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The Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (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.
§ 48C Round 2 Concept Papers Due June 21
The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) recently held a webinar to discuss the new Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (§ 48C) program Round 2 guidance and application process.
In case you missed the webinar, below is some important information to help you navigate the application process for Round 2:
- Links to access the entire webinar recording and slides.
- Download concept papers templates to help kickstart your application process. Revised templates will be available soon.
- To register, start your application, and find all necessary information, please go to the § 48C application portal.
Please note, the § 48C Round 2 concept paper submission window opened May 22, 2024, and will close June 21, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET. For each proposed project, applicants must submit a completed PDF template for the relevant project category and a completed datasheet.
Updated Energy Communities Tax Credit Bonus Map
The Inflation Reduction Act’s 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. Check out the updated map to see if your community qualifies.
New Funding Opportunities & Announcements
- EPA Announced More Than $300 Million in Brownfield Grants Through Investing in America Agenda to Rehabilitate and Revitalize Communities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $300 million in grant awards to help states, Tribal Nations, local governments and nonprofit organizations assess and clean up polluted brownfield sites across the country. These grants will help transform once-polluted, vacant and abandoned properties into community assets, help create good jobs and spur economic revitalization in overburdened communities. - DOE Announced More Than $12 Million to Support Local Projects to Save Energy in 17 State and Local Governments
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help advance state and local governments’ efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower overall energy use. - USDA Announced Projects to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure and Create Jobs Across the Nation
Through three funding programs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is funding 47 projects in 23 states to improve access to reliable electricity and clean drinking water for more than one million people and to create good-paying jobs across the nation. - DOI Announced Nearly $80 Million From the Investing in America Agenda to Clean Up Legacy Pollution in Three States
North Dakota will use its $25 million U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) grant to plug approximately 46 orphaned oil and gas wells, reclaim 116 well sites and remediate more than 270 contaminated sites. West Virginia will use its $29.2 million award to plug approximately 200 orphaned oil and gas wells. Finally, New Mexico expects to plug approximately 117 orphaned oil and gas wells, remediate four sites and complete surface restoration of 33 locations with its $25 million grant. - ARC Awarded Nearly $1.7 Million to Grow Workforces in Key Industries Across Six Appalachian States
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded four new Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) grants totaling nearly $1.7 million to develop workforce capacity plans in key industries — cybersecurity, infrastructure, geographical information systems (GIS) development and housing. - EPA Announced $25 Million to Help Provide Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities with Clean and Safe Drinking Water
The Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Community grant program will upgrade infrastructure to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, reducing exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), removing sources of lead, and addressing additional local drinking water challenges.
Funding Opportunities for Workforce Development
- FY25 Brownfields Job Training (JT) Grants Due August 1
EPA anticipates awarding approximately 20 grants nationwide, up to $500,000 per award. The grants allow nonprofits and other eligible organizations to recruit, train and retain a local, skilled workforce by prioritizing unemployed and under-employed workers — including low-income individuals living in communities disproportionately impacted by solid and hazardous waste — in environmental jobs.- The Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization will host an outreach webinar June 6, 2024, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. ET to explain the grant guidelines for interested applicants and to address commonly asked questions. Prior registration is not required.
- The Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization will host an outreach webinar June 6, 2024, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. ET to explain the grant guidelines for interested applicants and to address commonly asked questions. Prior registration is not required.
- Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) Round 6: A Grant Initiative for the Appalachian, Delta, and Northern Border Regions Due June 20
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) WORC grants are designed to address the employment and training needs of the local and regional workforce, created in collaboration with community partners and aligned with existing economic and workforce development plans and strategies. - DOL Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program Round 2 Due July 1
DOL announced the availability of $35 million to enable public-private partnerships to develop, implement and scale worker-centered programs that train people for in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing; information technology; and professional, scientific and technical service occupations. - Critical Sector Job Quality Grants Due July 15
DOL announced $12 million in additional funds to improve job quality and increase the availability of good jobs in critical industries. This includes an emphasis on training provided for jobs in the care economy, such as home, elder and childcare.
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 Energy Communities IWG’s online clearinghouse. To learn more about how to navigate the clearinghouse, click here.
U.S. Department of Energy
- 2024 Renew America’s Schools Prize – Round 2 Due June 13
- Clean Energy to Communities Program (C2C): In-Depth Partnerships Due June 14
- Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Due June 17
- Regional Scale Collaboration to Facilitate a Domestic Critical Minerals Future: Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative Due June 24
- Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program Section 40209 – Round 2 Due July 1
- Carbon Capture Technology Program, Front-End Engineering and Design for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Transport Due July 9
- Energizing Rural Communities Prize Due July 12
- Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) Program Due July 12
- Wind Turbine Materials Recycling Prize Due July 19
- Solar Ambassador Prize Due July 31
- American-Made Solar Prize – Round 7 Due August 22
U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Rural Decentralized Water System Grant Program Due June 28
- Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Due June 30
U.S. Department of Transportation
- Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program Due June 17
- Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants Due June 20
- Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program Due July 12
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Affordable Housing and Supportive Services Demonstration Due July 15
- Community Economic Development Projects Due July 17
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Events & Additional Resources
- Advancing Appalachia: ARC 2024 Annual Conference
September 4–5, 2024
Chattanooga Convention Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee
ARC’s annual conference will highlight how Appalachia’s 13 states and 423 counties are working to advance the region by building businesses and workforces, investing in infrastructure and tourism, and growing local leadership capacity. - Southern Illinois IWG Funding Panel
October 22–23, 2024
University of Illinois Extension Center, Carmi, Illinois - Rural Partners Network: Rural Innovator Initiative
Nomination deadline: June 14, 2024
USDA Rural Development announced its Rural Innovators Initiative, which uplifts stories of extraordinary local leaders who are taking action to ensure their communities thrive for generations to come. Nominate a rural innovator today! - Anchoring Clean Energy Manufacturing Investments in Coal Country and Beyond
Check out the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s newest blog post on the history of the § 48C program and how the credit is incentivizing and anchoring investments in clean energy manufacturing facilities across the country. - Rural Grant Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Transportation Funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation developed a guide for potential applicants to identify and navigate discretionary opportunities for rural transportation projects. Although the Grant Applicant Toolkit focuses on rural transportation projects, many grant funding resources contained throughout can apply more broadly to other projects.
Support § 48C as a Reviewer
Are you interested in supporting the implementation of this impactful program? DOE’s MESC has exciting opportunities available to contribute to the § 48C Tax Credit Program Application merit review process. Learn more about how to apply here.
On behalf of all Energy Communities 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
To learn more about funding opportunities, visit the Energy Communities IWG Clearinghouse.
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