Biden-Harris Administration Awards More than $12 Million to 35 State, Local, & Tribal Governments to Support Clean Energy Local Projects & Lower Energy Costs

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Funding from Investing in America Agenda Will Enhance Vitality Effectivity and Help Grants for Fleet Electrification, Photo voltaic Installations on Municipal Buildings, and Effectivity Upgrades for Low-Earnings Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agendathe U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) at this time introduced its newest spherical of awards beneath the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. The EECBG Program will distribute $12.62 million to 32 native governments, two states, and one Tribe to enhance vitality effectivity, cut back greenhouse gasoline emissions, and decrease total vitality use. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation and managed by DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programsthe EECBG program makes components grants to States, territories, the District of Columbia and eligible Tribal and native governments. This system funding is extremely versatile: recipients might apply it in the direction of 14 eligible classes of unpolluted vitality initiatives and packages that can assist them cut back vitality consumption, promote vitality effectivity, and advance environmental justice.

“Through the investments from the EECBG Program, the Biden-Harris Administration is equipping local communities with the resources to lead our nation’s clean energy transition,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Vitality Jennifer M. Granholm. “These contributions are not just about cutting emissions — they’re about creating a healthier, more resilient country for all future generations to come.”

That is the eighth tranche of components awards from the EECBG Program. Since DOE introduced the primary awards in October 2023, this system has awarded practically $162 million to 210 communities.

Grantees will use these newest EECBG Program awards to conduct vitality assessments and effectivity upgrades for low-income households, set up electrical car (EV) charging stations, buy different gas autos for municipal use, launch solarization campaigns, enhance bicycle infrastructure and different actions. This program advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiativewhich units the purpose that 40 % of the general advantages of sure federal local weather, clear vitality, and different investments movement to deprived communities which are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by air pollution.

August additionally marked one other important milestone for the EECBG Program: it made the primary tools voucher award to the Metropolis of Livermore, CA to assist the acquisition of two solar-powered EV chargers for public use. Recipients of the EECBG Program vouchers might use them to acquire rebates for buying and putting in eligible tools or for technical help providers. The EECBG Program vouchers, which contain shorter functions and lowered reporting necessities, underscore DOE’s dedication to bettering entry to federal funding for communities nationwide.

To commemorate this milestone, DOE will co-host a ribbon chopping ceremony on August 30, 2024 with the Metropolis of Livermore at Livermore Civil Middle Library, the place one of many EV chargers is put in. As a part of DOE’s “Resiliency Month,” town’s challenge additionally demonstrates how DOE investments can advance group local weather targets throughout a large number of focus areas, reminiscent of sustainable transportation and resiliency.

Be taught extra about what grantees on this tranche are doing with their funds under and on our website:

• Arizona will pursue three predominant initiatives: making a centralized digital useful resource (in partnership with utilities and group primarily based organizations) for Arizonans to search out rebates, technical help, and different assets to finish vitality effectivity initiatives; rising vitality effectivity in 100 authorities buildings by deploying up to date vitality administration methods, which can extra successfully monitor vitality use and cut back vitality consumption; and sub-granting funds to native governments for clear vitality initiatives reminiscent of vitality assessments and weatherization upgrades in municipal buildings. (Award quantity: $2,068,370)
• The Unified Authorities of Athens-Clarke County, GA will set up an Equipment Help Initiative to offer energy-efficient house equipment upgrades (e.g., HVAC methods, warmth pumps, water heaters) to income-qualified householders. Precedence will likely be given to these in energy-burdened census tracts whose houses had been beforehand a part of a well being and security renovation and/or a certified weatherization enchancment program. This challenge helps town’s Clear and Renewable Vitality Plan to scale back vitality use. It should observe key actions from EECBG Program Blueprint 2A: Energy Efficiency Energy Audits and Building Upgrades and Blueprint 2C: Building Electrification Campaign. (Award quantity: $177,160)
• Babylon, NY will use funds to assist the Lengthy Island Inexperienced Houses program, which helps residents enhance house vitality effectivity. Funds will likely be allotted to buy new warmth pump methods and different obligatory tools for about 40-50 households, with a concentrate on low-income communities. Babylon can even develop a brand new advertising and marketing plan to lift consciousness of this system and higher have interaction deprived communities via printed supplies, digital social media ads, and in-person occasions. (Award quantity: $235,330)
• Charlotte, NC will launch a Solarize Marketing campaign in collaboration with community-based organizations. This marketing campaign will embody three predominant efforts: first, an academic marketing campaign about the advantages of photo voltaic; second, fund photo voltaic set up for 25 low-and-moderate income-households, accelerating the equitable deployment of unpolluted vitality applied sciences; and third, tailor-made technical help throughout the photo voltaic buy and set up course of for collaborating households. Charlotte’s program will observe EECBG Program Blueprint 3C: Solarize Campaign. (Award quantity: $777,930)
• Charlottesville, VA will create a program to conduct free residential vitality audits for 165 low- and moderate-income households, in partnership with an area nonprofit. This system will educate and put together collaborating households to entry the U.S. Division of Vitality’s Dwelling Vitality Rebates and different federal and state vitality effectivity incentives that can assist residents to scale back vitality burdens, enhance indoor air high quality, and lower local weather air pollution. (Award quantity: $76,840)
• Livermore, CA bought two dual-plug solar-powered electrical car (EV) chargers with battery storage and put in them on the Civic Middle Public Library and Metropolis Corridor. As a result of the chargers require no connection to the grid, they are often moved to totally different areas relying on want. By providing these photo voltaic powered off-grid chargers for public use, Livermore will assist residents with EVs drive on 100% renewable energy and keep cellular even throughout grid outages. The chargers’ batteries may also be used as backup energy for the Library and Metropolis Corridor throughout excessive climate occasions. Livermore is the primary group to obtain its funds as a reimbursement via the tools rebate voucher possibility. EECBG Program Vouchers present another, streamlined path for native governments and Tribes to use for and handle their awards. (Award quantity: $144,230)
• Missoula, MT will launch a Constructing Electrification Marketing campaign and draft new voluntary stretch constructing codes. The marketing campaign can even broaden town’s current native residential rebate program for electrical warmth pump water heaters. It should educate residents about out there rebates, enhance employees capability to satisfy electrification targets, and create workforce coaching modules on set up of air-source warmth pumps and warmth pump water heaters in partnership with the Clear Vitality Workforce Coalition. The marketing campaign will observe EECBG Program Blueprint 2C: Building Efficiency & Electrification Campaign. Town can even rent employees to draft and implement a voluntary stretch code for brand spanking new building. It will incentivize vitality retrofits in current buildings and encourage electrification and onsite renewable vitality technology. These actions will assist Missoula households entry fashionable and environment friendly house vitality applied sciences whereas strengthening the native clear vitality workforce. (Award quantity: $134,040)
• The Muscogee (Creek) Nation will fund Licensed Vitality Supervisor (CEM) trainings for employees of the Nation’s utility authority. Following the coaching, the utility authority will help with benchmarking and vitality financial savings efficiency contracting for Tribal services. Investing in employees coaching will improve inside sustainable vitality administration experience and assist the Nation to construct vitality sovereignty. EECBG Program Blueprints 2A and 2B on vitality effectivity in buildings will present a framework for benchmarking and vitality assessments. (Award quantity: $42,290)
• Tempe, AZ will launch an vitality effectivity pilot program in three cellular house parks: Sage Level, Chaparral Village, and Rancho Tempe. The pilot program will subsidize the price of energy-saving upgrades reminiscent of putting in LED lighting, updating HVAC methods, and including insulation in 12 houses. This system goals to scale back vitality burdens for households in deprived communities whereas contributing in the direction of Tempe’s purpose of equitable group carbon neutrality by 2050. Tempe will co-host a Community Energy Fellow (totally funded clear vitality skilled sponsored by DOE) with different cities in Arizona to assist coordinated EECBG Program deployment throughout the area. This effort will observe EECBG Program Blueprint 2A: Energy Efficiency: Energy Audits, Building Upgrades. (Award quantity: $236,650)
• Wichita, KS will conduct vitality assessments on 16 stormwater pump stations. The assessments will suggest upgrades aimed toward enhancing pump management and decreasing energy consumption. Town can even sub-grant funds to the South Central Kansas Financial Improvement District (SCKEDD) to weatherize 20 houses for low-income residents, serving to to alleviate monetary burdens and enhance total high quality of life. Remaining funds will likely be used to carry out retro- commissioning and effectivity upgrades on the Wichita Animal Shelter, which operates 24/7. All actions will observe EECBG Program Blueprint 2A: Energy Efficiency: Energy Audits, Building Upgrades. (Award Quantity: $381,670)

Different awards introduced at this time embody:

• Metropolis of Albuquerque, NM ($512,750)
• Allegheny County, PA ($751,200)
• Metropolis of Baltimore, MD ($549,550)
• City of Blacksburg, VA ($76,680)
• Metropolis of Campbell, CA ($76,540)
• Metropolis of Erie, PA ($151,020)
• Forsyth County, GA ($259,710)
• Metropolis of Fresno, CA ($494,390)
• Metropolis of Irvine, CA ($333,830)
• Metropolis of Knoxville, TN ($239,720)
• Metropolis of La Mesa, CA ($120,950)
• Lyon County, NV ($76,190)
• Metropolis of Medford, OR ($143,430)
• Montgomery County, MD ($764,010)
• Metropolis North Little Rock, AR ($128,080)
• Metropolis of Oakland, CA ($405,710)
• Sarpy County, NE ($78,430)
• Metropolis of Savannah, GA ($199,050)
• Sedgwick County, KS ($79,350)
• Seminole County, FL ($287,440)
• Metropolis of Springfield, MA ($197,920)
• Metropolis of Tulare, CA ($125,790)
• Metropolis of Watsonville, CA ($115,420)
• Metropolis of Wenatchee, WA ($76,300)
• State of Maryland ($2,101,450)

DOE provides in depth technical assistance to assist EECBG Program grantees, together with Blueprints and Blueprint Cohorts. The ECCBG Blueprints are 13 guides to implementing eligible and high-impact clear vitality and vitality effectivity initiatives and packages. Blueprint Cohorts provide EECBG Program-eligible communities the chance to realize insights from business consultants and different collaborating friends.

The subsequent EECBG Program utility deadlines are October 31,2024 for eligible native governments, and Might 31, 2025, for Tribes. Native governments and Tribes can apply for both conventional grants or vouchers for tools rebates or technical help. For extra data, go to the EECBG Program website.

Courtesy of U.S. Department of Energy.