REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Grid Modernization Program

The State of New Mexico, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECAM) is requesting applications pursuant to 17.9.588 New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), Grid Modernization Grant Program (Program), from government entities for grid modernization projects to assist New Mexico in developing a modern electric grid that transitions the state to 100-percent zero-carbon electricity resources.

Grid modernization projects are those that make improvements to electric distribution or transmission infrastructure to accommodate or facilitate the integration of renewable electric generation resources with the electric distribution grid or otherwise enhance electric distribution or transmission grid reliability, grid security, demand response capability, customer service or energy efficiency or conservation.

Eligible Applicants include municipalities and county governments; state agencies; state universities; public schools; post-secondary education institutions; and Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos.  All projects must take place within New Mexico.

Projects must fit within one of three types.

Type 1: projects are original research projects that advance the state’s understanding and appreciation of grid function, reliability, resilience, security and operation as it relates to the integration of renewable and zero-carbon resources, including impacts on customer behavior, operations and maintenance costs or the value of specific grid technologies;

Type 2 projects consist of pre-construction or design activities to support grid modernization construction/installation projects;

Type 3 projects involve construction, installation, operation and verification of a grid modernization technology at a project site.

ECAM may fund all three types of projects proposed by one entity.

Questions concerning this NOFO should be submitted electronically in writing with “GRID MOD NOFO” in the subject header to:

Chadette Pfaff
EMNRD, ECAM
1220 South St. Francis Drive
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
Chadette.pfaff@emnrd.nm.gov

A preproposal conference will be held October 7, 2025, 11 a.m. MDT. On Microsoft Teams

Meeting ID: 239 916 704 089 6

Passcode: 9xw7jT9r
Dial in by phone
+1 505-312-4308,,752484507# United States, Albuquerque
Find a local number
Phone conference ID: 752 484 507#

Written answers to those questions will be posted to this page.  Applications will be accepted on a monthly rolling basis beginning November 1, 2025 until all the available funds are allocated.  Projects shall be completable two years after the date of the fully executed contract, and all projects must be completed by June 30, 2028.  ECAM may award multiple agreements under this NOFO.  To be considered for funding, applications must be complete and must demonstrate that the project will meet all of the stipulated evaluation criteria.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) Program Projects

The ECAM Division is requesting applications from Indian Nations, Tribes, or Pueblos; county or municipal governments; and Housing New Mexico | MFA for CEED Program projects to provide improvements to residential buildings in underserved communities in New Mexico that will in the aggregate, decrease residents’ energy use, energy burden, and/or carbon intensity of energy consumption.

Community energy efficiency projects will target the adoption of energy-efficient consumer behavior, equipment, or devices that result in a decrease in energy consumption without reducing the amount or quality of energy services. This includes health and safety measures, including those that use efficient equipment or devices to improve indoor air or drinking water quality, and equipment or electrification upgrades.

Applications must be complete and submitted by September 30, 2025. Prospective applicants will be able to ask questions leading up to the RFA deadline. A non-mandatory pre-proposal information session was held at 3:00 p.m. on August 8, 2025 via Microsoft Teams (see below for recording). 

ECAM may award multiple agreements under this RFA. To be considered for funding, applications must demonstrate that the project will meet all of the RFA evaluation criteria.

Closes – September 30, 2025 at 5:00pm MT.

• Application packages contain application and attachments (Budget, Grant of Authority progress—see links to documents at the CEED Program page here) and must be submitted via email in PDF format to EMNRD-CEED@state.nm.us.

Questions concerning this RFA should be submitted electronically in writing with “CEED 2025 RFA” in the subject header to:

Ed McIlvain
EMNRD – ECAM
1220 S. St Francis Drive
Santa Fe, NM 87505
EMNRD-CEED@state.nm.us

Written answers to those questions will be posted to this page and to www.emnrd.nm.gov/ecmd/CEED. Please submit all questions no later than Friday, September 12, 2025.