Federal Renewable Energy Grants
Hundreds of federal grants are available for renewable-energy and energy-efficiency programs. Some programs are administered directly by the federal government; others are administered through states via federal block grants. The fate of many renewable-energy grant programs hung in the balance until late 2010, when Congress granted an extension of the 1603 Treasury grant program. The Treasury program covers up to 30 percent of the cost of alternative-energy projects, although other federal programs exist through various departments, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
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Energy.gov
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Energy.gov is a Department of Energy-sponsored site that outlines funding opportunities for various energy-related grant programs, including renewable energy. The renewable energy section sites include biomass/biofuels, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wave/tidal/ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and wind. Other sections include grant opportunities for energy efficiency, energy infrastructure and storage, fossil energy, hydrogen and fuel cells, nuclear energy and transportation. Once you access the Energy.gov site, scroll down through the list of energy sections to "Renewable Energy" and click on the subhead ("Solar," for example) to open a page listing solar power grant opportunities. Grants are listed by name (on which you can click for details), with the amount appropriated, deadline date, the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number and an email contact.
Grants.gov
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To access renewable-energy grant opportunities at Grants.gov, go to the site's homepage. In the left-hand section titled "For Applicants," click on "Find Grant Opportunities." When the new page opens, click on the "Basic Search" bar in the middle of the page. (You also have other search options, such as by category.) When the Basic Search page opens, enter a keyword such as "wind" and click the "Search" button. A page (the first of several) will open which details all federally funded grants related to wind power. For example, a search in March 2011 revealed two pages and about 25 grants, including the "Atlantic and Great Lakes DEA Duck Migration Study." Posted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the $26,400 grant is open to nonprofits. Grants are offered by the federal government, states, foundations, U.S. service academies and other sources.
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Federal Grants Wire
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You can begin by accessing the Federal Grants Wire homepage, then keying in a term like "renewable energy." A list of pages will appear with such grants as "Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program," "Renewable Energy Research and Development" and "Energy Alternative Energy Sources Federal Grants." Selecting any grant option will open a page that describes in detail the purpose of the grant, the amount, eligibility, deadlines and application procedure.
DSIRE
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The DSIRE site is dedicated exclusively to renewable energy and energy efficiency. The homepage consists of a map of the United States and the option to choose one or both databases titled "Renewable Energy" and "Energy Efficiency." Choose one or both, then click on the U.S. flag to the right ("Federal Incentives"). Among the dozen or so sections is "Federal Grant Program," under which you can select from Tribal Energy Program Grant; U.S. Department of Treasury -- Renewable Energy Grants; USDA -- High Energy Cost Grant Program; and USDA -- Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants.
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