Press Release
☷DOE Announces $27 Million to Help 40 State Local and Tribal Communities Lead America s Equitable and Resilient Clean Energy Future
U.S. Department of Energy ( By Press Release office)
Apr 05,2024
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President Biden ' s plan to invest in America is improving critical infrastructure and removing barriers to clean energy deployment in historically underserved communities . The U . S . Department of Energy has announced $27 million in financial and technical assistance for 40 partner teams through the Energy Future Grants Program . Secretary of Energy Jennifer M . Granholm made the announcement during a visit to Georgia Institute of Technology . The program aims to support clean energy programs that enhance energy affordability , access , and opportunities for communities . Projects funded include initiatives such as developing clean energy blueprints , creating job opportunities in clean energy sectors , and increasing energy resilience in communities . We ' re giving out some cash to help out some cool projects: one in Las Cruces , NM to make homes more energy - efficient , one in North Carolina to create energy hubs for communities in need , one in Alaska to streamline clean energy permitting processes , and one in Harris County , TX to make community buildings more resilient and energy - efficient . Just trying to make the world a little better , ya know? ( Award Amount: $500 , 000 ) Eco - D Equitable Electrification Initiative , Detroit , Michigan: EcoDistricts , or Eco - Ds , will focus electrification and solar development efforts in disadvantaged communities . New ecoregions will be created in the Justice40 census tract . The project has strong partnerships with unions and workforce development organizations and will leverage these organizations to create registered apprenticeship , workforce development and business development opportunities for residents . The project will also hire local contractors where possible , enable volume contracting options , and explore volume purchasing programs to reduce clean energy technology costs for contractors . ( Award Amount: 500 , 000 ) Modeling Salmon - Friendly Energy Transitions , Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission , Oregon , Washington , Idaho: This project is led by a coalition of tribes and focuses on quantitative river and energy sources appropriate for the Columbia River System models support state and tribal policy development in watersheds that prioritize the use of demand - side resources ( DSR ) . The project also aims to help protect and restore salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin , which will enhance the economic and cultural sovereignty of member tribes . ( Award Amount: $500 , 000 ) Community Weatherization/Electrification Collaborative Project in River Falls , Wisconsin: This building industry project will create a universally scalable and adaptable approach through joint state , local , and Develop localized , adaptable electrification projects across sectors and tribal communities in partnership with community - owned electric utilities and nonprofits . The project combines electrification with weatherization , which will reduce utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to cold and extreme weather events . ( Award Amount: $500 , 000 ) Water Investments in Sustainable Energy ( WISE ) Ohio , OH - Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council , OH: This project focuses on sustainable energy investments by Ohio water utilities . The project will improve facility energy efficiency through building upgrades and operational procedures , offset energy burden through on - site solar generation , and increase resiliency through battery backup systems . ( Award Amount: $500 , 000 ) Just Resilience , New Jersey - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection: With a central focus on mitigating extreme heat , Just Resilience develops and implements climate resiliency plans through community resilience centers that provide significant , measurable benefits DAC and residents of the Grand Passaic River watershed deliver replicable environmental , social and economic co - benefits . Pathways to workforce development and higher wages will be pursued . The project is all about focusing on health concerns for disadvantaged communities and Justice 40 commitments , specifically in relation to extreme weather events . ( We got $500 , 000 for this! ) The City of Orlando , FL is working on reducing energy burden in affordable housing for people who were previously unhoused or at risk of being unhoused . They ' re teaming up with state , county , and non - profit organizations to install energy efficient and clean energy appliances . They ' re also holding community outreach meetings with language services and childcare to make sure everyone can participate . Plus , the city has a history of promoting minority and women - owned businesses . ( They got $489 , 837 for this! ) In Los Angeles County , CA , they ' re launching the EV Equity Workforce Program ( EVequity ) to train and place people from high need communities and communities of color in electric vehicle infrastructure jobs . They ' re partnering with unions , colleges , and other organizations to ensure fair wages and benefits , as well as providing support services for training programs . ( They got $500 , 000 for this! ) This is the first round of awards from the EFG Program , which started in 2023 . The 40 selectees will receive up to $500 , 000 in Phase 1 for planning and support , and will have a chance to compete for $1M in implementation funding in Phase 2 . The program is also part of the Biden - Harris Administration ' s Justice40 Initiative , which aims to direct 40% of the program ' s benefits to disadvantaged communities . Some other awards that were announced today are going to the City of Gainesville , FL ( $130 , 405 ) , City of Clearwater , FL ( $500 , 000 ) , City of San Diego , CA ( $500 , 000 ) , Pueblo de San Ildefonso , NM ( $498 , 625 ) , City of Yonkers , NY ( $498 , 668 ) , State of Minnesota – Minnesota Department of Health ( $498 , 600 ) , City of District Heights , MD ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Carbondale , IL ( $406 , 610 ) , City of Oakland , CA ( $500 , 000 ) , Brooklyn Borough , NY ( $500 , 000 ) , State of Alaska - Alaska Housing Finance Corporation , AK ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Saint Paul , MN ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Cincinnati , OH ( $499 , 930 ) , State of Hawaii – Hawaii State Energy Office ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Madison , WI ( $500 , 000 ) , Town of Andover , MA ( $360 , 740 ) , County of Allegheny , PA ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Richmond , VA ( $499 , 987 ) , City of Baltimore , MD ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Indianapolis , IN ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Duluth , MN ( $500 , 000 ) , Hennepin County , MN ( $500 , 000 ) , City of North Miami , FL ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Madison Heights , MN ( $500 , 000 ) , State of Colorado – Colorado Energy Office ( $500 , 000 ) , Village of Broadview , IL ( $476 , 487 ) , Town of Littleton , MA ( $500 , 000 ) , City of Erie , PA ( $500 , 000 ) . EFG is teaming up with ENERGYWERX to provide technical assistance to the recipients . This includes help with overcoming barriers , developing projects , and building capacity . The Energy Future Grants Program Technical Assistance Cohorts initiative is managed by ENERGYWERX in partnership with DOE . A Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by DOE ' s Office of Technology Transitions makes this collaboration possible . Awardees will have access to in - person and virtual trainings , as well as peer - to - peer cohort sessions where they can learn from clean energy experts and connect with other local governments , states , and Tribes working on similar projects . EFG is also partnering with the National Renewable Energy Lab ( NREL ) to host a workshop for grantees . For more information about the EFG Program , how to apply , and available resources , visit the DOE website . ### .
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