Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU | G17AS00059

Opportunity Information: Apply for G17AS00059

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G17AS00059) is a USGS research-focused cooperative agreement aimed at improving how we measure and compare the environmental and ecological consequences of different energy sources. The central idea is that energy production is essential for society, but the ways energy is produced and delivered can create ripple effects across connected human and natural systems. In practice, this means looking beyond simple energy output and examining how energy development can affect things like water resources, air quality, biodiversity, and even human health outcomes that may be linked to environmental change.

A major emphasis of the project is wildlife impacts associated with energy facilities and energy-related land uses. USGS indicates it already works on these broader issues, but is specifically seeking partner expertise to gather, synthesize, and analyze wildlife fatality data in settings tied to energy production. This includes fatalities or losses connected to both conventional energy infrastructure interactions and agricultural energy systems such as biomass production and ethanol-related agriculture. The opportunity is not limited to obvious, immediate causes of mortality; it explicitly includes both direct mechanisms (for example, wildlife collisions with infrastructure or entrapment in equipment) and indirect mechanisms tied to habitat change (for example, nest loss due to land clearing or other development-related disturbances). That framing signals the project is meant to capture a more complete picture of how energy development affects wildlife populations, not just the most visible incidents.

The primary technical deliverable implied by the announcement is methodological: developing approaches that allow comparisons across different energy types using a standardized unit of energy produced. In other words, rather than comparing raw counts of wildlife fatalities that may not be comparable across technologies or sites, the work is aimed at creating a more apples-to-apples framework, such as impacts per unit of electricity or fuel generated. This kind of normalization is often necessary because energy technologies differ widely in footprint, operational characteristics, geography, and monitoring practices, all of which can influence observed wildlife impacts. By focusing on methods to compare across energy types, the project is oriented toward producing results that can inform broader assessments and decision-making rather than being limited to a single facility type or location.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, and is categorized as discretionary funding under a cooperative agreement, reflecting an expectation of substantial federal involvement or collaboration during the project. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number listed is 15.808. Eligibility is limited to CESU partners (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice). The posting was created on April 17, 2017, with an original closing date of May 2, 2017. The award ceiling is $100,000, and USGS expected to make one award, suggesting a single, targeted project intended to fill a specific expertise gap and produce a defined set of methods or analytical products that USGS can use in its broader energy-and-environment research portfolio.

• The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Plains CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 17, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 02, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G17AS00059

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