January 27, 2023
Welcome To the New DOE Office of State
and Community Energy Programs
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP), to create new and more accessible pathways to federal funding and technical assistance partnerships for states, tribes, and local communities. Programs led by SCEP will help communities nationwide significantly accelerate the deployment of clean, reliable energy technologies, creating high-quality jobs, and helping ensure that households and businesses see lower energy bills and other benefits.
With $16 billion of funding from annual appropriations, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, DOE through SCEP, is delivering programs to further empower states, tribal nations, territories, local governments, school districts, and nonprofits, to catalyze local economic development, create goodpaying jobs, and reduce energy costs for families and businesses.
For more information, visit the SCEP website.
State, Local, and Tribal Governments Can Begin Applying for Funding Through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program
On Jan. 18, 2023, the DOE opened the application window for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program and published the program’s Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD). This document provides guidance for the EECBG Program formula funding application process and general information about the funding opportunity. The ALRD further highlights the options available to eligible communities to maximize program impact and best serve each community’s specific needs.
The EECBG Program formula grant will provide more than $430 million to support community-based clean energy and energy efficiency projects in 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, 774 tribes, and 1,878 local governments—serving more than 250 million Americans. This investment in American communities will support local programming and deploy clean energy technologies to cut emissions, reduce consumers’ energy costs, and help meet President Biden’s goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.
Eligible local and tribal governments can choose to take their EECBG Program funding in the form of a grant or take advantage of vouchers for technical assistance or equipment rebates to reduce the administrative burden of managing a federal grant.
Further, the EECBG Program developed blueprints, or step-by-step roadmaps of energy projects and programs that guide EECBG Program entities to success. DOE will prioritize the review of applications that follow the blueprints, and entities that pursue blueprints can expect their awards to be processed on an expedited timeline.
To complement the ALRD publication, the EECBG Program will host a series of webinars to help guide applicants through the application and awards processes. The webinars will provide technical guidance on the application process, tips for making the most of the EECBG Program funding, and strategies for building a clean and equitable energy economy that prioritizes disadvantaged communities.
- Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, 1–2 p.m. ET: Introduction to the EECBG Program for Tribal Governments
Check the EECBG Program website for recordings of previous webinars that will be posted soon.
State applications are due by July 31, 2023. Local government and tribal government applications are due by Jan. 31, 2024. However, all entities interested in applying must submit the Pre-Award Information Sheet by April 28, 2023.To view the EECBG Program NOI, please visit: Financial Opportunities: Funding Opportunity Exchange.
SCEP Seeks Public Input on Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates Program Design
SCEP is pleased to share a request for information (RFI) for new Home Energy Rebates programs. Authorized in President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification Rebates programs will help U.S. households upgrade to more efficient home technology, lower energy bills, increase home comfort, improve indoor air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Your feedback will be used to create program guidance to help states, tribes, and other entities design, manage, and improve these rebate programs. The programs, which aim to develop, implement, and subsidize residential energy efficiency and electrification projects in households across the United States, will save an estimated $1 billion annually.
- The Home Efficiency Rebates program, also referred to as the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole House Rebate program, offers $4.3 billion in formula grants to State Energy Offices to assist with home retrofits.
- The Home Electrification Rebates program, also referred to as the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate program, offers $4.2 billion in formula grants to State Energy Offices and $225 million in grants to tribes to install efficient electric technology into homes.
The RFI solicits your input on best practices in designing these programs to support American households as we work toward our vital clean energy transition as a nation. Please provide input only on questions of relevance or interest to you. Responses must be submitted electronically as an attachment to IRAHomeRebates@hq.doe.gov by 8 p.m. ET on March 3, 2023.
SCEP is asking for input from states, tribes, local governments, energy contractors, labor organizations, manufacturers, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders. Thank you for helping us develop programs that best serve the needs of communities. For additional information on the programs, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
DOE Develops New Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools
DOE has developed a new “Energy Justice Mapping Tool for Schools” that builds on DOE’s original “Energy Justice Mapping Tool.” This new tool is intended to allow users to explore and produce reports for a specific school facility which include but are not limited to the following metrics: whether the school is located in a Disadvantaged Community (DAC); whether it is in a rural location (coded as 41, 42, 43); whether it is designated as a community shelter; the percentage of students who are eligible to receive free and reduced priced meals; and whether the school qualifies for Title I schoolwide programming.
In addition to the tool, DOE recently announced first-of-its-kind investments to make clean energy improvements at K-12 public schools. Funds will position school districts to make upgrades that will lower facilities’ energy costs and foster healthier learning environments for students.
Schools can now apply for the first round of the Renew America's Schools grant,up to $80 million of the $500 million program, to make energy improvements especially in the highest-need districts across the country.The Energy Champions Leading the Advancement of Sustainable Schools Prize (Energy CLASS Prize) program is also accepting applications for up to 25 local education agencies to receive $100,000 to staff and train select administration and facilities personnel as energy managers.
Learn more about opportunities for public school facilities.
DOE Announces the Buildings Upgrade Prize
The Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades.
In Phase 1 of Buildings UP, teams will submit innovative concepts to increase building energy upgrades, choosing to enter one of two pathways: “Equity-Centered Innovation” or “Open Innovation.”
Winning “Equity-Centered Innovation” teams, focused on delivering upgrades to low- and moderate-income homes; small, disadvantaged businesses; and other equity-eligible buildings, will receive $400,000 in cash. Winning “Open Innovation” teams will receive $200,000 in cash. Winners from both pathways will also receive expert technical assistance and coaching to help bring their ideas to life.
Community-based organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, building owners, utilities, nonprofit organizations, energy efficiency program implementers, and other organizations are encouraged to team up and apply. Phase 1 opens for submissions on Feb. 18, 2023.
Up to 50 Application Support Prizes of $5,000 and 10 hours of technical assistance are available to help new and under-resourced teams complete Phase 1 applications. The Application Support Prize openend for submissions on Jan. 18, 2023, and will be awarded on a rolling basis until funds are expended.
Follow Buildings UP on HeroX.com for all prize-related updates. Phase 1 submissions are due by July 18, 2023.
DOE Launches New $50 Million Program To Help Communities Meet Clean Energy Goals
DOE launched a new $50million program to help communities across the country transition to clean energy systems that are reliable, affordable, equitable, and reflective of local priorities. The Clean Energy to Communities program (C2C) will connect local governments, electric utilities, community-based groups, and others with the innovative modeling and testing tools developed at DOE’s world-class national laboratories to transform their clean energy goals and ambitions into reality.
By helping communities reach their clean energy targets, this new program reflects President Biden’s continued commitment to ensuring that every community unlocks the public health and cost-saving benefits of a clean energy future.
C2C provides integrated technical support to communities across renewable power, grid, mobility, and buildings sectors. The program seeks to provide the type and amount of support communities require to meet their unique interests and needs in transitioning to a clean energy economy. For C2C’s in-depth partnerships, this includes funding to support program participation.
C2C offers three levels of technical assistance:
- In-depth technical partnerships: Multi-year partnerships that provide cross-sector modeling, analysis, and validation, paired with direct funding to help four to five selected teams of local governments, electric utilities, and community-based organizations reach their goals and/or overcome specific challenges.
- Peer-learning cohorts: Small groups of local governments, electric utilities, or community-based organizations that meet regularly for approximately six months to learn from each other and lab experts in a collaborative environment to develop program proposals, action plans, strategies, and/or best practices on a pre-determined clean energy topic. Cohorts will include approximately 100 communities in total.
- Expert match: Short-term assistance (40–60 hours) with one or more technical experts to help address near-term clean energy questions or challenges for up to 200 communities.
Learn more about the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and C2C, including how to apply for technical assistance.
Join Community Power Acceleratorand Apply for theCommunity Power Accelerator Prize
TheCommunity Power AcceleratorTMconnects developers, investors, philanthropists, and community-based organizations to create an ecosystem of partners that work together to get more equity-focused community solar projects financed and deployed.
Part of the DOENational Community Solar Partnership, the accelerator will create a pipeline of credit-ready community solar projects—particularly those that provide benefits to underserved communities—and connect them with mission-aligned investors and philanthropic organizations to get these projects funded.
TheCommunity Power Accelerator Prizeis a $10 million prize competition designedtofast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support multiple successful community solar projects. Competitors can win up to $400,000 each over three prize rounds by showing notable progress in project pre-development activities.
Attend the informational webinaron Feb. 1 at 12 p.m. ET, andregister to compete for the prizeby March 15.
Grid Deployment Office Launches Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants Program with $760M Inflation Reduction Act Investment
The DOE Grid Deployment Office launched the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants program, a $760 million investment through the Inflation Reduction Act to support states and local communities in the siting and permitting of interstate and offshore electricity transmission lines.
As a first step in the development of this program, DOE is requesting information from stakeholders regarding issues related to the provision of grants to facilitate the siting of interstate and offshore electricity transmission lines, including possible tools and resources that may reduce the time for siting authorities to reach decisions, and opportunities to increase community engagement and reduce conflicts that can stall siting processes. Learn more about the Grid Deployment Office.
TheState and Local Solution Centeris an online technical assistance portal that provides technical assistance resources to enable strategic investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies through the use of innovative practices across the United States by a wide range of stakeholders, in partnership with state and local organizations and community-based nonprofits.
The State and Local Solution Center is managed by DOE's Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). SCEP supports DOE's mission to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to equitably transition America to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050, and ensure the clean energy economy benefits all Americans, creating good paying jobs for the American people—especially workers and communities impacted by the energy transition and those historically underserved by the energy system and overburdened by pollution.
