Building a Better KY - Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

Better Kentucky Plan

Building Stronger Communities

“Part of Gov. Andy Beshear’s Better Kentucky Plan is to use the $6.5 billion allocated through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – also known as the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act – to build stronger communities in every corner of the commonwealth. These federal dollars offer unprecedented opportunities to communities, businesses and local governments to make improvements in areas of energy efficiency, forestry, renewable energy, waste management and water. It will let Kentucky make significant progress in reclaiming abandoned mine lands, redeveloping brownfields and capping orphaned oil and gas wells.” - Secretary Rebecca Goodman

In addition to IIJA/BIL funding, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides additional state funding opportunities, as well as credits and incentives to consumers and businesses. Funding opportunities below include programs from both IIJA/BIL and IRA.

"Building a Better Kentucky Weekly Update"

Upcoming Dates

See "Funding Opportunities" section for specific program application deadlines.

Mar. 12: Grant Ready Ky Webinar

"Grant Management: Establishing Your Grants Management Process" (2:00 - 4:00p ET)
To register for the webinar, visit Grant Ready Kentucky's event page.

Mar. 18: Grant Ready Ky Webinar

"Grant Management: Evaluating Your Grant Program and Sharing the Data" (10:00a - noon ET)
To register for the webinar, visit Grant Ready Kentucky's event page.

Approaching Deadlines...

See "Funding Opportunities" below for additional deadlines:

Apr. 3 - application, Kentucky Urban & Community Tree Planting grant, see Program Page

Funding Opportunities

Search through the following list of grants and funding opportunities for Kentucky communities, schools, and businesses. Additional information and links to guidance will be posted on this page when they become available, so check back often!

Energy Efficiency & Resilience

Energy...Rural/Remote Areas

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA)
Purpose: To support small community-driven clean energy projects $500,000 to $5 million that address at least one of the resilient clean energy objectives outlined in 40103(c)(3) are addressed
Who can apply: State/local government; Indian Nations; non-profits; for-profits; institutions of higher education; consortia
Deadline: application period has passed
Questions: ERAGrant@hq.doe.gov

Rural Energy for America

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants
Purpose: To provide guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make efficiency improvements
Who can apply: Agricultural producers, small rural businesses
Deadlines: Application period CLOSED
Where to Apply: USDA-RD via state energy coordinator
Questions? Contact Scott Maas, USDA-RD, 859-224-7319

Weatherization Assistance

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Purpose: To increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential energy expenditure and improve their health and safety
Who can apply: Low-income households
Deadline: Ongoing
Where to apply: Local Community Action Agency
Questions? Weatherization Assistance Program

More Programs...

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming. Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

Appalachian Regional Energy Hub
Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles - 2024 awards
Clean School Bus Program (rebates, grants) - awards
Energy Auditor Training
Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools (CLASS) Prize
Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants
Energy Emissions Intensive Industries (RD&D)
Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) - 2024 deadline closed
REAP Technical Assistance Grant
Renew America's Schools
Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation
Revolving Loan Fund (EPA)
Transmission Facilitation Program
Transmission Siting and Economic Development Program - no additional awards will be made

Forestry/Nature and Safety

Community Wildfire

Program Title: Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)

Purpose: To support plan development and implementation projects to reduce wildfire risks for high hazard potential communities

Who Can Apply: local government, non-profits, non-profits, etc.

Deadline: 2025 deadline has passed

Where to Apply: USDA via Grants.gov

Questions? Contact SM.FS.usfs_cwdg@usda.gov

Timber Production

Funding Source: Other federal
Program Title: Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program
Purpose: To provide financial support to qualified lenders whose loan applicants want to establish, reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility that process ecosystem restoration byproducts from USDA Forest Service National Forest System lands
Who Can Apply:  See fact sheet for eligibility
Deadline:  rolling until funds expended
Where to Apply: Local lender
Questions?  Contact TPEP@usda.gov

More Programs...

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming. Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

Reclamation, Remediation, and Prevention

Abandoned Mine Land...

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation Program
Purpose: To abate problems caused by historic coal mining (pre-May 18, 1982)
Who Can Apply: registered state vendor contractors
Deadline: See each RFB for deadlines
Where to Apply: Finance Cabinet Vendor Self Service Portal
RFB#s: RFB-176-26 23117AMLBAML (Pike), 2/3/26 @ 9:30a ET
RFB-187-26 25061AMLBAML (Hancock), 2/11/26 @ 9:30a ET
RFB-188-26 24031AMLBAML (Carter), 2/12/26 @ 9:30a ET
Learn More: Ky. Division of Abandoned Mine Lands
Contractor Workshop Slides / Additional Contractor Info
Questions? Contact James Cable,

Economic Revitalization

Funding Source: Other Federal
Program Title: Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER)
Purpose: to support economic and community development goals in areas that have been impacted by the downturn of coal production
Who Can Apply: ...
Where to Apply: AMLER Program Site
Learn More: AMLER presentation PDF / Video
Deadline: 2025 deadline has passed
Questions? Contact Ian.Rison@ky.gov or Hannah.Radosevich@ky.gov

Brownfields MARC (FY26)

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup (MARC) Grant
Purpose: to address sites contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and petroleum
Who Can Apply: state/local govt, certain quasi govt, redevelopment agency, qualified non-profit, and others
Deadline: FY26 deadline has passed
Where to Apply: grants.gov
Questions? Ky Brownfields – brownfields@ky.gov
U.S. EPA - brownfields@epa.gov

Methane Reduction

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Methane Emissions Reduction Program Oil and Gas Methane Monitoring and Mitigation
Purpose: To minimize emissions of methane during production, processing, and transportation across the oil and natural gas industry, specifically small oil and natural gas operators
Who Can Apply: Operators
Deadline: Round 3 nominations due January 31, 2026
Where to Apply: KDOG webpage (nomination form; right of entry consent)
Questions: Email MERP@ky.gov

Orphaned Well Plugging

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: State Orphaned Well Program
Purpose: To assist in activities related to plugging, remediation and reclaiming orphaned wells on state and private lands
Who can apply: Registered state vendor contractors
Deadline: varies by RFP
Where to apply: Finance Cabinet Vendor Self Service Portal
RFP#s: RFP-180-26 KASTOW - ORPHAN WELL PACKAGE - POWELL #004, 2/10/26 @ 3:00p ET
RFP-183-26 KASTOW... - WOLFE #002, 2/10/26 @ 3:00p ET
RFP-181-26 KASTOW... - LEE #003, 2/10/26 @ 3:00p ET
RFP-178-26 KASTOW... - BARREN #002, 2/10/26 @ 3:00p ET
RFP-179-26 KASTOW... - LARUE #001, 2/10/26 @ 3:00p ET
RFP-177-26 KASTOW... - KNOX #001, 2/10/26 @ 3:00p ET
Important: Contractor Meeting Slides
DOL Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Seminars
Learn More: Kentucky's IIJA Orphan Well Plugging Dashboard
Questions? Contact Ky. Division of Oil & Gas, 502-573-0147

To report orphaned wells in your area, email OrphanWells@ky.gov. 

More Programs...

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming. Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

Renewable Energy

Hydrogen Hubs...

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs)
Purpose: To support the development of six (6) to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs to improve clean hydrogen production, processing, delivery, storage, end use
Learn More: Kentucky Hydrogen Hub Workgroup
DOE's H2Hubs Webinar Recording
Questions? Kentucky efforts, Kenya Stump, 502-782-7083

Low Income Communities...

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Low Income Communities Bonus Credits
Purpose: Provides a 10 or 20 percentage point increase to the investment tax credit for qualified solar and wind energy facilities with a maximum net output of less than five megawatts (AC)
Who Can Apply: Applicants investing in certain solar or wind powered electricity generation facilities (see above link for details)
Deadline: 2025 deadline has passed
Questions? contact EJBonusSupport@hq.doe.gov

Solar for All

Funding Source: Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
Program Title: Solar for All
Purpose: to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities primed for residential solar investment
Who Can Apply: currently in planning
Deadline: currently in planning
Events: next Stakeholder Meeting, TBA
More Information: Ky Solar for All Status
Info about residential rooftop solar

More Programs...

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming. Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

Waste Management

EV Battery Recycling

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
Purpose: For research, development, and demonstration of second-life applications for electric drive vehicle batteries, as well as technologies and processes for final recycling and disposal of ev batteries.
Who Can Apply: Higher educ., for-/not-for-profit entities, state/local government, and consortia of these
Deadline: FY23 deadline has passed
Where to Apply: DOE via Grants.gov
Questions? Contact BIL-Batterymanufacturing@hq.doe.gov

More Programs...

Federal guidance on the following is forthcoming. Please check back closer to the identified time period for updates.

Water

Clean Water SRF

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Purpose: To provide financial assistance for wastewater infrastructure, storm water, and non-point source projects
Who can apply: Projects listed on Kentucky's annual Clean Water Intended Use Plan/Priority list
Where to apply: Local Area Development District
Learn More: Division of Water - CWSRF
Questions? See Division of Water SRF Contacts
See also Kentucky Infrastructure Authority

Drinking Water SRF

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Purpose: To provide financial assistance to help water systems and states achieve the objectives of the Safe Drinking Water Act (1996)
Who can apply: Public Water Systems
Where to apply: Local Area Development District
Learn More: Division of Water - DWSRF
Questions? See Division of Water SRF Contacts
See also Kentucky Infrastructure Authority

Green Infrastructure

Funding Source: IIJA/BIL
Program Title: OSG Green Infrastructure Assistance Program (GIAP)
Purpose: To support rural and disadvantaged communities seeking to use green infrastructure and nature-based solution to address stormwater runoff
Who Can Apply: mucipal entities, priority to rural or disadvantaged
Deadlines: 2025 deadline has passed
Where to Apply: EEC-DOW program portal
Questions? contact dale.booth@ky.gov