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DOE Loan Programs Office
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October 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
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LPO Celebrates Labor Day
LPO staff gathered at DOE headquarters to celebrate Labor Day, the 50,000 jobs created by LPO-financed projects, and the important work of the CJJ team on building quality jobs. Chief Operating Officer Sheila Moynihan led a discussion about the legacy of the labor movement and the important of family-sustaining jobs.
The Good Jobs Executive Order highlights practices that LPO encourages in our Community Benefits Plan process that help de-risk projects including:
- Promoting worker voice, through Project Labor Agreements (PLAs), Community Benefits Agreements, voluntary union recognition, and neutrality with respect to union organizing;
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Supporting workforce development through registered apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, labor-management partnerships, and partnerships with training organizations including community colleges and public workforce boards; and
- Supporting workplace health and safety.
Here are ways to connect directly with U.S. Department of Labor Resources:
In our last newsletter, LPO highlighted a new program led by the Office of Energy Jobs. On September 23, 2024, National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard announced the selection of a full-time Michigan Fellow, hosted by the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute. This fellow is part of an inaugural cohort of ten fellows and host organizations funded by the Community Workforce Readiness Accelerator for Major Projects (RAMP) program—which is designed to address workforce gaps while ensuring that historic clean energy investments lift all communities, especially those historically left behind. The inaugural RAMP cohort will lead the charge in creating accessible pathways into high-quality jobs within the rapidly expanding clean energy sector.
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Justice Week 2024: Equity in Action is coming up! This hybrid event (Washington DC and virtual) spotlights the work that DOE is doing to advance energy justice and equity. Join us Tuesday, October 22nd through Thursday, October 24th to learn how specific and intentional actions can drive significant change toward a more equitable, clean, and just energy transition.
LPO applicants should let deal teams know if they plan on attending in person.
A Community Benefits Plan is an essential part of the loan application process, from early application materials to closing and throughout the life of the loan. A well-developed Community Benefits Plan encapsulates how an applicant is partnering with Tribal government and local stakeholders, such as labor unions and nonprofits, to ensure residents and workers will share in the benefits of the proposed project.
Learn more about how to get started on your CBP.
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On the heels of the landmark Holtec Palisades project announcement, be sure to join leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at 9:30am EDT this Friday, October 4, 2024 for a free public webinar discussing the recently released Update to the Advanced Nuclear Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Report.
Among other findings, the updated Advanced Nuclear Liftoff report finds that U.S. nuclear capacity has the potential to triple from ~100 GW in 2024 to ~300 GW by 2050 and that nuclear has an essential role in the energy transition as a clean, firm complement to renewables. Download the updated and original report prior to the webinar to learn more.
Register here to attend this free, public webinar! (** Please note that registration is required to receive the meeting link.)
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The first Tribal Energy Financing Program deal has closed! LPO announced the financing for the microgrid project to be built on the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians by Indian Energy LLC. This project is expected to create 250 construction jobs and eight permanent operations jobs, including prioritizing Tribal-, minority-, and veteran-owned contractors. The project includes an apprenticeship program and prevailing wage requirements for all workers on the project. Indian Energy has also engaged the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals 47 and 569 and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Locals 4 and 500.
Director Jigar Shah and members of LPO's Tribal Energy Financing and Community Jobs & Justice teams joined leadership from the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and other key stakeholders for a community impact tour, roundtable, and site visit.
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LPO has announced the closing of a loan guarantee to Holtec Palisades LLC to restore and resume service of an 800-MW nuclear plant in Covert Township, Michigan. Once complete, this project will be the first recommissioning of a retired nuclear power plant in U.S. history. Holtec has successfully executed a project labor agreement with 15 trade unions that are supporting the project, reinforcing the company’s commitment to collaboration with unionized labor, fair labor practices, and the highest standards of quality and safety. Approximately 45% of the workforce at the site will be union members, represented by the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and the United Government Security Officers of America (UGSOA). Further, Holtec is working with Lake Michigan College (LMC) and other local educational institutions to create skills-based certification programs to support future labor needs and the creation of a talent pipeline. See the Holtec Palisades project page for more details.
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Upcoming
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Join the DOE’s Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize Informational Webinar on October 3, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET to learn about the Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize, which will invest up to $3,375,000 in coalition-building aimed at creating quality clean energy jobs and fostering an equitable and inclusive clean energy workforce.
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Deploy24 is scheduled for December 4-5 in Washington DC – we hope to see you there! Registration is open now, and includes government, Tribal, and non-profit rates. Hosted by the Department of Energy, Deploy24 will showcase cutting-edge innovations, encourage open and honest discussion on breakthrough strategies, and forge collaborations that will strengthen economic competitiveness and enable domestic decarbonization.
Recent
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LPO Senior Consultants Brad Markell, Jay Peck and Wayne Killen, along with LPO Director Jigar Shah joined Forth for their Roadmap Conference in Detroit, MI, to talk about diverse suppliers in the mobility sector, and equitable access to electrified transportation and vehicle charging.
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Jay Peck also attended the Utah Black Chamber Wealth Esteem Conference along with Shalaya Morissette, Chief of the Minority Business and Workforce Division at DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity. While in Utah, Jay also visited the Advanced Clean Energy Storage project, which is under construction and received a loan guarantee in June 2022.
LPO CJJ team member Liz Perera (second from right) on an RE+ panel in September.
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New Housing and Urban Development Grant
In August, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $100 million in new PRO Housing competitive grant funding to cut red tape for housing production and launched a $250 million challenge for transformative housing investments. Through HUD’s Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program, communities across the nation are eligible to apply for funding to remove barriers to local housing production. This announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government work to build more homes and lower housing costs, as outlined in the new White House fact sheet.
New $3.3 Million Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize Is Now Open
The new Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize will award over $3.3 million in prize money to recently formed place-based coalitions focused on creating good jobs in clean energy. The three-phase prize is designed to encourage communities across the country to build coalitions focused on understanding, planning for, and improving job access and quality for clean energy economy laborers. DOE is currently accepting submissions of the prize until January 31, 2025. Learn more and apply to the Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize.
New DOE Program to Increase Diversity in STEM Workforce
On September 24, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new program to fund initiatives aimed at developing a diverse clean energy workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Clean Energy Careers for All (CEC4A) program will award nearly $3 million to non-profit educational organizations—including engineering, scientific, and technical societies—to support programs that promote awareness and interest in clean energy careers among K–12 and university students, alumni and academic professionals, veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals.
DOE will accept applications for new or expanded workforce development programs in key clean energy sectors including renewable energy, building energy efficiency, energy storage, advanced materials and manufacturing, electric vehicles, among others.
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EDA has a wide variety of programs and funding opportunities available. For additional assistance, please contact the relevant Economic Development Representative for your state or district.
The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is part of a concerted effort at the DOE to extend the capacity and capability of states, tribes, local governments, schools, and community-serving organizations to implement high-impact, self-sustaining clean energy projects that center the needs of low-income and disadvantaged communities.
The What Works Plus (WW+) funder collaborative serves as a coordination hub across philanthropy, non-profits, and different levels of government to advance equity and climate resilience by addressing gaps in the implementation of ARPA, BIL, CHIPS, and IRA funding.
RPN is an alliance of federal agencies and commissions working directly with rural communities to expand rural prosperity through job creation, infrastructure development, and community improvement.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has created a toolkit that provides information on DOL’s Good Jobs Initiative, delineates basic elements of a good job, identifies actions that employers, workers, and government can take to support job quality, and outlines a framework for leveraging federal funding to support equity and job quality.
Justice40 establishes the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The Justice40 Initiative Environmental Justice Fact Sheet highlights how DOE will ensure that projects do not create or exacerbate harm.
Do you have questions about Community Benefits Plans or other aspects of how Community Jobs & Justice issues are considered during the LPO financing application process? Explore the LPO Community Jobs & Justice Page at energy.gov/LPO/Community for more information!
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