The Appalachian Regional Commission is now accepting applications for a second round of a grants competition to assist Appalachian communities in leveraging renewable-energy and energy-efficiency resources to revitalize their economies.

The deadline for applications is June 30.

ARC expects to provide eight to 10 awards of up to $75,000 each, for a total of $500,000 in awards, to help communities implement these strategies.

Pennsylvania grantees last year were Saint Francis University, which received $60,000 for a geothermal heating and cooling system project, and the SEDA-Council of Governments, $25,000 for an LED traffic light conversion program.

The ARC grants may be eligible for use as matching contributions for Pennsylvania’s energy grants.

Nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, and public educational institutions located within the Appalachian Region are eligible to apply. Private, for-profit organizations are not eligible to apply.

An independent review panel will be convened to evaluate submissions. This panel will include leading energy-efficiency and renewable-energy organizations and federal, state, and local partners. The review panel will forward recommendations to ARC for final approval.

Additional consideration will be provided for projects focusing on ARC-designated distressed counties and areas and at-risk counties, and for projects involving multi-state collaboration.

The first round of the grants competition held last year saw grants totaling $605,000 awarded to 12 winners from 10 Appalachian states for projects promoting energy-efficient buildings, biofuels production and distribution, clean energy incubators, geothermal heat systems, landfill gas collection and distribution, LED traffic light installation, wind energy production, and energy-related education and training.

For more information, visit the ARC Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Grant Program webpage.

5/2/2008