What does this funding get me?
In August 2024, DOE issued a Notice of Intent for up to $400 million to spur innovative, community-focused clean energy solutions in rural and remote areas across the United States. The ERA program aims to improve the resilience, reliability, and affordability of energy systems in communities across the country with 10,000 or fewer people. This grant can provide funding for replicable energy projects that lower energy costs, improve energy access and resilience, and/or reduce environmental harm.
Am I eligible?
This program serves communities of 10,000 people or fewer. Applicants must propose projects that support at least one of these eligible activities:
- Improving overall cost-effectiveness of energy generation, transmission, or distribution systems;
- Siting or upgrading transmission and distribution lines;
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation in rural or remote areas;
- Providing or modernizing electric generation facilities;
- Developing microgrids; and
- Increasing energy efficiency.
Applications may include any technology that meet the above eligible activities, as long as those technologies are commercially available. Applicants must choose one of the four topic areas for their project’s application:
- Open category
- Dual use and co-location
- Smaller-scale community-centered
- Isolated microgrids & unelectrified buildings
To be eligible to submit an application for this funding opportunity, prospective applicants must first submit a concept paper.
How can I access the money?
The ERA program is currently accepting concept papers for ERA’s FY2025 release.
OCED is funding technical assistance to support the development of concept papers for this funding opportunity. NREL and other national laboratories will provide up to 8 hours of no-cost support to each prospective applicant during the concept paper phase.
Apply for technical assistance between Oct. 14, 2024, and Feb. 13, 2025. For announcements and information on previous years’ awardees, see this page.
What is the timeline?
- Applications Open: Oct. 3, 2024
- Deadline for Concept Papers: Feb. 27, 2025, by 5 p.m. ET
- Deadline for Full Applications: Aug. 28, 2025, by 5 p.m. ET
- Anticipated Award Date: Spring 2026
What other incentives could I use to help me accomplish my goals?
Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) for additional incentives that may be offered by your state, local government, or utility, as well as important federal, state, and local policies. For questions regarding DSIRE, contact Justin Lindemann (NC Clean Energy Technology Center) at jplindem@ncsu.edu.
Where can I get more information?
- DOE web page on Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas grant
- On October 8, 2024, the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) held an informational webinar featuring an overview of the funding announcement, the program, and next steps for applicants.
- Webinar recording in English: https://youtu.be/SLWFGCkrNvY
- Webinar recording Spanish: https://youtu.be/7HD9a4sQYLU
- DOE publication Federal Energy Funding for Rural and Remote Areas: A Guide for Communities
- For technical assistance on this grant opportunity, please refer to the NREL’s website HERE and email ERA@nrel.gov for technical assistance questions.
- Contact Information:
- OCED-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov for all technical issues involving OCED eXCHANGE. Please include the funding opportunity title and number in subject line.
- ERA2024@hq.doe.gov for questions regarding the content of this NOFO.
- The following forms and templates may be used as part of the application submission. Note that these forms and templates do not necessarily constitute all the documents required for a complete application: View Application Forms and Templates
- In addition to the resources listed above, a variety of organizations offer technical assistance that may help you access these funds. They are listed on our Get Help page.
- For other questions, contact Meech Carter at info@energyfundsforall.org.