Weekly Jolt ⚡ Essential News for Clean Energy Champions

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October 11, 2023

National Clean Energy Action Month

America is leading the world in the fight against climate change. We are reducing pollution, lowering energy costs, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure clean energy technologies are made in America. During National Clean Energy Action Month, we celebrate that historic progress and commit to continue working to build a more sustainable and energy secure nation for future generations.

It's Hydrogen Day … All Week Long

EERE is celebrating hydrogen and the crucial role this element plays in our clean energy future. January’s launch of the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap made this year’s Hydrogen Day—October 8—extra special. The multi-agency strategy provides a snapshot of U.S. hydrogen production and usage and presents a strategic framework for the future.

Renewable News

Solar Eclipse + Solar Energy: What to Expect When the Sun Goes Dark

On Saturday, Oct. 14, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, blocking up to 90% of the sun across parts of the U.S. No one knows the exact amount of solar power generation that will be lost due to the eclipse, but other sources like natural gas, geothermal, hydropower, and nuclear will help offset the dip in solar power generation.

Cooperatives and Municipal Electric Utilities in the Southeast Advance Community Solar

Rural electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities often lack funding or expertise to offer community solar to their customers. With funds from EERE, the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center studied the cost and feasibility for community solar in nine states and developed community solar policy guides and a modeling tool to track electricity demand.

Solar District Cup Class of 2023–2024

EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office announced 56 institutions that will have collegiate teams participating in this year’s Solar District Cup. This competition challenges students to design and model distributed energy systems for a real mixed-use district or campus.

Prizes and Competitions

First-Ever HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize Winners Named

DOE announced the first 10 prize winners in the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize Inspire Track. Each HBCU team will receive $40,000 to support the development or enhancement of clean energy-focused summer programs for K–12 and community college students. 

Clean Energy to Communities Peer Learning Opportunity

Applications are open for DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities Peer-Learning Cohorts program. Lab experts will meet with 10 to 15 communities over six months to discuss evaluating municipal buildings for energy efficiency and decarbonization investment; enhancing resilience at critical municipal facilities through solar, storage, and microgrids; and shaping community-wide transportation electrification. Apply online by October 31.

What's Happening Around DOE 🔋🚗⚡

The Federal Energy Management Program unveiled the Federal Fleet ZEV Ready Center, a web resource to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles within the federal government’s fleet. This new section of the FEMP Fleet Electrification and Optimization website provides a comprehensive resource center with valuable information and detailed recommendations for agencies considering transitioning to electric vehicles.

Events and Webinars 

Charging Ahead: Accelerating Electric Vehicle Adoption

Oct. 12 | 11:00 a.m. ET

Join the Renewables Integration Technology Research Team and Better Buildings partners to explore the game-changing potential of electric vehicle adoption into existing infrastructure through demonstrated best practices.

Community Energy Innovation Prize: Community and Manufacturing Ecosystems

Oct. 12 | 3:00 p.m. ET

Learn about the application process for the AMMTO Manufacturing Ecosystem Track, part of the Community Energy Innovation Prize, which supports local organizations that work with underserved communities to develop community-led clean energy solutions.

Funding Opportunity Webinar: Solar-Thermal Fuels and Thermal Energy Storage

Oct. 16 | 1:00 p.m. ET

Listen to EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office discuss this $30 million funding opportunity for projects in thermochemical storage via solar fuel production and local thermal energy storage for dispatchable energy.

Charging Ahead: Accelerating Electric Vehicle Adoption

October 17 | 11 a.m. ET

Join the Renewables Integration Technology Research Team and Better Buildings partners to explore the game-changing potential of electric vehicle adoption into existing infrastructure.

Strategies to Equitably Expand the Energy Codes Workforce

October 19 | 1 p.m. ET

Hear from workforce development professionals on techniques to grow and expand the energy codes workforce that prioritizes equity. Speakers will examine the issues facing the codes workforce and highlight strategies to equitably address them.

Industrial Heat Shot Summit – Virtual Event

Oct. 23 | 12:30–4 p.m. ET

Join DOE for a discussion about the Industrial Heat Shot™, an initiative to develop cost-competitive industrial heat decarbonization technologies as part of the DOE Energy Earthshots™ initiatives.

Transition: Office to Multifamily Building Conversions and Efficiency

October 26 | 1 p.m. ET

Join our peer exchange call to discuss the transformation that telework and housing shortages have had on downtown building stocks from commercial to more residential uses and what impact will these changes have on energy efficiency?