant cycle is expected before June 16, 2008 and the second by September 16, 2008. Applications must be submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where your project is located. More information on the funding and application process for this funding opportunity can be found at www.farmenergy.org.

Carl Moyer Program Solicitation
The Carl Moyer Program provides monetary grants for the incremental cost of cleaner than required technology. Section 44286 of the Health and Safety Code gives ARB the authority to reserve up to ten percent of Carl Moyer Program funding for multidistrict projects.

February 15, 2008, the ARB released a solicitation seeking projects that qualify for this multidistrict funding: projects that operate in more than one air district, or that impact air quality in more than one air district as a result of air pollutant transport.

The official solicitation is available at this link.

West Coast Collaborative Innovations in Clean Diesel
EPA Region 9 is soliciting proposals on a competitive basis for innovative projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines within the jurisdiction of Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, tribal nations). Projects must demonstrate effective emissions reductions (including, but not limited to, reductions in particulate matter, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons) from existing diesel engine operations through a variety of strategies such as emissions control technologies; idling reduction strategies; cleaner burning fuels; and alternative and biofuels production, distribution, and use. All projects must demonstrate applications, technologies, methods or approaches that are new, innovative or experimental. A demonstration project that is carried out through a routine or established practice is not eligible for funding.

EPA Region 9 anticipates awarding a total of approximately $500,000 under this announcement. EPA anticipates awarding approximately 2-3 assistance agreements under this announcement ranging from no less than $75,000 to no more than $300,000. Matching funds are not required under this program.

Proposals are due February 15, 2008. Download the full RFP for more information. Questions about the RFP can be directed to EPA at (206) 553-0532 and/or e-mail dieselgrants@epa.gov.

Oakland Army Base Ancillary Maritime Support Services Development Request for Proposals

California Energy Commission Energy in Agriculture Loan Solicitation
The California Energy Commission is offering below market rate loan funds for the purchase of proven cost-effective energy efficient and renewable generation emerging technologies applicable to the agricultural and food processing industries.

These emerging technologies include: thermal heat pumps, electrodialysis membrane systems, enterprise energy management systems, heating and cooling topping cycle systems, ultra-low NOx controlled energy efficient burners, solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems, utilization of food and animal waste for bio-energy generation.

No other technologies will be considered for this solicitation.

These technologies have been subjected to comprehensive research, development and demonstration efforts under commercial working conditions. These efforts have been funded by the Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program and the U.S. Department of Energy.

An energy efficient emerging technology is defined as a technology that:

• Is commercially available
• Is proven through an independent evaluation to reach new efficiency performance benchmarks when compared to current technologies
• Has yet to be adopted by no more than 10 percent of the agricultural and food industries in California

Economic Development
The U.S. Economic Development Administration requests proposals under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, and the Trade Act of 1974. This program supports projects that promote comprehensive, entrepreneurial and innovation-based economic development efforts to enhance the competitiveness of regions, resulting in increased private investment and higher-skill, higher wage jobs in areas experiencing substantial and persistent economic distress. $250.7 million expected to be available, proposals accepted on a continuous basis. Refer to Sol# EDA03222007. (Grants.gov 3/26/07)

Transportation Emission Reduction and Fuel Savings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) announces its intent to seek bids for services to support OTAQ in accomplishing various air quality improvements. Work areas will include both regulatory/compliance programs such as Transportation Conformity and Inspection/Maintenance and voluntary programs such as SmartWay Transport Program, Clean School Bus, and may include the development and advancement of future programs. EPA anticipates issuing the RFP in early May 2007. Refer to Sol# PR-CI-07-10295. (FBO 4/7/07)

Transportation Air Pollution Control
The U.S. Environmental Protection, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, announces its intent to request bids for conducting economic impact and benefit analyses in support of the development of mobile source air pollution control regulations and standards. The mobile source standards may include standards for on-road and non-road engines and equipment, air toxics standards, renewable fuels standards, fuels standards and other regulatory standards. EPA anticipates opening the RFP in early May and closing it 30 days later. Refer to Sol# PR-CI-07-10055. (FBO 4/15/07)

Emission, Air Quality, and Meteorological Modeling
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, announces its intent to request quotes for Emission, Air Quality, and Meteorological Modeling Support. The RFP is scheduled to open on or about 4/20/07 and close 30 days later. Refer to Sol# PR-NC-07-10067. (FBO 4/12/07)

Small Business Innovation Research - Phase I Program Solicitation
Applications due by noon on 05/23/2007—Awards up to $70,000. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites small business firms to submit research proposals under this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Solicitation. The SBIR program solicits proposals and awards funding for research (R) or research and development (R&D). For this solicitation EPA is interested in advanced technologies that address several topics, including Animal Waste and Waste to Energy (gasification and anaerobic digestion).

Sacramento Emergency Clean Air Transportation (SECAT) Program
The SECAT program, run by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, was created as a way to help truck owneres and fleet operators reduce their vehicles' emissions in a business-friendly manner. SECAT has $45 million left to pay for the retrofit of your existing engine with a newer, cleaner-burning one, or pays a significant amount of the cost of a newer vehicle.

For more information, visit http://www.4secat.com or email Freya Arick at farick@airquality.org

Transportation Fund for Clean Air through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) is a grant program funded by a $4 surcharge on motor vehicles registered in the Bay Area. This generates approximately $22 million per year in revenue.

TFCA's goal is to implement the most cost-effective projects in the Bay Area that will decrease motor vehicle emissions, and therefore improve air quality. Projects must be consistent with the 1988 California Clean Air Act and the Bay Area Ozone Strategy.

Eligible Project Types:
The fund covers a wide range of project types, including purchase or lease of clean fuel buses; purchase of clean air vehicles; shuttle and feeder bus service to train stations; ridesharing programs to encourage carpool and transit use; bicycle facility improvements such as bike lanes, bicycle racks, and lockers; arterial management improvements to speed traffic flow on major arterials; smart growth; and transit information projects to enhance the availability of transit information.

For more information, visit: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/grants_and_incentives/tfca/index.htm

Carl Moyer Funds through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Air District administers the Carl Moyer Program in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (ARB). The Carl Moyer Program provides grants to reduce exhaust emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines. Funding is available for projects to:

• replace old diesel engines with cleaner engines in existing equipment
• retrofit existing diesel engines with emission control devices
• purchase new vehicles or equipment with emissions below applicable state and federal standards

For more information, visit: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/grants_and_incentives/carl_moyer/index.htm

For a fact sheet about the Carl Moyer program, visit: http://www.baaqmd.gov/pln/grants_and_incentives/carl_moyer/Moyer%20Fact%20Sheet-Apr-2006.pdf