The recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), together with existing legislation such as the 2008 Farm Bill, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, has created unprecedented opportunities for renewable energy and clean technology companies to obtain funding from the federal government for a wide variety of energy and environmental projects. A summary of the major funding opportunities announced by the federal government during the last week can be viewed by clicking on the following links:
- Renewable and Clean Technologies
- Environmental Programs
- Recent Developments Related to Funding Opportunities
Funding under these programs will be awarded on a competitive basis and under tight application deadlines. Applications must contain detailed information regarding an applicant's proposal, and actual funding awards require the negotiation of detailed documentation similar to that used in complex project financings.
WilmerHale's Energy and Clean Technology practice group has extensive experience in the areas of public policy, government contracting, project finance and development, and energy regulation. We are uniquely positioned to expertly advise renewable energy and clean technology companies on the complex issues and opportunities that arise in connection with these federal funding opportunities, and to assist companies in both obtaining government funding and successfully developing their projects.
RENEWABLE AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES
Smart Advanced Water Power. DOE is offering discretionary grants of up to $1,500,000 per applicant for projects involving one of three topic areas: 1) marine and hydrokinetic energy conversion devices, or component design and development; 2) marine and hydrokinetic site-specific environmental studies/information gathering; and 3) advanced water power market acceleration projects/analysis and assessments. The program seeks to enhance the viability and cost-competitiveness of advanced water power systems, while promoting clean energy, supporting economic growth and scientific discovery, and demonstrating U.S. leadership in addressing climate change.
Mandatory Letter of Intent deadline: May 6, 2009
Complete application deadline: June 4, 2009
For details, click here.
Supplemental Phase II SBIR/STTR Grant Program. DOE will award up to $250,000 per applicant in supplemental funding to active DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II grantees who were awarded funds under the 2007 Phase II funding opportunity notice (DE-FG02-07ER07-17).
Current application deadline: May 8, 2009
For details, click here and here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Global Change, Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks proposals from colleges and universities for work that would provide data on ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) reaching the Earth's surface. Available funding is up to $1.15 million per award for climatological work, up to $300,000 per award for crop assessment modeling, and up to $25,000 per award for related economic analysis.
Current application deadline: May 5, 2009
For details, click here and here.
Reliability and Life Expectancy of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems Grant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expects to make a single $200,000 grant to an academic institution, government entity, or nonprofit organization to develop data on the reliability and life expectancy of decentralized wastewater systems. Profit-making firms are not eligible for this grant.
Current application deadline: May 18, 2009
For details, click here and here.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
OMB Issues Updated Implementing Guidance for the ARRA. On April 3, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget issued to the heads of federal departments and agencies a memorandum that transmitted the second installment of government-wide guidance for carrying out programs and activities enacted in the ARRA. The OMB's Guidance memorandum supplements, amends and clarifies the initial guidance issued by OMB on February 18, 2009. In the memorandum, OMB establishes additional steps to ensure that: (a) department and agency decisions should be merit-based and made in a transparent manner; (b) projects selected for funding should deliver long-term public benefits, and optimize economic and programmatic results; and (c) assistance should be targeted, where allowed by law and otherwise practicable, to take additional policy considerations into account.
For a complete copy of the OMB Guidance, click here.
EPA Awards Stimulus Funds to States for Clean Diesel Projects. EPA announced Friday that it has awarded ARRA funds to states, including Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas, for clean diesel projects. The funds are being provided under ARRA's state clean diesel funding program, which will allocate $88.2 million equally among all 50 states and the District of Columbia. States, local governments, non-profits and tribes may also compete for a portion of the $206 million in competitive grant funding available under the program.
For information about EPA's clean diesel initiatives, click here.
To view a summary of EPA's competitive clean diesel programs, click here.
