U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Director’s Update – November 9, 2023

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.

Energy Communities IWG Getting Started Guide

The Energy Communities IWG announced the launch of one of its latest resources, the Getting Started Guide. The Getting Started Guide is a step-by-step guide intended to help communities and workers start the process of planning or responding to economic and social changes resulting from the energy transition or any major economic shift.

The guide has 10 steps, divided into the categories of PlanningExecuting, and Managing, and covers topics that include, but aren’t limited to, forming a team, developing an effective strategy for economic development, preparing a strong application for federal funding, and managing your grant.

Energy Communities IWG Navigator

The Energy Communities IWG is providing communities with yet another tool for navigating economic and energy transitions. The new Navigator, launched in October, is a dedicated team of experts who can answer questions and direct energy community stakeholders to the federal agency partners or resources best positioned to support their needs. 

Energy Communities IWG Launches Pennsylvania Rapid Response Team

The Energy Communities IWG announced the launch of the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Team (RRT) at its event at Westmoreland County Community College in October. The Pennsylvania RRT joins five other RRTs in the Four Corners region, the Illinois Coal Basin, Eastern Kentucky, Appalachian Ohio, and a pilot in Wyoming. It’s part of the working group’s core goal of creating a national network of assistance for energy communities that is community-driven, in partnership with federal, state, tribal, local, and nongovernmental organizations and leaders. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the RRT will focus on directing federal funding to the state’s energy communities and workers.

New Funding Opportunities & Announcements

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 Energy Communities IWG Clearinghouse, click here.

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Department of Treasury

Events & Additional Resources

  • Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48c) FAQs
    The Inflation Reduction Act provided $10 billion in funding for the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit Allocation Program under section 48C(e). These frequently asked questions provide details related to the eligibility and application of the credit.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Virtual Open House for Community, Equity and Resiliency
    Join EPA on November 13 and 14 for the remaining panels and fireside chats of its Virtual Open House, focused on exploring the Inflation Reduction Act investments and other funding opportunities through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. These community-driven conversations on investments in environmental and climate justice are designed for communities, community-based partners, and potential grant applicants.

  • Rural and Remote Energy Funding Guide Now Available
    DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations recently released the Federal Energy Funding for Rural and Remote Areas: A Guide for Communities. This new guide helps people who live or work in rural and remote areas find, get ready for, and apply to federal funding and programs for clean energy. 

  • Catalyzing Economic Development in Pennsylvania’s Energy Communities Event
    The Energy Communities IWG joined senior federal and state officials at the Catalyzing Economic Development in Pennsylvania’s Energy Communities event at Westmoreland County Community College to announce new federal initiatives to support energy communities and workers. The livestream recording and other resources from the event are now available here.
  • Distinguished Lecture with Brian Anderson
    Energy Communities IWG Executive Director Brian Anderson spoke about the latest efforts to prioritize the immediate needs of coal mining and power plant communities as part of Carnegie Mellon University’s Fall 2023 Lecture Series.

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.

Check out the Getting Started Guide and Navigator.

Click here to share your success story.

 

 

Scroll to Top