Program Overview
DEQ currently offers grants and loan programs for alternative energy systems, alternative fuel transportation, and electric vehicle infrastructure. Additional tax credits and rebates recently passed by congress will roll out soon. Some of those grants and rebates will be administered by DEQ, while others will be administered federally.
Find more information on DEQ’s current programs by selecting alternative fuels and transportation or alternative energy loans below.
Programs and Funding Opportunities from DEQ
Congress enacted the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) providing once-in-a-generation investments into our nation’s infrastructure, manufacturing competitiveness, domestic energy production, and clean energy deployment. Numerous funding opportunities are available through these laws including grants, loans, tax credits, and rebates. DEQ’s Energy Bureau is implementing programs allocated to state energy offices, while other programs are implemented federally or through tax credits.
Programs are at varying stages of development within Federal agencies. Timelines for implementation vary by program. As guidance is developed, the Energy Bureau will provide updates for programs implemented by DEQ. This includes grid resiliency projects, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, energy efficiency loans, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, low emission school bus grants, workforce development grants, building code development, and energy efficiency and electrification rebates.
New Funding Opportunity
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Energy Bureau invites eligible applicants to submit an application in response to this Request for Applications (RFA) for funding of energy feasibility and/or engineering studies to help inform the scope, design, and cost of innovative energy projects.
This RFA is funded by DEQ as part of the State of Montana's application for funding under the U.S. Department of Energy's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) State Energy Program (SEP) through Federal Grant No. DE-EE0010083.
DEQ intends to provide approximately $356,000 to successful applicants from this RFA as reimbursement funding for eligible projects based on completion and acceptance of project milestones.
DEQ will only review applications submitted via eMACS by the deadline identified in the RDA schedule. Applicants may submit questions regarding this RFA to the eMACS Q&A board by 2:00pm Mountain Standard Time (MST) November 26, 2025. All answers to questions received through the Q&A Board will be posted to the same as soon as possible. To find this RFA in eMACS, search for event 0212.
FINANCIAL AND INCENTIVE CONTACTS
Program Support Specialist
Kristyn Fullerton (406) 444-6460
If you would like to stay up to date on the rollout of these programs, please sign up for our interested parties list below.
DEQ Programs
Additional Federal Programs and Opportunities
Tax Incentives
Tax credits are available for homeowners, commercial small businesses, local governments, Tribal governments, schools and Universities, utilities, electric cooperatives, and project developers.
Opportunities are available for energy efficiency projects, renewable energy and power generation, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, manufacturing, transmission, project sitting, and reinvestment financing.
Funding through Other Agencies
Additional funding is available through the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Montana Department of Health and Human Services.
Opportunities are available for homeowners, commercial small businesses, local governments, Tribal governments, schools and Universities, utilities, electric cooperatives, and project developers