Fellow RE-AMPers,
I want to thank everyone in the Network who helped develop and submit proposals in this latest round for RE-AMP funding through the Global Warming Strategic Action Fund. We reviewed proposals for very compelling climate, energy and transportation work across the region, in line with the key priorities laid out by RE-AMP last fall. We had proposals for over $3,000,000 in funding, though the Action Fund had only $1,500,000 available to regrant, so we unfortunately had to turn down a number of excellent proposals. However, the Action Fund Committee ultimately felt that the funded projects were those most closely aligned with Network goals, and most in need of RE-AMP support at this time.
In the end, we funded at least some work in each of the six areas that were prioritized, but with a heavy focus on state tables and the Clean Power Plan. To make funding decisions, we used the criteria laid out in the GWSAF documents shared with the Network last fall, including an emphasis on funding for projects that include a clear equity component. While not all funded projects met all criteria, a preference was given to those that met more of them.
Here is a short overview of our funding in each area:
State Tables: The Network will make $945,000 in grants to support the creation and development of state climate and energy tables in seven states. Some of these grants are only for state table convening, infrastructure and capacity-building work, while others include integrated campaign work on priority issues like CPP, distributed solar, etc.
Clean Power Plan: The Network will make around $500,000 in grants to support the development of strong CPP state implementation plans that maximize renewable energy and energy efficiency opportunities. Some of this funding is through state table grants (in IL, IA, ND, and OH) and some is through dedicated CPP campaign support (WI and MI). In all cases, the work will be closely coordinated with state tables.
Transportation: The Network will make $155,000 in grants to support transportation work in MI and WI. Both bodies of work will be closely coordinated with state tables, and both have a significant equity component.
Coal: The Network will make a $100,000 grant to support work to decommission the IL coal fleet. This work has a significant equity component and will be coordinated with the IL state table.
Transmission: The Network will make a $100,000 grant to fund regional stakeholder engagement in clean energy transmission.
Distributed solar: The Network will make some investments in distributed solar through the state tables in IA and OH. The Network also identified some potential external sources of funding for distributed solar projects in MN and WI and will be working with funders and advocates to further develop the work and the funding opportunities.
Please note that since some work falls into more than one category (CPP work coordinated through a state table, for instance), the totals above don’t add up to $1.5M, and some don’t have exact dollar amounts because they are an integrated part of a larger proposal. A full list of the actual grants made is here:
Developing Regional Stakeholder Engagement in Clean Energy Transmission
$100,000
Lead grantee: Center for Rural Affairs
Wisconsin Climate Table Capacity Building
$65,000
Lead grantee: Clean Wisconsin
Clean Power Plan (WI)
$100,000
Lead grantee: Clean Wisconsin
North Dakota State Table
$100,000
Lead grantee: Dakota Resource Council
Building a Robust Coalition to Support Regional Transit in SE Michigan
$80,000
Lead grantee: Ecology Center
Campaign for Advancing a Strong State CPP Plan in Michigan
$100,000
Lead grantee: Ecology Center
Illinois Climate Action Table
$150,000
Lead grantee: Illinois Environmental Council
Building and Strengthening an Iowa Clean Energy State Table in 2016
$180,000
Lead grantee: Iowa Environmental Council
Michigan State Table Proposal
$125,000
Lead grantee: Michigan Environmental Council
Forging Ohio’s Pro-Clean Energy, Pro-Climate Majority to Restore Clean Energy Standards in 2016
$200,000
Lead grantee: Ohio Environmental Council
Decommissioning the Illinois Coal Fleet
$100,000
Lead grantee: Prairie Rivers Network
Minnesota State Table Planning and Development
$125,000
Lead grantee: Sierra Club North Star Chapter
Building Wisconsin’s Climate Movement through Grassroots Transportation Reform
$75,000
Lead grantee: Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group Foundation
Again, thanks to all those who helped develop proposals, and to all those who will be carrying out this important work, with or without RE-AMP funding. I also want to thank the Network members who served on proposal review teams and on the GWSAF Committee, who did an excellent job assessing proposals and making the tough choices that had to be made in order to move our grant process forward. Thank you!
If you have any questions about these grant or our grant-making process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.
Scott
651-260-9950
scott@reamp.org