Community Energy Reliability and Resilience Investment (CERRI) Program.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has been designated as the sole entity for the State of California to apply for, receive, and distribute approximately $170 million in formula funds over the next five years under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), section 40101(d) – Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid. The Community Energy Reliability and Resilience Investment (CERRI) program will fund projects across California that increase community energy resilience and reliability, advance state energy and climate goals, improve energy justice and equity, and create good-paying jobs. Since submissions in the initial round were determined to not be of sufficient quality or not to meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the solicitation manual, the CEC is re-opening the solicitation. The deadline for previous applicants (i.e., those who already submitted applications) to resubmit applications, and for new applicants to submit applications, is extended to Friday, September 27, 2024, at 11:59 PM. This solicitation is open to new and previous applicants.
Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants.
EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) is soliciting applications from eligible entities for Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) and Cleanup Grant funding. These Brownfields Grants allow more vacant and abandoned properties to be turned into community assets that will attract jobs and promote economic revitalization in communities. The application submission deadline is November 14, 2024. FY 2025 Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant Guidelines and Application Resources. EPA has pre-recorded videos to provide an overview of the FY 2025 grants submission process and Narrative Information Sheet and threshold requirements for each grant type. Please visit the MARC Grant Application Resources page for the recordings and a copy of the presentations. EPA will provide two guideline outreach webinars to assist applicants with understanding the Narrative ranking criteria for the FY 2025 Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup Grant Guidelines. There is no need to pre-register for either webinar. September 19, 2024, at 9 AM PT - This webinar will focus on the FY 2025 Narrative ranking criteria for entities applying for: Community-wide Assessment Grant funding; Assessment Coalition Grant funding; Community-wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes funding. September 24, 2024, at 9 AM PT - This webinar will focus on the FY 2025 Narrative ranking criteria for entities applying for: RLF Grant funding; Cleanup Grant funding.
Forest Resource and Renewable Energy Decision Support System.
Decisions to build biopower facilities, like those for most other infrastructure developments, are made within a complex framework of technical, environmental, ecological, social, political, financial, and economic considerations. With data and prior experience often limited, modeling to explore sensitivities to solution alternatives can help support and contribute to the decision processes, particularly when attempting to quantify technoeconomic and environmental qualifications that affect project feasibility. Forest biomass resources associated with California’s extreme tree mortality, not only represent major ecological concerns but also represent opportunities to increase renewable energy supplies as part of improved management approaches. Toward this end, a decision support system (DSS) model was developed for lifecycle technoeconomic and environmental assessments that quantify the potential impacts of electricity generation. This web-based Forest Resource and Renewable Energy Decision Support System (FRREDSS) provides site-specific project development guidance on potential feedstock availability, as well as estimated economic and environmental performance. The model enables users to assess short- and longer-term feedstock availability and the potential economic feasibility and environmental impacts of forest biopower facilities in California.
California IBank invests $25 Million in Critical Climate Solutions, marking first Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund Commitment.
This Investment in the California Wildfire Innovation Fund aims to reduce wildfire risk through restoring California forests, improving forest health, and putting new biomass technologies to work. The state of California’s Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) has announced its first investment from the Climate Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund. The program was designed to jumpstart critical climate solutions by offering flexible, low-cost credit and credit support to public and private sector applicants. IBank’s first Climate Catalyst Fund investment will support the California Wildfire Innovation Fund through $25 million in financing. The California Wildfire Innovation Fund is an investment vehicle focused on climate solutions and managed by Blue Forest, a conservation finance non-profit. The Fund invests in emerging opportunities across California’s forest restoration and wood utilization sectors, seeking to address the wildfire crisis while catalyzing further private sector investment in these solutions. By providing value-added engagements alongside flexible financing, Blue Forest supports the entrepreneurs and companies leading forest restoration and economic revitalization efforts for local communities across the state. The growth of such businesses and projects is crucial to achieving the state’s goals for both wildfire risk reduction and carbon neutrality by 2045.
Mark your calendars: National Forest Products Week & Bioenergy Day.
Congress, through enactment of Public Law 86-753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as “National Forest Products Week” (October 20-26, 2024) to recognize the value of forest products and commit to conservation practices that help responsibly manage U.S. forests. This week celebrates the role and impact of forests and wood as integral components to the nation’s environment, society, and economy. As has been tradition for several years now, the Wednesday during National Forest Products Week will recognize the Annual Bioenergy Day on October 23rd. We are currently planning several field trips during that week, including visits to Heartwood Biomass (Tuolumne County), Forestree Collective, and Sierra Pacific Industries. Also during that week, the USDA Forest Service usually releases calls for RFP’s in the Wood Innovations Grants Program as well as Community Wood Grant Program.