This page features a continually updated list of transportation & alternative energy grants from State and Federal Sources:
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FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

*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. 
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Application Due Date:October 7,2010
Application Website

State of Ohio Grants:

1)   FY2011 Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program RFP

      Letter of Intent due 09/10/2010 by 2:00 pm

      For information regaring the program and the funding cycle and instructions, please visit the Ohio Department of Development:

http://www.development.ohio.gov/OhioThirdFrontier/FuelCellProgram.htm  

We anticipate awarding up to $7 million in grants for projects that accelerate the development and growth of the fuel cell industry in Ohio by direct financial support to organizations seeking to commercialize new products, manufacturing processes or technologies, or to adapt or modify existing components or systems that can reduce the cost of fuel cell systems or address technical and commercialization barriers; or demonstrate market readiness.  

All questionsregarding this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail to OTFFCP2011@development.ohio.gov, with a subject line “OTFFCP Q&A”.

2)   FY2011 Ohio Third Frontier Photovoltaic Program RFP

      Letter of Intent due 09/10/2010 by 2:00 pm     

      For information regaring the program and the funding cycle and instructions, please visit the Ohio Department of Development:

http://www.development.ohio.gov/OhioThirdFrontier/PhotovoltaicProgram.htm

We anticipate awarding up to $7 million in grants for projects that accelerate the development and growth of the photovoltaic industry in Ohio by direct financial support to organizations seeking to commercialize new products, manufacturing processes or technologies, or to adapt or modify existing components or systems that can reduce the cost of photovoltaic systems or address technical and commercialization barriers; or demonstrate market readiness.  

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail to OTFPVP2011@development.ohio.gov, with a subject line “OTFPVP Q&A”.

3)   FY2011 Ohio Third Frontier Advanced Energy Program RFP 

      Letter of Intent due 09/10/2010 by 2:00 pm

      For information regaring the program and the funding cycle and instructions, please visit the Ohio Department of Development:

http://www.development.ohio.gov/OhioThirdFrontier/AdvancedEnergyProgram.htm

We anticipate awarding up to $7 million in grants for projects that accelerate the development and growth of the advanced energy industry in Ohio by direct financial support to organizations seeking to commercialize new products, manufacturing processes or technologies, or to adapt or modify existing components or systems that can reduce the cost of advanced energy systems or address technical and commercialization barriers; or demonstrate market readiness.  

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing via e-mail to OTFAEP2011@development.ohio.gov, with a subject line “OTFAEP Q&A”. 

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