he goal of this funding opportunity is to improve the outcomes of large-scale solar (LSS) development for ecosystems, wildlife, and communities by soliciting projects that will a) test strategies that mitigate adverse impacts and/or maximize benefits to wildlife and ecosystems, b) provide technical assistance and stakeholder engagement opportunities to facilitate strategies that improve the compatibility of LSS facilities with wildlife, or c) provide technical assistance and conduct outreach to facilitate the adoption of agrivoltaics.
Projects selected in this NOFO will a) test strategies that mitigate adverse impacts and/or maximize benefits to wildlife and ecosystems at LSS facilities, b) provide technical assistance and engagement opportunities that enable stakeholders to improve the compatibility of LSS facilities with wildlife, or c) provide technical assistance and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to agrivoltaics.
Topic Area 1 is focused on improving the ability of stakeholders to implement strategies that improve the compatibility of LSS facilities with wildlife and ecosystems. Projects will test new or existing strategies for mitigating adverse impacts on and/or maximizing benefits to wildlife and ecosystems from LSS development (e.g., wildlife-permeable fencing, native vegetation management, wildlife movement corridors). Projects will also provide technical assistance and stakeholder engagement opportunities on wildlife-solar interactions to improve coordination and collaboration among stakeholders and make research findings and best practices more accessible.
Topic Area 2 is focused on disseminating agrivoltaic research, sharing best practices, and enabling cross-sector collaboration. Projects will provide technical assistance and engagement opportunities to entities involved in LSS development, including but not limited to solar industry members, agricultural practitioners, rural cooperatives, Tribal governments and communities, and local governments.
Deadlines:
Required Concept Papers due: February 14, 2025
Applications due: May 2, 2025
Topic Area 1: Wildlife-Solar Energy Research, Technical Assistance, and Stakeholder Engagement
o Area of Interest 1: Strategies to Mitigate Adverse Impacts on and/or Maximize Benefits to Wildlife
o Area of Interest 2: Wildlife-Solar Energy Technical Assistance and Stakeholder Engagement
Topic Area 2: Agrivoltaics Technical Assistance and Stakeholder Engagement
Domestic entities are eligible to apply as recipients or subrecipients. The following types of domestic entities are eligible to participate as a recipient or subrecipient of this NOFO: • Institutions of higher education (e.g., universities, colleges, and minority-serving institutions [MSIs]) • For-profit organizations (e.g., environmental consultants, LSS developers, facility owners and operators, utilities) • Nonprofit organizations (e.g., research institutions, conservation nonprofits, hunting organizations, environmental nonprofits, trade associations, utilities and electric cooperatives) • Federally funded R&D centers (FFRDCs) • State and local governmental entities (e.g., state wildlife or agricultural agencies) • Indian Tribes, as defined in Section 4 of the Indian SelfDetermination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. § 5304.
An entity may submit more than one concept paper and associated application to this NOFO provided that each describes a unique, scientifically distinct project concept and an eligible concept paper was submitted for each Full Application.