U.S. Energy Department Invests $33 Million to Strengthen Research Capabilities in Underserved Regions

The U.S. Energy Department on July 26 announced $33 million to fund 14 clean-energy research projects, aiming to rectify the historical imbalance in federal scientific funding across the country. The diverse projects aim to cover crucial areas such as grid integration, renewable energy such as solar and wind energy, and advanced manufacturing. By promoting equitable distribution of research funds, the department ensures that all regions have access to scientific advancements that address energy and environmental challenges, and the investment aligns with the Biden administration’s ambitious climate goals, fostering a collective effort towards sustainable progress and shared ownership of priority research nationwide.

Through the department’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, program funding is allocated with the intention of bolstering research capabilities in underserved regions across 28 jurisdictions, encompassing 25 states and three U.S. territories and ensuring a fairer distribution of federal research and development funds. DOE EPSCoR is a federal-state partnership fostering competitive energy research in designated regions which enhances research capabilities, emphasizes science, and welcomes diverse research applications with academic and industrial involvement.

Each of the projects contributes to advancing energy research and holds the potential for significant impacts on energy technologies and environmental sustainability. Projects were chosen via competitive peer review under the department’s Funding Opportunity Announcement for EPSCoR Implementation Grants. Managed by the Office of Science’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences, the selected projects are now set for financial award negotiation.

The department has advanced several initiatives that align with the Justice40 Initiative, which aims to dedicate 40 percent of clean energy investment benefits to historically underserved and energy burdened communities.  The agency’s recently launched initiatives include a $25 million competitive grant program, called Enhancement & Innovation, which is a part of the $3.5 billion allocated to the Weatherization Assistance Program, or WAP, within the framework of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The department highlighted that these grants play a pivotal goal in advancing the nation’s goals on mitigating the climate crisis, empowering the workforce, and promoting environmental justice.