Grant Program Assists Public Agencies with Water Efficiency Projects

The California Department of Water Resources has released a draft of its 2014 Water-Energy Grant Program Guidelines and Proposal Solicitation Package. The Water-Energy Grant Program funds residential, commercial and institutional water-efficiency projects that reduce water and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Local agencies, including cities, counties, special districts and school districts, joint powers authorities and nonprofit organizations that undertake such water-efficiency projects are eligible to apply for funding.

A copy of the draft Guidelines is available by clicking here.

The maximum Water-Energy Grant Program award is $2.5 million per proposal, and DWR intends to award up to $19 million in grants. DWR plans to award 50 percent or more of the funding to projects that benefit disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities include, but are not limited to, areas with concentrations of low-income individuals and areas that are disproportionately affected by environmental pollution.

DWR will hold public meetings to solicit comments on the draft Guidelines in Chino, Fresno and Sacramento. Each meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at the following locations:

• The Chino meeting will take place on Aug. 19 at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency at 6075 Kimball Ave.  
• The Fresno meeting is scheduled for Aug. 21 at the State Building, Assembly Room 1036 at 2550 Mariposa Mall.
• The Sacramento meeting will be held on Aug. 25 at the California Environmental Protection Agency Building in the Sierra Hearing Room at 1001 I Street. This meeting will be web broadcast at the following link: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/.

Public comments on the draft Guidelines are due to DWR by Sept. 5.

DWR plans to release its final Guidelines in October, and, in November, it will conduct informational workshops throughout the state to provide assistance to applicants. Applicants must submit their project proposals online using DWR’s GRanTS program. DWR has not set the due date for proposals, but expects the date to be in December. DWR plans to award the grants in April or May 2015.