State Energy Program Special Projects
Active
- Assistance listing
- 81.119
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Grant awards
- 1,568 $176,256,913 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- SEP Competitive Grants
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 89-0321-0-1-270
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Energy funds state-level energy efficiency, renewable energy deployment, and grid modernization initiatives through the State Energy Program Special Projects (CFDA 81.119), with the most recent award issued January 1, 2025.
The program has distributed $176.3 million in federal dollars across 1,568 awards since 1998, with non-federal cost-share contributions bringing total obligated dollars to $365.9 million. Award volume has fluctuated significantly—ranging from one award in 2018 to 17 in both 2017 and 2019—and the program awarded only one grant in the past nine months, suggesting minimal recent activity. Applications are limited to all 56 states and territories, which compete for funding based on objective merit review and program policy factors; final approval decisions rest with the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Funded activities span energy efficiency retrofits in public facilities and wastewater treatment systems, grid modernization and electrification policy development, building energy benchmarking and disclosure frameworks, property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing initiatives, combined heat and power deployment, renewable thermal data platforms, and electrical infrastructure projects. A 2025 award to support construction of a new 115-kilovolt electrical substation for MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, Washington, received $14.4 million. Earlier rounds funded state-led studies on grid resilience, energy efficiency roadmaps, and financing mechanisms, such as Rhode Island's $843,511 award for advancing energy efficiency in underserved communities and New Jersey's $377,252 award exploring microgrid financing.
The program is predominantly Project Grants (89 percent of awards) with a smaller share of Cooperative Agreements (10 percent) and Formula Grants (1 percent). The Department of Energy accounts for 1,525 awards totaling $162.3 million in federal dollars obligated; the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability together account for the remaining 43 awards and $14 million. The portfolio shows no open or recently posted competitive opportunities; the most recent solicitation (FOA DE-FOA-0001644) closed January 11, 2018, and sought state applications for energy planning, innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy practices, and technical assistance.
Objective and description
- Objective
To allow States to submit proposals to implement specific Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy deployment activities and initiatives as Special Projects under the State Energy Program. States will compete for fu
- Description
All 56 States and Territories
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
All States plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may apply.
- Beneficiary eligibility
States, territories, and their project partners will benefit.
- Credentials and documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR 200 subpart E for State and local Governments.
- Uses of assistance
Financial support, in whole or in part, may be provided for salaries, materials, and supplies, equipment, travel, publication costs, and services required for implementing the activities described in the application at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Based on award negotiation
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Audit procedures in accordance with 2 CFR 200 subpart F (for other than for-profit recipients). For-profit recipients are subject to the audit requirements in 2 CFR 910.501 In addition, audit requirements need to comply with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
- Application procedure
The application forms must be downloaded from the specific Notice of Funding Opportunity posted on the EERE Exchange (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/) and Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/) and submitted per instructions in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applicants for sub-awards from the states should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact within the State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Selection will be based on an objective merit review, program policy factors, the availability of funds, provisions of appropriation laws, reports, and as otherwise specified in specific solicitation document(s) at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
- Award procedure
Evaluations will be conducted by staff of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy end-use sectors participating in the annual solicitation. Final decisions to approve are made by Assistant Secretary Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. DOE Field Offices are then instructed to negotiate and prepare the grant award documents.
- Renewals
Renewals are subject to review by the headquarters program office and subject to the availability of funds.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOA: State Energy Program 2017 Competitive Awards | Closed | ||
| Notice of Intent for State Energy Program 2016 Competitive Awards | — | — | |
| State Energy Program 2015 Competitive Awards | Closed | ||
| Notice of Intent for State Energy Program 2015 Competitive Awards | — | — | |
| State Energy Program 2012 Competitive Awards | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 1,568 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Strategic Fund | $11,010,518 | 6% |
| 2 | Multicare Health System | $5,500,000 | 3% |
| 3 | Massachusetts Department Of Energy Resources | $4,217,436 | 2% |
| 4 | Washington State Department Of Commerce | $4,160,777 | 2% |
| 5 | New York State Energy Research & Development Authority | $4,108,365 | 2% |
| 6 | The Virginia Department Of Energy | $3,838,193 | 2% |
| 7 | Illinois Department Commerce & Economic Opportunity | $3,551,149 | 2% |
| 8 | Maryland Energy Administration | $3,130,975 | 2% |
| 9 | State Of Vermont Public Service Department | $3,128,088 | 2% |
| 10 | Department Of Commerce Minnesota | $2,939,927 | 2% |
10 of 121 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$709 |
| FY2025 | $5,394,193 |
| FY2024 | -$178,762 |
| FY2023 | -$83,770 |
| FY2022 | -$6,728 |
| FY2021 | -$102,882 |
| FY2020 | $188,760 |
| FY2019 | $4,982,280 |
| FY2018 | -$64,259 |
| FY2017 | $4,422,543 |
| FY2016 | $4,763,079 |
| FY2015 | $4,958,566 |
| FY2014 | $4,878,988 |
| FY2013 | $1,083,886 |
| FY2012 | $14,433,987 |
| FY2011 | $12,460,670 |
| FY2010 | $15,677,629 |
| FY2009 | $1,557,910 |
| FY2008 | $5,855,951 |
| FY2007 | $6,844,477 |
| FY2006 | -$1,085,022 |
| FY2005 | $16,638,717 |
| FY2004 | $16,163,100 |
| FY2003 | $17,959,491 |
| FY2002 | $18,991,230 |
| FY2001 | $11,533,382 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 81.119?
Assistance Listing 81.119 is State Energy Program Special Projects, a federal grant program run by Department of Energy.
What is the CFDA number for State Energy Program Special Projects?
Its CFDA number is 81.119: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 81.119 awarded?
1,568 grant awards under 81.119 have obligated $176,256,913 in federal funds to 121 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 81.119?
The recipients obligated the most under State Energy Program Special Projects are Michigan Strategic Fund ($11,010,518), Multicare Health System ($5,500,000) and Massachusetts Department Of Energy Resources ($4,217,436).
How much did 81.119 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 81.119 obligated $5,394,193 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 81.119?
No opportunity listed under 81.119 is open now. The latest, FOA: State Energy Program 2017 Competitive Awards, was posted on October 16, 2017.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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