The United States Department of Energy has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for new Home Energy Rebate Programs and has also announced new guidelines that will allow state, local, and tribal governments to begin applying for funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. The EECBG Program invited applicants to submit proposals for clean energy projects and programs in local communities to receive a total of $430 million in formula grant funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding will be used to reach more than 250 million people across the United States. The Department of Energy (DOE) also issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input on nearly $9 billion for the Home Energy Rebate Program. This program is funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and will provide record-breaking funding to assist American homeowners in lowering their energy costs through increased energy efficiency and the electrification of home appliances and equipment. Together, these programs will provide cash to the states, Tribes, and other organizations to assist homes and communities around the country in the transition to clean energy and to realize the goal of achieving a net-zero economy in the United States by the year 2050.
Jennifer M. Granholm, the Secretary of Energy for the United States, has said that “Our states and towns are at the vanguard of the clean energy revolution and are important touchpoints with our nation’s consumers and companies.” “With historic funding thanks to President Biden’s clean energy laws, more Americans will have easier access to realize cost savings through state-administered home energy rebates and community-centered energy efficiency and electrification programs.” Clean energy laws “will help more Americans realize cost savings through state-administered home energy rebates and community-centered energy efficiency and electrification programs.”
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is contributing $430 million via the EECBG Program to support community-based clean energy programs in all 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, 774 Tribes, and 1,878 local governments throughout the United States. The Department of Energy (DOE) is now accepting applications and has offered instructions for the grant application process as well as information on how towns may optimize program spending to best meet the requirements of each community. This adaptable source of funding from the EECBG Program is available to communities for a wide variety of projects, including the creation of a clean energy strategy with measurable goals, the improvement of the energy efficiency of buildings and streetlights, the construction of bike lanes, the installation of renewable energy on government buildings, the funding of a community solar campaign, and the development of zero emissions building codes.
The Department of Energy (DOE) will host a series of webinars beginning on January 25, 2023, to provide technical guidance on the application process, tips for making the most of EECBG Program funding, and strategies for building a clean and equitable energy economy that prioritizes disadvantaged communities. These webinars are being held to provide participants with more information regarding the EECBG Program. The deadline for applications to the state is July 31, 2023. Applications for local governments and tribal governments must be submitted by the 31st of January, 2024.
In addition, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a request for information (RFI) for the Home Energy Rebate Program, which is a new set of initiatives that will be financed by the Inflation Reduction Act and will total around $9 billion. These initiatives will offer money for states, territories, and Tribes to design, execute, and expand domestic energy efficiency and electrification projects in U.S. households. These projects are expected to save customers an estimated $1 billion yearly in energy expenses. The submission date for replies to the RFI is set for March 3, 2023, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for managing the administration of these programs and is striving to guarantee that no communities are lagging in the transition to a future powered by clean energy. This is being done via the Office of State and Community Energy Programs. These programs are in line with the Justice40 Initiative that was proposed by Vice President Joe Biden. This initiative aims to ensure that forty percent of the overall benefits that come from investments in clean energy make a difference in areas that are energy-burdened and have been historically underserved. Please visit the websites of either the EECBG Program or the Home Energy Rebate Programs for more information.
