Weekly Jolt ? EERE Supports Communities Nationwide

EERE to Communities

To ensure that the benefits of the clean energy transition reach all Americans, EERE is using a community-driven approach—deploying resources and solutions directly into communities based on their individual challenges and needs. Each community is unique, so check out some of our programs and initiatives to see how EERE can help a community like yours access clean energy!

Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP): ??? Island and remote communities have unique physical features that fundamentally shape what energy options they have available. ETIPP provides technical assistance to help these communities transform their energy systems and increase their energy resilience. Since 2021, ETIPP has aided 32 communities in their energy transitions, and we’re ready to help more! If your community would like to join the fourth ETIPP cohort, register for the informational webinar on April 24 and apply by July 10.

Clean Energy to Communities (C2C): ?? The C2C program provides communities with expertise and tools to achieve their clean energy goals through:

?? In-Depth Partnerships where communities can submit proposals for three years of technical assistance to develop secure, reliable, resilient, equitable, and affordable clean energy systems. Submit your proposal by June 14.

?? Peer-Learning Cohorts that convene groups of communities over six months to exchange best practices for their clean energy transitions. Apply to the next peer-learning cohort by April 30.

???? Expert Match that pairs communities with national laboratory experts for 40–60 hours of technical assistance to address near-term clean energy challenges and questions. We review expert match applications on a rolling basis, so apply today!

Want to learn more about how C2C can help your community? Read the annual report for examples and testimony from communities that have benefitted from the program.

Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP): ??? DOE just announced up to $22 million to improve planning, siting, and permitting processes for large-scale renewable energy facilities. Six state-based projects will receive $10 million through round one of R-STEP to develop and expand statewide initiatives that provide expertise, trainings, and technical resources to local governments and communities. The next round of R-STEP worth $12 million is opening soon, so sign up for EERE’s funding email list to get notified.

Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure Playbook: ?? This new playbook from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation provides interactive resources to help communities plan and build the infrastructure needed to support a net zero-emission transportation system. We encourage communities, planning organizations, local and state governments, tribal nations, and other decision makers to use the Playbook to navigate key considerations and drive local progress in EV infrastructure!

What’s New Across EERE?

From heating hot-water bathing resorts to melting snow from sidewalks, geothermal energy has the power to heat and cool entire neighborhoods, city blocks, university campuses, and communities. ?? Check out initiatives from EERE’s Geothermal Technologies Office and these success stories from around the country to get inspired by other “hot” ideas for geothermal energy.

ICYMI: The 2023 Billion-Ton Report found that the United States can satisfy over 100% of projected demand for airplane fuel through renewable energy sources! ?? Don’t miss the informational webinar at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 16 to see how we can use biomass to produce low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission fuels while still meeting the projected demand for food, feed, fiber, conventional forest products, and exports.

Come Work with Us

DOE just announced over $45 million in new funding for projects that will advance research and technologies critical to achieving net-zero GHG emissions in the transportation sector. ?? If you’re interested in topics like decreasing GHG emissions in off-road vehicles, developing high-performance electrical steels, or addressing cybersecurity needs for secure electric vehicle funding, submit your concept paper by May 2.

EERE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office just announced a funding opportunity that will award up to $30 million for projects that accelerate the large-scale development of concentrating solar power technology. ???If you’re interested in scalable technologies like concentrating solar collectors, supercritical carbon dioxide turbomachinery, or concentrating solar-thermal receivers and reactors, submit your concept paper by May 16.