In This Issue
Happy holidays!
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Member Spotlight- Evolved EV Charging Solutions
Happy Holidays From The VSCCC Team!
VSCCC staff from left to right: Brenna Covert (Co-Director), Diego Montemayor (Social Media Editor and Spanish Translator) and Don Covert (Director)
From all of us at Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition, we want to wish everyone a very happy holiday season! This has been a great year our coalition. We welcomed new staff members, new coalition members, and participated in several successful events. We also enjoyed attending this years Clean Cities National Workshop and Stakeholder Summit. We are so grateful for all of the wonderful people and organizations we have had the pleasure of working with in 2023 and look forward to next year!
Funding Announcements
National Clean Hydrogen Strategy Funding
The Department of Energy has released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for up to $59 million to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) of affordable clean-hydrogen technologies. Projects supported by this funding will reduce the cost and improve the performance of critical elements of hydrogen infrastructure, demonstrate innovative end-use applications for clean hydrogen, and streamline and improve processes essential to the efficient, timely, and equitable deployment of clean hydrogen technologies.
DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) will administer this FOA, which focuses on: advancing fueling infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) vehicles and other heavy transportation applications; developing and demonstrating hydrogen-based zero-emissions equipment for seaport facilities; addressing key challenges to siting, permitting, and installation; and improving community engagement and outreach to support environmental justice (EJ) and ensure equitable deployment of clean hydrogen systems.
USDA- Rural Energy for America Program-Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.
Eligible borrowers are:
Rural small businesses.
Agricultural producers.
What is an eligible area?
Projects must be located in rural areas with populations of 50,000 residents or less*.
Check eligible rural areas
Funds may be used for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems, such as:
Biomass (for example: biodiesel and ethanol, anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels).
Geothermal for electric generation or direct use.
Hydropower below 30 megawatts.
Hydrogen.
Small and large wind generation.
Small and large solar generation.
Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation.
Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements.
Agricultural producers may also use guaranteed loan funds to install energy efficient equipment and systems for agricultural production or processing.
There are multiple application windows for this grant program: December 31, 2023, March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024.
Department of Transportation- Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
This funding opportunity is for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, community connectivity, economic competitiveness including tourism, and innovation.
Application Deadline: 2/28/2024
Funding for Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
The Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second-Life Applications Program is a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Funding for this program is focused on the 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. Concept paper applications are due 2/7/24, final applications due 4/19/24.
Additional Funding Information
USDA Rural Development Newsletter: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDARD/bulletins/380c4e3
Department of Energy Funding: https://www.energy.gov/funding-financing
USDA programs in Arizona: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/all-programs/az
Member Spotlight
VSCCC is very happy to welcome Evolved as a a new member of our coalition! Evolved EV Charging Solutions is an EV charging solution provider based in Tempe, Arizona. As an SRP Electrification Qualified Service Provider (eQSP), they bring excellence to the valley with customized charging solutions tailored to customers needs. With industry relationships and background in EV infrastructures, Evolved specializes in station design, engineering, installation, and service. Evolved is bringing fast, reliable turnkey EV charging solutions to all of its customers including commercial and multi-family properties.
VSCCC strives to provide alternative fuel information to all people within our region. In order to increase our outreach abilities we are working with local agencies to share our newsletter and clean fuel resources with an even greater audience. We are proud to partner with the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona's Air Quality Department, ASU's Sustainable Cities Network and Maricopa County Air Quality Department.
OUR NEWSLETTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH!
Translations done by Diego Montemayor- diego@cleanairaz.org
