Official Government Website
The Office of Energy and Mineral Resources (OEMR) is pleased to announce a competitive grant financing opportunity, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, for rural public K-12 schools that will offer $2 million in financial assistance to eligible schools that need to make energy improvements to their facilities. The K-12 Energy Enhancement Program (KEEP) assists eligible public K-12 schools that reside in rural school districts, to implement projects to reduce energy and tax burdens, increase energy resilience, and increase energy savings. The program’s intent is to complete energy reducing retrofits in a cost-effective manner that will yield long-term benefits for the community.
For detailed information regarding application requirements please review the Request for Application document below.
Application Period Open: March 31, 2025
Informational Webinar Recording: K-12 Energy Enhancement Program Webinar
Application Period Closes: 11:59PM MST on May 30, 2025
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants:
Public K-12 schools located within rural school districts are eligible to apply for this funding. Rural school districts are defined in Idaho Code § 33-319. An eligible list of rural school districts can be found below in Helpful Resources.
Eligible Projects:
- Installation of energy efficient lighting
- HVAC upgrades
- Weatherization, which includes weather sealing, replacement of windows and doors, and insulation
- Purchase and installation of energy efficient appliances and equipment, including control systems, thermostats, furnaces and air conditioners
- Retrofit of energy efficient pumps and motors in existing systems
Application Review Stages
*Applicants will be notified of their application status in July 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Frequently Asked Questions
All questions shall be submitted in writing via email with the subject line “Idaho KEEP Application Question [School Name, School District Name].” OEMR will answer questions within three (3) business days via the public FAQ document linked above. All applicants are responsible for checking this webpage on a regular basis for updates to the FAQ document and other pertinent updates. OEMR’s technical assistance may consist of (1) application interpretation and clarification, (2) identification of all required documents, (3) budget information clarification, and (4) reporting compliance. For questions and technical assistance please email Alexa Bouvier at alexa.bouvier@oer.idaho.gov.
Application Documents for Interested Applicants
- K-12 Request for Applications
- K-12 Energy Enhancement Program Application
- K-12 Budget Information Worksheet
Helpful Resources
- Informational Webinar
- K-12 Program Eligible School Districts
NEPA and SHPO
- Appendix B, Programmatic Agreement Between the United States Department of Energy, The Idaho Office of Energy Resources, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office Regarding SEP Undertakings
- Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy NEPA Determination
- SHPO Consultation Form KEEP
Davis Bacon Act/LCPtracker
- Davis-Bacon Act Requirements for Recipients of Bipartisan infrastructure Law Funding
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Davis Bacon Act Compliance Using LCPtracker
- Occupational/Job Type Descriptions
- DOL Memorandum 130 & 131
Build America Buy America Act
Additional State and Federal Requirements
- 2 CFR 910- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Special Terms and Conditions
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
- Procurement of Public Works Construction (Idaho Statute 67-2805)
- Idaho Code Title 67, Chapter 28
- Idaho Code Title 54, Chapter 19