Rural Energy Startup Program

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​< OEI Homepage

​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 9​714-FG-2023 using EZ e-​Subscribe. ​​​

​Who is eligible to apply ​

To be eligible, applicants must be​:

​​Additional Grant Details
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). 

  • Comprehensive Energy Planning: Evaluate current energy use and sources, determine potential for generating energy locally, and create ​goals for energy savings and generation.  
  • 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.  
  • 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 Applicant​s

Blueprints

​U.S. DOE EECBG Blueprints serve as a step-by-step guide with tools and resources to support energy project implementation:

​O​EI 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​
  • W​isconsin Rural Counties and Zip Codes​​
Additional Available Layers: 
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Risk Index
  • Electric Utility Service Territories
  • Municipal and County ​Boundaries​
OEI M​ap

​Climate 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.​

​U.S. DOE Formula-Eligible Applicants 

For reference, the entities that were eligible to receive a direct allocation from DOE, and therefore are not served by this program, are listed here: EECBG Program Formula Grant Application Hub | Department of Energy.

 Formula-eligible applicants can find more information on applying for formula funding by visiting: PSC Federal Funding for Energy Programs (wi.gov). 


Questions about Current Grants or Additional Resources


< OEI Homepage

​​