This page features a continually updated list of transportation & alternative energy grants from State and Federal Sources:
Jump down to State of Ohio Grant Opportunities

FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

1.)Batteries for Transportation - Recovery Act:
The U.S. Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), requests proposals for Recovery Act - Batteries for Electrical Energy Storage in Transportation.  ARPA-E, a new agency of DOE, supports the development of high risk/high payoff applied science and technology innovations that will have a positive disruptive impact on the energy landscape.  Through this RFP, ARPA-E seeks the development of a new generation of ultra-high energy density, low-cost battery technologies for long electric range plug in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles. 
Total Found Available:$35 million
Email Contact
Application Due Date: Early March 2010
Application Website

2.)  Renewable Energy Credits
The U.S. Department of Labor seeks Renewable Energy Credits to offset 12,460 MWh/year for various Job Corps Centers. 
Email Contact
Application Due Date: March 9,2010
Application Website

3.)Interdisciplinary Solar Energy Research
The National Science Foundation Divisions of Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), and Mathematical Sciences (DMS) requests proposals for the CHE-DMR-DMS Solar Energy Initiative.  The purpose of this initiative is to support potentially catalytic interdisciplinary work by groups of researchers to address the scientific challenges of efficient harvesting, conversion, and storage of solar energy.  The intent is to encourage new collaborations in which the mathematical sciences are linked in a synergistic way with the chemical and materials sciences to develop novel, potentially transformative approaches in an area of much activity but largely incremental advances
Total Funds Available: $7 million
Email Contact (703) 292-4945
Application date: (Preliminary Proposals due 12-8-09) March 10,2010
Application website

4.)Fuels from Sunlight Hub  
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for the Energy for Innovation Hub - Fuels from Sunlight.  The purpose of the Hub will be to assemble the most talented scientists and technologists to focus intense research and development efforts on the development of an effective solar energy to chemical fuel conversion system.  The system should operate at an overall efficiency and produce fuel of sufficient energy content to enable transition from bench-top discovery to proof-of-concept prototyping. 
Total Fonds Available:$122 million
Email Contact
Application Due Date: March 29,2010
Application Website

5.)Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation
The National Science Foundation requests proposals from small businesses for Phase I of the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program.  STTR requires researchers at universities and other research institutions to play a significant intellectual role in the conduct of each STTR project.  The topic of interest is Multi-Functional Materials.  The subtopics of interest include:  Bio-inspired Materials and Systems; Materials for Energy Generation and Storage; Materials for Sustainability; Nanostructure Materials; and Smart Materials and Structures
Total Funds Available: $29 million
Award Ceiling: $2,000,000
Award Floor: $1,000,000
Application due date: March 31,2010
Application website

6.)Methane Recovery
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for Activities that Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source.  This RFP will support investigation, survey, study, training, and demonstration projects that advance international near-term, cost-effective methane recovery and use as a clean energy source, and support the goals of the Methane to Markets Partnership.
Total Founds Available:$5 million 
Email Contact
Application Due Date: April 15,2010
Application Website



7.)Residential Weatherization Grants
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Weatherization Formula Grants.  Prime applicant restricted to agencies responsible for administering the annual Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) formula allocation.  WAP funds are used to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential expenditures, and improve their health and safety.  WAP assists persons who are particularly vulnerable such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with high-energy burden.
Total Founds Available:$210 million
Application Due Date: February 12- August 1,2010
Application Website

8.)  Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Research
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Terrestrial Carbon Cycle Research.  This RFP will support research that will improve the understanding of the role of terrestrial biomes in the global carbon cycle and aid carbon cycle predictions related to climate change
Total Found Available: $4 million
Email Contact
Application Due Date: May 3,2010
Application Website

9.)Renewables, Efficiency and Water Conservation - Worldwide
The U.S. Navy announces its intent to request proposals for Renewable Energy Technologies - Energy and Water Conservation Services for Navy Facilities.  This work is intended to promote the use of renewable energy technologies, acquire energy and water conservation services, reduce energy and water consumption and/or associated utility costs, and reduce energy and water-related operations and maintenance costs, as specified in each task order issued against the contract.  The work will be performed at DOD facilities globally.  
Email Contact
Application due Date: May 5,10
Application Website


10.)Industrial Technologies Technical Assistance
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Industrial Technologies Program Superior Energy Performance Program Administrator Technical Assistance.  Through this RFP, DOE seeks to fund an administrator and technical assistance provider for the new American National Standards Institute- accredited Superior Energy Performance industrial plant/facility certification program (SEP-PA).  The purpose of SEP is to serve as a roadmap for achieving continual improvement of energy efficiency at industrial facilities. 
Total Found Available: $5 million
Email Contact
Application Due Date: May 6,2010
Application Website

11.)Energy Efficient Building Cluster
The U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Education, the Small Business Administration and the National Science Foundation jointly request proposals for the FY10 Energy Efficient Building Systems Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative.  This pilot project will support the development and growth of an energy regional innovation cluster (E-RIC) which will develop, expand, and commercialize innovative energy efficient building systems technologies, designs, and best practices for national and international distribution. 
Total Found Available: $129.7 million  
Application Due Date: May 6,2010
Application Website


12.)Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks  
The National Science Foundation requests proposals for Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks.  This program supports distributed control of multi-agent systems with embedded computation for sensor and adaptive networks.  This program emphasizes electric power networks and grids, including generation, transmission and integration of renewable, sustainable and distributed energy systems, such as fuel cells and micro-turbines in large power networks; high power electronics and drives; and understanding of associated regulatory and economic structures.  The program also emphasizes energy scavenging and alternative energy technologies, including solar cells, ocean waves, wind, geothermal, low-head hydro, and the hydrogen economy.  In addition, the program supports generation and integration in the National Grid (InterGrid), and interdependencies of critical infrastructure in power and communications. 
Email Contact
Application Due Date: October 7,2010
Application Website

State of Ohio Grants:

DUE Sept 21, 2009! $14M for Wind & Solar; 50% match required
$14 Million in Recovery Act Wind and Solar Resources Mobilized in Ohio

Columbus, Ohio – Lisa Patt-McDaniel, interim director of the Ohio Department of Development, and Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to Governor Ted Strickland, today announced that the Ohio Department of Development's Ohio Energy Office is accepting applications for $14 million in funding available through the Deploying Renewable Energy: Wind and Solar grant program. This announcement marks the first set of renewable energy grants to be funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) in Ohio.

"Ohio has demonstrated a potential to realize significant job growth by deploying renewable energy derived from wind and solar installations," Patt-McDaniel said. "Combined with the aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency through the Recovery Act, Ohio is well-positioned to meet the goals set forth in Governor Ted Strickland's Advanced Energy Portfolio Standard."

The grant program is part of Ohio's $96 million proposal for the State Energy Program that was accepted on June 26, 2009 by the U.S. Department of Energy. This prompted the release of Recovery Act funds to the state for direct funding of eligible energy projects.

"These grants are a great opportunity to meet the growing interest and use of wind and solar energy across the state," Shanahan said. "By investing in these new technologies, we will create jobs in a growing industry and position Ohio for economic development and future success."

Deploying Renewable Energy: Wind and Solar, a $14 million program, seeks eligible applicants including individuals, partnerships, companies, and entities that meet the minimum size and other requirements listed in the request for proposal for the installation of qualified solar electric, solar thermal and wind electric technologies. Projects that involve third-party ownership and financing arrangements are also eligible to apply.

Awards will range between $250,000 and $1 million and will be selected through a competitive process. All eligible projects must be located within the State of Ohio, include a match investment of a minimum of 50 percent of total costs, demonstrate completion within 12 months, and provide direct economic impacts in Ohio.

Interested applicants must submit a one-page project proposal no later than 5:00 p.m. on September, 21, 2009, at recovery.ohio.gov/opportunities/state/. If you have already submitted a proposal at you will not be required to submit again. To submit forms on the website, applicants should click "submit your proposal", then choose the program category "Energy and Environment" and the subprogram "State Energy Program". Only projects that have submitted initial proposals to recovery.ohio.gov will be considered for formal proposals in response to this request.

Applications are due to the Ohio Energy Office by 3 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Energy Program will accelerate the goals of renewable energy development in Ohio, including job preservation or creation, increased energy efficiency, and energy assistance to Ohioans impacted by current economic conditions.

For more information about the Deploying Renewable Energy: Wind and Solar grant program and requirements, please visit: development.ohio.gov/recovery/FundingOpportunities.htm.

ONGOING STATE OF OHIO GRANTS........

1) Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (DERG) Program
The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), in partnership with the Ohio
Department of Transportation (ODOT), and the Ohio Environmental
Protection Agency (OEPA), proudly announces the second round of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant (DERG) Program. Invited to apply are all public diesel engine fleets and private diesel engine fleets with a public sponsor (Public-Private Partnerships) that will undertake machinery/vehicle replacement, repower, retrofit, or installation of anti-idle equipment for the purpose of emission reductions. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are defined in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Program Guidance dated October 20, 2008 (PDF).
An example of an acceptable PPP agreement can be found here.

Funds will be made available under DERG, from the ODOT’s CMAQ moneys.
The CMAQ Program is authorized through the federal Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEALU). As the DERG Program is federally funded, prevailing wage under the Davis-Bacon Act will apply to projects selected for funding.

The DERG Committee makes all project selections and funding decisions.
The Committee consists of staff from ODOD, ODOT, and OEPA.
The total funding available for this competitive funding opportunity
through June. 30, 2009, is the remainder from the first round of funded projects plus the amount appropriated for the second round – for a projected total of $11.2 million in federal CMAQ funds. Up to $5 million will be set aside for public transit projects in Round Two.

Each application must contain a request for at least Twenty Thousand
Dollars ($20,000) to be considered.

RFP Time Table
Release of RFP December 18, 2008
Bidder Conference: February 9, 2009, 10:00 a.m.
Deadline to submit applications March 2, 2009
Announcement of award May 1, 2009

For more info, contact Jim Zuber @ jzuber AT odod.state.oh.us
Link to detailed info on the Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant program





2. Ohio EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Fund Retrofits Grant Program

A new grant program is helping school districts retrofit their diesel school buses with pollution control equipment and use cleaner fuels to reduce emissions.

Priority will be given to applications from school districts in communities that do not meet the federal air quality standards for outdoor concentrations of fine air particles, and districts that employ additional measures such as anti-idling programs, to reduce emissions from their school bus fleets. The following counties in Northeast Ohio are not meeting the EPA's standard for fine particle pollution and are therefore eligible for funding from this program.

-Cuyahoga
-Lake
-Lorain
-Medina
-Portage
-Stark
-Summit

A portion of Ashtabula County is in non-attainment. Please consult the OH EPA for more information.

Grants are funded from civil penalties Ohio EPA collects from environmental violations. Since the program began, Ohio EPA has awarded $1.6 million to 33 school districts to retrofit 652 school buses. These grants have resulted in the removal of nine and a half tons of pollutants from the air. The next grant application deadline is March 2, 2009.

For additional questions about the grant program, please contact Carolyn Watkins at carolyn.watkins AT epa.state.oh.usor 614-644-3768. For questions about diesel bus retrofitting, particle standards, or program rules, contact John Paulian at john.paulian AT epa.state.oh.us or 614-644-4832.
Link to detailed information on OH EPA Clean Diesel School Bus Fund