Q: Where do I apply for funding?
All programs and their applications can be found on FedConnect after the funding round opens.

Q: Can I receive a grant/loan or participate in a public private partnership for multiple Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) provisions (40101, 40103(b), 40107) administered by GDO?
It is permitted for an entity to receive grants from multiple grid-related programs (BIL Sections 40101, 40103(b), or 40107) if the entity is otherwise qualified. However, an eligible entity cannot submit an application for a grant under Section 40101(c) and a grant provided by a State or Tribe under Section 40101(d) during the same application cycle.

Q: Can I receive funding from a GRIP program AND apply for Transmission Facilitation Program?
Yes, that is permitted. Neither the GRIP program nor the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) preclude an eligible entity from receiving grants or other federal assistance (e.g., GRIP grant/assistance, TFP capacity contracts, public-private partnerships, or loans) from multiple programs if the entity is otherwise qualified.

Q: Can I apply and receive an award for TFP or a GRIP program AND the Transmission Facility Financing program in IRA (sec. 50151)?
No, an entity may not receive Transmission Facility Financing under IRA section 50151 if it is receiving grants or other Federal support, such as the TFP or a GRIP program.

Q: Can I receive a Loan Programs Office (LPO) loan AND participate in the GDO grant/financial assistance programs?
No, a project may not receive a loan from Loan Program Office under Title 17 and 1706 of the Energy Policy Act as enacted in IRA section 50144 if that project will also receive grants or other Federal support while the loan is outstanding, such as the TFP or a GRIP program.

Q: Is this the only round of funding available?
No, the grid modernization grants will run additional rounds of funding. The Transmission Facilitation Program will run additional rounds of funding until the $2.5 billion is fully distributed and the revolving fund is paid back. The Loan Program Office funds are being distributed on a rolling basis.

Q: Can States, Territories, or Tribes subgrant funding out to other entities?
Yes, for the programs that States, Territories, or Tribes are eligible, they may subgrant funding to other entities.

Q: Are public utilities in the Territories eligible for grant funding under the grid resilience provisions (40101, 40107, and through the states for 40103(b))?
Public utilities in the Territories are eligible for grant funding under all three grid resilience provisions mentioned.

Q: I’ve heard there is additional funding for transmission through the IRA. What can you tell me about that?

There are several transmission related provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) including:

• Section 50151 (Transmission Facility Financing)
  • Appropriates $2 billion to remain available until September 30, 2030, for a direct loan program for certain transmission project development.
  • To be eligible for a direct loan, a transmission project would need to be designated by the Secretary to be necessary in the national interest under section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act.
• Section 50152 [Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program]
  • Appropriates $760 million to remain available through September 30, 2029, for making grants aimed at facilitating the siting of certain onshore and offshore transmission lines.
  • This is a new program designed to help overcome permitting challenges that slow the deployment of critical transmission and provide tangible benefits to host communities across the country. 
• Section 50153 (Interregional and Offshore Wind Electricity Transmission Planning, Modeling, and Analysis)
  • Appropriates $100 million to remain available until September 30, 2031, for expenses for convening stakeholders and conducting analysis related to interregional transmission development and development of transmission for offshore wind energy.

Q: Can I apply for BIL/IRA programs administered by DOE and participate in BIL/IRA programs administered by other agencies (I.e., USDA IRA Loans & Grants, DOI IRA Tribal Electrification and Climate Resilience Grants, DOT BIL EV Charging funding, EPA IRA Funding – Green Bank) simultaneously?

Applicants may pursue funding in multiple programs simultaneously if they are able to meet the eligibility requirements for each program. There may be exceptions. For instance, an eligible entity is not allowed to submit the same application for a grant under IIJA Section 40101(c) and Section 40101(d) in the same application cycle. DOE considers a "grant" to have a specific scope (i.e., a unique project). Accordingly, an eligible entity may not submit a grant application with the same scope under both Sections 40101(c) and 40101(d) in the same application cycle. Eligible entities can submit proposals to both Sections 40101(c) and 40101(d) in the same application cycle as long as they are separate scopes of work that address different resilience measures. In addition, federal funds may not be used to satisfy cost match or share requirements.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Applications for the first round of the Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) closed on February 1, 2023. DOE plans to issue additional request for proposals (RFPs) moving forward.

Q. What are the next steps for TFP?

Applications for the first round of the Transmission Facilitation Program closed on February 1, 2023, and Part 1 of the review process is underway. The review process was split into multiple parts to help manage the administrative cost to applicants. The Department does not intend to publicly announce the identities of entities that submit applications and will only announce names of applicants who are selected to start negotiations.

DOE plans to issue additional request for proposals (RFPs) moving forward. Future RFPs may include loan and public private partnership opportunities as well as capacity contracts, including opportunities for microgrids.

Q: If I have a transmission project that receives full cost recovery, am I eligible for TFP?
Prior to taking action to facilitate an eligible project, the Secretary of Energy must certify, among other issues, that the eligible project is unlikely to be constructed in as timely a manner or with as much transmission capacity in the absence of federal Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) support, as set forth in 42 U.S.C. 18713 (i)(2). The best fit for this solicitation are projects that are nearly “shovel ready” and are in regions that rely on firm point-to-point transmission. TFP is designed for projects that would otherwise not be constructed without federal financial support. TFP capacity contracts will not include projects that are already fully subscribed or have a fully allocated source of revenue.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Applications for fiscal year (FY) 22 and FY 23 are now closed.

Q. What are the next steps for 40101(d)?
Funds will be distributed on a rolling basis to eligible entities that applied.

Q: When will the grant cycle open for eligible entities to apply for funding through the states?
Each State or Tribe will determine its own process for distribution of funds by preparing a plan that will be adopted after notice and a public hearing and described in the Program Narrative, as described in Section 40101(d)(2)(B).

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Applications for the first round of the Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants closed on April 6, 2023, and the review process is underway.

Q: How much funding is available in Year 1?

For Year 1 of the program (FY22/23), there is $918 million available.

Q: Are tribal utilities considered tribes (15% cost share) or entities (50% cost share) under 40101?
A tribal utility is a separate and distinct entity from a Tribe and would be responsible for 100% cost share or 1/3 cost share if it is considered a "small utility."

Q: What are the next steps for the Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants?
The second round of funding is anticipated to be released in Q1 of FY24.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Applications for the first round of the Smart Grid Grants closed on March 17, 2023, and the review process is underway.

Q: How much funding is available in Year 1?
For Year 1 of the program (FY22/23), there is up to $1.08 billion available.

Q: What are the next steps for the Smart Grid Grants?
The second round of funding is anticipated to be released in Q1 of FY24.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?
Applications for the first round of the Grid Innovation Program closed on May 19, 2023, and the review process is underway.

Q: How much funding is available in Year 1?
For Year 1 of the program (FY22/23), there is $1.82 billion available.

Q. What are the next steps for the Grid Innovation Program?
The second round of funding is anticipated to be released in Q1 of FY24.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding? 

Access the FOA through Clean Energy Infrastructure eXCHANGE.

DOE requires applicants to express an interest in applying for funds by submitting concept papers no later than October 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. Full applications will be due April 5, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET.

Q: What are the next steps for the Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program?

The total funding available for the TSED program under the law is $760 million. In the first funding opportunity announcement, DOE has made $300 million available to fund both siting and permitting activities and economic development activities. DOE has not limited either category of activities to a specific portion of the $300 million that has been made available.

DOE anticipates notifying initial award recipients in the Summer of 2024. Applicants who are not selected in the initial round of funding are welcome to apply again in any future round.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?

The LPO loan process is outlined on LPO's Application Process page and the application period is ongoing. Additional resources and guidance are available on the Applicant Resources page.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding?

The TIP application process is outlined on TIP's Project Development page. You may also reach out to WAPA directly at the email and phone number above.

Q: How, where, and when can I apply for this funding? 

The Phase 2 submissions deadline for the ERC Prize will be in July 2024. The exact deadline date will be posted on the ERC’s webpage. Only Phase One winners of the ERC Prize are eligible to compete in ERC’s Phase Two.
 

For DE-FOA-0002970, the full application deadline closed on August 2, 2023.
 

For DE-FOA-0003045, the full application deadline is October 12, 2023. Only those applicants who submitted a pre-application and are invited to submit a full application are eligible to submit a full application.