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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 Planning, Executing, 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
- UMWA Career Centers Receives $750,000 in Foundation Funding to Train Dislocated Miners
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) announced that the UMWA Career Centers Inc. (UMWACC) received commitments from several foundations that will unlock a federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant enabling the UMWACC to recruit and train more than 500 dislocated miners and others in southwestern Pennsylvania for jobs in the robotics industry. - ARC Awards Nearly $54 Million to Advance Economic Diversification in Appalachia’s Coal-Impacted Communities
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) awarded nearly $54 million to 64 projects in 217 counties through its POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative that directs federal resources to economic diversification projects in Appalachian communities affected by job losses in the coal industry. This is the largest single POWER awards package since the initiative launched in 2015. - Biden-Harris Administration Announces $7 Billion For America’s First Clean Hydrogen Hubs
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $7 billion to launch seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) across the nation and accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen. Several hubs will benefit energy communities. Several H2Hubs are located in and/or will benefit energy communities, including:
- U.S. Department of Transportation Thriving Communities Program
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is accepting applications for its FY23 Thriving Communities Program (TCP), as well as Letters of Interest from eligible applicants interested in receiving technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building support from the TCP Capacity Builders. TCP Capacity Builders will help awardees compete for federal aid and deliver quality infrastructure projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive. Letters are due by 4:59 p.m. ET on November 15, 2023. - Office of Economic Impact and Diversity’s Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program
The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program (48(e)) provides an opportunity to create jobs, reduce costs for families, and contribute to economic growth in communities that have been historically left behind. Applications are now open.
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
- Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives Applications Due Nov. 10
- Energy Future Grants (EFG) Creating a Community-Led Energy Future Applications Due Nov. 10
- Silicon Solar Manufacturing and Dual-Use Photovoltaics Incubator Applications Due Nov. 14
- Clean Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transport and Utilization to Enable a Net-Zero Carbon Economy Applications Due Nov. 14
- Carbon Capture Technology Program, Front-End Engineering and Design for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Transport Applications Due Nov. 16
- Carbon Management – Round 4 Applications Due Nov. 20
- Career Skills Training Applications Due Nov. 27
- Innovative Technologies to Eliminate Flaring from Oil and Natural Gas Production Applications Due Nov. 27
- Materials, Operation, and Recycling of Photovoltaics (MORE PV) Applications Due Nov. 28
- Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling, Reprocessing, and Battery Collection Applications Due Nov. 29
- Direct Air Capture Commercial Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Purchase Pilot Prize Applications Due Dec. 14
U.S. Department of Labor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- FY24 Guidelines for Technical Assistance to Tribal Nations and Entities Addressing Brownfields Grant Applications Due Nov. 13
- FY24 Guidelines for Brownfield Multipurpose Grants Applications Due Nov. 13
- FY24 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants (Community-Wide Assessment Grants) Applications Due Nov. 13
- FY24 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants (Assessment Coalition Grants) Applications Due Nov. 13
- FY24 Guidelines for Brownfield Assessment Grants (Community-Wide Assessment Grants for States and Tribes) Applications Due Nov. 13
- FY24 Guidelines for Brownfield Cleanup Grants Applications Due Nov. 13
- Treatment Technology Demonstrations Using Practical and Affordable Manganese Treatment for Small Drinking Water Systems Applications Due Nov. 15
- Innovative Water Infrastructure Workforce Development Grant Program Applications Due Nov. 17
- Promoting Readiness and Enhancing Proficiency to Advance Reporting and Data Applications Due Nov. 30
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.
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