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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"  (10/1​​/2024)​​

Upcoming Dates

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

Oct. 9, 2024: Davis-Bacon Workshop

Understanding Wage REquirements for Public Works Projects with Federal Funds (10:00a - 4:00p ET) ​​
To register, visit ORVI's eventbrite page​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​ ​​Event in-person at Capital Plaza Hotel, Frankfort, Ky. 

Oct. 10, 2024: U.S. DOE Workshop

Direct Air Capture Notice of Intent (11:30a - 12:30p ET) ​​
For more information or to register, visit DOE's event page​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​​ ​​

Approaching Deadlines...​​​​

See "Funding Opportunities" below for additional deadlines:

  • Oct. 10 - application, Connected Communities 2.0, DE-FOA-0003136​ 
  • Oct. 15 - application, (IRA) Domestic Automotive Manufacturing Conversion Grant, DE-FOA-0003412​ 
  • Nov. 1 - application, EEC-DWM Illegal Open Dump Cleanup and Litter Abatement, see Waste... Cleanup below

​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: ​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: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Forest Landowner Support​: Landowner Payment Programs for Carbon Stewardship Practices
Purpose: To provide financial compensation to private forest landowners for the implementation of practices that provide measurable increases in carbon sequestration and storage
Who Can Apply: State gov't, non-profit orgs (other than higher education)
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024
Where to Apply: U.S. Forest Service via Grants.gov (USDA-FS-2024-IRA-FLS-04)
Questions? Email SM.FS.LandownerlRA@usda.gov​

​Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Forest Landowner Support​: Landowner Cost Share Payment Programs for Climate Mitigation and/or Forest Resilience
Purpose: To support state-endorsed programs to issue cost-share payments to landowners for climate mitigation and/or forest resilience practices
Who Can Apply: State forestry agencies; non-profit orgs; higher learning inst.; local gov't (non-state entity must include letter of endorsement from a State Forester or equivalent)
Deadline: Sept. 30, 2024
Where to Apply: U.S. Forest Service via Grants.gov (USDA-FS-2024-IRA-FLS-03)
​Questions? Email SM.FS.LandownerlRA@usda.gov​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: FY25 Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership
Purpose: To collaborate on projects that mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, and restore forest ecosystems
​Who Can Apply: County/state govt, NGOs, utilities, private stakeholders through the local NRCS or Forest Service Office
Deadline: Sept. 13, 2024
Where to Apply: local NRCS or Forest Service Office makes application to National Office
Questions? Contact Clint Cross (FS), 202-205-0995 or Matthew Vandersande (NRCS), 202-690-1588

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: FY24-25 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program​
Purpose: To achieve a reduction in the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivitiy for terrestrial and aquatic species
​​Who Can Apply: State transportation agency; metro planning org; local govt; regional transportation authority; etc.
Deadline: Sept. 4, 2024
Where to Apply: DOT FHA via grants.gov (693JJ324NF00023)
Questions? email wildlifecrossings@dot.gov

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-54-25, 22040AMLBAML (Pike), 9/11/24 @ 9:30a ET​
               ​RFB-47-25, 23018AMLBAML (Letcher), 8/22/24 @ 9:30a ET
               RFB-46-25, 24005AMLBAML (Letcher), 8/21/24 @ 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: FY25 Brownfields Job Training Grants​
See "Brownfields Training" under Workforce & Environmental Justice below​

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Methane Emissions Reduction Program ​Oil and Gas Methane Monitoring and Mitigation
Purpose: To minimize emissions of methane during production, processing, and transportation across the oil and natural gas industry, specifically small oil and natural gas operators
Who Can Apply: Industry, academia, non-governmental orgs, Tribes, state/local govt
Deadline: Aug. 26, 2024
Where to Apply: DOE via grants.gov (DE-FOA-0003256) 
Questions: Contact John R. Hatfield, contract specialist​​​

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: 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​. ​​​​​​

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

​Renewable Energy

​​​​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI)​ Discrtionary Grant Program ROUND 2
Purpose: To strategically deploy EV charging and other alternative fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, particularly in underserved and disadvantaged communities
​Who Can Apply: State/local govt; special govt districts; public/state higher education; public housing authorities...
Deadline: Aug. 28, 2024
Where to Apply: grant​s.gov, 6933JJ324NF00017
Questions? email CFIGrants@dot.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 Inc​entive 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: ​Jun. 27, 2024* after this date, rolling acceptance for 2024 Program Year, until funds expended
Questions?  contact EJBonusSupport@hq.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​

​Funding Source: Other Federal
​Program Title: American-Made Solar Prize Round 8
Purpose: To spur innovations in U.S. solar hardware and software technologies and address challenges to rapid, equitable solar deployment
Who Can Apply: US-based students, professors, small businesses, researchers
Deadline: Sept. 26, 2024
Where to Apply: HeroX prize platform
Questions? email challenge@nrel.gov​

​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: Other - state funding
Program Title: Illegal Open Dump Cle​anup; Litter Abatement
Purpose: To support cleanup of open dumps and litter along public roads
Who Can Apply: County government
Deadline: Nov. 1 (4:30p ET)
Where to Apply: email (see below)
Questions?​ Contact Lisa Evans, Division of Waste Mgmt., 502-782-6355​

​Funding Source:  IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Crtical Minerals fr​om E-Scrap Prize, Phase 1: Incubation
Purpose: To stimulate innovative approaches that reduce the costs and environmental impact of critical material recovery from electronic scrap (e-scrap)
Who Can Apply:  state/local govt; private entities; individuals; teams
​​Deadline: ​5:00p ET on Sept. 4, 2024
Where to Apply: DOE via HeroX portal
Questions? email escrap.prize@nrel.gov
​

​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​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: BIL Smart Manufacturing and Recycling Tactics for States ​(SMART)
Purpose: To support access to smart manufacturing technologies and high-performance computing resources by states and the recycling of batteries and battery-containing devices by states and units of local government
Who Can Apply: State/city/county governments
Deadline: Sept. 16
Where to Apply: U.S. DOE via grants.gov (DE-FOA-0003376)
Learn More:​  Fun​ding Recap Webinar (7/11/24); SMART Grant Informational Webinar (8/6/224)
Questions? Contact Amy M. Welch

​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​​​

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

​Workforce & Environmental Justice​​​

​Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: FY25 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: ​Aug. 15, 2024
Where to Apply: EPA via grants.gov (EPA-I-OLEM-OBLR-24-02)
Questions?  ​​​​Math Wosje, 202-566-1060

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: Other Federal
Program Title: Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize​
Purpose: To encourage coalition-building in communities that focus on creating quality jobs and fostering and equitable and inclusive workforce in clean energy sectors
Who Can Apply: Coalition of partners, must include one representative from five key stakeholder groups
Deadline: Jan. 31, 2025 (5p ET)
Where to Apply: DOE's HeroX site
Learn More:​ Informational Webinar, Oct. 3 @ 3p ET
Questions? Contact goodjobsprize@nrel.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​​​​​

New Resources

OEP Project ExplorerDashboard shows the status of various funding programs awarded to Kentucky's Office of Energy Policy (OEP)

State Resources

Doing Business with the CommonwealthResources and support for businesses interested in selling goods or services to the Commonwealth of KentuckyEnergy DashboardsInteractive dashboards that display data on major energy metrics in KentuckyKYE3: Designs for a Resilient EconomyGovernor Andy Beshear's energy, environment, and economic development plan for KentuckyKY Well Plugging DashboardInteractive map for Kentucky's orphaned oil & gas well plugging through IIJA/BILKY Feasibility StudyHydrogen-Powered Truck Operations in Kentucky (4/2024)

Federal Resources

Building a Better AmericaFederal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) information websiteU.S. Department of EnergyDOE's BIL webpageU.S. Department of InteriorDOI's BIL webpageU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyEPA's BIL webpageU.S. Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service's BIL webpageInvestment Maps DashboardGSA interactive map for BIL funded projects

Other Resources

Clean Economy WorksDashboard of clean energy projects since IRAEnergy Savings Hubresources for consumers to save energy and moneyFederal Investment GuideU.S. Conference of Mayors resource for local leadersIIJA Investments at the County LevelResource page developed by the National Association of CountiesInfrastructure Act ResourcesNational Assoc. of State Energy Officials resourceLocal Infrastructure HubCollaborative effort to help local leadersU.S. Department of AgricultureUSDA's infrastructure law hubU.S. Department of TransportationDOT's infrastructure law information

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

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