Governments

The IRA expands opportunities for government entities, including state agencies, universities, public schools and local government, to take advantage of cost-saving tax credits to generate and store clean energy. The IIJA will also provide grant funding to target specific priorities at the local level.

Available Programs & Grants

Renewable Energy

Emissions-Based Investment Tax Credit

30% technology neutral investment tax credit is an emissions-based investment tax credit that is neutral and flexible between clean electricity technologies. Taxpayers choose between a PTC (45Y) and an ITC (48E).

Credits begin to be reduced after January 1, 2034 or when emission targets are achieved (i.e., the electric power sector emits 75% less carbon than 2022).

30% of project cost with no maximum.

Emissions-Based Production Tax Credit

Technology neutral production tax credit is an emissions-based production tax credit that is neutral and flexible between clean electricity technologies. Credit of 1.5 cents/kwh (inflation adjusted to 2.8 cents/kwh). Taxpayers choose between a PTC(45Y) and an ITC(48E).

Credits begin to be reduced after January 1, 2034 or when emission targets are achieved (i.e., the electric power sector emits 75% less carbon than 2022).

Credit of 1.5 cents/kwh (inflation adjusted to 2.8 cents/kwh).

Bonus Credits for Investment Tax Credits and Production Tax Credits

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, projects qualifying for an ITC or PTC may be eligible for "adder" or bonus credits for projects meeting certain requirements. See additional details for criteria.

Direct Pay

States, schools, local governments, and non-profits can receive direct payment of investment tax credits, production tax credits and available bonuses for the technology neutral clean electricity technologies. Elective pay is only available after an applicable credit is earned and able to be claimed on the relevant annual tax return. In general, a tax credit is earned during the taxable year the applicable credit property is placed in service.

Direct pay is available through 2035 or when emission targets are achieved (i.e., the electric power sector emits 75% less carbon than 2022).

See Emissions-based Investment Tax Credit, Emissions-based production Tax Credit, and Bonus Credits.

  • Direct Pay Q&A
  • Direct Pay Process (See question 18 for full detail of outline below).
    • Identify and pursue the qualifying project or activity. 
    • Determine your tax year, if not already known. 
    • Satisfy all eligibility requirements for the tax credit and any applicable bonus credits, if applicable, for a given tax year.
    • Complete pre-filing registration with the IRS.
    • File the required annual tax return by the due date (or extended due date) and make a valid elective payment election.

Available Programs & Grants

Grants & financial Assistance

Thriving Communities Grantmaker Program

Thousands of Thriving Communities subgrants will be distributed by the Grantmakers to support capacity building in communities affected by environmental or public health issues to eligible applicants including:

  • Nonprofit organizations, community-based and grassroots nonprofit organizations . 
  • Tribal governments (both federally recognized and state-recognized) and intertribal consortia.
  • Local governments.
  • Institutions of higher education.
  • Native American Organizations.
  • Puerto Rico.
  • US Territories.  

Ineligible subrecipients include:

  • Individuals.
  • For profit businesses.
  • State governments. 

Applications for 2-year grants for Tier II and Tier III will remain open through January 31, 2025, or until all 2-year Tier II and Tier III grants have been awarded. The application deadline for 1-year Tier I and Tier II grants is April 30, 2025, or until all grants have been awarded. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis.

 

Tier One will consist of grants for $150,000 for assessment, Tier Two will consist of grants for $250,000 for planning, and Tier Three will consist of grants for $350,000 for project development. In addition, $75,000 will be available for capacity-constrained community-based organizations through a noncompetitive process under Tier One.

Projects can include: 

  • Air quality & asthma.
  • Fence line air quality monitoring.
  • Monitoring of effluent discharges from industrial facilities.
  • Water quality & sampling.
  • Small cleanup projects.
  • Improving food access to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
  • Stormwater issues and green infrastructure.
  • Lead and asbestos contamination.
  • Pesticides and other toxic substances.
  • Healthy homes that are energy/water use efficient and not subject to indoor air pollution.
  • Illegal dumping activities, such as education, outreach, and small-scale clean-ups.
  • Emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency.
  • Environmental job training for occupations that reduce greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.
  • Environmental justice training for youth.
Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants

3-year grants are available for projects related to climate change and air pollution, including air pollution monitoring, extreme heat risk mitigation, resiliency and adaptation, indoor pollution reduction, and community engagement.

Funds available until September 30, 2031.

$200 million.

  • Eligible Entities: (1) Tribes, local governments, and universities in partnership with community-based non-profit organizations (2) Community-based non-profit organizations, or (3) A partnership of community-based non-profit organizations.
  • Code: House Bill 5376, Section 60201
Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants

Grants to improve transportation access and mitigate negative safety or environmental impacts in underserved communities, for improvements to reduce air pollution and GHG emissions, manage stormwater run-off, address urban heat islands, and to monitor air quality, transportation related GHG emissions and pollution, and gaps in tree canopy coverage. Eligible Entities: (1) State, local, territory, and Tribal governments, (2) A partnership with an entity in (1) and a non-profit or university for certain activities in disadvantaged or underserved communities.

Funds available until September 30, 2026.

  • $1.893 billion for competitive grants, $50 million for technical assistance, and $1.262 billion for disadvantaged communities.
  • Federal cost share of a project up to 80%, or in a disadvantaged or underserved community may be up to 100%.
Grants for Energy Efficiency Contractor Training

Provides EPA funding for grants to state, local, regional, and Tribal programs that provide financial support to low and zero carbon technologies and can act as seed capital for regional, local, state, or Tribal green banks that provide financial support for low or zero emission projects.

Funds available until September 30, 2026.

$2.8 billion to the EPA for grants and $200 million for technical assistance to eligible entities.

  • Eligible Entity: State Energy Office
  • Code: House Bill 5376 Section 50123
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Grants to improve transportation access and mitigate negative safety or environmental impacts in underserved communities, for improvements to reduce air pollution and GHG emissions, manage stormwater run-off, address urban heat islands, and to monitor air quality, transportation related GHG emissions and pollution, and gaps in tree canopy coverage. Federal cost share of a project up to 80%, or in a disadvantaged or underserved community may be up to 100%.

Funds available until September 30, 2024, except administrative cost grants until September 30, 2031.

$11.97 billion competitive grants for financial assistance and technical assistance, $7 billion for zero emission technology in low income and disadvantaged communities, $8 billion for financial assistance and technical assistance in low income and disadvantaged communities, and $30 million for administrative costs.

  • Eligible Entities: A nonprofit organization that (A) is designed to provide capital, leverage private capital, and provide other forms of financial assistance for the rapid deployment of low- and zero-emission products, technologies, and services; (B) does not take deposits other than deposits from repayments and other revenue received from financial assistance provided using grant funds under this section; (C) is funded by public or charitable contributions; and (D) invests in or finances projects alone or in conjunction with other investors.
  • Code: House Bill 5376 Section 60103

Available Programs & Grants

Clean & Safe Drinking Water

Clean Water State Revolving Fund Supplemental

The Clean Water SRF funds wastewater treatment, sewer rehabilitation, and stormwater quality improvements, as well as non-point source projects.

Applications due quarterly.

  • SFY 2024 Q1 deadline is March 1, 2023.
  • SFY 2024 Q2 deadline is June 1, 2023.
  • SFY 2024 Q3 deadline is September 1, 2023.
  • SFY 2024 Q4 deadline is December 1, 2024.

$149,312,750 from 2022-26, $73,163,248 (49%) available as forgivable loans.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Supplemental

The Drinking Water SRF funds water treatment plants or improvements to existing facilities, water line extensions to existing unserved properties, water storage facilities, wells, and source water protection efforts.

Applications due quarterly.

  • SFY 2024 Q1 deadline is March 1, 2023.
  • SFY 2024 Q2 deadline is June 1, 2023.
  • SFY 2024 Q3 deadline is September 1, 2023.
  • SFY 2024 Q4 deadline is December 1, 2024.

$174,295,000 from 2022-26; $85,404,550 (49%) available as forgivable loans.

Clean Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants

This program is designed to address discharges of PFAS and other emerging contaminants through wastewater and potentially nonpoint sources of pollution. Emerging Contaminants refer to substances and microorganisms, including manufactured or naturally occurring physical, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear materials, which are known or anticipated in the environment, that may pose newly identified or re-emerging risks to human health, aquatic life, or the environment. These substances, microorganisms, or materials can include many different types of natural or manufactured chemicals and substances – such as those in some compounds of personal care products, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, pesticides, and microplastics.

 Intended Use Plan for this funding is currently under development.

$12,777,000 for 2023-26, $12,777,000 (100%) available as forgivable loans.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants

This program is designed to reduce people’s exposure to PFAS and other emerging contaminants through their drinking water. The DWSRF Program will consider any project that is either preventative in nature or addresses a known PFAS or emerging contaminant issue. Any contaminant listed in any of EPA’s Contaminant Candidate Lists 1-5 is considered eligible.

Intended Use Plan for this funding is currently under development.

$57,917,000 from 2022-26, $57,917,000 (100%) available as forgivable loans.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Lead Service Line Replacement

This funding is available for projects or activities that are otherwise DWSRF eligible and are a lead service line replacement project or associated activity directly connected to the identification, planning, design, and replacement of lead service lines. Any project funded under this appropriation involving the replacement of a lead service line must replace the entire lead service line, not just a portion, unless a portion has already been replaced or is concurrently being replaced with another funding source.

 Intended Use Plan for this funding is currently under development.

$162,189,000 from 2022-26, $72, 472,610 (49%) available as forgivable loans.

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects

This program funds the construction of authorized water resources projects to increase aquatic ecosystem restoration, including $1 billion for multipurpose projects or programs that include aquatic ecosystem restoration as a purpose.

No application deadlines. FY22 Application is currently open.

$1.9 billion total:

  • Federal project limit of $10 million
  • Feasibility study is 50% cost share after the first $100,000 in study costs.
  • Design and construction cost-share are 65% federal and 35% non-federal.
  • Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Q&A
  • Non-federal sponsor must request under the program from the Corps of Engineers. Non-federal sponsors must be public agencies or national non-profit organizations capable of undertaking future requirements for operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation (OMRR&R), or may be any non-profit organization if there are no future requirements for OMRR&R. All potential sponsors must be able to provide any required lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations and dredged or excavated material disposal areas (LERRD). The affected local government must consent to the non-profit entity being a sponsor.
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations

Provides technical and financial assistance for the planning, design, and construction of projects that address resource concerns in a watershed.

Expected Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY22 is in Q1 2023.

$500 million.

WFPO Project Criteria

  • Public sponsorship
  • Watershed Projects ≤ 250,000 acres
  • Agricultural benefits, including rural communities, must be ≥ 20% of the total benefits for the project.
Flood Mitigation Assistance Grants

Grant funding available to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings or structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program. Funds may be used for projects such as Project Scoping, Technical Assistance, Community Flood Mitigation Projects, Individual Structure/Property-Level Flood Mitigation Projects, and Management Costs.

FY2022 application period is open until Jan. 27, 2023.

$3.5 billion, 0-25% match required.

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Program (WIFA)

This program provides credit assistance to creditworthy borrowers for: • Projects that are eligible for the Clean Water SRF, notwithstanding the public ownership clause • Projects that are eligible for the Drinking Water SRF • Enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities • Brackish or seawater desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling projects • Drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects • Acquisition of property if it is integral to the project or will mitigate the environmental impact of a project • A combination of projects secured by a common security pledge or submitted under one application by an SRF program

National Fish Passage Program (NFPP)

This funding is for technical and financial assistance to remove barriers and restore aquatic connectivity. Applicants must work with a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office biologist to be considered for funding.

 Applications open.

$38,000,000

50% typically required.

Minimum award: $100,000; Maximum award $2,000,000

Tools & Resources

Direct Pay

States, schools, and local governments can receive direct payment of investment tax credits and production tax credits for solar, small wind, geothermal, fuel cell, microturbine, combined heat and power, waste energy recovery, energy storage technology, and biogas.

Investment Tax Credits & Production Tax Credits

Under the IRA, owners of renewable energy projects will be able to choose between an Investment Tax Credit (ITC) or Production Tax credit (PTC). An ITC reduces the cost of installing clean technologies, while PTCs credit project owners for the production of their clean technologies. Stand-alone storage is only eligible for the ITC. For greater detail on the timelines and credit amounts, see the linked tables:

Iowa Coal Communities Overview

The IRA includes provisions that make communities currently or recently hosting coal plants prime areas for renewable energy development that can keep jobs in the community and replace lost tax revenues. Learn more about these opportunities and how they can benefit Iowa communities in the overview below:

Disclaimer: Nothing in this summary should be interpreted as tax or legal advice.