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:
- Biofuels, Biomass and Biorefineries
- Clean Transportation
- Other Renewable and Clean Technologies
- Environmental Programs
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.
BIOFUELS, BIOMASS AND BIOREFINERIES
Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations. DOE will award up to $40,000,000 per applicant for integrated biorefinery projects that have sufficient technical and economic performance data to validate readiness for the next level of scale up. Each topic in this program is related to beneficial use of renewable biomass for the production of liquid transportation biofuel(s) as a replacement for fossil derived liquid transportation. Novel or breakthrough technologies are encouraged.
Current application deadline: May 29, 2009
Biotechnology, Biochemical and Biomass Engineering Program. The National Science Foundation will award up to $120,000 per year per applicant for one to three years for projects focusing on fundamental problems involved in the processing and manufacturing of products of economic importance by effectively utilizing renewable resources of biological origin and bioinformatics.
Current application deadline: September 15, 2009
For details, click here and here.
Development of Supply Systems to Handle and Deliver High Tonnage Biomass Feedstocks for Cellulosic Biofuels Production. DOE will award up to $5,000,000 per applicant for projects furthering the design and demonstration of a comprehensive system to handle the harvesting, collection, preprocessing, transport and storage of sufficient volumes of sustainably produced feedstocks required to achieve the rapid expansion of the commercial domestic biofuels industry. Applicants are sought from consortia that include at least one Original Equipment Manufacturer of industrial/agricultural equipment used in harvest, collection, preprocessing, transport and storage of lignocellulosic feedstocks. OEM partners may include growers, transport companies, universities, national labs, and biorefineries or conversion facilities. Other interested entities may partner with any applicant consortium.
Current application deadline: May 18, 2009
For details, click here.
Biorefinery Assistance Program. USDA will provide loan guarantees of up to $250,000,000 per applicant for the development and construction of commercial-scale bio-refineries utilizing feedstocks other than corn, or for retrofitting existing facilities using eligible technology, for the development of advanced biofuels. Projects must be located in rural areas, and preference is given to novel technologies capable of deployment on a commercial scale.
Current application deadline: April 30, 2009
For details, click here and here.
CLEAN TRANSPORTATION
Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector. DOE will award up to $15,000,000 per applicant to projects supporting the use of alternative fuel in transportation, including renewable biofuels and the deployment of energy efficient transportation technologies. Projects in four topic areas are supported: 1) refueling infrastructure for alternative vehicles; 2) incremental costs for dedicated alternative fuel vehicles; 3) education, outreach and workshops for petroleum reduction fuels and technologies; and 4) alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle pilot grant program. Teaming arrangements with state agencies, energy offices, organizations and/or private industry are strongly encouraged by DOE for some topic areas. Team members of high interest to DOE include fuel suppliers, auto dealerships, petroleum retailers, public or private vehicle fleets, equipment manufacturers, energy marketers and energy companies.
Current application deadline: Varies depending on topic area
For details, click here.
Recovery Act-Transportation Electrification. DOE will award grants for projects that accelerate the market introduction and penetration of advanced electric drive vehicles. A key objective of the program is to accelerate the development and production of various electric drive vehicle systems with an emphasis on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles.
Current application deadline: May 13, 2009
For details, click here.
Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative. DOE will award grants for projects supporting the construction (including production capacity increase of current plants), of US-based manufacturing plants to produce batteries and electric drive components.
Current application deadline: May 19, 2009
For details, click here.
Recovery Act-Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction. DOT and the Federal Transit Administration will provide grants of up to $100,000,000 per applicant to public transit agencies for capital investments that will assist in reducing the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of their public transit systems.
Current application deadline: TBD
For details, click here.
National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. EPA will award up to $10 million each for up to 150 projects to reduce diesel emissions, including retrofit devices, cleaner fuels, engine upgrades, idle reduction technologies, certified engine repowers, and/or certified vehicle or equipment replacement. Eligible vehicles, engines and equipment may include but are not limited to buses, medium-duty or heavy-duty trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and non-road engines or vehicles that are used in: (a) construction; (b) handling or cargo (including at a port or airport); (c) agriculture; (d) mining; or (e) energy production.
Current application deadline: April 28, 2009
For details, click here and here.
Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program. EPA will provide up to $3 million per applicant in funding for the use, development, and commercialization of emerging technologies to reduce emissions from diesel engines or diesel powered vehicles or equipment. This program is available only for technologies on EPA's Emerging Technology List, found here.
Current application deadline: May 5, 2009
For details, click here and here.
SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program. EPA will provide up to $30 million per applicant for national, state or local financial programs offering unique financial incentives for purchases of retrofitted vehicles or equipment.
Current application deadline: April 28, 2009
For details, click here and here.
OTHER RENEWABLE AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES
Research and Development of Hydrogen Sensor Technologies. DOE will award up to $1,000,000 per applicant for research that will lead to the development of cost-competitive, durable and safe hydrogen and fuel cell systems suitable for at least one of the following applications: stationary systems, portable devices, transportation or infrastructure.
Current application deadline: April 30, 2009
Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans. USDA will provide loan guarantees in amounts ranging from $10,000,000 to $40,000,000 for individual projects that improve, develop or finance business, industry and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities. Eligible projects must provide employment, improve economic or environmental conditions, promote conservation, development and use of water for aquaculture, or reduce reliance on nonrenewable energy resources.
Current application deadline: Ongoing
For details, click here.
Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program. DOE will provide loan guarantees for energy projects that employ a new or significantly improved technology that will avoid, reduce or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Examples of fundable project types include renewable energy projects, advanced fossil fuel technologies, hydrogen technologies, carbon capture technologies, refinery technologies, and efficient generation and transmission projects.
Current application deadline: Ongoing
For details, click here.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Brownfields Job Training Grants. EPA will award 10-12 cooperative agreements of up to $500,000 each to eligible governmental entities and nonprofit organizations to provide environmental job training projects that will facilitate job creation in the assessment, remediation or preparation of Brownfield sites.
Current application deadline: April 20, 2009
For details, click here and here.