FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FROM U.S. DOE, DOT AND SCAQMD

A number of funding opportunities have become available through the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Transportation and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in California. These opportunities are summarized below and links are provided to the specific program pages that will provide additional information and instructions:

U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. DOE has announced a draft Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects Solicitation that would make up to $4 billion available in loan guarantees to support innovative projects that will have a “catalytic” effect on the ability of other market participants to replicate or improve on the innovative feature of the project. Certain project types of interest include advanced grid integration and storage, drop-in biofuels, waste-to-energy projects, enhancement of existing facilities, and efficiency improvements. Details about the solicitation are available at: http://goo.gl/N9Xa7u.

U.S. Department of Transportation
The U.S. DOT has announced the availability of up to $100 million in competitive grant funds through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) “Ladders of Opportunity” initiative. The goal is to invest in projects that improve the mobility of Americans with transportation disadvantages (Section 5309). Funds can be used to modernize and expand transit bus service and bus facilities, such as intermodal centers across the country with local, regional and intercity bus providers. The FTA will fund up to 80 percent of the total project cost; a 20 percent local match is required. Information on the opportunity was published in the Federal Register and is available at: http://goo.gl/6WCZy5. The application submission deadline is August 4, 2014.

South Coast Air Quality Management District
The SCAQMD in California has several programs that provide monetary incentives for implementing cleaner technologies. There are several current grant listings that include funding for the emergency replacement of on-board CNG fuel tanks on CNG school buses (PA2012-05), the replacement of on-board CNG fuel tanks of school buses that are older than 14 years (PA2012-16), and major event center transportation programs (PA2013-05).
More information can be found on their “Grants and Bids” page, which is available at: http://goo.gl/FyQOcn.