Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003109
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Mitigating Emissions from Marginal Conventional Wells grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003109) is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The program is designed to help reduce methane emissions associated with marginal conventional wells (MCWs) by funding state-led efforts that support voluntary, permanent plugging and abandonment of these wells and related methane monitoring activities. The overall focus is on cutting methane, a potent greenhouse gas, by addressing emissions sources that can persist when wells are no longer economically productive or are at risk of being left idle without proper closure.
The main purpose of the funding is to make financial assistance available to eligible states so they can, in turn, provide support to operators and well owners. That support is specifically for voluntarily and permanently plugging and abandoning MCWs located on non-federal lands. The program also covers elements of environmental restoration that are required to comply with applicable state or federal plugging and abandonment standards and regulations. In other words, the funding is not limited to the physical act of plugging the wellbore; it is intended to cover the full set of actions needed to close wells properly under governing rules, which can include site-level restoration work required by regulators as part of a compliant abandonment.
A second, closely related objective is to improve understanding and oversight of methane emissions from marginal conventional wells through monitoring. Monitoring can help identify higher-emitting wells, verify emissions reductions after plugging and abandonment, and inform state strategies for prioritizing wells that present the greatest climate and environmental benefit when addressed. By pairing plugging and abandonment with monitoring, the program aims to deliver both near-term emissions reductions and better data for longer-term methane management.
Eligibility is aimed primarily at state governments, with the notice also indicating that other eligible applicants may exist as described in the opportunitys additional eligibility language. The intent, however, is clearly state-centered implementation, where states design and run programs consistent with their regulatory frameworks and then distribute assistance to operators and well owners to carry out voluntary well closure work. The activity category is listed under environment and natural resources, and the assistance listing is associated with CFDA number 81.089.
From a funding and scale standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $101,554,542 and anticipates approximately 30 awards. The funding instrument is a grant. The opportunity was created on August 30, 2023, and the original closing date was September 30, 2023. The administering agency is DOE NETL, reflecting the technical and emissions-mitigation focus of the program as part of broader federal climate and methane reduction efforts supported by the IRA.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity supports state programs that reduce methane emissions by accelerating the permanent closure of marginal conventional wells on non-federal lands, ensuring abandonment work meets applicable regulatory standards, and strengthening methane monitoring around these wells. The expected result is fewer leaking or at-risk wells, improved environmental conditions at restored sites, and better measurement and verification of methane reductions achieved through state-led plugging and abandonment initiatives.Apply for DE FOA 0003109
- The Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – Mitigating Emissions from Marginal Conventional Wells" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.089.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 30, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $101,554,542.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Mitigating Emissions from Marginal Conventional Wells grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0003109.
Which federal agencies administer or support this program?
This is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program is designed to reduce methane emissions associated with marginal conventional wells (MCWs). Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and emissions can persist when wells are no longer economically productive or are at risk of being left idle without proper closure.
What are marginal conventional wells (MCWs) in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, MCWs are conventional wells that are marginal and may be no longer economically productive, potentially idle, or at risk of not being properly closed, which can lead to continued methane emissions.
What is the primary purpose of the funding?
The main purpose is to make financial assistance available to eligible states so they can support operators and well owners in voluntarily and permanently plugging and abandoning marginal conventional wells located on non-federal lands.
Is the plugging and abandonment required to be voluntary?
Yes. The opportunity is focused on supporting voluntary, permanent plugging and abandonment of marginal conventional wells.
What does "permanent plugging and abandonment" mean under this program?
It refers to closing wells in a way that is intended to be lasting and compliant with applicable plugging and abandonment standards and regulations, rather than leaving wells idle or improperly closed.
Are the wells required to be on a certain type of land?
Yes. The funding is specifically for marginal conventional wells located on non-federal lands.
Does the funding only cover the physical act of plugging the wellbore?
No. The program is intended to cover the full set of actions needed to close wells properly under governing rules. It also covers elements of environmental restoration that are required to comply with applicable state or federal plugging and abandonment standards and regulations.
What kinds of environmental restoration activities are supported?
The opportunity supports environmental restoration elements that are required for compliance with applicable state or federal plugging and abandonment standards and regulations, as part of properly closing wells.
Is methane monitoring part of the program?
Yes. A closely related objective is to improve understanding and oversight of methane emissions from marginal conventional wells through methane monitoring activities.
Why does the program include methane monitoring?
Monitoring can help identify higher-emitting wells, verify emissions reductions after plugging and abandonment, and inform state strategies for prioritizing wells that provide the greatest climate and environmental benefit when addressed.
How does the program expect to achieve methane reductions?
By accelerating the permanent closure of marginal conventional wells on non-federal lands, ensuring abandonment work meets applicable regulatory standards, and strengthening methane monitoring around these wells.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed primarily at state governments. The notice also indicates that other eligible applicants may exist as described in the opportunity's additional eligibility language, but the intent is clearly state-centered implementation.
How is the program expected to be implemented?
The program is structured for state-led efforts. States design and run programs consistent with their regulatory frameworks and then distribute assistance to operators and well owners to carry out voluntary well closure work.
Who ultimately receives support through the state programs?
The funding is intended for states to provide support to operators and well owners for voluntary, permanent plugging and abandonment of marginal conventional wells on non-federal lands, along with related required restoration and methane monitoring activities.
What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing is associated with CFDA number 81.089.
What is the activity category for this grant?
The activity category is environment and natural resources.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount listed (award ceiling)?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $101,554,542.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates approximately 30 awards.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 30, 2023.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was September 30, 2023.
What outcomes does the program expect?
Expected results include fewer leaking or at-risk wells, improved environmental conditions at restored sites, and better measurement and verification of methane reductions achieved through state-led plugging and abandonment initiatives.
How does this opportunity connect to broader federal goals?
It is part of broader federal climate and methane reduction efforts supported by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with DOE NETL administering the program and EPA as a partner.
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