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Established by an Executive Order during President Biden’s first week in office, the Energy Communities IWG is pursuing a whole-of-government approach to create good-paying union jobs, spur economic revitalization, remediate environmental degradation and support energy workers in coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities across the country.
New Energy Communities Video
The Energy Communities IWG has spent the last 2+ years hard at work supporting energy communities and workers across the country as they navigate energy and economic transitions. Learn more in our new video!
Webinar on Overcoming Common Infrastructure Challenges
Mark your calendar for July 17 at 2:00 p.m.! The second, and final, webinar in the Energy Communities IWG’s series on overcoming common infrastructure challenges will focus on water, sewer and broadband. Join us for a fireside chat with industry leaders and dynamic Q&A session.
New Funding Opportunities & Announcements
- Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Concept Papers Being Accepted
The U.S. Department of Energy, on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service, began accepting concept papers for the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C). Applicants have until July 31 to submit their concept paper for consideration for the first round of this pivotal program. - U.S. Department of Agriculture PACE Program Applications Available on July 10
The Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) helps make clean, affordable, and reliable energy accessible to the people of rural America. - U.S. Department of Commerce Announces State Allocations for Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program
Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the BEAD program supports the deployment of affordable, reliable high-speed internet service to everyone in America. - U.S. Department of Transportation Releases Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
This new pilot program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law offers technical assistance grants to rural and tribal communities to advance infrastructure projects. - U.S. Department of Agriculture Announces $714 Million Through ReConnect Program
These grants and loans will connect rural residents, farmers and business owners in 19 states to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
Upcoming Funding Deadlines
The following funding opportunities and technical assistance programs 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 Agriculture
U.S. Department of Commerce
- FY23 University Center Economic Development Program Applications Due July 10
- FY23 Build to Scale Program Applications Due July 28
U.S. Department of Energy
- Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Application Due July 7
- 2023 Sunny Awards Applications Due July 14
- Industrial Assessment Centers (IAC) Implementation Grant Program – Round 1 Applications Due July 14
- Carbon Management – Round 3 Applications Due July 18
- Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling, and Electrolysis Applications Due July 19
- U.S. Tidal Energy Advancement Applications Due July 25
- Transitioning Tribal College and Universities to Clean Energy Applications Due July 27
- FY23 Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Ride and Drive Electric Funding Applications Due July 28
- Heat Pump Defense Production Act Program Applications Due August 1
- Energy Improvement in Rural or Remote Areas Applications Due August 2
- Renew America’s Nonprofits Applications Due August 3
U.S. Department of Labor
- Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program Applications Due July 7
- Targeted Topic Training Applications Due July 7
- Critical Sector Job Quality Grants Applications Due July 17
- Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants Applications Due July 21
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- National Indian Health Outreach and Education Applications Due July 10
- Community Economic Development Planning Grants Applications Due July 12
- Health Center Program: Service Area Competition Applications Due July 24
U.S. Department of Transportation
- Safe Streets and Roads for All Applications Due July 10
- Airport Improvement Program Discretionary Grants Applications Due July 14
- Native American Pedestrian Safety Demonstration Applications Due July 14
- Small Business Transportation Resource Center Mid-South Atlantic Applications Due July 22
- Small Business Transportation Resource Center Southeast Applications Due July 22
- FY23 Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants Applications Due July 24
- Small Business Transportation Resource Center Gulf Region Applications Due July 30
- Small Business Transportation Resource Center Great Lakes Region Applications Due July 30
- Small Business Transportation Resource Center South Atlantic Region Applications Due July 30
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Events & Additional Resources
- Overcoming Common Infrastructure Challenges Webinar Part One Resources
The recording, slides and additional resources from part one of the Energy Communities IWG’s webinar series on overcoming common infrastructure challenges are now available.
- Community Benefits Plans Webinar Series: CBP 101 Webinar Recording
Learn more about U.S. Department of Energy requirements for Community Benefits Plans (CBP), including engaging communities and labor; investing in America’s workforce; advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and implementing the Justice40 Initiative.
- U.S. Energy & Employment Report 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy released its Energy and Employment Report 2023, which found that the number of U.S. energy sector jobs grew 3.8% from 2021 to 2022, and clean energy jobs grew 3.9%.
- Energy Transition Webinar Series
Webinar 1: Rural Clean Energy, July 7th, 12pm CT
Webinar 2: Harnessing Federal and State Opportunities, July 21st, 12pm CT
Webinar 3: Energy Community Support, July 28th, 12pm CT
Co-hosted by the University of Illinois Extension, Prairie Rivers Network and Just Transition Fund, this webinar series will explore state and federal opportunities related to the clean energy transition.
- Illinois Coal Basin Rapid Response Team Regional Convening – Indiana
Wednesday, July 12
Vincennes University, Jasper, IN
More details to come!
- Potential Environmental Liability Associated with Developing Clean Energy on Mine Land Webinar
Wednesday, July 12, 1 -2 p.m. EDT
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to present a webinar on RE-Powering America’s Lands and liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
- Demonstration of Procedure for Submitting New ERA Program Letters of Interest
Thursday, July 13, 1 p.m. EDT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service staff will provide an overview of the portal being used to submit letters of interest for the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program.
Success Story
State governments play a critical role in the success of economic and energy transitions in their communities. Through funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Office of Energy (EPA-OE) is spearheading an energy education strategy at the community college level to bolster clean energy education and training.
Each year, EPA-OE distributes nearly $2 million to the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN), a consortium of community colleges with a mission to drive growth of the green economy and workforce.
In 2021-2022, EPA-OE partnered with IGEN to launch Building Energy Education Fundamentals, an interactive energy code training program for community college students. This program aims to increase knowledge of advanced design and construction practices and increase awareness of employment opportunities in building-code-related professions.
Through this program, the state of Illinois is taking steps to provide residents with opportunities to build careers in the clean energy economy and create a more robust clean energy workforce.
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