$275 M Microgrid Deal, Senate Shake-Up, 6 Live Tenders

Hi there,

New this week: the RFP Bulletin. Each listing surfaces the latest funding and procurement calls—key dates, focus areas, why they matter—so you can move first. Tell me if this addition earns its place in your inbox.

Founders are staring down a paradox this week: capital is finally loosening for asset heavy plays—Scale Microgrids just secured a $275 million debt package—yet the Senate’s latest reconciliation draft accelerates the phase out of most IRA credits. Storage keeps its standalone ITC, so bankable structures will skew toward batteries, microgrids, and VPPs able to stack revenues and lean on credit worthy off-takers. On the macro horizon, global cooling demand is set to surpass AI-driven data center load by 2035, opening white space for passive cooling materials, HVAC efficiency software, and grid friendly thermal storage. Emerging market software remains a bright spot: Kazam’s $6.2 million raise shows charge point operators are prioritizing light asset platforms that de-risk hardware rollouts.

If this briefing shaved research hours or revealed a shot on goal, pass it along to a fellow founder and let us know what you’d like to see next.

🔦 Signals Worth Monitoring

🔨Headline: Scale Microgrids closes US $275M debt package for 140 MW distributed generation portfolio

What Happened: KeyBanc, Mitsubishi HC Capital, and two green banks backed projects spanning NY to CA.

Why Founders Should Care: Debt appetite for community scale solar plus storage has thawed—signal to founders that bankability hinges on stacked revenue models and creditworthy off takers, not just tax equity.

🔨Headline: Senate draft slashes most IRA clean energy credits—but keeps the standalone Storage ITC

What Happened: Senate Finance released its reconciliation text on June 16, accelerating phase outs for PTC/ITC on wind, solar, hydrogen, and EVs, yet preserving Section 48(e) storage credits and tightening “foreign entity of concern” rules.

Why Founders Should Care: Storage, micro-grid, and VPP startups may still have an incentive runway, while solar/wind developers must remodel cash flows for shorter credit windows and stricter domestic content tests.

🔨Headline: Cooling demand will dwarf AI data center load by 2035

What Happened: IEA/Ember data show global AC electricity use set to jump 1,200 TWh vs. 800 TWh for data centers, with most growth in emerging markets.

Why Founders Should Care: Passive cooling materials startups may have a golden opportunity and new applications for their technology. Companies like Yotta Energy, which leverage phase change cooling wax for batteries, may see opportunities to expand into other niches. Explore more efficient routes to cooling.

🔨Headline: EV-infra platform Kazam raises US $6.2M led by IFC

What Happened: Bangalore-based SaaS for charge point operators now at US $19M total equity; FY25 revenue quadrupled to US $6M.

Why Founders Should Care: Emerging market grids need software layers to help hardware scale—light asset models for startups seem to have increased demand in emerging markets.

📌 RFP Bulletin

City of Moreno Valley – Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

• 📅 Key Dates: Issued June, 18 2025; pre-bid walk-through July, 2 2025; proposals due July, 31 2025.

• 🗞️ What was released this week: Full RFP package posted on the OpenGov procurement portal.

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Front-of-the-meter BESS EPC, turnkey integration, 20-year O&M.

• 🗺️ Region: Southern California (Riverside County)

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/morenovalley/projects/174362

Georgia Power – 2025 Energy-Storage System Capacity RFP (Draft)

• 📅 Key Dates: “Service date” notice posted June, 20 2025; draft docs out for comment; final RFP to launch Dec, 19 2025.

• 🗞️ What was released this week: Public comment window opened on the 500 MW, ≥2-hour ESS draft.

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Stand-alone or renewable-paired lithium-ion / flow batteries.

• 🗺️ Region: Southeastern U.S. (Southern Company jurisdiction).

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://www.ascendanalytics.com/georgia-power/gpc-rfp-for-ess-2025

Renewable Energy Wildlife Research Fund – 2025 Wind & Solar Wildlife RFPs

• 📅 Key Dates: Open June, 17 2025; proposals due July, 11 2025.

• 🗞️ What was released this week: Biennial solicitation opened for grant proposals.

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Sensor tech, AI-curtailment algorithms, ecological-value studies.

• 🗺️ Region: U.S. national, research-centric.

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://rewi.org/renewable-energy-wildlife-research-fund/

Energize NC (Solar-for-All Fund) – Consumer Lending Platform RFP SFA-003

• 📅 Key Dates: Proposals due July, 10 2025.

• 🗞️ What was released this week: N/A

• 🎯 Focus Areas: Fintech platform to deploy EPA GGRF capital for low-income residential solar in NC/SC.

• 🗺️ Region: NC & SC

• 🔗 RFP Link: RFP SFA 003

DTE Electric – 2025 Clean-Energy & Storage All-Source RFP

• 📅 Key Dates: Notice of Intent to Bid due June, 27 2025; proposals due Dec, 1 2025.

• 🗞️ What was released this week: N/A

• 🎯 Focus Areas: 1.5–3 GW accredited firm capacity (renewables, storage, thermal, DER).

• 🗺️ Region: MISO

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://dtee-irp-2025allsourcerfp.com/

NYSERDA – Tier 1 Renewable Energy Certificates Solicitation (RESRFP25-1)

• 📅 Key Dates: Draft wetlands guidance & schedule preview posted June, 17 2025; RFP release planned Q3 2025.

• 🗞️ What was released this week: N/A.

• 🎯 Focus Areas: New utility-scale solar, wind, hydro eligible for Tier 1 RECs.

• 🗺️ Region: NYISO

• 🔗 RFP Link: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/morenovalley/projects/174362

👀 What we’re continuing to watch

• We will continue to scour for RFPs. If you have a specific type of opportunity you’d like us to look for (grants for example) please reply and tell us.

• Monitoring the One Big Beautiful Bill as the Senate committees continue to work in changes.

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