Applications Are Open for the Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant 🏢

Greetings, I am Henry McKoy and I serve as Director of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). At SCEP, we have taken the helm of one of the largest investments in communities and neighborhoods that America ever experienced. I am excited that you have chosen to stay “in the know” on the latest news coming out of our office, which means, like me, you are passionate about our nation’s investment in clean energy. 

DOE announced the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize. The $7.75 million prize competition will support the creation of clean energy community networks to inspire the next generation of students to work in science, technology, engineering, and technology (STEM) fields related to clean energy. 

The prize is open to all 100+ HBCU institutions across the United States, and schools are eligible to compete in one or both prize tracks:  

• The Inspire Track supports the development and expansion of HBCU-hosted clean energy summer or academic break programs for K-12 and community college students. Submissions open for this track in May 2023 and close in August 2023.  
• The Partnership Track supports building partnerships between HBCUs and other universities to provide opportunities that will equip HBCU students with the skills needed to succeed in the clean energy industry. Submissions open for the Partnership Track in September 2023. 

If you have questions, please register for the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize Informational Webinar.

Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) is a well-established financing tool to deliver energy and infrastructure upgrades and cost savings to public sector building owners with little to no up-front capital. Having knowledgeable in-house staff or owner's representatives to guide ESPC projects through all steps of the process, from procurement to performance period measurement and verification, can help to ensure project success.

The Performance Contracting National Resource Center (PCNRC) Training Certificate Series supports emerging and experienced professionals alike in building their performance contracting expertise. By combining interactive learning features and content checks throughout eight accredited training modules, users can gain an understanding of project roles and processes and demonstrate their ESPC proficiency. 

Get started with the first 4 modules of the Training Certificate Series. The remaining four modules will be released on a rolling basis through summer 2023. Questions about the Training Certificate Series or accessing additional ESPC resources can be sent to PCNRC@hq.doe.gov.

Last week, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials announced billions of dollars in additional investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to support fossil energy workers and spur long-term economic revitalization in energy communities. The influx of funding comes on the heels of the two-year anniversary of the creation of the Interagency Working Group (Energy Communities IWG) on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization.

In honor of its two-year anniversary, the Energy Communities IWG released Revitalizing Energy Communities: Two-Year Report to the President, its first public report since the initial report in April 2021 to preview the Administration’s path forward to ensure the nation sustains momentum in building a clean energy future made in America and powered by American workers.

Read the White House factsheet on last week’s event.

The National Community Solar Partnership is launching a webinar series to highlight best practices in developing community solar projects. Learn more about this webinar series and register for the first webinar, titled, ‘Building with Benefits: Greater Household Savings.’

Community solar developers, community-based organizations, local and state government leaders, utilities, and other groups involved in developing or supporting community solar projects or programs are encouraged to participate in these webinars to learn from leaders in the field and discuss best practices in building equitable community solar systems.

Is your community solar project or program delivering meaningful benefits? Apply for the 2023 Sunny Awards by July 14, 2023.

As the U.S. economy moves toward clean energy and a lower carbon future, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking to partner with states, local governments, and public utilities and agencies to support the procurement and use of commercial or industrial products derived from anthropogenic carbon oxides.

These efforts are enabled by provisions included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Section 40302. As part of BIL, DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and the National Energy Technology Laboratory will establish a demonstration grant program for eligible entities to procure and use carbon conversion products. Read the notice of intent for this opportunity.

Eligible entities are defined as states, local governments, or public utilities and agencies. Learn more about the Utilization Procurement Grants (UPGrants) Program by visiting the Eligible Entities information page. Additional supporting information can be found by visiting the UPGrants Resources page.

State, local, and educational entities seeking to improve facilities, reduce costs and optimize the impact of available funds—this free tool is for you!

With eProject eXpress (ePX), institutions can track project data, safely store all relevant files and documentation, and monitor project results. Using ePX can significantly reduce customers' costs and staff time associated with tracking project data and contract agreements and clearly demonstrate the success of energy efficiency programs.

Learn more about how ePX can support your energy efficiency projects and programs with these on-demand webinars. Have questions, need technical assistance, or would like to provide feedback on ePX? Contact us today.

DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office launched the new Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES) to help prepare students to enter the bioeconomy workforce. The BRIDGES Educator Resources Portal and case study-based education curriculum supports educators in encouraging students to embrace new ways of thinking while building confidence and critical thinking skills with free resources to ignite a passion for bioenergy.

For more information email Bioenergy_BRIDGES@ee.doe.gov.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, has selected 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJTCTACs) to receive $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities across the country. Each of the technical assistance centers will receive at least $10 million to remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.

With this critical investment, these centers will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding. In addition, these centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants.

Each of the technical assistance centers will also create and manage communication channels to ensure all communities have direct access to resources and information. Learn more about the 17 EJ TCTACs.

DOE’s Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program funds recent graduates and energy professionals to increase access to clean energy career opportunities across the country and accelerate the national transition to resilient and affordable clean energy. 

The Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program is expanding to include a focus on grid resilience and innovative grid services within states, territories, and tribal institutions.  

Applications for Innovator Fellows opened May 24, 2023, and are due by June 12. Have questions? Submit them to ceif@ee.doe.gov; answers will be posted to our frequently asked questions.

The DOE’s Building Technologies Office is seeking university and college professors to help cultivate the next generation of building scientists through the JUMP into STEM program. This university and college student competition inspires the next generation of building scientists and encourages diversity in the field.

Student teams participate in the real-world learning experience by submitting written responses to challenges that reflect the industry’s most pressing topics. Challenge-level winners are matched with mentors in their field of interest. Eligible teams are then invited to present at the final event, which will be held at Oak Ridge National Lab in January 2024.

Learn about joining JUMP into STEM’s Professor Team.

DOE has begun accepting applications for the 2024 Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC), an annual competition that aims to prepare the future wind energy workforce through real-world technology, project development, and outreach experience. The CWC gives multidisciplinary teams of college students an opportunity to build skills, share knowledge, and develop professional relationships that will help them find jobs in the wind and wider renewable energy industries.

Interested teams should apply by 4:59 p.m. MT on June 15, 2023.