Technology Advancement Funding Opportunities

The Clean Technology Initiative is an ongoing effort by California agencies and US EPA, as well as others. These pages provide funding resources to help accelerate cleanup solutions in the form of advanced clean technologies.

California Air Resources Board

CARB Air Quality Improvement Program (Assembly Bill 118)

The Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), established by the California Alternative and Renewable Fuel, Vehicle Technology, Clean Air, and Carbon Reduction Act of 2007 (Assembly Bill (AB) 118), is a voluntary incentive program administered by the Air Resources Board to fund clean vehicle and equipment projects, research on biofuels production, and the air quality impacts of alternative fuels, and workforce training.

CARB Innovative Clean Air Technologies Program (ICAT)

ICAT is an Air Resources Board program that co-funds the demonstration of innovative technologies that can reduce air pollution. Its purpose is to advance such technologies toward commercial application, thereby reducing emissions and helping the economy of California. Unfortunately, due to continuing budget constraints, ARB will NOT conduct the ICAT program in the 2011 calendar year. Please sign up for the ICAT listserve to receive information regarding future solicitations.

Providing Loan Assistance for California Equipment (PLACE) Program

ARB is developing innovative financing programs to provide fleet owners, particularly small business owners, easier access to loan opportunities. The ARB's loan programs may offer several options to increase financing accessibility, including loans, loan guarantees, and other mechanisms to assist industries affected by ARB regulations.

Programs include the 2011 ARB Direct Loan Program, to assist ARB in implementing a low-interest direct loan program for small trucking fleets; the PLACE Program for Off-Road Vehicles, a loan guarantee program available for off-road vehicle owners needing assistance for financing retrofits, repowers and replacements; the PLACE Program for On-Road Vehicles (formerly On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicle Air Quality Loan Program), which offers financial assistance to fleet owners subject to two regulations approved by the Board in December, 2008; and the Goods Movement Emissions Reduction Program, which may potentially offer loan assistance to upgrade equipment used in freight movement along California's trade corridors.

Clean Vehicle Rebate Project

The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project ( CVRP) is funded by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board and administered statewide by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE).

California Zero Emission Agricultural UTV Rebate Program

The Zero-Emission Agricultural UTV Rebate Program is funded by the California Air Resources Board and administered statewide by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The program was established to promote the production and operation of zero-emission agricultural utility terrain vehicles in California agricultural operations. There is no restriction on the number of vehicles one entity can purchase and rebates are issued on a first come first serve basis.

California Energy Commission

The Energy Commission has an annual program budget of approximately $100 million to support projects that develop and improve alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels; optimize alternative and renewable fuels for existing and developing engine technologies; produce alternative and renewable low-carbon fuels in California; decrease, on a full fuel cycle basis, the overall impact and carbon footprint of alternative and renewable fuels and increase sustainability; expand fuel infrastructure, fueling stations, and equipment; improve light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicle technologies; retrofit medium- and heavy-duty on-road and non-road vehicle fleets; expand infrastructure connected with existing fleets, public transit, and transportation corridors; and establish workforce training programs, conduct public education and promotion, and create technology centers.

Research, Development, and Demonstration Division's Public Interest Energy Research Program

The Energy Commission's Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Division supports public interest energy research, development, and demonstration. RD&D activities include providing contracts and grants for research and development of energy technologies and related scientific activities. Oversight and detailed policy direction for the RD&D's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program is provided by the Energy Commission's Research, Development, and Demonstration Committee.

Solicitations for Transportation Area Programs

California's Assembly Bill 118 directs the California Energy Commission to develop the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (Clean Transportation Program).

South Coast Air Quality Management District

Technology Advancement Office (TAO)

AQMD's governing board established the Technology Advancement Office (TAO) in 1988 to assist the private sector in accelerating the development, demonstration and commercialization of low- and zero-emission technologies. The technical areas identified as the highest priority for the next three years include fuel cells for transportation and power generation, diesel alternatives, electric and hybrid-electric technologies, off-road applications of alternative fuel technologies, VOC reduction technologies for stationary sources, and infrastructure development. Any currently open Technology Advancement Request for Proposal (RFP) or other funding opportunities will be listed on the AQMD's comprehensive list of all the District's current RFPs.

Incentives for Voluntary Introduction of New Technologies

South Coast AQMD offers a number of funding/grant resources to encourage the immediate use of commercially available, low-emission mobile and stationary technologies. The incentive programs, which include incremental funding or subsidies, are designed to promote voluntary introduction of new technologies on an accelerated schedule. This also provides manufacturers with justification to gear up for mass production of the cleaner technologies.

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District

The Technology Advancement Program (TAP) is the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's strategic approach to encouraging innovation and development of new emission reduction technologies. The TAP will consist of an ongoing review of new technology concepts, interagency partnerships, funding for technology advancement programs, and collaborations to build and expand local capacity for research and development in the San Joaquin Valley.

Federal Funding

US Environmental Protection Agency

Grants and Fellowship Information

National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC)

  • Grants and Funding Overview - Tribal Grants and Funding Overview
  • EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program awards competitive grants to fund projects that implement EPA or CARB verified and certified diesel emission reduction technologies.
  • EPA's Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program provides an opportunity to foster the development of cutting-edge technologies to reduce emissions from the existing fleet of heavy-duty diesel engines. The program promotes the deployment of innovative technologies by providing funding to develop and evaluate these technologies in the field.
  • EPA's SmartWay Clean Diesel Program issues competitive grants to establish national low-cost revolving loans or other financing programs that help fleets reduce diesel emissions.
  • EPA's State Grant Program allocates funds to participating states to implement grant and loan programs for clean diesel projects. Base funding is distributed to states using a specific formula based on participation, and incentive funding is available for any states that match their base funding.

Landfill Methane Outreach Program

EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary assistance program that helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills by encouraging the recovery and beneficial use of landfill gas (LFG) as an energy resource. While LFG recovery offers significant environmental, energy, and economic benefits to the public and private sector, there are still barriers to project development. The LMOP Funding Guide focuses on one barrier in particular: financing for LFG energy project development. Included in the guide are many innovative funding programs and strategies that can help developers overcome financial barriers. These programs and strategies include, among other things, loans, grants, renewable portfolio standards, renewable energy trust funds, and property, sales, and use tax exemptions.

Water & Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities

Reducing energy use at drinking water and wastewater systems reduces the emission of greenhouse gases. Upgrading and retrofitting for energy conservation can be expensive for any size facility, and may seem out of reach for small communities. This EPA site provides funding opportunities from federal, state, and private sources, including grants, loans, renewable credits, rebates, stand-by and other special rates for energy conservation practices at water and wastewater facilities.

SmartWay Innovative Financing

The SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance program aims to accelerate the deployment of energy efficient and emission control technologies by helping vehicle/equipment owners overcome financial obstacles. SmartWay also provides a financial clearinghouse web site with access to private lenders who help carriers obtain a loan for a SmartWay Certified Tractor, SmartWay Certified Trailer or SmartWay approved fuel savings and emissions reducing technologies. The purpose of this site is to efficiently and conveniently disseminate information on financing that is available for purchasing cleaner trucks and trailers, and emissions reducing and fuel saving technologies (such as auxiliary power units). All loan information contained in this site represents private company loans. These are not Federal government loans.

Smart Growth

The EPA Smart Growth program sometimes offers grants to support activities that improve the quality of development and protect human health and the environment.

U.S. Climate Change Technology Program

The U.S. Climate Change Technology Program is a multi-agency research and development program for the development of climate change technology.

Department of Energy (DOE)

Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E)

  • ARPA-E Funding Opportunities
    ARPA-E is modeled after the successful Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). ARPA-E is charged with the following objectives: to bring a freshness, excitement, and sense of mission to energy research; focus on creative "out-of-the-box" transformational energy research; utilize an ARPA-like organization; and create a new tool to bridge the gap between basic energy research and development/industrial innovation.

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) works with business, industry, universities, and others to increase the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. One way EERE encourages the growth of these technologies is by offering financial assistance opportunities for their development and demonstration.

Clean Cities

Securing funding is critical to the success of efforts to reduce petroleum use in transportation. Financial opportunities for Clean Cities projects are available from many sources inside and outside the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE)

Incentives and policies for renewables & efficiency in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.

Tribal Energy Program

The Tribal Energy Program promotes tribal energy sufficiency, and fosters economic development and employment on tribal lands through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Loan Programs Office (LPO)

The Department of Energy's Loan Programs—administered by LPO—enable DOE to work with private companies and lenders to mitigate the financing risks associated with clean energy projects, and thereby encourage their development on a broader and much-needed scale. The Loan Programs consist of three separate programs managed by two offices, the Loan Guarantee Program Office (LGP) and the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program Office.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

SBA's Office of Technology administers the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Through these two competitive programs, SBA ensures that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts. Eleven federal departments participate in the SBIR program; five departments participate in the STTR program awarding $2billion to small high-tech businesses. The U.S National Science Foundation administers the SBIR.GOV site on behalf of the federal government.

Federal Agency SBIR Links

Find links to SBIR programs at federal agencies including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, and US Environmental Protection Agency.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Reducing pollution and other adverse environmental effects of transportation projects and transportation system inefficiency have been long‐standing DOT objectives.

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program

The CMAQ program supports transportation projects or programs that will improve air quality and relieve congestion in areas that do not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards. CMAQ funds may be used to establish new or expanded transportation projects or programs that reduce emissions, including capital investments in transportation infrastructure, congestion relief efforts, and diesel engine retrofits. Other CMAQ projects include operating assistance for new transit services, travel demand management strategies, traffic flow improvement programs that reduce emissions, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities and programs.

Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)

The RITA Office of Research, Development & Technology coordinates DOT's research and development activities and investments.

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

A major way FTA helps communities support public transportation is by issuing grants to eligible recipients for planning, vehicle purchases, facility construction, operations, and other purposes. FTA administers this financial assistance according to authorization, SAFETEA-LU, which was signed into law in August 2005.

Department of Commerce

The U.S. Department of Commerce promotes job creation, economic growth, sustainable development and improved standards of living for all Americans by working in partnership with businesses, universities, communities and our nation's workers.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

NIST was founded in 1901 as the nation's first federal physical science research laboratory. The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) supports, promotes, and accelerates innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical national need.

US Economic Development Administration

EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and regional innovation. The agency's mission is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy.

Department of Defense

DARPA's mission is to maintain the technological superiority of the U.S. military and prevent technological surprise from harming our national security by sponsoring revolutionary, high-payoff research bridging the gap between fundamental discoveries and their military use.

NASA

Supporting research in science and technology is an important part of NASA's overall mission. NASA solicits this research through the release of various research announcements in a wide range of science and technology disciplines.

The National Science Foundation (NSF)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…"

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

USDA Rural Development

Program assistance is provided in many ways, including direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance, research and educational materials.

Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP)

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.

US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

CDC is committed to programs that reduce the health and economic consequences of the leading causes of death and disability, thereby ensuring a long, productive, healthy life for all people.

Climate and Health Program

The CDC climate and public health framework was established in 2006, due to a recognition by several scientists that there was a need to prepare for the inevitability of climate change, and the impact it would likely have on the health of US residents and the world population in general. In FY2009, CDC formally established its Climate and Health Program.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

The overall goal of NIOSH is the prevention of illnesses, injuries, and deaths caused by hazards on the job. Recognizing the valuable contributions of extramural scientists and educators to this endeavor, NIOSH sponsors research and training through its extramural programs, which complement the Institute's intramural programs. The creativity and special resources available in the extramural community make these programs an important component in achieving a National goal to have safe jobs and healthy workers.

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

The NIEHS provides federal research funding in the form of grants to universities and other research organizations for research projects, small business awards, research center funding, training and career development, loan repayment programs, and other research projects and activities.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides global leadership for a research, training, and education program to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases and enhance the health of all individuals so that they can live longer and more fulfilling lives. It creates and supports a robust, collaborative research infrastructure in partnership with private and public organizations, including academic institutions, industry, and other government agencies.

Other Funding

California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF)

CalCEF was created to solve a problem. Despite significant environmental policy leadership, until recently the private sector - particularly the financial community - has lagged in making investments in clean energy companies, creating a gap in the commercialization of new energy technologies. The core problem of energy is technological in nature, and we cannot afford to leave fundamental innovations unsupported at a crucial juncture in their development. CalCEF was created to focus expertise and financial resources on this aspect of the energy challenge.

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

CPUC plays a key role in making California a national and international leader on a number of energy related initiatives and policies designed to benefit consumers, the environment, and the economy.

  • About CPUC Renewables, Energy Efficiency and the Environment
  • California Solar Initiative
    The California Solar Initiative is a comprehensive $2.8 billion program that provides incentives towards solar development over 11 years. The California Solar Initiative offers solar incentives to energy users (except new homes) in investor-owned utility territories in California. The CSI Program has a goal to install 1,940 MW of new solar by 2017.

Cascade Sierra Solutions

Cascade Sierra Solutions offers comprehensive services for medium and heavy-duty diesel fleet owners and independent owner operators seeking to upgrade their fleets to cleaner, more efficient vehicles or retrofit them with energy efficient features.

  • About Cascade Sierra Solutions
  • Shorepower Truck Electrification Project (STEP)
    The Shorepower Truck Electrification Project (STEP) will locate and install fifty truck stop facilities over the next 18 months along interstate highways where early adopter fleets and independent owner-operators have indicated the highest utilization will occur. Idle Reduction Equipment Rebates are available nation-wide to use electrified truck parking. Long-haul truck owners can apply on-line at the Cascade Sierra Solutions web site for rebates on idle reduction equipment when they agree to use truck stop electrification (TSE) sites over the next three years. Rebate requests will be accepted between February, 2011 and March 31, 2013.

Environmental Business Cluster

The Environmental Business Cluster is an award-winning cleantech incubator located in the heart of the Silicon Valley that provides commercialization support and facilities for emerging clean energy and environmental technology companies.

Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network

Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network provides analysis and action on issues affecting the Silicon Valley region's economy and quality of life. The organization brings together established and emerging leaders - from business, government, academia, labor and the broader community - to spotlight issues and work toward innovative solutions. Joint Venture is dedicated to promoting climate-friendly activities that help the local economy and improve quality of life in Silicon Valley. Joint Venture's climate initiatives consist of three distinct programs; Public Sector Climate Task Force, Climate Prosperity, and Sustainable Buildings.

California Clean Tech

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Last updated on November 1, 2024