|
Renewables Ready Communities Award |
Program Summary
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) protects Michigan's environmental and public health by managing air, water, land, and energy resources, and is focused on addressing climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer's budget allowed for state funds to reward renewable energy adopters in the state. As such, in fiscal year (FY) 2024, EGLE will provide $5,000 per megawatt (MW) to permitters and expectant hosts of eligible utility-scale renewable energy projects which underwent local permitting processes, with $2,500 per MW grantee to each awardee in cases when host and permitter differ.
Eligibility Requirements
Any municipality which hosts or permitted for any portion of an eligible renewable energy project may apply.
An eligible project is a grid-connected wind, solar, or energy storage project in Michigan which received a land use permit or approved site use plans on or after October 1, 2023.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) protects Michigan's environmental and public health by managing air, water, land, and energy resources, and is focused on addressing climate change, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer's budget allowed for state funds to reward renewable energy adopters in the state. As such, in fiscal year (FY) 2024, EGLE will provide $5,000 per megawatt (MW) to permitters and expectant hosts of eligible utility-scale renewable energy projects which underwent local permitting processes, with $2,500 per MW grantee to each awardee in cases when host and permitter differ.
Eligibility Requirements
Any municipality which hosts or permitted for any portion of an eligible renewable energy project may apply.
An eligible project is a grid-connected wind, solar, or energy storage project in Michigan which received a land use permit or approved site use plans on or after October 1, 2023.
- All projects must be at least 50 MW, unless any wind energy is involved, in which case, a project must be at least 100 MW. All capacity values refer to nameplace capacity in alternating current.
- Permitting is the procurement and approval of a land use permit or approved site use plan for the eligible project. Hosting is the containment of energy technology, now or in the future, within the smallest involved municipality's boundaries.
- The applicant must submit a complete application and agree to the reporting requirements detailed in the Applicant Tasks section of this document.
Funding Amount
Applicants who both host and permit for their portion of an eligible project will receive $5,000 per MW. Applicants who either host or permitted their portion of an eligible project will receive $2,500 per MW. The maximum funding amount for a single project is $3,000,000. The total funding available is up to $30,000,000, awarded on a rolling basis.
Award Process
Submitted applications will go through an evaluation and risk assessment. Selected applicants will be notified of the funding decision via email. If awarded, the awardee will receive a grant agreement that depicts the terms and conditions of the award. Applications will be awarded on a rolling basis until all funds are committed, or until 5:00PM ET on September 30, 2024, whichever comes first. EGLE will distribute 50 percent of an agreed award when the eligible project begins construction, and the remaining 50 percent when the project becomes operational.
Applicants who both host and permit for their portion of an eligible project will receive $5,000 per MW. Applicants who either host or permitted their portion of an eligible project will receive $2,500 per MW. The maximum funding amount for a single project is $3,000,000. The total funding available is up to $30,000,000, awarded on a rolling basis.
Award Process
Submitted applications will go through an evaluation and risk assessment. Selected applicants will be notified of the funding decision via email. If awarded, the awardee will receive a grant agreement that depicts the terms and conditions of the award. Applications will be awarded on a rolling basis until all funds are committed, or until 5:00PM ET on September 30, 2024, whichever comes first. EGLE will distribute 50 percent of an agreed award when the eligible project begins construction, and the remaining 50 percent when the project becomes operational.
Filling out the Application
Since this application cannot be saved part-way through, a good strategy is to copy all the questions into a MS Word document. Type out all the longer, paragraph-format answers in your Word document, and prepare all the files you need to upload. Refer to the RFP and Application Walkthrough for guidance. Then copy and past your answers and upload your files when you are ready to complete and submit the application.
Since this application cannot be saved part-way through, a good strategy is to copy all the questions into a MS Word document. Type out all the longer, paragraph-format answers in your Word document, and prepare all the files you need to upload. Refer to the RFP and Application Walkthrough for guidance. Then copy and past your answers and upload your files when you are ready to complete and submit the application.