21st Century Energy Grant

Proposed Amount of Funding: $11.947 million

8-28-09: Commerce announces guidelines for $1.8 million have been established for the Arizona Biofuel Conversion Program. Click here for more information.

Guidelines for remaining funds are currently being established. Further information will be posted as application procedures are developed.

The Energy Office believes this proposed program will encourage and expand the use of solar, wind or other renewable energy generation systems and biofuels infrastructure in Arizona.

Nature of Projects: The program would fund studies to develop new, significant solar, wind or other renewable energy generation systems on public lands and to fund demonstrations of renewable energy systems on high profile public buildings and public spaces and a biofuels infrastructure grant program. Renewable energy projects could be at Arizona State Parks, rest stops, public museums or even public transit stations. The renewable grant program will also be open to non-profit organizations to install solar water heating or solar PV on their buildings. Also included will be demonstrations of renewable energy products that are manufactured in Arizona. A competitive grant program for biofuels infrastructure will be offered. The grant program criteria and funding levels have not been developed as of yet but the funding will be competitive and will be implemented in a series of funding and scoring rounds.

Additional State Actions: As part of the 21st Century Energy Grant Program, the State Energy Office plans to identify several shovel ready solar installations on public buildings or public spaces that could be initiated quickly and provide for immediate job creation.

Timeline: The Energy Office believes a first round of funding opportunity could be announced by the end of summer with the first round of projects funded by the late fall and early winter of 2009. A second round of funding opportunities could be implemented in early 2010.

Long-term Benefits: The Energy Office estimates this program will increase renewable energy activity and biofuels infrastructure throughout Arizona but we do not have an estimate for the amount of energy that will be reduced or the amount of fuel that would be dispensed as a result of this program.

Job Creation: Energy staff estimates 136 jobs will be created.

Implementation: The Energy Office has preliminary grant guidelines in place to implement this program. Administrative and programmatic costs are included in the total project budget proposed above. Staff members who implement or manage the overall strategy or programs are direct costs to the project.