DOE Title 17 Section 1703 Clean Energy Loan Guarantee
U.S. Department of Energy — Loan Programs Office (LPO)
Typically $500M or more
Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 7 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Federal guarantee for large-scale clean energy project financing
DOE's Title 17 Section 1703 Loan Guarantee Program provides federal loan guarantees for innovative clean energy projects that employ new or significantly improved energy technologies to avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases. The IRA added $40 billion in loan authority through September 30, 2026. Eligible technologies include solar, wind, nuclear, advanced fossil with carbon capture, energy storage, industrial efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles, and more. Primarily used by large project developers, utilities, and clean energy manufacturers — EDF says loan guarantees are typically $500M or more. NOTE: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) rescinded unobligated IRA 1703 appropriations, significantly reducing available capacity.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- Federal
- Amount
- No formal minimum, but EDF says loan guarantees are typically $500 million or more, because of administration priorities and fixed costs. Maximum determined by available loan authority. Interest rate = U.S. Treasury rate for loan term + no credit spread. Application fees reduced under IRA: $50,000 for Part I; $100,000 for Part II (loans ≤$150M) or $350,000 for Part II (loans >$150M). Closing fee: 0.1% of principal.
- Realistic amount
- EDF says loan guarantees are typically $500M or more; smaller ones are rare because of fixed due-diligence costs.
- Deadline
- Rolling, no application deadline; request a pre-application consultation with DOE's Office of Energy Dominance Financing (formerly LPO) for the Title 17 Energy Financing Program
- Status
- active
- States
- Nationwide
- Payment model
- advance
Who qualifies
- Must be a project that employs new or significantly improved energy technology (1703 standard) OR supported by a State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI-supported — technology-agnostic)
- Eligible technology categories: solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear, advanced fossil energy with carbon capture, hydrogen, energy storage, transmission, efficiency (commercial and industrial), alternative fuel vehicles, pollution control
- Must be a project facility located in the United States
- For-profit entities, utilities, public power entities, and independent power producers are eligible
- Must demonstrate creditworthiness and repayment ability through LPO due diligence
- No prior bankruptcy within prior years (LPO credit standards apply)
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Restricted to industry: eligible clean energy technology (see program)
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Project construction, equipment, and installation costs
- Engineering, procurement, and construction management
- Environmental compliance and permitting costs
- Refinancing of existing debt in some cases (EIR sub-program)
Ineligible expenses
- Pure R&D without a manufacturing or deployment component
- Working capital unrelated to the project
- Projects using commercially proven technologies without significant innovation (unless SEFI-supported)
- Projects outside the United States
How to apply
-
1
Pre-application consultation (no cost, no commitment)
Email lgprogram@hq.doe.gov to initiate a conversation with LPO staff about project eligibility, program fit, and LPO's process. LPO encourages all potential applicants to consult before formally applying.
-
2
Part I Application ($50,000 fee)
Submit the Part I application covering project description, technology, market, financing plan, and organizational overview. LPO provides a preliminary eligibility and viability assessment.
-
3
Due diligence (6–24+ months, applicant bears advisor costs)
LPO engages independent legal, technical, and financial advisors. Applicant is responsible for all third-party advisor costs throughout due diligence — these can be substantial for large projects.
-
4
Conditional Commitment and loan closing
LPO issues a Conditional Commitment if due diligence is successful. After satisfying closing conditions, the loan guarantee is executed. Closing fee: 0.10% of principal. Annual maintenance fee applies post-closing.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) rescinded most of the IRA's unobligated Section 1703 appropriations. Verify with LPO whether the specific technology and project size you have can still be financed under residual 2005 EPA authority before investing in application preparation.
Deadline & timing
IRA-era loan authority (Section 1703) was available through September 30, 2026, but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) rescinded unobligated IRA-appropriated amounts, significantly reducing available capacity. Statutory loan guarantee authority under the 2005 Energy Policy Act may still support projects in some technology categories. Contact LPO to determine current availability.
Applications are open — don’t lose the window
GrantCompass tracks DOE Title 17 Section 1703 Clean Energy Loan Guarantee’s application windows in the live catalog. Leave an email and we’ll warn you before this window closes — and tell you when the next round opens.
Free. One email when the window moves, deadline warnings on your watchlist, and the monthly closing-soon digest. Unsubscribe anytime.
Programs that stack well
Related programs
Also open right now
Alternatives computed from the live GrantCompass catalog on November 1, 2026 — all 170 open grant programs · filter the database.
Explore more funding
Last updated October 22, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.