Deadline extended to 1:00 p.m. EDT on 29 July 2010.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Methane to Markets Partnership has issued a major request for proposals (RFP) to fund projects and activities that advance cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The solicitation — RFP #: EPA-OAR-CCD-10-02-03: “Activities that Advance Methane Recovery and Use as a Clean Energy Source” – is available here.

The goal of the Partnership is to reduce global methane emissions in order to enhance economic growth, strengthen energy security, improve air quality, improve industrial safety, and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The total estimated amount for this competitive funding opportunity is up to $5 million. EPA expects to award up to thirty-five cooperative agreements through this announcement, at $100,000 to $750,000 per award. The project period for awards resulting from this solicitation will begin in October 2010. Proposed project periods may be up to three years.

Successful proposals will support the Partnership’s Action Plans and advance project development in the following Methane to Markets Partner countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

Additionally, proposals will be accepted from developing countries or countries with economies in transition that are in the process of applying to join the partnership, as long as an acceptable (prescribed) letter of intent from these countries has been submitted to the Methane to Markets Administrative Support Group prior to the close of the RFP deadline of April 15, 2010, 1:00 p.m. EST.

2009 Projects

At the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, the U.S. EPA awarded $3.9 million in funding to support methane capture and use projects and stimulate clean energy development across all four Methane to Markets sectors, with individual grants ranging from $20,000 to $700,000. The projects will include training and capacity building, development of databases and information clearinghouses for potential sites, feasibility studies, technology transfer, and project expositions.

The Partnership

Since the Partnership began five years ago, the U.S. EPA has awarded nearly $13 million in grants to 70 methane emission reduction projects.

The Methane to Markets Partnership expects to achieve significant economic, environmental, and energy benefits. When Methane to Markets was launched in 2004, it was estimated that within 10 years, the Partnership had the potential to deliver estimated annual reductions in methane emissions of more than 180 MMTCO2E, or the equivalent of:

• More than 760 billion cubic feet of natural gas
• CO2 emissions from nearly 420 million barrels of oil consumed
• Annual emissions from 76 500-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plants

Print PDF