This FOA is being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to invest in innovative social science research that generates actionable insights to improve large-scale solar (LSS) siting processes and outcomes for host communities—particularly those that are disadvantaged—and the solar industry. This funding opportunity will support research on the social dimensions of siting LSS facilities that are 1 MWdc or larger and located on private land. LSS facilities may or may not include storage. The goal of this FOA is to generate actionable insights that can guide solar energy developers and owner/operators, local, state, federal, and Tribal governments, landowners, community organizations, and other stakeholders to improve LSS siting processes and outcomes for host communities and the solar industry.

This FOA supports the vision outlined in the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen
Strategy and Roadmap of affordable clean hydrogen for a net-zero carbon
future and a sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy. It targets five topics
of interest critical to enabling increased adoption of clean hydrogen technologies
across sectors, particularly in medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) vehicles and
other heavy-duty transportation applications. This FOA will fund projects under the following topic areas:

• Topic 1: Components for Hydrogen Fueling of Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MD/HD) Vehicles.
• Topic 2: Standardized Hydrogen Refueling Station of the Future.
• Topic 3: Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Port Equipment.
• Topic 4: Enabling Permitting and Safety for Hydrogen Deployment.
• Topic 5: Equitable Hydrogen Technology Community Engagement.

mPOWER programs are designed to rebalance opportunity and access for startups building physical products that are founded by women and people of color. Harnessing the existing resources of the nation’s leading independent innovation center for physical product companies, each participant receives hands-on support to turn ideas into hardtech businesses. There is no fee to participate in the program as membership is covered by program partners. To be eligible for the next mPOWER cohort, you must be a woman innovator and/or founder, have a clear problem that you are solving with a physical product, and can dedicate 7-10 hours a week during the 6-month program beginning in February 2024.

The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields Grant Program is a competitive grants program supporting research and extension projects that will increase — to the maximum extent practicable — participation by rural women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

NIFA intends this program to address educational needs within broadly defined areas of food and agricultural sciences. Applications recommended for funding must highlight and emphasize the development of a competent and qualified workforce in the food and agricultural sciences. WAMS-funded projects improve the economic health and viability of rural communities by developing research and extension initiatives that focus on new and emerging employment opportunities in STEM occupations. Projects that contribute to the economic viability of rural communities are also encouraged.

We are currently recruiting for our Fifth cohort. We select between 7-12 women entrepreneurs of color to participate in a new cohort each year. Representative sectors include tech, food, beauty, and retail. We encourage all applications!

Our entrepreneurs are:

• Adult women of color
• Businesses launched
• Based in the Greater Boston area
• Generating early revenue, typically more than $30k

RAISE discretionary grants help project sponsors at the state and local levels, including municipalities, Tribal governments, counties, and others complete critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects. The eligibility requirements of RAISE allow project sponsors to obtain funding for projects that may be harder to support through other U.S. DOT grant programs. Half of the funding will go to projects in rural areas, and half of the funding will go to projects in urban areas. At least $15 million in funding is guaranteed to go towards projects located in Areas of Persistent Poverty or Historically Disadvantaged Communities, and projects located in these areas will be eligible for up to 100 percent federal cost share, as directed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Science, Technology and Policy Program is designed to provide opportunities for postgraduates and faculty to participate in programs, projects, and activities at the Department. Fellows will receive hands-on experience that provides an understanding of the mission, operations, and culture of the DOE. As a result, fellows will gain deep insight into the federal government’s role in the creation and implementation of energy technology policies; apply their scientific, policy, and technical knowledge to the development of solutions to issues of importance to the DOE and continue their education and involvement in areas that support the DOE mission either in a technical or policy-related role.

The purpose of the grant program is to provide funds for extension projects that have national or regional relevancy. In particular, the program supports extension projects that address emerging forest and rangeland resources through the adoption of climate-smart technologies among forest and rangeland owners.

The overall intent of the RREA-NFF for FY24 is to support projects that result in the adoption of climate smart technologies and practices that: 1) strengthen education, training, and technical assistance to forest and rangeland owners and managers; 2) promote conservation, protection, and market development through effective extension educational design; 3) shape the future of forestry and rangeland through effective communication and engagement with forest and rangeland owners; 4) support new and better markets for forestry and rangelands products generated; and 5) can be easily replicated by other institutions, states, and regions.

For Year 2 of the ACCEL program, we’re seeking applications from innovative startups at TRL 1-4 with founding and executive teams that are primarily made up of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders who are developing climate solutions for the electricity, transportation, buildings, manufacturing, agriculture, and resiliency + adaptation sectors.

This year-long program combines acceleration with a curated curriculum, incubation through a Greentown Labs membership, and extensive mentorship from Greentown and Browning the Green Space (BGS)’s networks of industry experts. Greentown and BGS know the climatetech industry must change the status quo to equitably position you to lead startups that will address climate change, support the development of diverse workforces, and fiercely advocate for the deployment of clean technologies in historically underserved communities.

EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. These place-based investments will be focused on community-driven initiatives to be responsive to community and stakeholder input. They are designed to deliver on the transformative potential of the IRA for communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments.

In November 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO) launched the Equitable Solar Communities of Practice program to support the expansion of equitable benefits in solar adoption. A community of practice, for the purposes of this program, is a group of organizations with expertise in equitable solar, to include one ‘lead organization’ and up to six ‘core team members’ that will convene regularly to accomplish the specific tasks and deliverables outlined in this opportunity. The Equitable Solar Communities of Practice program is now accepting applications for lead organizations to support five communities of practice across the following categories – equitable access and consumer protections, meaningful household savings, resilience, community-led economic development, and workforce development – aiming to convene stakeholders and experts to identify best practices and pathways to scale equitable solar solutions.