U.S. Department of Energy launches new $50 million program to help communities meet their clean energy goals DOE | 1/18/2023 |
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today
launched a new up to $50 million program to help communities across the country transition to clean energy systems that are reliable, affordable, equitable, and reflective of local priorities. The Clean Energy to Communities program (C2C) will connect local governments, electric utilities, community-based groups, and others with the innovative modeling and testing tools developed at DOE’s world-class national laboratories to transform their clean energy goals and ambitions into reality. By
helping communities reach their clean energy targets, this new program reflects President Biden’s continued commitment to ensuring that every community unlocks the public health and cost-saving benefits of a clean energy future and support President Biden’s goals to decarbonize the electric grid by 2035 and achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
“With C2C, we’re helping all kinds of communities — from small rural communities to sprawling urban areas — access the tools and scientific and technological expertise they need to bring their energy systems into the 21st Century” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “This exciting program will help communities make informed decisions about their own energy
needs and ensure reliable and affordable clean energy is available to Americans everywhere.”
C2C provides integrated technical support to communities across renewable power, grid, mobility, and buildings sectors. The program seeks to
provide the type and amount of support communities require to meet their unique interests and needs in transitioning to a clean energy economy. For C2C’s in-depth partnerships, this includes funding to support program participation.
C2C offers three levels of technical assistance:
- In-depth technical partnerships: Multi-year partnerships that provide cross-sector modeling, analysis, and validation, paired with direct funding to help four to five selected teams of local governments, electric utilities, and community-based organizations each
their goals and/or overcome specific challenges.
- Peer-learning cohorts: Small groups of local governments, electric utilities, or community-based organizations that meet regularly for approximately six months to learn from each other and lab experts in a collaborative environment to develop program proposals, action plans, strategies, and/or best
practices on a pre-determined clean energy topic. Cohorts will include approximately 100 communities in total.
- Expert match: Short-term assistance (40-60 hours) with one or more technical experts to help address near-term clean energy questions or challenges for up to 200 communities.
C2C is led and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), with additional support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It leverages expertise and
capabilities from across these labs, including NREL’s Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems platform, on which local leaders can see how a virtual model of their community interacts with actual and emulated clean
energy infrastructure and devices, such as wind turbines, controllers, and electric charging stations—helping to de-risk future investments. C2C is funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
C2C builds
upon NREL’s Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy Study, which evaluated a wide range of scenarios to help stakeholders understand possible pathways to the city’s goal of 100%
renewable energy by 2045, and the implications of these pathways for people who live and work in the city. The study found that meeting Los Angeles’ goal of reliable, 100% renewable electricity by 2045 is achievable and will provide significant health and climate benefits.
Learn more about EERE, NREL, and C2C,
including how to apply for technical assistance.
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Recent DOE updates - funding announcements, webinars, and more DOE | 1/17/23 U.S. Department of Energy Announces $42 Million to Develop More Affordable and Efficient Advanced Electric Vehicle Batteries in America
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $42 million in funding for 12 projects
to strengthen the domestic supply chain for advanced batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs). Projects selected for the Electric Vehicles for American Low-Carbon Living (EVs4ALL) program aim to expand
domestic EV adoption by developing batteries that last longer, charge faster, perform efficiently in freezing temperatures and have better overall range retention. Full Press Release | Full Project List
Biden-Harris Administration Releases First-Ever Blueprint to Decarbonize
America’s Transportation Sector
The Biden-Harris Administration released the U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation
Decarbonization. Developed by the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Blueprint is a landmark strategy for cutting all greenhouse emissions from the transportation sector by 2050. It exemplifies the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to addressing the climate crisis and meeting President Biden’s goals of securing a 100%
clean electrical grid by 2035 and reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Blueprint builds on President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which together represent historic investments in the future of our nation that will transform how we move and live while we build the backbone of a safer and more sustainable transportation system. Full Press Release Funding Announcements to Note (BIL – funded announcements are listed in bold) Funding Opportunity Award (FOA) - Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant Program: Under Section 40101(d) Formula Grant Program of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Department of Energy will provide grants to States (including U.S. Territories) and Indian Tribes to improve the resilience of their electric grids. States and Indian Tribes may
further allocate funds to “eligible entities”, as defined by Section 40101(d). These grants offer a unique opportunity to advance the capabilities of States and Indian Tribes, and their communities, to address not only current, but future resilience needs. The requirements of this formula grant program are defined within Section 40101(d) of the BIL. Section 40101(d) stipulates that DOE allocate funding annually through grants to States and Indian Tribes according to a formula that includes such
parameters as population, land area, and the historical precedence for experiencing disruptive events.
- Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Hubs - This FOA shall provide funding for eligible projects that contribute to the development and demonstration of four (4) domestic Regional DAC Hubs to accelerate the commercialization of CO2 removal via integrated capture from the atmosphere, processing, transport, and secure geologic storage and/or conversion.
- FOA to Address Key Deployment Challenges for Offshore, Land-Based, and Distributed Wind - The activities to be funded under this FOA support BIL section 41007(b)(1) and the broader
government-wide approach to enable the innovations needed to advance U.S. wind systems, reduce the cost of electricity, and accelerate the deployment of wind power, maximize the benefits of the clean energy transition as the nation works to curb the climate crisis, empower workers, and advance environmental justice.
- Energy Improvements at Public K-12 School Facilities – Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Renew America’s Schools - The activities to be funded under this FOA support BIL section 40541 and the broader government-wide approach to support projects that enable replicable and scalable impacts, create
innovative, sustaining partnerships, leverage funding and economies of scale, focus on disadvantaged communities, improve student, teacher, and occupant health, enrich learning and growth, assist schools that serve as community assets (e.g., neighborhood cooling centers or disaster recovery shelters), and are crafted thoughtfully within the context of public school facilities (e.g., procurement restraints, construction windows, etc.).
- Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership Programs – Grid Innovation Program 40103(b)
- Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership Programs – Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants 40103(c)
- Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program - The Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program is designed to
provide capitalization grants to States to establish a revolving loan fund under which the State shall provide loans and grants for energy efficiency audits, upgrades, and retrofits to increase energy efficiency and improve the comfort of buildings.
- Long-Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Initiative and Joint Program
- Water Power Projects: Innovative Technologies to Enable Low
Impact Hydropower and Pumped Storage Hydropower Growth
- Hydropower Wind and Solar Integration and Storage Reliability Initiative
- Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs Funding Opportunity Announcement
- Solar Wind and Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration
- Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships
- I2X launch (Interconnection and Innovation
Exchange)
- Industrial Assessment Centers Program – Centers of Excellence – Funding to establish up to
five regional Centers of Excellence at existing Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs) to coordinate with and advise IACs located in the regions of the Centers of Excellence.
- Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies
(AFFECT) 2022 Appropriations – Program providing direct funding to federal agencies for the development of capital projects to initiate, supplement, improve or otherwise increase the viability and deployment of widespread energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation-resilience technology at U.S. federal government-owned facilities.
- Lithium Extraction and Conversion from Geothermal Brines - Funding opportunity to spur the development of domestic lithium supply and refinement capacity to secure America’s clean energy supply chains and increase U.S.
manufacturing competitiveness abroad.
Requests for Information (RFI)
Notices of Intent (NOI) Upcoming Webinars and Events
1. 2023 National Community Solar Partnership Annual Summit - January 19 | 12 p.m. ET: Join EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office for the third National Community Solar Partnership
Summit in San Diego, California. There will be an option to attend virtually. 2. Make the Case for Large-Scale Energy Reduction Projects with ISO 50001 - January 24 | 11 a.m. ET: Better Buildings partners discuss
how International Organization of Standardization (ISO) certification drove leadership to develop an organization-wide approach to energy data collection and efficiency improvements across multiple facilities. 3. Technical Assistance for Energy Communities Webinar Series - January 24 | 1 p.m. ET: The Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG) is hosting a three-part webinar series highlighting federal and nonfederal technical assistance opportunities to benefit energy communities. 4. Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants Program Request for Information Public Webinar - January 25 | 1 p.m. ET: The U.S. Department of Energy Grid Deployment Office (GDO) will hold a webinar to learn about the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants Program Request For Information. As part of the Building a Better Grid
Initiative, the Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grants program will support states and local communities in the siting and permitting of interstate and offshore electricity transmission lines. Registration is required. 5. Geothermal Technologies Office Quarterly Webinar – January 26 | 2 p.m. ET: Learn about the Geothermal Technologies Office 2022 accomplishments, office updates, events, and ongoing programs. Questions can be submitted questions in advance to DOE.Geothermal@ee.doe.gov. 6. DOE’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity’s 2023 Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Connect Summit – February 23 | 8 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. ET: Join the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Economic Impact and Diversity as they host Minority Business Enterprises(Women, Veteran, Hispanic, African American, Asian,
Native American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian), Community Development Financial Institutions, Green Banks, and higher educational institutions to learn more about DOE Program offices, funding opportunities, and opportunities to collaborate.
• 2023 MBE DOE Connect Summit Tickets, Thu, Feb 23, 2023 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite
• 2023 MBE DOE Connect Virtual
Summit Tickets, Tue, Feb 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite |
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State of Nuclear Affairs Nuclear Energy Institute | 1/17/23 Just in time to ring in the New Year, the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is releasing refreshed resources to help inform conversations around clean energy and reliable electric systems. State Fact Sheets Using the NEI state fact sheets, you can explore all fifty state energy portfolios and utility pledges to
reduce carbon. If your state is one of the lucky 28 housing a nuclear power plant, you can also learn about the critical role nuclear energy plays in supporting your economy and electric grid. State
Legislation and Regulations Supporting Nuclear Energy The nuclear industry is seeing historic interest in state capitals across the country. We arrived at this moment because of the years of hard work from our governors, state
legislators and public service commissions to support nuclear energy. This document details the dozens of important laws, regulations, and other efforts impacting nuclear energy in every state. Policy Options for States to Support New Nuclear Energy The most common question NEI received from
policymakers is ‘what else can I be doing to make my state a nuclear leader?’ The answer to that question is this menu of policy proposals. These ideas range the entire spectrum from workforce development to supply chain securitization to resolutions supportive of nuclear energy. The thread linking each idea is that they all support the continued development of new nuclear technologies. |
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Interactive guide for communities and governments to help navigate nuclear waste cleanup The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) recently released the Guide to Successful Environmental Cleanup, an interactive online resource that provides frequently asked questions, case studies, and recommendations regarding nuclear waste cleanup. To assist local government officials, their communities, and federal agencies in deciphering the
complexities of the environmental cleanup process, ECA developed this guide to facilitate future successful cleanups. |
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories,
highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. |
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