Communities with fewer than 10,000 people are eligible for $315 million in federal funding to finance clean energy efforts and infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced.

The funding opportunities direct $300 million to projects that improve affordability and climate resilience; and $15 million for a "prize competition" to assist rural areas to build necessary capacity, according to a March 1 EPA announcement. The agency called the funding "a critical component" of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program, "which aims to improve the resilience, reliability, and affordability of energy systems in communities across the country with 10,000 or fewer people."

"Today's announcements will help deliver local community-driven energy projects in rural and remote communities," the EPA states in the announcement, "and reflect the President’s unwavering commitment to ensuring no community is left behind in the nation’s historic transition to a clean energy future."

The $300 million funding opportunity provides flexibility to cater to various project types, with a federal cost share expected to range from $5 to $100 million per project. A single site demonstration project is eligible for $5 to $10 million, while a single or multi-site demonstration project that benefits multiple communities can receive up to $100 million, according to the announcement. 

The $15 million Energizing Rural Communities Prize will help rural communities to access government funding; develop partner networks to assist with implementing clean-energy projects; and create plans to access capital and/or develop community ownership models, the statement reports. 

“Access to a reliable and affordable energy supply is critical to building safer, climate resilient communities and key to addressing the unique energy challenges faced by remote regions,” DOE Sec. Jennifer Granholm said in the announcement. 

“Thanks to new investments from President Biden’s clean energy and climate agenda," Granholm said, "DOE is doubling down on its efforts to ensure every American—especially those in rural and remote areas—can unlock the public health and cost-saving benefits that come with the transition to a clean energy future.”