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Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

Building a Better KY Building Stronger Communities

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

Building Stronger Communities​​

​“Over the last five years, as part of Gov. Andy Beshear's Better Kentucky Plan, Kentucky has been awarded more than $10 billion through the federal   Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) to build stronger communities in every corner of the Commonwealth.  Through the Energy & Environment Cabinet, more than $500 million from IIJA has gone towards reclaiming abandoned mine lands, redeveloping brownfields, capping orphaned oil and gas wells, improving water and wastewater infrastructure, increasing electric grid resiliency, improving energy efficiency, and more." – Secretary John S. Lyons

In addition to IIJA/BIL funding, the Inflation Reduction A​​ct (IRA)​ has provided 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"  

Upcoming Dates

​​​See "Funding Opportunities" section for specific program application dead​lin​es.​

​Nov. 9: U.S. EPA Webinar

FY27 Brownfield Narrative Criteria Responses, 2:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will focus on the following FY27 Brownfield grant funding: Community-Wide Assessment; Assessment Coalition; and Community-Wide Assessment for States/Tribes.  To join the webinar, visit the event Zoom link or join by telephone at 1-646-828-7666, webinar ID: 165 759 2522.

​Nov. 12: U.S. EPA Webinar

FY27 Brownfield Narrative Criteria Responses, 1:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will focus on the following FY27 Brownfield grant funding: RLF and Cleanup.  To join the webinar, visit the event Zoom link ​or join by telephone at 1-646-828-7666, webinar ID: 165 292 4178.

Nov. 19: Ky Summit

Kentucky Air Monitoring Summit, 8:30a - 5:00p ET
450 N Whittington Pkwy, Louisville
For more information or to register, visit the Summit's event page.

​May 25 - 28, 2027: EPA/ICMA Conference

"2027 National Brownfields Training Conference​" 
Salt Lake City, UT
For more information or to register, visit the NBTC e​vent page​​​.

Approaching Deadlines...​​​​

See "Funding Opportunities" below for additional deadlines:

  • Nov. 13 - Section 319(h) Grant Program, letter of interest, Program Page
  • Nov. 16​ - FY26 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, application, FHWA-WCPP-26-002
  • Jan. 21, 2027 - FY27 Brownfields MARC grants​, application, EPA Solicitation List​​


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​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: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: ​Energy Improvement in R​ural or Remote Areas​​ (ERA)
​​Purpose: ​To support small community-driven clean energy projects $500,000 to $5 million that address at least one of the resilient clean energy objectives outlined in 40103(c)(3) are addressed
Who can apply: ​State/local government; Indian Nations; non-profits; for-profits; institutions of higher education; consortia
Deadline:  application period has passed
Questions: ​ ERAGrant@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: Awards have been halted​, until updated regulations are developed to ensure compliance with EO14315​
Where to Apply: ​USDA-RD via state energy coordinator
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? ​We​atherization Assistance ​Program​​​​

​Forestry/Nature and Safety​

Program Title:​ Community Wildfire Defense Grant​ (CWDG)
Purpose: To support plan development and implementation projects to reduce wildfire risks for high hazard potential communities
​Who Can Apply: local government, non-profits, non-profits, etc.
Deadline: 2025 deadline has passed
Where to Apply:  USDA via ​Grants.gov
Questions? Contact SM.FS.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant​
Purpose: To repair, rehabilitate, or replace natural gas distribution pipeline system or portions, or to acquire equipment to (1) reduce incidents, fatalities and (2) avoid economic losses
Who Can Apply: Local government, publicly owned utilities, 501(c)(3) non-profits  ​See NOFO link below for additional details.
Deadline: ​2026 deadline has passed
Where to Apply: ​​PHMSA via Grants.gov (69​3JK326NF0013)
Questions? Contact PHMSAPipelineBILGrant@dot.gov​​

Funding Source: Other federal
Program Title: Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program ​
Purpose: To provide financial support to qualified lenders whose loan applicants want to establish, reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility that process ecosystem restoration byproducts from USDA Forest Service National Forest System lands
Who Can Apply:​  See fact sheet for eligibility
Deadline:  ​rolling until funds expended​
Where to Apply: ​Local lender
Questions?  ​Contact TPEP@usda.gov​​

​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-68-27 24022AMLBAML (Knott), 9/16/26 @ 9:30a ET​
                 ​RFB-70-27 23082AMLBAML (Pike), 9/22/26 @ 9:30a ET
                 ​RFB-52-27 23042AMLBAML (Pike), 9/23/26 @ 9:30a ET​
Learn More:  Ky. ​Division of Abandoned Mine Lands​​
                        Contractor Resources​
​​Questions? Contact Samantha Johnson​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: FY27 Brownfields Job Training Grants​
See "Brownfields Training" under Workforce & Environmental Justice below​

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: ​State Orph​aned 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: varies by RFP
Where to apply: Finance Cabinet Vendor Self Service Portal​
RFP#s:  RFP-56-27 KASTOW - ORPHAN WELL PACKAGE - GREEN #003, 9/18/26 @ 3:00p ET
                 ​RFP-53-27 KASTOW...EDMONSON #001, 9/18/26 @ 3:00p ET
                 ​RFP-57-27 KASTOW...BREATHITT #002, 9/18/26 @ 3:00p ET
                 ​RFP-58-27 KASTOW...OHIO #005, 9/18/26 @ 3:00p ET
                 ​RFP-55-27 KASTOW...WEBSTER #001, 9/18/26 @ 3:00p ET
                 ​RFP-54-27 KASTOW...LOGAN #001, 9/18/26 @ 3:00p ET​
​Resources:  Kentucky Program webpage​
                        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​. ​​​

​Renewable Energy

​Funding Source: VW Settlement
Program Title: EV Level 2 Charging Station Rebates
Purpose: To support the installation and operation of level 2 electric vehicle charging equipment at public places, workplaces, or multi-unit dwellings across Kentucky
Who Can Apply: for profits, non-profits, government, multi-family housing owners
Maximum Award: 50% of eligible costs, up to  $25,000 ($375,000 available)
​​Deadline: ​first-come, first-served until funds expended or Aug. 1, 2027, whichever comes first
Where to Apply:  (beginning 4/13/26) Office of Energy Policy program site
Questions?  ​Hailey​ Mullins​​​​

​​Funding Source: VW Settlement
Program Title: EV Level 3 Charging Station Rebates
Purpose: To support the installation and operation of level 3 (DC fast) electric vehicle charging equipment at public commercial and general aviation airports in Kentucky
Who Can Apply: Kentucky airports
Maximum Award: 50% of eligible costs; $3,123,638 available
​​Deadline: ​first-come, first-served until funds expended or Aug. 1, 2027, whichever comes first
Where to Apply:  (beginning 4/13/26) Office of Energy Policy program site
Questions?  ​Hailey Mullins​​

Funding Source: ​IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Regional Clean Hydrog​en 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
Learn More:  Kentucky Hydrogen Hub Workgroup​
                          DOE's H2Hubs Webi​nar Recording​
Questions?  Kentucky efforts, Kenya Stump​, 502-782-7083​​​​

Funding Source: ​Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Clean Electricity Low-Income Com​​m​unities Bonus Credits​
Purpose: Provides a 10 or 20 percentage point increase to the investment tax credit for qualified clean electricity facilities with a maximum net output of less than five megawatts (AC)​
Who Can A​pply:  Applicants investing in qualified electricity generation facilities (​see above link for details)
Deadline: 2026 - rolling deadline until funds expended or Aug. 7, 2026, whichever comes first
Questions?  contact LICBonusSupport@​hq.doe.go​v​​​​​​​​​​​​

​Funding Source: ​Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Solar for All​
Purpose: to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment
Who Can Apply: TBD
​​Deadline: ​currently the subject of litigation
More Information:  Ky Solar for All Status
​​Info about residential rooftop solar 

​Waste Management

​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 BIL-Batterymanufacturing@hq.doe.gov​​​

​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​t​er - DWSRF​
Questions? See Division of Water SRF Contacts​
                    See also Kentucky Infrastructure Authority​​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Overflow and Stormwater ​Reuse Municipal Grant (OSG)​​
Purpose: To support rural and disadvantaged communities seeking to use green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to address stormwater issues
Who Can Apply: municipal entities, priority to rural or disadvantaged​
​​Deadlines: ​2026 deadline has passed
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

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: FY27 Brownfields Job Training Grants​
Purpose: ​​To support training of community residents to take advantage of jobs across a spectrum of brownfield related activities
Who Can Apply: State/local governments; quasi-governmental entities; non-profits
​​Deadline: Sept. 23, 2026
Where to Apply: EPA via grants.gov (EPA-OLEM-OBLR-26-01)
Resources: Brownfields Job Training Best Practices Guide
Questions?  ​​​​Eligibility - Olga Perry, perry.olga@epa.gov​; general - brownfields@epa.gov​

No open programs at this time, see "More Programs..." for  links to potential future opportunities

New Resources

Federal Apportionment Trackerdatabase of Office of Management and Budget apportionments that set the pace at which federal agencies may spend appropriated funds (external link)

State Resources

Doing Business with the CommonwealthResources and support for businesses interested in selling goods or services to the Commonwealth of Kentucky (external link)Energy DashboardsInteractive dashboards that display data on major energy metrics in Kentucky (internal link)KYE3: Designs for a Resilient EconomyGovernor Andy Beshear's energy, environment, and economic development plan for Kentucky (PDF)KY Feasibility StudyHydrogen-Powered Truck Operations in Kentucky, April 2024 (PDF)KY Well Plugging DashboardInteractive map for Kentucky's orphaned oil & gas well plugging through IIJA/BIL (external link)OEP Project ExplorerDashboard shows the status of various funding programs awarded to Kentucky's Office of Energy Policy (external link)State Grant DatabaseGrant Ready Kentucky has compiled state funding opportunities into a public facing, searchable database. (external link)

Federal Resources

U.S. Department of EnergyDOE's listing of Infrastructure Programs (external link)U.S. Department of InteriorDOI's BIL webpage (external link)U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyEPA's BIL webpage (external link)U.S. Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service's program landing page (external link)

Other Resources

BIL, IRA Map ToolSearch federal investments by Zip Code. Hosted by Grist (external link)Clean Economy WorksDashboard of clean energy projects since IRA (external link)Energy Savings Hubresources for consumers to save energy and money (external link)IIJA Investments at the County LevelResource page developed by the National Association of Counties (external link)Infrastructure Act ResourcesNational Assoc. of State Energy Officials resource (external link)Local Infrastructure HubCollaborative effort to help local leaders (external link)U.S. Department of TransportationDOT's infrastructure law information (external link)USDA Energy ProgramsFederal funding for clean energy projects in rural America (external link)

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Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet
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Frankfort, KY 40601    

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