October 21, 2009: Report on Reporting Requirements The Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General released a special report on DOE's quality assurance process for ARRA reporting requirements. The report, "The Department of Energy's Quality Assurance Process for Prime Recipients' Reporting for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act" is available at: http://www.ig.energy.gov/documents/OAS-RA-10-01-508.pdf
State Energy Program (SEP)
SEP fundingopportunity announcement, including state allocations; announcement is attached.
March 12, 2009: SEP Funds DOE has released $780 million of the total ARRA funds designated for weatherization ($5 billion was appropriated) and the State Energy Program (SEP) ($3.1 billion was appropriated). Individual state allocations can be found at www.energy.gov/recovery. ARRA funding for both programs will be appropriated through DOE using formula-based grants, and the department yesterday issued grant announcements, which are available on the National Energy Technology website at: http://www.netl.doe.gov/business/solicitations/index.html#00051
The SEP announcement outlines several requirements for states. Among these are that states should plan for and maximize efforts to achieve a 25% reduction in per capita energy consumption from the state's 1990 per capita energy use by 2012. States also must submit their expenditure plans within 60 days of the release of the funding announcement. Additionally, SEP results achieved with ARRA funds will be assessed according to jobs created, energy saved, renewable energy installed capacity and generated, greenhouse gas emissions reduced (CO2 equivalents), energy cost savings and funds leveraged. Further, DOE strongly encourages states to propose measures that will achieve no less than 10 million source BTUs saved per $1,000 spent. As in the past, states will be required to report quarterly on project expenditures and also on specific activities and achievements, such as square feet of buildings retrofitted.
November 2009: DOE Offering Webinar on State Policy Affecting Renewable Energy Technology The DOE Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials is offering a web seminar on how state policies affect the development of markets for renewable energy technologies. DOE officials will present state rankings for renewable energy installations and use these data to make some conclusions of the effectiveness of some state policies. The presentation will take place November 18, from 3:00 to 4:15 PM EST. The seminar is free, but you must register in advance. You can register online, find information about the presenters, and read background materials on the TAP webinar section of the DOE Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program site: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/tap_webinars.cfm
October 28, 2009: Geothermal Research Funds DOE announced up to $338 million in ARRA funding for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. These grants will support 123 projects in 39 states, with recipients including private industry, academic institutions, tribal entities, local governments, and DOEs National Laboratories. The grants will be matched more than one-for-one, with an additional $353 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds. For more information, including a list of project selections, click here: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8233.htm
October 27, 2009: CREBs Allocation The Treasury Department announced the allocation of $2.2 billion in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) for 805 recipients across the country. Funded by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and the Recovery Act, these bonds are intended to help government agencies, public power providers, and cooperative electric companies obtain lower-cost financing for clean energy development projects. For more information, see: http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/tg333.htm
October 26, 2009: Funding Awards for Research DOE announced funding awards for 37 research projects. The $151 million in funding is being awarded through the department's recently formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This is the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E, which received $400 million under ARRA. Details, including projects by state, are available at: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8207.htm
October 15, 2009: Wind Energy DOE announced new investments in three university-led wind energy research facilities to enhance the testing and production of advanced and efficient wind turbine. Additional information is available at: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8135.htm
September 24, 2009: DOE Announces Funding Under EECBG Program DOE announced that more than $106 million in funding from the ARRA is being awarded to nine states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities under DOE's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. These awards to state energy offices will be used to support state-level energy efficiency priorities, along with funding local conservation projects in smaller cities and counties. At least 60% of each state's award will be passed through to local cities and counties not eligible for direct EECBG awards from DOE. For a full list of awards to date, visit: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/
September 14, 2009: Nationwide Energy Upgrade Grant Program DOE announced a new $454 million competitive grant program designed to initiate a nationwide energy upgrade. This program is the competitive portion of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funded under ARRA. DOE released a Request for Information (RFI) to seek feedback on the topic areas and evaluation criteria of the new program. Comments are due on September 28, 2009. The Funding Opportunity Announcement is expected to be released in early October, following the public comment period. The RFI is available at here.
September 1, 2009: Clean Energy Awards DOE announced $502 million in the first round of awards from a $3 billion ARRA program that funds clean energy projects by providing direct payments in lieu of tax credits. The press release and a list of projects by state is available at: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7851.htm
August 26, 2009: Clean Cities DOE announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from ARRA. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation's vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. For more information see: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=232
July 31, 2009: Applications for Program Making Direct Payments DOE and the Department of the Treasury announced that they are now accepting applications for a program that will make direct payments in lieu of tax credits to companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities. The two departments estimate distributing at least $3 billion in financial support to approximately 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities. Companies interested inapplying for the program can visit the application submission page for more information: https://treas1603.nrel.gov/
July 29, 2009: Loan Guarantees Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced two new loan guarantee solicitations that are being funded partly through ARRA and partly through FY 2009 appropriations. The department will provide up to $30 billion in loan guarantees, depending on the applications and market conditions, for renewable energy projects. Another $750 million will support several billion dollars more in loan guarantees for projects that increase the reliability, efficiency, and security of the nation's transmission system. For more information, see: http://www.lgprogram.energy.gov/
July 2009: TAP Webcast DOE's Technical Assistance Project (TAP) for state and local officials is offering a webcast on how to use a DOE-developed tool to estimate the economic impacts from electric power projects, including renewable energy generation. The presentation will take place Wednesday, July 29, from 3:00 to4:15 pm Eastern Daylight Time. More information is available at: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/tap_webcasts.cfm
July 2009: Funding for Interconnection Assessment DOE has announced $60 million to conduct resource assessments and analysis of future demand for electricity transmission as well as to facilitate the development of interconnection-wide transmission plans in all three interconnections. It is expected that consortia of all states within an interconnection would jointly apply for these grants. Grant applications are due August 14, 2009.
July 14, 2009: Funding for State-Run Rebate Programs for Energy Star Appliances DOE published a $296 million funding opportunity announcement for state-run rebate programs for consumer purchases of Energy Star appliances. These funds were included in ARRA and will be distributed to states by formula. Each state or territory must submit a plan specifying which appliance categories will be included in its rebate program as well as the rebate amount, how the rebates will be processed, and the states plan for recycling old appliances. Initial applications indicating a states intent to apply for funds are due August 15, 2009, and the full application will be due October 15, 2009. States and territories will receive 10 percent of the funds after submitting the initial application with the balance awarded after their program plans are approved. The complete Funding Opportunity Announcement is available at: http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=48463&mode=VIEW
July 9, 2009: Funding Announced for Renewable Energy Projects The Department of the Treasury and DOE announced an estimated $3 billion for the development of renewable energy projects around the country and made available the guidance businesses will need to submit a successful application. Funded through ARRA, the program will provide direct payments in lieu of tax credits in support of an estimated 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities. Additional information, including terms and conditions, guidance, and a sample application is available at: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7623.htm
March 26, 2009: Funding Announced for Block Grant The Obama administration announced $3.2 billion in funding under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. The press release can be viewed at the DOE's website on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=154
April 10, 2009: Energy-Efficiency Grant DOE has provided additional funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to 23 counties in Delaware, Kansas, and Louisiana, and to two Indian tribes: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7254.htm
May 27, 2009: Geothermal and Solar Energy Funds President Obama announced more than $467 million from ARRA to expand and accelerate the development, deployment, and use of geothermal and solar energy throughout the United States. The funding announced today will help the solar and geothermal industries overcome technical barriers, demonstrate new technologies, and provide support for clean energy jobs. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=173
April 22, 2009: Clean, Sustainable Vehicles Vice President Biden announced $300 million from ARRA for state and local governments and transit authorities to expand the nation's fleet of clean, sustainable vehicles and the fueling infrastructure necessary to support them. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=163
April 16, 2009: Smart Grid Initiatives Vice President Biden detailed plans by the Department of Energy to develop a smart, strong and secure electrical grid, which will create new jobs and help deliver reliable power more effectively with less impact on the environment to customers across the nation. As part of ARRA, the vice president outlined plans to distribute more than $3.3 billion in smart grid technology development grants and an additional $615 million for smart grid storage, monitoring and technology viability. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Vice-President-Biden-Outlines-Funding-for-Smart-Grid-Initiatives/
August 12, 2009: State Emergency Preparedness Funding DOE announced the release of nearly $38 million in ARRA funding to improve state emergency preparedness plans and ensure quick recovery and restoration from any energy supply disruptions. Funds will be used by state governments to hire or retrain staff andexpand state-level capacities to address challenges to the country's energy systems, including emergency situations such as blackouts, hurricanes, ice storms, and disruptions to heating supplies. To view a list of all state awards, see: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7791.htm
September 18, 2009: HBCUs Receive Preservation Grants The Department of Interior announced that 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will be the beneficiaries of $14.25 million for historic preservation grants aimed at providing assistance in the repair of historic buildings on their campuses. http://www.doi.gov/news/09_News_Releases/091809a.html
September 2009: Interior Releases Guidance for Contracts, Grants The Department of the Interior has release guidance for recipients of ARRA contracts and grants. http://recovery.doi.gov/press/recipient-reporting/
Park Service Projects The National Park Service will invest $750 million in nearly 800 projects to stimulate the economy through ARRA. Projects will preserve and protect national icons and historic landscapes, improve energy efficiency and renewable energy use, remediate abandoned mine lands, and provide $15 million in grants to protect and restore buildings at historically black colleges and universities. Additional funding through the Federal Highway Administration will improve park roads for millions of visitors. http://recovery.doi.gov/nps/
Land Management Projects Secretary Salazar announced $305 million to fund more than 650 Bureau of Land Management projects across the country under ARRA. The investments will restore landscapes and habitat, spur renewable energy development on public lands and create jobs. http://recovery.doi.gov/press/bureaus/bureau-of-land-management/
Water Projects The Department of Interior (Bureau of Reclamation) will award $1 billion in ARRA funds for water infrastructure projects, which are listed at: http://recovery.doi.gov/bor/
