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Eligible: Businesses, Local Government, Nonprofits, Public Agencies, Special Purpose Districts, Utilities

Apply by Feb 27, 2025

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Active

$2,000,000 - $50,000,000

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas – Fiscal Year 2025 Release

From U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Rural and remote areas often face higher energy costs, less reliable systems, and fewer options for clean energy compared to cities. Smaller communities may also lack the time, money, or resources to explore clean energy solutions. The Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) funding provides support to help these communities develop clean energy projects. 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.

  • Overview

    • Type

      Grant

    • Title

      Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas – Fiscal Year 2025 Release

    • Source

      U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

    • Federal or State

      Federal

    • Total Amount

      $400,000,000

    • Number of Awards

      20–50

    • Award Range

      $2,000,000 - $50,000,000

    • Cost Share

      Yes

    • Status

      Active

  • Eligibility

    • Audience

      Businesses, Local Government, Nonprofits, Public Agencies, Special Purpose Districts, Utilities

    • Sector

      Energy Efficiency, Energy Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Residential, Rural

    • Activity

      Capacity Building, Efficiency Improvements, Energy Efficiency Improvements, Equipment Purchase/Lease, Planning, Program Implementation, Program Management

    • Eligibility

      This program serves communities of 10,000 people or fewer.

    • Location

      National

  • Application Process

    • Application Link

      oced-exchange.energy.gov

    • Pre-Application?

      Yes

    • Requirements

      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

      Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 5:00 pm ET on February 27, 2025. Applicants who do not submit a concept paper cannot apply. DOE will encourage a subset of applicants to submit applications and will discourage the other applicants from submitting an application. The Application Submission is due by 5:00 pm ET on August 28, 2025.

  • Important Dates

    • Application Close Date

      Feb 27, 2025

    • Application Close Time

      2:00 PM PST

  • Resources & Contacts

    • Contact

      Contact ERA2024@hq.doe.gov with questions regarding the content of this NOFO.

    • Resources

      Video recording of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program Notice of Funding Opportunity Informational Webinar, featuring an overview of the funding announcement, the program, and next steps for applicants, held on October 8, 2024: https://youtu.be/SLWFGCkrNvY

      Realizado el 8 de octubre de 2024, aquí una grabación del seminario web informativo sobre el anuncio de la oportunidad de financiamiento del programa de mejoras energéticas en áreas rurales o remotas (ERA). Se presenta una descripción general del anuncio de financiamiento, el programa y los próximos pasos para los solicitantes. https://youtu.be/7HD9a4sQYLU

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