One of the main purposes of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative is to leverage significant funding for diesel emission reductions projects in the region.  Members of the funding committee are working to compile currently available funding opportunities, as well as research creative mechanisms for funding diesel emission reduction projects. The funding committee is exploring the potential for significant public-private partnerships in this arena. Please see below for current opportunities. 

Know about a funding opportunity that is not on here?  Click here

New Grants

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Funding for Clean Diesel: National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) provides $156 million in new funding to support the implementation of verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies. Request for Applications March 19, 2009- April 28, 2009

2009 NC Diesel Emissions-Economic Recovery Grant Program
As part of President Obama's ARRA, the North Carolina State Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality was granted $1.73 Million to be used to reduce emissions from diesel engines. With these funds, the Division of Air Quality has set up two programs. The first will award a subgrant to one organization to administer a rebate program for Auxillary Power Unit or Heavy-Duty Diesel replacements for long haul trucks. The bulk of the grant, however, will be used to solicit and select worthy "shovel ready" projects to reduce mobile emissions from diesel engines. This program will be called the NC Diesel Emissions-Economic Recovery (DEER) Grant. We have approximately $1.1 Million available in NC DEER Grant funds.. Request for Applications March 16, 2009- April 30, 2009

DOE Announces up to $200 Million in Funding for Biorefineries
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the issuance of a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for up to $200 million over six years (FY 2009 – FY 2014), to support the development of pilot and demonstration-scale biorefineries including the use of feedstocks such as algae and production of advanced biofuels such as bio-butanol, green gasoline and other innovative biofuels.T he FOA has two topic areas for biorefinery development:
____-Pilot-scale, minimum throughput of one dry tonne of feedstock per day with a minimum non-federal cost-share at 30 percent.
____-Demonstration-scale minimum throughput of 50 dry tonnes of feedstock per day, with a minimum non-federal cost-share at 50 percent.

Mandatory letters of intent are due February, 20, 2009, and completed applications are due April 30, 2009. The complete FOA (number DE-PS36-09GO99038), can be viewed at www.grants.gov. Projects are expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2009 and continue through Fiscal Year 2014. Funding is subject to annual Congressional appropriations. The view the complete announcement click here

• Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Grant Solicitation
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of funds and solicits participation from eligible entities for project proposals to receive financial assistance through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program. CARE is a unique community-based, community-driven, multimedia demonstration program designed to help communities understand and reduce risks due to toxic pollutants and environmental concerns from all sources. The CARE grant program works with the eligible entities to help their communities form collaborative partnerships, develop an understanding of the many local sources of risk from toxic pollutants and environmental concerns, set priorities, and identify and carry out projects to reduce risks through collaborative action at the local level. CARE’s long-term goal is to help communities build self-sustaining, community-based partnerships that will continue to improve human health and local environments into the future. The objective of the CARE grant program is to work collaboratively within the community to investigate the effectiveness of the CARE process--whether this cross-Agency, multi-media program provides greater environmental benefits than either non-collaborative or single media approaches.
  
  This RFP is open from December 16, 2008 through March 16, 2009. For more infomation Click here.

Past Grant Openings

Natural Resources Conservation Service 2009 National Conservation Innovation Grants
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) requests applications for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2009 will be approximately $20 million. There are four CIG categories available in FY 2009: Natural Resource Concerns Category, Technology Category, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category, and Grant Leveraging Category. Applications are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration . Applications must be received in the NRCS National Headquarters by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), on March 2, 2009. For more information please click here.

Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality statewide Mississippi School Bus Retrofit Project
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is seeking sealed proposals for a statewide Mississippi School Bus Retrofit Project. This project involves retrofitting existing diesel powered school buses with diesel oxidation catalysts. MDEQ will be accepting proposals until 4:00 P.M. on Friday, February 6, 2009. For more information please contact Brad Ware: 601-961-5107 E-Mail: brad_ware@deq.state.ms.us

Broad Agency Announcement for Conferences, Workshops, and/or Meetings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting applications from eligible applicants for the planning, arranging, administering and/or conducting of conferences, workshops, and/or meetings (hereinafter referred to as "conferences") that focus on research to protect human health and safeguard the environment. Specifically, EPA is interested in supporting scientific and technical research conferences that address the following research program areas: (1) human health; (2) ecosystems; water and security; (3) economics and sustainability; (4) air and global climate change; and (5) technology.

This BAA is open from December 10, 2007 through December 9, 2008. Applications must be received by January 7, 2008; June 5, 2008; and December 9, 2008 depending upon the cycle (as identified in Section II of this BAA) for which the applicant is requesting funding. For more infomation Click here.

North Carolina Mobile Source Emission Reduction Grant
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) is announcing the avialability of funding assistance for projects to reduce diesel emissions from diesel powered vehicles in North Carolina. Project proposals must be submitted to the NC DENR by December 31, 2008. For more infomation Click here.

U.S. EPA, Region 4 & Southeast Diesel Collaborative Request For Proposals (RFP) FY 08-09

In conjunction with the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of funding assistance for projects to reduce diesel emissions from diesel powered vehicles in EPA Region 4 states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and/or Tennessee.  This includes both on-road and off-road applications.  Proposals need to describe projects which will demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies or methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions as part of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative.  The Southeast Diesel Collaborative is a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies, along with communities, non-profit organizations and private companies working together to reduce emissions from diesel engines in the Southeast.

The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity is approximately $3.6 million. EPA Region 4 anticipates awarding 5-10 assistance agreements ranging from $250,000 to $750,000 in Federal funding, subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposals received. However, EPA Region 4 reserves the option to fund a project at an amount lower than $250,000 if the proposed project involves retrofitting or upgrading an applicant’s entire fleet.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, a variety of diesel emissions reductions solutions such as retrofit technology, idle reduction technology or strategies, vehicle replacement, engine replacement (repowers) and engine upgrades, or use of cleaner burning fuel. The closing date and time for receipt of proposals is 5:00 PM (Eastern) on June 12, 2008.  Proposals should be submitted via www.grants.gov and must be received by this date and time. If you have questions please review the Q&As.

2008 Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Call for Projects
The North Carolina Solar Center at NC State University and project partners are seeking proposals from governments, business, and/or non-profit fleet and fuel providers for transportation related emission reduction projects. The Clean Fuel Advanced Technology (CFAT) Project is a three year, $2 million dollar initiative of the NC Solar Center (NCSC) funded by federal dollars from the NC Department of Transportation with state support from the State Energy Office and Division of Air Quality. In addition to providing assistance for emission reduction projects such as purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, installing refueling
infrastructure for cleaner burning alternative fuels, retrofits on older diesel vehicles and idle reduction technology, the CFAT project
focuses on education and outreach to the twenty-four NC counties that do not meet national ambient air quality standards. Project proposals must be submitted to the NC Solar Center by March 28, 2008. For more infomation Click here.

2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency CARE Cooperative Agreement Request for Proposals (RFP)
Around $3 million will be available in 2008 to support community-based partnerships to reduce pollution at the local level through the Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) program.

EPA anticipates awarding CARE cooperative agreements in two levels. Level I cooperative agreements range from $75,000 to $100,000 and will help establish community-based partnerships to develop local environmental priorities. Level II awards, ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 each, will support communities which have established broad-based partnerships, have identified the priority toxic risks in the community, and are prepared to measure results, implement risk reduction activities, and become self-sustaining. In 2007, $3.4 million in cooperative agreements were made available to more than 20 communities through the CARE program, a community-based, community-driven program that builds partnerships to help the public understand and reduce toxic risks from numerous sources. Examples of projects include addressing abandoned, contaminated industrial and residential properties in Gary, Ind., dealing with agriculture-related toxics in Yakima County, Wash., and reducing air emissions from diesel trucks and buses in Woonsocket, R.I. Since 2005, the grants to reduce toxics in the environment have reached almost 50 communities in over 20 states.

Applications for the CARE grants are due March 17, 2008. Eligible applicants include county and local governments, tribes, non-profit organizations and universities. EPA will conduct three conference calls, Jan. 18, Feb. 11 and 27, for prospective applicants to ask questions about the application process.

Additional information about the CARE program, previous cooperative agreement recipients, and applying for the 2008 grants is available at: http://www.epa.gov/care.

US Green Building Council $2 million Request for Proposals
The US Green Building Council has just released a $2 million Request for Proposals to fund priority green building research! (I'm particularly pleased becaused this investment followed modest EPA seed funding of USGBC's Research Committee to develop its National Green Building Research Agenda).

Pre-proposal abstracts are being accepted from February 12 through March 6. Selected applicants will be asked to submit comprehensive proposals for the final phase of the selection process. Much more info at the following websites: Click Here

Request for Pre-Proposals: Click Here

EPA Climate Protection Awards
The EPA Climate Proection Awards is accepting nominations until December 31, 2007 for the 2008 Climate Protection Awards. Winners are selected based on exceptional accomplishments crafting international, national, state, and local programs; reducing energy consumption; and developing technologies to protect the climate. For more infomation Click here.

EPA releases RFP for Clean Diesel Projects
EPA released a solicitation for $177,815 on September 27, 2007. The RFP solicits applications for projects which reduce diesel emissions from Construction, Locomotive, on-highway, Agriculture, Freight Distribution Centares and Ports. Projects must request funds between 50,000 and $125, 000 and be located in an EPA Region 4 state." For more information Click Here

Request for Proposals for Strategic Agricultural Initiative (SAI) Food Quality Protection Act(FQPA) Grant Program
A new Request for Proposals for the Strategic Agricultural Initiative has been posted for Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee), The deadline for submission is October 31, 2007. The total amount of the awards is approximately $700,000 which is 2 year's of funding combined. Awards will be made in the amount of $75,000 to $200,000.

The RFP solicits application packages to help support efforts by the agricultural community to transition to lower risk pesticides and pest management practices in agricultural production, resulting in a sustainable food system. The emphasis is on food crops, however other agricultural commodities (including ornamentals) will be considered, especially where there are significant demonstrable environmental concerns. The program supports grants for education, extension, demonstration, and implementation projects. We anticipate making 3-5 awards. Work must be done within Region 4, although the organization receiving the award may be located outside of the Region.

To view the announcement go to the Office of Pesticide Program's (OPP) website. The RFP is found under "Highlights" on the OPP website and is the very first item on the page. I have also attached a pdf version of the RFP Here

EPA, Region 4 Clean School Bus USA Request For Proposals (RFP) FY 2007
In conjunction with the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the availability of funding assistance for projects to reduce diesel emissions from school buses in EPA Region 4. Awards will either be in the form of either grants or cooperative agreements depending on the level of EPA involvement in the project and will range between $75,000 and $250,000 per project. EPA anticipates funding approximately 6 projects for a total of $680,000.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, a variety of diesel emissions reductions solutions such as retrofit technology, idle reduction technology or strategies, vehicle replacement, engine replacement (repowers) and engine upgrades, or use of cleaner burning. Funding available under this RFP may be used to cover the cost differential between the cleaner burning fuel and Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel. View the Proposal or Visit the Website for more Information

Resources

DTF Releases New Guide on Accessing CMAQ Funds for Diesel Retrofits
Many diesel vehicle and equipment owners know they can reduce emissions by retrofitting their fleet, but lack the resources to pay for such investments which do not improve fuel efficiency or provide economic benefits. Federal and state funds are available to help offset these costs, the largest source of which is the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. Due to the CMAQ Program’s complexity, the Diesel Technology Forum has released a new guide to assist those wishing to learn more about this resource and the potential it offers for financing diesel retrofit projects.