How to Get Government Grants for Green Energy

Wind is a form of green energy.

The expense of new technology often dissuades people from converting from fossil fuel technology to renewable forms of energy. However, switching to a sustainable, or green, energy source invests in the future, and both federal and local governments provide assistance to offset the expenses involved with purchasing and installing equipment that provides green energy. If you are interested in making the change to green energy, you can apply online for a variety of grants from the federal government, one of the funding sources for renewable energy technology.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Register on the Grants website and note your user name and password. You will need this information to log in and to check the progress of your grant application once it is submitted.

2. Research grants at the United States federal government website Grants. Enter the type of renewable energy you are going to use in the search field, or browse the "Energy" section. You can also use the Advanced Search to find grants for which you are eligible by entering your status, such as "Public Housing Authorities," "Small Businesses," "Individuals," "For profit organizations other than small businesses" or "Nonprofits."

3. Sign up for an email subscription for time sensitive updates to the database of open grants. The information changes rapidly, and you should stay informed about new grants for which you are eligible. If you don't find a grant immediately, there may be one tomorrow or next week. An RSS feed is also available.

4. Download the application for a grant that fits your situation. Each grant has its own application, so download the correct form and follow the instructions on the first page carefully. Even if you have previously applied for a similar grant, the instructions may be different.

5. Fill out the application offline and only submit online when it is complete, because the Grants site doesn't offer the opportunity to save online. The helpful software indicates any errors before it allows you to submit.

6. Submit the completed, saved form to the Grants site. Afterward, check that you have received an email with your tracking number along with the date and time that your application was received. A second email follows within 24 hours to confirm validation of your application.

7. Track the progress of your application online. Be patient. Since each grant is unique, you can't be certain how long processing takes.

Tips & Warnings

• The Grants website provides a useful step-by-step tutorial on how use Adobe Acrobat to fill out and submit an electronic application.

• Fill out the form honestly. Falsifying government documents carries a stiff penalty.

• Be aware of deadlines. Government grants are highly competitive, and any applications sent after the deadline will not be considered.

Resources

• Grants.gov website
• DSIRE: Database of federal incentives
• DSIRE: Database of state incentives for renewables