Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Demonstration Funding
Application: Aug 28, 2025
Program contact:
ERAFOA1@hq.doe.gov
Online application contact:
OCED-ExchangeSupport@hq.doe.gov
The Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Program will provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions in rural and remote areas that can be replicated and scaled.
Program goals:
- Deliver measurable benefits to energy customers in rural or remote areas by funding replicable energy projects that lower energy costs, improve energy access and resilience, and/or reduce environmental harm
- Demonstrate new rural or remote energy system models using climate-resilient technologies, business structures that promote economic resilience, new financing mechanisms, and/or new community engagement best practices
- Build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural America
Topic areas include:
- Open category - Solar, battery energy storage systems, wind, water power (marine energy and hydropower), geothermal (heating and cooling or power generation), biomass/biofuels, microgrids,26 distribution, converting fossil fuel powered equipment to electric, and repowering existing renewable energy systems
- Dual use and co-location that allow for using land or water for both energy supply and other activities or are co-located with other activities and result in additional benefits beyond energy supply and reduced pollution
- Smaller-scale clean energy projects that are initiated, driven, and/or broadly supported by residents of the host community(ies)
- Isolated microgrids and unelectrified buildings
Eligible activities and example projects for each topic area are listed in the application instructions.
Eligible applicants include:
- Tribes
- State and local governmental entities
- Nonprofit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Tribal organizations
- Rural electric cooperatives
- Farming associations and cooperatives
- Labor unions
- Institutions of higher education
- Incorporated consortia
- Unincorporated consortia
The service area must be a city, town, or other incorporated municipality; a Census Designated Place (CDP); Census County Division (CCD); or similarly discrete and identifiable community that is not located within an incorporated municipality. The area must have a population of 10,000 or less inhabitants.
Award ceiling: $50,000,000
Award floor: $2,000,000
Project period: 7 years
Estimated number of awards: 50
Estimated total program funding:
$400,000,000
A minimum of 50% non-federal cost share is required unless the applicant is eligible for the Special Cost Share. The recipient cost share requirement for the non-federal share of projects is reduced from 50% to 20% where the prime recipient is an institution of higher education; nonprofit entity; or U.S. state, local, or tribal government entity (including Alaska Native Corporations and Alaska Native Village Corporations).
Links to the full announcement, application instructions, and the online application process are available through grants.gov. The application instructions will be found on the related documents tab and on the OCED eXCHANGE website.
Submit a concept paper online through the OCED eXCHANGE website by February 27, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application, with a deadline of August 28, 2025.
For complete information about funding programs, including your
application status, please contact funders directly. Summaries are provided
for your convenience only. RHIhub does not take part in application processes
or monitor application status.