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Focus on Energy and IRA Home Energy Rebates
- October 2nd is national Energy Efficiency Day!
- Throughout the month, Focus on Energy will be highlighting weatherization products on the marketplace including a Smart Thermostat promotion which will be available until October 8th. To learn more about the products being offered, visit the Focus on Energy Marketplace.
- IRA Home Energy Rebates are now open for business, please visit Focus on Energy IRA Home Energy Rebates to learn more.
- Contractor registration for the IRA Home Energy Rebates is also open, please visit Focus on Energy IRA Registered Contractors to learn more.
Federal Funding Opportunities
$11.2 Million Funding Opportunity to Support New Interconnection Queue Management Solutions
- The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Innovative Queue Management Solutions (iQMS) for clean Energy Interconnection and Energization program will award $11.2 million to up to 25 distribution utilities to pilot innovative solutions for managing renewable energy and EV charging interconnection and energization queues.
- There are two application tracks, Track 1: Generator Interconnection, Track 2: Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Load Requests.
- Applications are due Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 3pm ET.
- To learn more and to apply, visit the link below.
U.S. Department of Education
Power Your Future Challenge
- The U.S. Department of Education recently opened its Power Your Future Challenge, a Career and Technical Education (CTE Momentum) challenge, to advance clean energy solutions.
- The U.S. Department of Education invites teams to submit action plans that will advance the use of clean energy in their schools and communities. By participating, teachers and students will get hands-on experience envisioning and designing clean energy solutions that can make a real-world impact. The challenge will also connect CTE students to the vast career opportunities in clean energy and other virtual infrastructure industries.
- The challenge is designed for educators and high school students.
- Submissions are due Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with the announcement of winners anticipated for February 2025.
- To learn more about this Challenge and to apply, visit the link below.
Inflation Reduction Act
Community Change Grants Program
- The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds.
- These funds are available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.
- Eligible entities that can apply for this funding opportunity include:
- Partnership between two community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs)
- Partnership between a CBO and one of the following:
- A Federally recognized Tribe
- A local government
- An institution of higher education
- Application packages are due Thursday, November 21, 2024, by 11:59pm ET.
- To learn more about this opportunity and apply, visit the link below.
Department of Energy's
Energy CLASS
- The Department of Energy's (DOE) Efficient and Healthy Schools Program and New Buildings Institute (NBI) recently opened an opportunity for up to 50 school districts to receive coaching and one-on-one expert advice on strategic energy management, project development, funding pathways, and related topics to advance their district's sustainability goals.
- The 2024-2025 applications must be submitted by Friday, October 4, 2024 at Midnight ET.
- Visit the links below to learn more about this opportunity and to review available updates.
American-Made Challenges
Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize
- More than $3 million is available in a three-phase competition through the American-Made Challenges: Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize.
- The Good Jobs in Clean Energy Prize encourages building new and newly focused place-based coalitions to create quality, accessible jobs and training partnerships in their community.
- Each applying coalition is required to include one coalition representative from each of the five stakeholder groups below:
- Labor organizations
- Clean energy employers
- Community-based organizations
- Public agencies
- Education and workforce providers
- Each team will develop and implement Coalition Action Plans that improve the quality of and expand access to good jobs in clean energy.
- An informational webinar will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 2pm CT.
- Phase 1 applications are due Friday, January 31, 2025 at 4pm CT.
- To learn more and to register for the webinar, visit the links below.
Learning Opportunities
Free Virtual Trainings from Energy CLASS
- In addition to the 2024-2025 Energy CLASS funding opportunity mentioned above, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs recently released its Energy CLASS trainings for 2023-2024 to build capacity within local educational agencies (LEAs).
- These virtual recorded trainings are intended to provide school districts practical knowledge and resources around energy infrastructure projects that reduce utility costs and create healthier learning environments for students and teachers, as well as, to identify funding pathways for advancing sustainability across the school district.
- To learn more and access these virtual recordings, visit the links below.
Foundations of Community Solar Development
Free Online Training
- The University of New Hampshire is offering a free online course titled "Foundations of Community Solar Development" designed to support the accelerated development of community solar.
- The course is modeled after the Community Power Accelerator instructor-led Learning Lab: Community Solar Development training and prepares community-based organizations, small or new solar developers, and others to develop, finance, and build credit-ready community solar projects that deliver benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities.
- To learn more and to enroll, visit the link below.
In-Person Events
Wisconsin Energy Efficiency Expo 2024
- The 11th Annual Wisconsin Energy Efficiency Expo will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Brookfield Conference Center in Brookfield, WI. General registration is now open.
- This year's expo will bring together energy professionals from across Wisconsin and beyond to explore the latest developments in energy efficiency.
- To view the expo schedule and register, visit the links below.
Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council
17th Annual Conference
- The 17th Annual Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at the Harley-Davidson Garage & Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Registration will be opening soon.
- Each year, conference attendees can glean insights from fellow practitioners by sharing strategies, tools, and real-world experiences to advance sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices across the state.
- Visit the link below to learn more.
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