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The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is thrilled to announce nine Prime Selectees for the Renew America’s Nonprofits grant, a competitive award that aims to reduce energy use and costs in buildings owned and operated by 501(c)(3)s. Prime Selectees will share $45 million in awards to improve energy efficiency in approximately 300 nonprofit buildings across America in 28 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prime Selectees will not only sub-award grants of up to $200,000 per facility, they will also provide technical and administrative assistance to sub-recipient nonprofits, reducing barriers so that much-needed retrofit projects can come to fruition.
Prime Selectees will focus on implementing high-impact energy efficiency upgrades – including HVAC, lighting, and envelope improvements – in subrecipient nonprofit facilities. Across their portfolios, Prime Selectees have projected energy cost savings of up to 39%, and greenhouse gas reductions of up to 35%.
Secretary Granholm Press Conference
The announcement was made yesterday by Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm at Martha’s Kitchen Foodbank in San Jose, CA. Martha’s Kitchen is a partner of Selectee Ecology Action, in Santa Cruz CA, which plans to use the grant funding to increase energy efficiency in foodbank networks throughout the West Coast. Acknowledging this awards’ potential for deep local impacts, the Secretary explained: “Nonprofits promote social cohesion, public health, creativity and innovation—all of which are essential to thriving communities. With this funding, the Biden-Harris Administration is empowering these organizations to expand crucial services by cutting their energy costs, while bringing the nation closer to President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Next Steps...
Now entering the award phase, Prime Selectees will finalize project portfolios – identifying subrecipients, efficiency projects, and a complete picture of their impacts – by approximately June 2024. To date, Prime Selectees have already indicated plans to support nonprofits with diverse missions including emergency response services, transitional housing and support for unhoused populations, support for refugees, protection against domestic violence, protection against food insecurity, housing, religious services, health services, and more. By investing in their buildings, Prime Selectees will help subrecipient nonprofits generate sustainable savings that can amplify their impacts, benefitting thousands of people across America.
DOE encourages all applicants to stay active in the pursuit of energy improvements and hopes nonprofits will sign up for and utilize the Teaming List to explore partnerships with stakeholders who could advance their efficiency and clean energy goals. DOE encourages nonprofits to explore other resources on the Renew America’s Nonprofits Program website.
The Renew America’s Nonprofits grant is part of the $50 million Renew America’s Nonprofits Program, a pilot program funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Funding for the competition meets and exceeds the goals of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative to put environmental and economic justice at the center of America’s transition to a net-zero economy. At least 60% of sub-awards will go to nonprofits in disadvantaged communities.The Renew America’s Nonprofits grant also supports the Investing in America Agenda, creating good-paying jobs and workforce benefits while building the physical and social infrastructure to support a net-zero economy.
Here are some ways you can help kick off the Renew America’s
Nonprofits celebration:
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