American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Energy Program Opportunity

$10 million in Recovery Act's Biomass Resources Mobilized in Ohio

Ohio Department of Development announced that the Department’s Ohio Energy Resources Division is accepting applications for $10 million in funding available through the Deploying Renewable Energy: Transforming Waste to Value grant program. This opportunity is the fourth request for proposal involving the State Energy Program, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grant program is part of $96 million allocated to Ohio through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Energy Program. It fulfills the state's goals to accelerate Ohio’s strategic investment in the advanced energy industries through greater deployment of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in Ohio; an increase in job preservation and creation; and enhances energy efficiency for Ohioans impacted by current economic conditions.

Transforming Waste to Value seeks eligible applicants that will create jobs through projects that convert feedstocks - such as municipal solid wastes, food and farm wastes, or other biomass or waste materials - to electricity, heat, fuel, and/or other bio products. The state aims to build the market demand for Ohio manufacturers and distributors of bio digestor components, biomass or waste conversion equipment, and electric generation equipment.

Awards will be selected through a competitive process and will range between $500,000 to $1 million. All eligible projects must be located within the State of Ohio, include a match investment of a minimum of 25 percent of the total cost of the project, be completed within 12 months, and provide a direct economic impact to Ohio by creating and retaining jobs. Projects that include a cooperative component with an energy provider, a coordinated effort to utilize local feedstock, and/or other innovative approaches in utilizing waste streams will be given additional consideration.

The application process involves two steps for interested applicants:

•    Submit a one-page project summary no later than 3 p.m. on Monday, August 16, 2010 at http://recovery.ohio.gov/opportunities/state/. If you have already submitted a summary, you will not be required to submit again. To submit forms on the website, applicants should click "submit your proposal" then choose the program category "Energy and Environment" and the subprogram "State Energy Program." Only projects that have submitted initial summaries to www.recovery.ohio.gov will be considered for formal proposals in response to this request. 

•    Submit a complete application which addresses all requirements outlined in the Request for Proposal to the Ohio Energy Resources Division by 3 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2010.

A bidders' conference is scheduled in Columbus on Monday, July 19, 2010 from 10 a.m. – Noon to provide an opportunity for all interested applicants to have a clear understanding of the program and application requirements. Registration is required by e-mail at Recovery.Stickel@em.ohio.gov.

For more information about the Transforming Waste to Value grant program and requirements, please visit http://www.development.ohio.gov/recovery/energy/FundingOpportunities.htm.

Working with our partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the Ohio Department of Development works to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged every day in marketing, deal-making, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is absolutely necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio's future.

The Ohio Energy Resources Division works to grow the economy of the state by connecting companies and communities to financial and technical resources in order to deploy renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency.