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Overview
The Rural Energy Startup Program (RESP) is funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) and supports communities taking initial steps to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
To be informed of program developments and opportunities to participate, subscribe to docket 9714-FG-2023 using EZ e-Subscribe.
Who is eligible to apply
To be eligible, applicants must be:
- A unit of local government (city, village, town, county) that was not eligible to receive a direct allocation from Department of Energy (DOE) (see Resources for Applicants below).
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Considered rural for the purposes of this program:
- To be given priority, applicants may:
Currently accepting applications
| Yes
Office of Energy Innovation (OEI) opened the inaugural grant round on November 30, 2023.
Applications MUST be date and time stamped by the PSC Grants System on or before 1:30 PM CT on January 31, 2024. |
Matching funds required
| No
|
Docket Number |
9714-FG-2023
EZ e-Subscribe
|
Contact information
|
OEI@Wisconsin.gov
|
PSC Grants System
To apply for a PSC administered grant, applicants must submit an application using the PSC Grants System. Use the application material below for details on grant eligibility, instructions on application responses, and required documentation when submitting an application in the PSC Grants System.
Types of Eligible Activities
Applicants must demonstrate that their projects fall into one of the following eligible activities. Grant awardees will be expected to use U.S. DOE’s EECBG Blueprints specific to these activities to guide their project implementation (see Resources section below).
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Comprehensive Energy Planning: Evaluate current energy use and sources, determine potential for generating energy locally, and create goals for energy savings and generation.
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Renewable Resource Planning: Assess renewable resource potential, set a collective vision with stakeholders for optimal renewable energy deployment, and create an action plan for formal adoption and implementation.
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Energy Audits and Building Upgrades: Identify potential energy saving opportunities in buildings and the technical and financial information (such as upfront costs, ongoing costs, projected energy savings, return on investment) in order to evaluate and approve energy efficiency, electrification, and grid interactivity retrofits. Additionally, energy efficiency projects associated with a proposed energy audit, an existing energy audit, or a comprehensive energy plan are also eligible for funding.
Application Materials
The following are the materials required to apply for the Grid Resilience Program:
Applicant Webinars
Coming Soon! Registration for December 14, 2023, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, Program Application Instructions Webinar will be available soon.
Resources for Grant Applicants
Blueprints
U.S. DOE EECBG Blueprints serve as a step-by-step guide with tools and resources to support energy project implementation:
OEI Map
The OEI Map provides applicants with relevant information as they prepare OEI Grant Applications. The avaialbe map layers include:
RESP Specific Layers:
- Disadvantaged and Tribal Communities
- Wisconsin Rural Counties and Zip Codes
Additional Available Layers:
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Risk Index
- Electric Utility Service Territories
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Municipal and County Boundaries
OEI MapClimate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
The CEJST Map can be used to provide applicants a visual, mapped representation of the project location highlighting the areas that will benefit from the proposed project. Applicants may also use the CEJST map as a resource for identifying census tracts benefitting from project implementation.
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