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Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Better Kentucky Plan

Building Stronger Communities​​

​“Part of Gov. Andy Beshear’s Better Kentucky Plan​ is to use the $6.5 billion allocated through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – also known as the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act – to build stronger communities in every corner of the commonwealth. These federal dollars offer unprecedented opportunities to communities, businesses and local governments to make improvements in areas of energy efficiency, forestry, renewable energy, waste management and water. It will let Kentucky make significant progress in reclaiming abandoned mine lands, redeveloping brownfields and capping orphaned oil and gas wells.​”   - Secretary Rebecca Goodman​​

In addition to IIJA/BIL funding, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)​ provides additional state funding opportunities, as well as credits and incentives to consumers and businesses. Funding opportunities below include programs from both IIJA/BIL and IRA. 

"Building a Better Kentucky Weekly Update"  (4/24/2024)​​

Upcoming Dates

​​​See "Funding Opportunities" section for specific program application deadlines.

​​​Apr. 30, 2024: EPA Webinar

Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant (3:00 - 4:00p ET) ​​
For more information or to pre-register, visit EPA​'s ev​e​nt​ page​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​ ​​​​

May 2, 2024: DOE Webinar

(IRA) 2024 R-STEP Round 2 Informational  (3:00 - 4:00p ET) ​​
For more information or to pre-register, visit energywerx e​​v​e​nt​ page​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​ ​​​​​​​​

May 15, 2024: U.S. DOL Webinar

2024 Prevailing Wage Seminar (11:00a - 5:30p ET) ​​
For more information or to pre-register, visit DOL's​​ ​event​ page​​​​​​​​​​​.​​ ​​

June 18, 2024: U.S. DOE Webinar

Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP) Informational Webinar #2 (1:00 - 2:00p ET) ​​
For more information, visit the E-SCRAP webpage​. Visit DOE's ev​e​nt​ p​age​ to pre-register​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​ ​​​​

Approaching Deadlines...​​​​

See "Funding Opportunities" below for further details on each:

  • Apr. 30 - application, Assistance for Adoption of Bldg. Energy Codes, see Energy Efficiency... ​below for details​​
  • Apr. 30 ​- application, Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants, see Reclamation... below for details​
  • May 1 - letter of intent, Green Infrastructure Assistance Program, see Water below for details
  • May 17 - application, FY24-25 Pollution Prevention Grant Program, EPA-HQ-OCSPP-OPPT-FY2024-001​

​Funding ​Opportuni​​​​ties

Search through the following list of grants and funding opportunities for Kentucky communities, schools, and businesses. Additional information and links to guidance will be posted on this page when they become available, so check back often!

​Energy Efficiency & Resilience​

​Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest or Zero Building Energy Codes
Purpose: 
Who Can Apply: State/Local governments; special district governments
Deadline: ​ April 30
Where to Apply: DOE via Grants.gov (DE-FOA-0003056)
Questions?  ​​Email IRACodes@hq.doe.gov

​Funding Source: ​Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)​
Program Title: ​Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
Purpose: To provide guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make efficiency improvements
Who can apply: Agricultural producers, small rural businesses
​​Deadlines:  March 31; June 30; Sept. 30​
Where to Apply: ​USDA-RD via state energy coordinator
Learn More: IRA REAP webinar recording
Questions? Contact Scott Maas, USDA-RD, 859-224-7319​​​

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Purpose:  To increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential energy expenditure and improve their health and safety
Who can apply:  Low-income households 
Deadline:  Ongoing
Where to apply:  Local Community Action Agency​
Questions? ​Weatherization Assistance ​Program​​​

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming.  Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

​Forestry/Nature and Safety

​Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Rural and Municipal Utility Advances Cybersecurity Grant and Technical Assistance Program
Purpose: To deploy advanced cybersecurity technologies for electric utility systems and to increase the participation of eligible entities in cybersecurity threa information sharing programs​
Who Can Apply: Rural, municipal, small investor-owned electric utilities
Deadline:  TBA
Provide Input:  Public comments ​closed 12/19/2022

Funding Source:  IIJA/BIL
Program Title: America the Beautiful Challenge 2024
Purpose:  For new voluntary conservation and restoration projects throughout the U.S.
Who Can Apply:  varies based on grant category
​​Deadline: ​ pre-proposal, April 4; full proposal, July 16
Where to Apply:  NFWF Easygrants system
Questions?  View FAQs or contact Rachel.Dawson@nfwf.org​​​​

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Forest Legacy Program
Purpose: ​to encourage the protection of privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases
Who Can Apply: States may submit up to five projects​
Where to Apply: Contact state coordinator see below
Deadline:  May 20, 2024 (summer deadline)
Questions?​ Contact state coordinator, Chase Terry​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Slip-On Tank Units (Pilot Program)
Purpose: To provide financial assistance to acquire slip-on tanker units to establish fleets of vehicles that can be quickly converted to be operated as fire engines
Who Can Apply: local governments providing fire protection/emergency services with a population of 25,000 or less
​​Deadline: ​March 21, statement of interest; June 4, application
Where to Apply: U.S. DOI via Grants.gov (D24AS00253​)
Questions? ​Contact Chelsea Whitten​

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming. Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

​Reclamation, Remediation, and Prevention

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program​
​Purpose: To abate problems caused by historic coal mining (pre-May 18, 1982)
Who Can Apply: registered state vendor contractors
Deadline: See each RFB for deadlines
Where to Apply: ​Finance Cabinet Vend​or Self Ser​vice Portal
RFB#s: RFB-248-24, Club Court Subsidence AMLRP (Hopkins), 5/10/24 @ 9:30a ET
               RFB-251-24, Luna Smith Drainage Phase II (Perry), 5/9/24 @ 9:30a ET         
               RFB-245-24, Re-Ad of RFB-168-24 Wendell Fields Phase II (Letcher), 5/1/24 @ 9:30a ET
Learn More:  Ky. ​Division of Abandoned Mine Lands​
                         Contractor Workshop Slides​ / Additional Contractor Info​
Questions? Contact James Cable​, 502-564-2141​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants under BIL Section 40302
Purpose: To reduce GHG emissions by demonstrating several business-as-usual products can be replaced/supplemented with alternatives derived from the utilization of anthropogenic carbon oxides
Who Can Apply: State/local government, public utility or agency
Deadline: ​ April 30
Where to Apply: DOE via Grants.gov (DE-FOA-0002829)
Questions?  ​Contact Jacqulyn M. Wilson, 304-285-4135

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: ​State Orphaned Well Program​​
Purpose: To assist in activities related to plugging, remediation and reclaiming orphaned wells on state and private lands
Who can apply: Registered state vendor contractors
Deadline: TBA
Where to apply: Finance Cabinet Vendor Self Service Portal​
RFP#s: TBA
​Important:  Contractor Meeting Slides
                        DOL Da​vis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Seminars​
Learn More: ​Kentucky's IIJA Orphan Well Plugging Dashboard
Questions?  Contact Ky. Division of Oil & Gas​, 502-573-0147

​To report orphaned wells in your area, email OrphanWells@ky.gov​. ​​​​​​

​Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
​Program Title:  FY24-25 Pollution Prevention (P2) Grant
Purpose:  To support technical assistance for businesses to encourage the development and implementation of pollution prevention (P2) practices
Who Can Apply: state govt, state entities (e.g. state colleges/universities)
Deadline:  May 17, 2024
Where to Apply: EPA on grants.gov (EPA-I-OCSPP-OPPT-FY2024-002)
Questions? reynolds.margaret@epa.gov​​​​

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming.  Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

​Renewable Energy

​Funding Source:  Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title:  IRA Funding for Advanced Biofuels
Purpose:  For new grants to industry and other related activities under EPA's Renewable Fuel Standar (RFS) program to support investments in advanced biofuels
Who Can Apply:  Higher Educ., For-/Non-profits, state/local govt.
​​Deadline: ​ concept paper, 3/22; application, 5/24
Where to Apply:  DOE via EERE-Exchange (DE-FOA-0003178)
Questions? Contact IRAAdv​ancedBiofuelsFOA@ee.doe.gov​

​Program Title: BIL FY23 Electric Drive Vehicle Battery recycling and Second Life Applications​​
See "EV Battery Recycling..." under Waste Management below​

​Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program
Purpose: To increase significantly the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products
Who Can Apply: Transportation fueling facilities, fuel distribution facilities
​​Deadline (quarterly): 4:30p ET on ​Mar. 31; Jun. 30; Sept. 30
Where to Apply: USDA Rural Development
Questions? ​Contact Jeff Carpenter, 402-437-5554​​

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs)​
Purpose: To support the development of six (6) to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs to improve clean hydrogen production, processing, delivery, storage, end use
Who Can A​pply:  State, other industry groups/organizations
Deadline: ​2023 deadline has passed
Learn More:  Kentucky Hydrogen Hub Workgroup​
                          DOE's H2Hubs Webinar Recording​
Questions?  Kentucky efforts, Kenya Stump​, 502-782-7083​​

Funding Source: ​Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Low Income Communities Bonus Credits
Purpose: Provides a 10 or 20 percentage point increase to the investment tax credit for qualified solar and wind energy facilities with a maximum net output of less than five megawatts (AC)​
Who Can A​pply:  Applicants investing in certain solar or wind powered electricity generation facilities (​see above link for details)
Deadline: ​Nov. 18, 2023* initial deadline, may have rolling deadlines through early 2024
Questions?  contact EJBonusSupport@hq.doe.gov​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Platform Technologies for Transformative Battery Manufacturing​
Purpose: To advance manufacturing platform technologies for next generation battery manufacturing and smart manufacturing for battery production
Who Can Apply: Institutions of higher education; non-proft/for-profit entities; state/local govt
Deadline: Mar. 4, concept paper; May 7, full application
Where to Apply: DOE via energy exchange (DE-FOA-0003236)
Questions? PlatformBatManFOA@ee.doe.gov
​

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title:  ​REAP Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans & Grants
See "Rural Energy for America" under Energy Efficiency above​


​Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming.  Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

​Waste Management

Program Title: Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling​
See "More..." under Energy Efficiency & Resilience above​​​​​​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title:  Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
Purpose: For research, development, and demonstration of second-​life applications for electric drive vehicle batteries, as well as technologies and processes for final recycling and disposal of ev batteries.
Who Can Apply:  Higher educ., for-/not-for-profit entities, state/local government, and consortia of these
​​Deadline: ​FY23 deadline has passed
Where to Apply: DOE via Grants.gov​
Questions?  ​​Contact Mark K. Solomon​

​Water

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Clean Water State Revolving Fund​
Purpose: To provide financial assistance for wastewater infrastructure, storm water, and non-point source projects
Who can apply: Projects listed on Kentucky's annual Clean Water Intended Use Plan/Priority list
Where to apply: Local Area Development District
Learn More: Division of Water - CWSRF​
Questions? See Division of Water SRF Contacts​
                    See also Kentucky Infrastructure Authority​

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Purpose: To provide financial assistance to help water systems and states achieve the objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act (1996)
Who can apply: Public Water Systems
Where to apply: Local Area Development District
Learn More: Division of Wa​ter - DWSRF​
Questions? See Division of Water SRF Contacts​
                    See also Kentucky Infrastructure Authority​​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: OSG Green Infrastructure Assistance Program (GIAP)
Purpose: To support rural and disadvantaged communities seeking to use green infrastructure and nature-based solution to address stormwater runoff
Who Can Apply: mucipal entities, priority to rural or disadvantaged
​​Deadline: ​letter of intent, May 1; application, June 30
Where to Apply: EEC-DOW program portal
Questions?  ​​contact dale.booth@ky.gov

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming.  Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

​

​Workforce & Environmental Justice​​​

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program
Purpose: To support community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation
Who Can Apply:  community-based organization (CBO) partnership (2); partnership between CBO and local govt or higher education
Deadline: Nov. 21, 2024 (accepting on a rolling basis, initial awards March 2024)
Where to Apply: EPA via grants.gov (EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04)
Questions? Contact CCGP@epa.gov

​​​Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
​Program Title: DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program​
Purpose: To fund public-private parthnerships to develop, stregnthen, and scale promising and evicence-based training models in H-1B industries and occupations critical to meet the goals of BIL
Who Can Apply: Higher ed., state/local govt., non-profit/profit, et. al.
Deadline:  2023 deadline closed
Where to Apply:  DOL via grants.gov (FOA-ETA-23-31)
Questions? Contact Ariam Ferro​​​​

​Funding Source:  IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Clean Energy and Manufacturing Workforce Training and Technical Assistance Awards (IAC program​)
Purpose: For new industrial training and assessment centers to train students and incumbent workers for high-quality careers in clean energy, energy efficiency, and advanced manufacturing
Who Can Apply: Educational institutions, union training programs, apprenticeship, internship training programs
​​Deadline: ​concept paper, Mar. 28; application, May 16
Where to Apply: DOE via EnergyWerx portal
Questions?  Contact info@energywerx.org​

​​​​

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
300 Sower Blvd
Frankfort, KY 40601

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