Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas Fixed Award Grant Program  

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) announced it is now accepting pre-applications for the new Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas grant program. This program was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions that benefit rural and remote communities. Up to $50 million is available for FY2023.  

Townships with “a population of not more than 10,000 inhabitants” are eligible to submit a pre-application now through Thursday, July 13, 2023. There is no match requirement for funding.  

Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to: installation of stand-alone microgrids in critical facilities or resilience centers; siting or upgrading of transmission and distribution lines, grid stability and resilience with substation improvements, or other electrical infrastructure improvements; energy efficiency improvements for community-owned buildings that reduce electric loads and energy costs; and installation of small-scale energy storage to provide power regulation or backup electricity.  For more information, including the notice of funding, guidance documents, and to register for an overview webinar, visit the Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas page on OCED’s website.