Energy Grant Roundup

First of all we would like to take a moment to congratulate our client, the Mancelona Area Water & Sewer Authority, on once again being named "Best Tasting Water in the Region" by the American Water Works Assn (MI) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment! This is a third-time win for MAWSA, with top honors in 2010, 2007 and 2006. This project first broke ground in the fall of 2001, and included over 17 miles of new watermain.

On to the energy grants available!

Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing grants and loans will provide $20 million to assist small manufacturing companies, currently located in Michigan, to diversify into high-growth clean energy sectors and invest in advanced manufacturing of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems and components. Any business physically located in Michigan with 500 or fewer full-time or equivalent employees, or a business that relocates to Michigan by the time of the award is eligible to apply.
Energy Efficiency - due May 21: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/CEAM_Energy_Efficiency_RFP_318749_7.pdf
Renewable Energy - due May 14: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/CEAM_Renewable_Energy_RFP_318752_7.pdf

USDA Energy Grant program options:

REAP Renewal Energy Program
(Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as the "§9006" program) offers grants and/or loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of renewable energy generating systems. Assistance is limited to small businesses and farmers & ranchers. Projects must be located in a rural area. REAP grants and guarantees may be used individually or in combination. Together they may finance up to 75% of a project's cost. Grants can never finance more than 25% of the project or $500,000 -- whichever is less. (The REAP program also supports energy efficiency projects.)

Authorized uses include:

• Renewable energy machinery & equipment – purchase & installation (including reimbursement for these costs only if the costs were incurred after submitting your application).


• Renewable energy real estate improvements – materials & construction (including reimbursement for these costs only if the costs were incurred after


• Feasibility studies, technical/engineering reports, permits, professional fees, & business plans (including reimbursement for such costs whether incurred submitting your application).before or afterapplication date).

REAP Energy Efficiency Program

(Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as the "§9006" program) offers grants and/or loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency improvements. Assistance is limited to small businesses and farmers & ranchers. Projects must be located in a rural area. REAP grants and guarantees may be used individually or in combination. Together they may finance up to 75% of a project's cost. Grants can never finance more than 25% of the project or $250,000 -- whichever is less. (The REAP program also supports renewable energy projects.)

REAP applications are now being accepted for FY2010; the application deadline is June 30, 2010. Awards are likely to be announced in summer 2010.Note: Applicants seeking REAP grants of $20,000 or less are greatly favored in the 2010 selection process.

Contact us for more information!

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Due Jan 29

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Request for Proposals
Announcement Number: EPA-R5-GL2010-1

This Request For Proposals (RFP) [PDF 583Kb, 79 pages] solicits proposals from eligible entities for grants and cooperative agreements to be awarded pursuant to a portion of the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative included in Public Law 111-88, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 which is in furtherance of President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (the “Initiative”) announced in February 2009.

The President and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with 15 other federal agencies, have made restoring the Great Lakes a national priority. The Initiative builds on the prior efforts of agency, business, public interest, and other leaders which resulted in the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy (GLRC Strategy) and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan now being developed. This RFP represents EPA’s major competitive grant funding opportunity under the Initiative and is one of several funding opportunities described in the Initiative’s Interagency Funding Guide. A portion of the funding will be through the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service. This RFP, in conjunction with other funding opportunities under the Initiative, will be used to competitively provide funding to address the most significant Great Lakes ecosystem problems and efforts in five major focus areas:

Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern
Invasive Species
Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution
Habitat and Wildlife Protection and Restoration
Accountability, Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Communication and Partnerships

Due Date for Submissions: Proposals must be received by EPA by noon Central standard time on January 29, 2010.

$120M Available, 300 Awards Anticipated

Watershed Protection Grants Available, Tribal Lands

There is a Request for Proposals open from Indian Tribes for competitive grants under section 319 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The purpose of this grant program is to provide funding for Tribes to implement their nonpoint source (NPS) management programs developed pursuant to CWA section 319(b). The primary goal of the NPS management program is to control NPS pollution through implementation of management measures and practices to reduce pollutant loadings resulting from each category or subcategory of NPSs identified in the Tribe’s NPS assessment report developed pursuant to CWA section 319(a).

EPA has set aside a portion of section 319 funds appropriated by Congress for competitive grant awards to Tribes for the purpose of funding the development and implementation of watershed-based plans and other on-the-ground watershed projects that result in a significant step towards solving NPS impairments on a watershed-wide basis.

Contact us for more information!

Watershed-Based Grants Available

Applications Sought for $5 Million in Water Quality Improvements Grants

The Department of Environmental Quality has announced the availability of approximately $5 million of state and federal funding for watershed-based projects. The DEQ is accepting proposals from local units of government, nonprofit organizations, and universities for planning and implementation projects to restore and protect Michigan’s wetlands, lakes, and streams.

The funding opportunities include approximately $2 million in Clean Michigan Initiative – Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Grants that are anticipated to be available to implement elements of watershed management plans that have been approved by the DEQ as meeting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) criteria. Proposals must include a minimum of 25 percent local match.

Additionally, approximately $3 million in Federal Clean Water Act funding is anticipated to be available to develop watershed management plans meeting the DEQ and the U.S. EPA criteria, or to implement elements of watershed management plans previously approved as meeting the U.S. EPA criteria. Proposals must include a minimum of 15 percent local match for planning or 25 percent local match for implementation.

Watershed management plans must be approved by the DEQ on or before October 29, 2009, to be eligible for implementation funds. Notices of Intent are due September 24, 2009. Full applications from invited entities are due October 29, 2009.

Grant awards are contingent upon the sale of Clean Michigan Initiative general obligation bonds to support these projects and the appropriation of funding by the Michigan Legislature.

Contact us for more information!

Phragmites

This invasive species is rapidly gaining a foothold along our shorelines, and is already overpowering the Saginaw Bay area. GFA's mapping specialists are available to work with species identification experts to help you prepare an accurate and comprehensive map of any current infestations along your shorelines. As a surveying contractor for the US Army Corps of Engineers, GFA also has the experience to assist you in preparing survey and mapping information that may be required by USACE permits.

Beaver Island has put together a very good video on the topic, which you may view here:
http://www.peaine.org/environment/phragmites/video/

The MDEQ website has a page on phragmites control and management:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3313_3677_8314-178183--,00.html
If you are planning on chemical treatment, applications are due August 15.

A MDEQ workshop is scheduled for June 6 in Traverse City. If you are interested in GFA's phragmites mapping services, please contact Heather Brady, hhbrady@gourdiefraser.com.