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Dear Energy Community Supporter,
It’s a busy time for the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG). We recently hosted a webinar on the Inflation Reduction Act, held a summit at the White House, published a new public report and released a Memorandum of Understanding on interagency collaboration with energy communities, all on the heels of the two-year anniversary of the creation of the Energy Communities IWG.
Read on to learn more about recent happenings, upcoming events and federal investment announcements and deadlines.
Energy Communities IWG Visits White House for Summit
On Tuesday, the Energy Communities IWG joined senior Biden-Harris Administration officials at the White House to announce billions of dollars in additional investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to support fossil energy workers and spur long-term economic revitalization in energy communities.
The event brought together federal officials, private sector executives, philanthropic and labor leaders, financial investors, and energy community representatives from the 25 priority energy communities. Energy community stakeholders participated in two robust roundtable discussions with federal officials to discuss challenges and identify solutions to support economic growth in energy communities.
In connection with the event, the Energy Communities IWG released Revitalizing Energy Communities: Two-Year Report to the President, a report outlining the transformative activities the Biden Administration has taken since January 2021 to provide robust outreach and engagement with energy communities. The report also previews the Administration’s path forward to ensure the nation sustains momentum in building a clean energy future made in America and powered by American workers.
You can access the recording here and visit the past events page here.
Register for Upcoming “What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Energy Communities – Part 2” Webinar
The Energy Communities IWG is hosting the second webinar in its two-part webinar series highlighting IRA programs that benefit energy communities on April 28 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Key programs discussed in the second webinar will include:
- The enhanced Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C).
- Bonus tax credits for energy communities under the Inflation Reduction Act.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s $3 billion environmental justice grant program for community-based organizations and their partners.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green House Gas Reduction Fund supporting low-income and disadvantaged communities.
New Funding Opportunities & Announcements
- U.S. Department of Treasury Releases Guidance to Drive Investment to Coal Communities
The guidance provides detailed information about the bonus under the Inflation Reduction Act for clean energy projects and facilities located in communities that have driven and historically been at the forefront of energy production. - U.S. Departments of Treasury and Energy Release Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus Eligibility Map
The Inflation Reduction Act Energy Community Tax Credit Bonus applies a bonus of up to 10% (for production tax credits) or 10 percentage points (for investment tax credits) for projects, facilities and technologies located in energy communities.
- U.S. Department of Energy Announces Clean Energy Demonstrations on Mine Lands Funding Opportunity
Projects selected through this $450 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding opportunity will help to create high-quality and long-term jobs, spur economic development, and provide other direct benefits to the local community. - U.S. Department of Energy Invests $16 Million to Build America’s First-of-a-Kind Critical Minerals Production Facility
The funding will support projects in West Virginia and North Dakota for the development of a first-of-a-kind rare earth element and critical minerals extraction and separation refinery. - U.S. Department of Energy Releases Coal Power Plant Redevelopment Visualization Tool
The tool serves as a public database and map for the purposes of enabling state and local economic development officials, project developers, and power plant owners to identify and pursue opportunities for plant redevelopment and community reinvestment. - U.S. Department of Agriculture Makes Available $1 Billion in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Grants
REAP grants will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses invest in renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements.
- U.S. Department of the Interior Awards $8.6 Million to Revitalize Coal Communities in Tennessee
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding will create good-paying jobs and catalyze economic opportunity in Tennessee’s energy communities.
- U.S. Department of the Interior Announces $126 Million to Reclaim Abandoned Coal Mines
Funded through the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, these grants will help address the hazards and environmental degradation posed by legacy coal mine sites
Upcoming Funding Deadlines
The following funding opportunities have application deadlines coming up in the next four weeks and can all be found in the IWG’s online clearinghouse.
- U.S. Department of Energy Water Research and Development for Oil and Gas Produced Water and Coal Combustion Residuals Wastewater Associated with Coal Power Plants Applications Due April 12
- Denali Commission Program Grants Applications Due April 14
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program Applications Due April 14
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program Applications Due April 14
- U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Concept Papers Due April 14
- Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Initiative Applications Due April 19
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants Applications Due April 20
- U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program Applications Due April 21
- U.S. Department of Energy Renew America’s Schools Applications Due April 21
- U.S. Department of Agriculture FY23 Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements Applications Due April 27
Events & Additional Resources
- Revitalizing Energy Communities: Two-Year Report to the President
Check out the Energy Communities IWG’s new public report, previewing the Administration’s path forward to ensure the nation sustains momentum in building a clean energy future made in America and powered by American workers.
- Resources from April 4 White House Event
Access critical resources and announcements from the Energy Communities IWG’s event at the White House this week. - White House Fact Sheet on New Clean Energy Projects to Revitalize Energy Communities
Read more about new historic announcements that will drive new investments in energy communities to support their economic revitalization, strengthen American supply chains, and help ensure coal, oil, and gas workers benefit from the new clean energy economy. - Recording and Resources from “What the Inflation Reduction Act Means for Energy Communities – Part 1” Webinar
Access the recording, presentation slides, agenda and Q&A responses from the webinar.
On behalf of all IWG member agencies, thank you for your continued interest in programs that support people living and working in America’s energy communities. Please feel free to share this newsletter with others in your network who may benefit.
Best regards,
Brian J. Anderson, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory
U.S. Department of Energy