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Funding from Investing in America Agenda Will Enhance Vitality Effectivity and Assist 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 agenda, the U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) in the present day introduced its newest spherical of awards below the Vitality Effectivity 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 power effectivity, cut back greenhouse fuel emissions, and decrease total power use. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation and managed by DOE’s Workplace of State and Group Vitality Applications, the EECBG program makes components grants to States, territories, the District of Columbia and eligible Tribal and native governments. This system funding is very versatile: recipients might apply it in direction of 14 eligible classes of fresh power initiatives and applications that may assist them cut back power consumption, promote power 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 almost $162 million to 210 communities.
Grantees will use these newest EECBG Program awards to conduct power assessments and effectivity upgrades for low-income households, set up electrical automobile (EV) charging stations, buy various gasoline automobiles for municipal use, launch solarization campaigns, enhance bicycle infrastructure and different actions. This program advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which units the objective that 40 % of the general advantages of sure federal local weather, clear power, and different investments stream to deprived communities which can be 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 companies. The EECBG Program vouchers, which contain shorter functions and lowered reporting necessities, underscore DOE’s dedication to enhancing 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 venture additionally demonstrates how DOE investments can advance group local weather targets throughout a mess of focus areas, corresponding to sustainable transportation and resiliency.
Be taught extra about what grantees on this tranche are doing with their funds beneath and on our web site:
- Arizona will pursue three important 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 sources to finish power effectivity initiatives; growing power effectivity in 100 authorities buildings by deploying up to date power administration methods, which is able to extra successfully monitor power use and cut back power consumption; and sub-granting funds to native governments for clear power initiatives corresponding to power 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 supply energy-efficient house equipment upgrades (e.g., HVAC methods, warmth pumps, water heaters) to income-qualified householders. Precedence might be given to these in energy-burdened census tracts whose houses have been beforehand a part of a well being and security renovation and/or a certified weatherization enchancment program. This venture helps town’s Clear and Renewable Vitality Plan to scale back power use. It can observe key actions from EECBG Program Blueprint 2A: Vitality Effectivity Vitality Audits and Constructing Upgrades and Blueprint 2C: Constructing Electrification Marketing campaign. (Award quantity: $177,160)
- Babylon, NY will use funds to assist the Lengthy Island Inexperienced Properties program, which helps residents improve house power effectivity. Funds might be allotted to buy new warmth pump methods and different mandatory 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 interact deprived communities by way of printed supplies, digital social media commercials, 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 important 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 fresh power applied sciences; and third, tailor-made technical help in the course of the photo voltaic buy and set up course of for collaborating households. Charlotte’s program will observe EECBG Program Blueprint 3C: Solarize Marketing campaign. (Award quantity: $777,930)
- Charlottesville, VA will create a program to conduct free residential power audits for 165 low- and moderate-income households, in partnership with a neighborhood nonprofit. This system will educate and put together collaborating households to entry the U.S. Division of Vitality’s Residence Vitality Rebates and different federal and state power effectivity incentives that may assist residents to scale back power burdens, enhance indoor air high quality, and reduce local weather air pollution. (Award quantity: $76,840)
- Livermore, CA bought two dual-plug solar-powered electrical automobile (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 places 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 by way of the tools rebate voucher choice. 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 increase town’s present native residential rebate program for electrical warmth pump water heaters. It can educate residents about accessible rebates, improve employees capability to fulfill 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: Constructing Effectivity & Electrification Marketing campaign. Town can even rent employees to draft and implement a voluntary stretch code for brand spanking new development. It will incentivize power retrofits in present buildings and encourage electrification and onsite renewable power technology. These actions will assist Missoula households entry trendy and environment friendly house power applied sciences whereas strengthening the native clear power 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 power financial savings efficiency contracting for Tribal amenities. Investing in employees coaching will improve inner sustainable power administration experience and assist the Nation to construct power sovereignty. EECBG Program Blueprints 2A and 2B on power effectivity in buildings will present a framework for benchmarking and power assessments. (Award quantity: $42,290)
- Tempe, AZ will launch an power 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 corresponding to putting in LED lighting, updating HVAC methods, and including insulation in 12 houses. This system goals to scale back power burdens for households in deprived communities whereas contributing in direction of Tempe’s objective of equitable group carbon neutrality by 2050. Tempe will co-host a Group Vitality Fellow (totally funded clear power 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: Vitality Effectivity: Vitality Audits, Constructing Upgrades. (Award quantity: $236,650)
- Wichita, KS will conduct power assessments on 16 stormwater pump stations. The assessments will suggest upgrades geared toward enhancing pump management and lowering 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 might 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: Vitality Effectivity: Vitality Audits, Constructing Upgrades. (Award Quantity: $381,670)
Different awards introduced in the present day 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 gives intensive technical help to assist EECBG Program grantees, together with Blueprints and Blueprint Cohorts. The ECCBG Blueprints are 13 guides to implementing eligible and high-impact clear power and power effectivity initiatives and applications. Blueprint Cohorts supply EECBG Program-eligible communities the chance to realize insights from business specialists and different collaborating friends.
The following EECBG Program utility deadlines are October 31,2024 for eligible native governments, and Could 31, 2025, for Tribes. Native governments and Tribes can apply for both conventional grants or vouchers for tools rebates or technical help. For extra info, go to the EECBG Program web site.
Courtesy of U.S. Division of Vitality.
