The Minnesota Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security (OES) requests proposals from Minnesota school districts and local governments for the Local Government Renewable Energy Grant Program funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 and authorized by Laws of Minnesota 2009, Chapter 138, Article 3, Section 5. Grants will be awarded competitively to eligible school districts and local governments for the following technologies and amounts:

1. Solar electric projects greater than or equal to 100 kilowatts rated capacity — the lesser of 40 percent of total project cost or $200,000;
2. Solar electric projects less than 100 kilowatts rated capacity — the lesser of 40 percent of total project cost or $100,000;
3. Wind projects greater than or equal to 40 kilowatts rated capacity — the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $150,000;
4. Wind projects less than 40 kilowatts rated capacity —the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $25,000;
5. Geothermal heating and cooling projects — the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or 100,000;
6. Solar thermal projects —the lesser of 50 percent of total project cost or $75,000; and
7. Combined heat and power projects and district energy projects — the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $200,000.

Proposals submitted in response to this RFP must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. CST, August 4, 2010. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is available from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security.