Scroll down to the APPLY section below to learn more about all of our current grant and investment/loan opportunities.
Our projects
Click the map for a searchable database of all projects funded by the Met-Ed / Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund through December 31, 2018.
What We Do
The Met-Ed / Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund provides grants, loans, and equity investments to promote:
- the development and use of renewable energy and clean energy technologies
- energy conservation and efficiency
- sustainable energy businesses
- projects that improve the environment in the companies’ service territories, as defined by their relationship to the companies’ transmission and distribution facilities
Apply
The Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Grant Program
The Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Grant Program provides grants and program-related investments to organizations within the territories served by the Met Ed and Penelec electric companies in Pennsylvania for projects that meet the mission of the fund.
What is a grant?
A grant is a disbursement to a qualified organization for a specific purpose or to support the organization’s operations and does not need to be paid back (unless the funding is misused). A follow-up report is required for each grant received that describes how the money was used, what impact it had, and other relevant information.
What is a program-related investment (loan)?
While the fund primarily provides grants to organizations, it may also consider making program-related investments from time to time. Program-related investments provide capital that you must pay back. The benefit of a program-related investment is the ability to receive a larger amount of capital for a project than what is available through the grant program.
When should I apply?
Applications are available twice a year. The first cycle begins January 15 and has a March 15 deadline with decisions made by the end of July. The second cycle begins August 15 had an October 15 deadline with decisions made by the end of December.
How much money is available?
The fund will distribute $195,000 in grants in 2019. Program-related investments in addition to this amount may be considered.
So how much of that could I get?
Grants range from $2,000 to $50,000 depending on the scope of the project. Program-related investments range from $25,000 to $500,000.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for a grant or program-related investment, the organization and/or program must:
- Be located within the territories served by the Met Ed and Penelec electric companies in Pennsylvania (click here for map and zip codes).
- Meet the mission of the fund (see below).
What is the mission of the fund?
The mission of the fund is to support:
- the development and use of renewable energy and clean energy technologies
- energy conservation and efficiency
- sustainable energy businesses
- projects that improve the environment in the companies’ service territories, as defined by their relationship to the companies’ transmission and distribution facilities
Okay, that’s pretty broad. What kind of projects qualify?
Here are some examples of the types of projects that would qualify within each category:
- the development and use of renewable energy and clean energy technologies
- pilot projects to deploy wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, or other renewable or clean energy technologies in a location where they have not been deployed before or are being used in a new way, primarily for educational or research purposes
- research projects aimed at better understanding or developing renewable energy and clean energy technologies (note that the fund will add a larger R&D grant program in 2020)
- energy conservation and efficiency*
- building, parking lot, or streetlight retrofits where inefficient lighting is replaced with LEDs and other energy-saving equipment, such as motion-sensors
- educational programs aimed at teaching Pennsylvanians young and old how to conserve and save energy
- sustainable energy businesses
- support for start-up businesses in the sustainable energy field is primarily done through program-related investments
- projects that improve the environment in the companies’ service territories, as defined by their relationship to the companies’ transmission and distribution facilities
- this one is tricky and very few projects qualify. The project must improve the environment adjacent to Met Ed or Penelec power lines or facilities.
*Applications for grants to support energy efficiency retrofits are highly encouraged to include the results of a third-party energy audit, and not solely rely on an estimate from a system contractor.
How do I apply?
The Sustainable Energy Fund will accept new applications for this program until March 15, 2019.
If you are interested in a program-related investment, please send a letter of inquiry to Heidi Williamson (heidiw@bccf.org) if you are within the Met-Ed territory or Angie Berzonski (aberzonski@cfalleghenies.org) if you are within the Penelec territory. Your letter of inquiry should outline, in no more than two pages, how the project meets the mission of the fund, the goals for the project, a brief description of the project, a description of how you intend to measure the benefits of the project, as well as the amount of the request. Letters of intent may be submitted at any time.
To apply to the Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Grant Program, you must complete an application. Click on one of the links below to take you to the appropriate application:
The Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Workforce Development Program
The Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Workforce Development Program provides grants to organizations within the territories served by the Met Ed and Penelec electric companies for projects that provide Pennsylvania residents with training for the installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems. Programs that address a critical training and/or safety need will receive preference.
What is a grant?
A grant is a disbursement to a qualified organization for a specific purpose or to support the organization’s operations and does not need to be paid back (unless the funding is misused). A follow-up report is required for each grant received that describes how the money was used, what impact it had, and other relevant information.
When should I apply?
Applications for the Workforce Development Program open on January 15 and are due by March 15.
How much money is available?
The fund will distribute three $25,000 grants for workforce development programs within the fund territories in 2019.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for a grant, the organization and/or program must:
- Be located in Pennsylvania.
- Be requesting a grant for a program that trains Pennsylvania residents to professionally install and/or maintain renewable energy systems. At least 50% of the students in the program must reside within the territories served by the Met Ed and Penelec electric companies.
What is a renewable energy system?
For the purpose of this grant program, renewable energy systems are those that offset standard grid-supplied power through the use of solar, geothermal, biomass, wind, and/or hydroelectric technologies, which may, in some cases, be paired with a battery back-up system for resiliency.
How do I apply?
The Sustainable Energy Fund will accept new applications for this program until March 15, 2019.
To apply to the Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Grant Program, you must complete an application. Click on one of the links below to take you to the appropriate application:
Grants to create educational material about energy efficiency and to support buildings and retrofits
The Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Energy Audit Toolkit Program
The Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Energy Audit Toolkit Program will provide a grant to an organization within the territories served by the Met Ed and Penelec electric companies to create an Energy Audit Toolkit that can be used by organizations to do a “first-pass” on their own energy usage and potential for improvement. The toolkit should also include specific guidance on what happens during a professional energy audit and how to find a certified and unbiased auditor.
Energy Audit Toolkit Program
The goal of the Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Energy Audit Toolkit Program is to support the development of a comprehensive “toolkit” that will assist users in:
• assessing the energy usage of their building;
• developing options for reducing their energy usage;
• understanding what happens during a professional energy audit; and
• finding a certified and unbiased energy auditor that could further assist them. The program’s primary audience is organizations within the territories served by the Met Ed and Penelec electric companies in Pennsylvania (click here for map).
What is a grant?
A grant is a disbursement to a qualified organization for a specific purpose or to support the organization’s operations and does not need to be paid back (unless the funding is misused). A follow-up report is required for each grant received that describes how the money was used, what impact it had, and other relevant information.
When should I apply?
Applications for the Energy Audit Toolkit Program will be available March 1 with a May 31, 2019, deadline. Decisions will be made by the end of July.
How much money is available?
The fund will provide one $30,000 grant to the strongest proposal in 2019.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for this grant, the organization and/or program must:
• be located in Pennsylvania;
• demonstrate expertise in the development of professional education/training materials in the area of energy efficiency; and
• design a toolkit that can be used by organizations within the Met Ed and Penelec service territories. Please note, the selected grant recipient will be responsible for delivering this finished product that can be used as a resource for other organizations.
What kind of projects qualify?
Here are some examples of the types of materials that might be included in an Energy Audit Toolkit:
• A video that introduces users to the goals and process of an energy audit.
• Worksheets (paper and/or online) with directions on how to assess your building’s energy
usage.
• A glossary of terms used in the process of assessing energy usage.
• Examples of clean energy building systems implemented in various parts of the
Commonwealth.
• A guide with “Next Steps” to take after evaluating your organization’s energy usage.
How do I apply?
The Sustainable Energy Fund will accept new applications for this program until May 31, 2019.
To apply to the Met Ed Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund Grant Program, you must complete an application. Click on one of the links below to take you to the appropriate application:
Further details to come.
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MET-ED / PENELEC SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FUND
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Gautier Steel: History in the Making
“This has been a long time coming and we’re very excited about this,” said Jacqueline Kulback, CFO & Controller at Gautier Steel.
Work had begun to fulfill the company’s first customer order of steel plates. Eventually, it will be rolling titanium and other specialty metals.
The Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund (SEF) of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies got a behind-the-scenes look as the mill did its early test runs. Gautier received a $25,000 grant and a $500,000 loan from the SEF to help to complete the nearly $20 million project.
15 years of PA’s sustainable energy funds
In 2000, the sustainable energy industry was bolstered by the creation of special funds across the Commonwealth to provide financial support for projects that promoted renewable and sustainable energy.
Two of those funds, the Metropolitan Edison Company Sustainable Energy Fund of Berks County Community Foundation and the Pennsylvania Electric Company Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, marked their 15th anniversary in 2015.
Download the report here.
OUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS