What is the current status of this program?
This funding is no longer available. If you want more incentives like this, tell your Federal, North Carolina, and South Carolina legislators.
What does this funding get me?
In October 2024, DOE opened another round of funding for Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas for Fiscal Year 2025, which closed in August 2025. This program will provide 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 served communities of 10,000 people or fewer. Applicants needed to 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 could include any technology that meet the above eligible activities, as long as those technologies are commercially available. Applicants needed to 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
How can I access the money?
The application cycle is now closed.
What is the timeline?
Applications were due on Aug. 28, 2025. Awards are anticipated to be announced in 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.
- Check out our (non-exhaustive) list of non-federal funding from other sources that may fit your energy and cost-saving goals.
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.