U.S. Energy Department to Invest $550 Million to Support Community-Based Clean Energy Technologies

The U.S. Energy Department on Nov. 22 announced a new funding opportunity worth $550 million through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, or EECBG, program that will reinforce community-based clean energy projects across the country to support local government and the deployment of clean energy technologies. The funding sponsored by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA, which will benefit more than 250 million citizens, is accessible to more than 2,700 communities in the country for clean energy projects. This will aid in lowering emissions, lowering utility bills, and accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy by 2050, resulting in a better environment for American citizens.

Through the EECBG, 50 states, 5 U.S. territories, including the District of Columbia, 1878 local governments, and 774 tribes are intended to get funding opportunities for clean energy efforts to drive better energy efficiency and conservation practices in transportation infrastructure, buildings, and other allied sectors for whom there is no access to clean energy infrastructure.

The funding opportunity through the IIJA is the second time that the EECBG Program is going to get funded. The program got its first funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

During this funding implementation phase, the U.S. Energy Department assures to support the states, tribes, and communities through the EECBG Program and State & Community Energy Program. The EECBG program is also aligned with Biden’s Justice 40 initiative to ensure underserved communities get benefits and no communities are isolated.

The EECBG is aimed at supporting tribes, communities, states, and local governments in executing strategies to:

• Cut fossil fuel emissions
• Improve energy efficiency in transportation, building and other allied sectors

The application process starts as early as January 2023.