United States Department of Transportation
Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (May 22, 2026)
The grant funding is to be made available to a municipality or community owned utility (not including for-profit entities) to repair, rehabilitate, or replace its natural gas distribution pipeline systems or portions thereof, or to acquire equipment to (1) reduce incidents and fatalities and (2) to avoid economic losses.
Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment (ASCENT) (Closes October 31, 2026)
ASCENT is a coalition of 16 leading US research universities committed to improving the understanding of aviation noise and emissions and the modeling of aviation systems. ASCENT is co-led by Washington State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (https://ascent.aero/). Any new grant opportunities under AJFE are open and available only to the university members of ASCENT.”
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Clean Ports Program (Closes September 30, 2027)
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants at U.S. ports. This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that helps our nation’s ports, a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain, address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities. EPA anticipates this new funding opportunity will become available for application through a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) released in late winter 2024.
Department of Energy
Spurring Projects to Advance Energy Research and Knowledge Swiftly (SPARKS) (Closes December 30, 2029)
Spurring Projects to Advance Energy Research and Knowledge Swiftly (SPARKS) awards are intended to be flexible and may take the form of analyses or exploratory research that provides the agency with useful information for the subsequent development of focused technology programs. SPARKS awards may also support proof-of-concept research to develop a unique technology concept, either in an area not currently supported by the agency or as a potential enhancement to an ongoing focused technology program. Applications must propose concepts that are not covered by open ARPA-E focused FOAs and that do not represent incremental improvements over existing technology.
Department of Agriculture
Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency (REAP)
REAP Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program. Refer to Application Package AND Application Instruction links to obtain all necessary forms for a complete application. Contact State Energy Coordinators with questions: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RBS_StateEnergyCoordinators.pdf
Federal Transit Administration
Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS)
FTA’s Bus Exportable Power Systems (BEPS) program enables public transportation agencies, communities, and states to access resilient and flexible power options through hybrid electric bus fleet vehicles during major power disruptions.
Zero Emission Research Opportunity (ZERO)
FTA’s objective for ZERO is to work with the public transportation industry to solve challenges, increase efficiency, and reduce the costs and risks of deploying zero-emission vehicles in transit service.
U.S. National Science Foundation
Electrochemical Systems
The goal of the Electrochemical Systems program is to support fundamental engineering science research that will enable innovative processes involving electrochemistry or photochemistry for the sustainable production of electricity, fuels, chemicals, and other specialty and commodity products.
Environmental Sustainability
The goal of the Environmental Sustainability program is to promote sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems.