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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-Revenue Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) right this moment introduced its newest spherical of awards beneath 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, scale back greenhouse fuel emissions, and decrease general power use. Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Regulation and managed by DOE’s Workplace of State and Neighborhood Vitality Packages, the EECBG program makes method 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 fresh power tasks and packages that may assist them scale 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 method 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 aim that 40 % of the general advantages of sure federal local weather, clear power, and different investments move to deprived communities which might be marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by air pollution.
August additionally marked one other vital milestone for the EECBG Program: it made the primary tools voucher award to the Metropolis of Livermore, CA to help 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 purposes and decreased 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 slicing 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,” the town’s undertaking additionally demonstrates how DOE investments can advance neighborhood local weather targets throughout a large number of focus areas, similar to sustainable transportation and resiliency.
Study extra about what grantees on this tranche are doing with their funds beneath and on our web site:
- Arizona will pursue three most important tasks: making a centralized digital useful resource (in partnership with utilities and neighborhood based mostly organizations) for Arizonans to search out rebates, technical help, and different sources to finish power effectivity tasks; growing power effectivity in 100 authorities buildings by deploying up to date power administration methods, which can extra successfully monitor power use and scale back power consumption; and sub-granting funds to native governments for clear power tasks similar 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 dwelling equipment upgrades (e.g., HVAC methods, warmth pumps, water heaters) to income-qualified owners. Precedence might be given to these in energy-burdened census tracts whose properties have been beforehand a part of a well being and security renovation and/or a certified weatherization enchancment program. This undertaking helps the 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 help the Lengthy Island Inexperienced Properties program, which helps residents enhance dwelling power effectivity. Funds might be allotted to buy new warmth pump methods and different mandatory tools for about 40-50 households, with a deal with low-income communities. Babylon may even develop a brand new advertising plan to lift consciousness of this system and higher have interaction 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 embrace three most 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 throughout the photo voltaic buy and set up course of for taking part 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 an area nonprofit. This system will educate and put together taking part households to entry the U.S. Division of Vitality’s Dwelling 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 minimize 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 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 neighborhood to obtain its funds as a reimbursement by way of the tools rebate voucher choice. EECBG Program Vouchers present an alternate, 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 may even broaden the town’s current native residential rebate program for electrical warmth pump water heaters. It can educate residents about accessible rebates, enhance workers 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: Constructing Effectivity & Electrification Marketing campaign. The town may even rent workers to draft and implement a voluntary stretch code for brand spanking new building. This may incentivize power retrofits in current buildings and encourage electrification and onsite renewable power era. These actions will assist Missoula households entry fashionable and environment friendly dwelling 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 services. Investing in workers coaching will improve inner sustainable power administration experience and help 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 dwelling parks: Sage Level, Chaparral Village, and Rancho Tempe. The pilot program will subsidize the price of energy-saving upgrades similar to putting in LED lighting, updating HVAC methods, and including insulation in 12 properties. This system goals to scale back power burdens for households in deprived communities whereas contributing in the direction of Tempe’s aim of equitable neighborhood carbon neutrality by 2050. Tempe will co-host a Neighborhood Vitality Fellow (absolutely funded clear power skilled sponsored by DOE) with different cities in Arizona to help 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 advocate upgrades geared toward enhancing pump management and decreasing energy consumption. The town may even sub-grant funds to the South Central Kansas Financial Improvement District (SCKEDD) to weatherize 20 properties for low-income residents, serving to to alleviate monetary burdens and enhance general 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 right this moment embrace:
- 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 help 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 tasks and packages. Blueprint Cohorts provide EECBG Program-eligible communities the chance to achieve insights from trade specialists and different taking part friends.
The subsequent EECBG Program software 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 data, go to the EECBG Program web site.
Courtesy of U.S. Division of Vitality.
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