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The California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Food Production Investment Program (FPIP) announced today that they will release a $7 million solicitation in November to fund drop-in energy technologies (Tier I) at existing food production facilities in California. The goals of the solicitation are to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accelerate the adoption of low-carbon technologies, and benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities. This solicitation will only fund drop-in energy technologies. Award limits and the grant duration have not been announced. The deadline to submit applications will be February 2021 with a June 2021 agreement start date.

Who is eligible to apply for the FPIP?

While the solicitation has not been released, to be eligible for funding in previous rounds, applicants were limited to food processing facilities located in California that met all of the following requirements:

1. The applicant must own or operate one or more food processing facility that is the site for the proposed project.
2. The applicant must be a food processing facility as defined by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 311 (Food Manufacturing) or 3121 (Beverage Manufacturing).
3. The proposed project must reduce GHG emissions through energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, or other activities, as defined in the grant solicitation.

What projects are eligible and what will the grant fund?

The focus of Tier I projects is the installation of commercially available energy efficient equipment that are drop-in replacements or additions to current systems and that can result in greater GHG emission reductions and higher efficiency than current best practices or industry standard equipment. Projects must be upgrades / replacements of existing equipment, or additions to existing equipment, that will result in GHG emission reduction. Eligible costs for grant funding were limited to the cost of equipment that will result in reductions of GHG emissions and the cost of any measurement and verification (M&V) required for validation of GHG emissions reduction.

Eligible technologies for Tier I projects under prior solicitations included: compressor controls and system optimization; machine drive controls and upgrades; mechanical dewatering; advanced motors and controls including variable frequency drives; refrigeration system optimization; low-GWP refrigerants; drying equipment; process equipment insulation; boilers, economizers; steam traps, condensate return, heat recovery; evaporators; internal metering and software to manage and control electricity and natural gas and/or fossil fuel use if part of a larger project that reduces energy usage; waste heat to power; industrial cooking equipment; and other types of controls, such as compressed air, automatic blow down for boilers and system optimization.

To read more about past FPIP solicitations click here.

Morrison has experienced success with this program. For more information on this grant or how to apply with Morrison’s assistance, please contact the Morrison Grants Team by email at grants@morrisonco.net or by phone at 530-893-4764.