Government Grants
Below you'll find information on funding opportunities from various government entities:
- Tribal Energy Program
- Other DOE opportunities
- Federal funding
- Department of Interior
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Low-income energy assistance
Some of the documents listed on this page are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
Tribal Energy Program Opportunities
As an implementing arm of the Tribal Energy Program, the Golden Field Office solicits, awards, administers, and manages financial assistance agreements for renewable energy and energy efficiency on tribal lands. For a general overview of the financial assistance process and a guide for obtaining financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Energy, read Federal Financial Assistance Opportunities at the Department of Energy (on DOE's E-center site).
Funding Opportunity Announcements
Two funding opportunity announcements have been issued. DOE's Tribal Energy Program is seeking applications for funding from federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native villages or regional or village corporations, and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations. See the announcements for eligibility requirements. For copies of the announcements, access the links below.
Renewable Energy Deployment in Alaska Native Villages (reference funding opportunity announcement number DE-PS36-08GO98021)
Submittal deadline: May 8, 2008Renewable Energy or Energy Efficiency Deployment in Indian Country - Contiguous 48 States (reference funding opportunity announcement number DE-PS36-08GO98022)
Submittal deadline: May 8, 2008
Applying for Funding
Funding through the Tribal Energy Program is through a competitive process. Each funding opportunity announcement will include instructions on how to apply, application content, and the criteria by which applications will be selected for funding.
Only applications submitted through Grants.gov can be considered for award. To submit an application, you must COMPLETE the one-time registration process.
Per Public Law 106-107, the federal government is developing a single electronic system (Grants.gov) to find and apply for federal grant opportunities. As the registration process in Grants.gov may take 21 days or more to complete, you are encouraged to begin the process at least three weeks before the application due date. See Get Registered.
Use the Grants.gov Organizational Registration Checklist (PDF 42 KB) to guide you through the process. IMPORTANT: During the registration process, you will be asked to designate an E-Business Point of Contact (EBIZ POC). The EBIZ POC must obtain a special password called "Marketing Partner identification Number" (MPIN).
When you have completed the process, you should call the Grants.gov Help desk at 1-800-518-4726 to verify that you have completed the final step (i.e. Grants.gov registration).
Questions regarding Grants.gov should be directed to the Grants.gov Customer Support Center between 7am and 9pm EDT at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.
Other DOE Opportunities
For financial assistance opportunities through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), see EERE Financial Opportunities. The site includes information on the funding and award process, types of financial assistance, and how to apply for these opportunities.
For contracting and financial assistance opportunities with the U.S. Department of Energy, visit DOE's e-Center. The e-center is DOE's Web site for information on doing business with the Department of Energy, including viewing current business opportunities, registering to submit proposals, and obtaining information and guidance on the acquisition and financial assistance award process.
Federal Government Funding Opportunities
For federal government grant opportunities, access Grants.gov
To access procurement opportunities offered throughout the federal government, access FedBizOpps.
Additionally, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has produced a 52-page guide to help find financial and technical assistance for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The publication provides an extensive list of grants available from EPA, other federal agencies, state governments, and private foundations. Grants are organized by topic, with detailed descriptions and contact information for each grant. The document also provides links to online resources with more information. Funds are available for such activities as installing energy-efficient equipment in buildings, purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles for fleets, and promoting renewable energy installations or purchases. Funding is also available to develop related education and outreach materials. See the EPA guide, Funding Opportunities: A Directory of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Protection Assistance Programs (2004) (PDF 908 KB).
U.S. Department of Interior Grant Opportunities
For energy and mineral development grant opportunities or for technical assistance provided through DOI's Division of Energy and Mineral Development (DEMD), contact the Division at (303) 969-5270 or write to 12136 West Bayaud Avenue, suite 300, Lakewood, CO 80228.
Annual grant opportunities are available through the Energy and Mineral Development Program (EMDP) for energy development from conventional and renewable energy sources. For a copy of the 2006 Request for Proposals (RFP), see the Proposal Writing Guidelines (PDF 340 KB)
U.S. Department of Agriculture Grant Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides Rural Business Enterprise Grants to public bodies, private nonprofit corporations, and Federally-recognized Indian Tribal groups to finance and facilitate development of small and emerging private business enterprises located in any area other than a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to such a city or town.
USDA provides Rural Business Opportunity Grants to public body, nonprofit corporation, Indian tribe, or cooperative with members that are primarily rural residents to promote sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. This is accomplished by making grants to pay costs of providing economic planning for rural communities, technical assistance for rural businesses, or training for rural entrepreneurs or economic development officials.
U.S. Department of Commerce Grant Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers grants for Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) development grants (PDF 212 KB). Technical assistance and funding is also available for economic development.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant Opportunities
For funding opportunities available through EPA, see the American Indian Environmental Office's Tribal Grants Web page.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Grant Opportunities
For U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants for Indian housing and community development, see Public and Indian Housing Grants.
Low-Income Energy Assistance
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers assistance to low-income households to meet their home heating and cooling needs through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). If your Tribe is not a LIHEAP tribal grantee, you may need to contact state grantees for assistance.
The DOE Weatherization Assistance Program reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety. The program is implemented on a state and local level through a network of more than 900 local weatherization service providers.


