What’s New At SCEP
June 13, 2024 – Don’t Forget to Apply to SCEP’s Renew America’s Schools Prize
Applications for the Office of State and Community Energy Program’s (SCEP) 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize are almost due. With an anticipated $180 million to be awarded to school districts across the country, this prize can support energy improvements that lower utility costs and create healthier learning environments. Eligible improvements include new HVAC systems, building envelope and lighting projects, alternative fuel and renewable energy technologies, and more.
Visit the HeroX page to learn more about the prize and apply by Thursday, June 13 at 5 p.m. ET!
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July 12, 2024 – Direct Technical Assistance Opportunity for State Energy Offices Opens July 1
SCEP’s State Energy Program (SEP) is offering direct technical assistance (TA) to states, territories, and the District of Columbia. Topics include Strategic Energy Planning, Transmission and Distribution Planning, Project and Program Financing, and Modeling and Analytics. TA requests will be accepted, reviewed, and delivered in quarterly rounds, with the next round for applications open from July 1 – 12, 2024. Visit SEP’s Direct TA webpage to find more information on the timeline, TA topics offered, and to submit a request.
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SCEP Selects 13 Projects, totaling $25 Million, to Expand the Impact of the Weatherization Assistance Program
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, SCEP announced 13 projects selected to expand the impact of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Supported by $25 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the projects will collaborate with community partners to perform innovative and comprehensive energy-saving repairs and upgrades to make low-income homes more climate resilient and lower energy costs for families. These 13 projects support the Biden- Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
This is the second round of funding from the Enhancement and Innovation grant, following a $37.9 million awards to 21 projects in March 2023. These grants are available to existing WAP Grantees, WAP subgrantees, and other nonprofit organizations.
To learn more about the selected projects (and previous E&I awarded projects), visit the Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement and Innovation Selections website.
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SCEP Announces More Than $26.9 Million to 37 State, Local and Tribal Governments to Support Clean Energy Projects
CEP announced its next round of award recipients through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. This program, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (2021) and managed SCEP, in this sixth round of awards will distribute more than $12.1 million to three states and 14 local governments in this sixth round of formula grants. Since the first awards were announced in October 2023, the EECBG Program has awarded $130.5 million to 151 communities.
The awards announced this month include governments that will use EECBG Program funds to conduct energy assessments and upgrades at community centers and schools, develop climate action plans, provide vouchers for e-bike purchases, launch solar incentive programs for low- and moderate-income households, and more. Read more about what grantees in this tranche are doing with their funds.
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Sign Up Now for a Virtual Training on the Foundations of Energy Efficiency Financing
Join DOE and Berkeley Lab this summer for a 6-part webinar training series titled Energy Efficiency Finance Foundations. Designed for public-sector energy professionals, sustainability and facility managers, and finance officials seeking to deploy energy efficiency upgrades with the aid of financing, this series will support participants in navigating "finance speak," knowing what questions to ask, and strengthening public-sector knowledge of energy efficiency financing tools to successfully prepare for building energy upgrades.
Starting on June 20, the series will span 6 weeks with each training module lasting about an hour. Modules will cover funding and financing structures, how to engage with stakeholders, and more. This series is size limited, so register now to guarantee your spot in this new cohort!
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Better Buildings Financial Ally Triple Bottom Line Foundation Provides Bridge Funding for a Solar Farm in the City of Aztec, New Mexico
To help stabilize energy costs and decarbonize energy usage in the city of Aztec, New Mexico, Triple Bottom Line Foundation (TBL Fund) worked with its affiliate, International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST), to conduct predictive modeling that evaluated the financial feasibility of a utility-scale solar PV and battery storage projects for the municipal utility. By bridging the financing to fund the project until Investment Tax Credits are available, the city was able to construct a 2MW Solar PV farm and 4MW battery storage facilities to generate over 5 GWh of renewable energy annually, resulting in estimated cost savings of nearly $5 million for the city over 25 years and stabilized energy costs for residents.
The Financial Allies are market-leading financing companies that have made specific, actionable commitments to funding decarbonization of the built environment through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Since the launch of the program, financial allies have invested more than $26 billion in energy projects. Learn more about the Aztec project and the Better Buildings Financial Allies Program.
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ESPC Campaign Training Series Beginning in June
Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) offers facility owners in municipal and state government, universities and colleges, schools, and hospitals (MUSH) organizations an opportunity to leverage private capital and maximize the impact of public funds to make needed efficiency upgrades in their buildings, paid off over time through guaranteed energy, water, and operational cost savings.To learn more, or to reinforce understanding, join the first ESPC Campaign live training course, Intro to ESPC: A High Value Tool for Public Agencies, on Tuesday, June 25 at 2 p.m. ET. This one-hour training will cover the foundational elements of ESPC and include time for questions and discussion. Focus will be given to the benefits of ESPC compared to other contracting approaches, how state and local governments can facilitate these investments, and how facility managers can begin the process of enhancing their facility’s energy performance through ESPC.
Participation is restricted to members of current or prospective public-sector ESPC Campaign partner organizations. All public-sector stakeholders, including leadership, sustainability, finance, legal, and facility staff are encouraged to attend! Participants will be invited to share feedback on the training and submit requests for future training topics. Register for the training here!
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  Trending Across DOE & Other Federal Energy Programs
June 13-14, 2024 – Last Call for DOE’s C2C In-Depth Partnerships and R-STEP Programs
The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program works with state-based entities to develop and expand statewide initiatives that provide expertise, trainings, and technical resources to local governments and communities as they plan for and evaluate large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. Apply by June 13.
Communities can also submit proposals for the next round of Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) In-Depth Partnerships for up to $500,000 in funding and $3,500,000 in technical assistance from NREL for over three years to develop secure, reliable, resilient, equitable, and affordable clean energy systems. Submit your proposal by June 14.
Join Us at the Inaugural Affordable Home Energy Shot™ Summit on June 5
Join us at the inaugural Affordable Home Energy Shot™ Summit, hosted by DOE, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. This virtual summit will provide a platform for DOE and interested stakeholders to collectively understand the emerging needs and opportunities to reduce the up-front cost of upgrading homes by at least 50% while lowering energy bills by 20% within a decade as part of the Affordable Home Energy Shot™. To secure your spot, registration is required via the following link: Webinar Registration - Zoom
June 30, 2024 – Build Community and Labor Capacity through RAMP
DOE has launched a new initiative to drive benefits of clean energy projects deep into communities known as the Readiness Accelerator for Major Projects (RAMP) Initiative. It aims to foster community and labor capacity building to strengthen workforce partnerships on major energy projects funded under President Biden’s Invest in America agenda. The two-year fellowship program will recruit established and aspiring community leaders from target geographies. Fellows from a wide range of backgrounds will have access to professional development, a learning community, and mentorship to develop and implement strategic workforce partnerships to ensure job quality and inclusive access to energy jobs. RAMP Fellowship Applications are open now through June 30.
July 10, 2024 – Apply to the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project Today
DOE’s Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) works alongside remote and island communities seeking to transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience. ETIPP provides technical assistance opportunities for remote and island communities. Selected communities receive support for a project scoping phase (approximately one to six months), followed by 12- to 18-month-long energy planning and analysis projects. Read the ETIPP fact sheet to learn more about technical assistance in communities. Visit nrel.gov for eligibility criteria and application instructions. The deadline to apply is July 10, 2024.
Applications Open for $1.3 Billion in Funding to Expand National Electric Vehicle Charging Network
The Biden-Harris Administration opened applications today for a historic $1.3 billion funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. Eligible applicants include states, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments, port authorities, Indian Tribes, U.S. territories, and more. The program will host two public webinars in the coming weeks to provide more detail on this funding announcement. Visit DriveElectric.gov to learn more.
DOE Shares New Solar Energy Resources for City Energy Planning
EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) offers several tools to help city energy planners increase local access to and deployment of solar power technologies. Explore SETO’s city energy planning page for resources that will help you model, optimize, and enhance your local energy plans, as well as identify and overcome solar development barriers.
Recap on the White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds
On Friday, April 26, the White House successfully held the first ever White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds. During the summit, speakers and panelists highlighted many of the tools, resources, and funding opportunities made available as a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to providing communities equitable access to sustainable and healthy school facilities. For those who could not watch the summit or would like to learn more, check out some of the resources below:
Additionally, DOE EERE’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Program recognized 13 school districts at the White House Summit, honoring their outstanding efforts to improve their facilities’ energy and environmental performance through retrofit projects, building assessment and operational performance improvements, and advancement of district initiatives to achieve sustained, long-term building improvements. To learn more about honorees’ accomplishments, how your district might join, or how you might partner with the Efficient and Healthy Schools program, visit their website.
Find Local Utilities to Support Transportation Electrification with the U-Finder Tool
The U-Finder tool, developed by NREL, allows EV charger deployment stakeholders to identify local utility partners and known charger installation incentives to speed project engagement and provide a platform for utilities to raise awareness of EV charger installation support.
DOE’s Loan Program Office launched a New SEFI Toolkit
DOE’s Loan Program Office (LPO) just launched the SEFI Toolkit to help implement a new authority from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that exempts projects receiving financial support or credit enhancements from an eligible state energy financing institution (SEFI) from the Title 17 innovative technology requirement. The SEFI Toolkit is an online resource to help applicants, potential SEFIs, and policymakers understand the process for becoming a SEFI, communicate the types of SEFIs that are eligible, and provide SEFIs a resource for sharing relevant financial assistance opportunities with prospective borrowers through the SEFI Partnership Portal. Additional SEFI program details and application requirements are described in the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program Guide and on the Title 17 Overview web page.
Learn More About the New Wind Resource Database and Using USDA REAP Funding for Your Distributed Wind Energy Project
Learn about the Wind Resource Database recently launched by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Designed to support the transition to a clean, secure, and affordable energy future, the online platform captures information about atmospheric forces that affect how wind turbines perform and how much energy they capture. A primary feature of the Wind Resource Database is an update to the Wind Integration National Dataset Toolkit, which provides users with long-term, detailed wind speed data across the United States.
Applying for loan and grant awards to invest in distributed wind energy just got easier. Join staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and NREL for a virtual 90-minute webinar designed to help rural small businesses prepare successful applications.
New Nationwide Initiative to Help States Cut Energy Costs and Pollution from Buildings
The National Energy Codes Collaborative is a new nationwide network to help states and jurisdictions effectively and sustainably implement updated building energy codes, driving innovation through convening and collaboration, technical assistance, community engagement, capacity building, and thought leadership. By providing this support and connecting states and localities facing similar challenges across the U.S., the goal is to see more states and localities on the path to regularly updating their energy codes, resulting in the widespread improvements in energy efficiency and decarbonization that are imperative to addressing climate change.
Nine Communities Achieve Charging Smart Designation
Nine Minnesota communities have earned the nation’s first “EV-Ready” designation from the DOE-funded Charging Smart Program. Charging Smart offers free technical assistance to help municipalities set and achieve policies that align with nationally recognized best practices to advance EV adoption. Learn more and join the program at ChargingSmart.org.
IRS Releases Additional Guidance on Domestic Content Bonus
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released additional guidance on the domestic content bonus provision enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act. For clean energy projects to receive the bonus, all their steel and iron products must be produced in the United States, and a minimum percentage of their manufactured products and components must also be produced in the United States.
Battery Recycling, Reprocessing, and Battery Collection Program Funding
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized $50 million in federal funds specifically for state and local governments to establish or enhance state battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing programs. DOE’s Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain (MESC) Office recently announced $7.2 Million in their first round of selectees for this program. If your office, city, or state is interested in pursuing a battery recycling program for your local area, reach out to DOE's MESC office for more information about their recycling funding program at mesc@hq.doe.gov. You can learn more about this opportunity and battery recycling efforts within local communities.
June 7, 2024 – Provide Your Input on Access to Whole-Building Energy Use Data
While more and more utilities are making whole-building energy use data available to owners, the vast majority (more than 90% of U.S. utilities) do not do so yet. With that in mind, EPA is launching a new campaign to assist building owners in making the case to utilities about why they need whole-building energy use data. The first part of the campaign is gathering input from building owners and managers, companies that support benchmarking, and others on where they need this data most and why. This short form asks for submitter information, the selection of priority utilities where this data is needed most, and space to provide statements about the importance of access to the data. EPA is requesting submissions by Friday, June 7, 2024. Learn more about the campaign and related EPA efforts: Expanding access to whole-building energy data
June 10, 2024 – Annual Sharing the Sun Survey & Call for Community Solar Data
Calling all community solar developers! Take a few minutes to participate in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL’s) Sharing the Sun data collection. This annual dataset takes a snapshot of the community solar market and helps inform the future of the industry. The most recent dataset was released earlier this year and includes information about U.S. community solar projects through the end of 2023. Ensure your community solar projects are included in this dataset—access the 2024 data collection form and submit your responses by June 10.
July 31, 2024 – Building Capacity through REDI in the U.S. Gulf South Region
DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity (EJE) Regional Energy Democracy Initiative (REDI) is a groundbreaking program aimed at empowering communities in the U.S. Gulf South region. With a commitment of $5 million, the REDI pilot is designed to provide capacity building and technical assistance for communities in this region to maximize the benefits derived from the clean energy investments made by DOE.
Apply by July 31 to be considered for this capacity building opportunity.
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