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10/15/2024
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other state and federal funding announcements
The Minnesota Department of Commerce seeks to work with and facilitate connections with local and Tribal governments, utilities, businesses, communities and other entities interested in energy-related partnerships. The opportunities outlined below are funded by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other state and federal programs.
Announcements
Small Business Environmental Improvement loans
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is accepting applications for this 0% interest loan available to assist Minnesota’s small businesses improve their business practices to meet or exceed environmental regulations. More information can be found on the small business environmental improvement loans webpage. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Energy-related Funding Awards to Minnesota Entities
Read on to learn more about the most recent innovative Minnesota energy projects (listed by Funding Opportunity Program), and the funding they have been awarded. Congratulations to all the recipients!
Clean Energy Planning and Deployment on Tribal Lands
DOE’s Office of Indian Energy has announced nearly $18.8 million for six American Indian and Alaska Native communities to deploy clean energy solutions that will bring energy security and resilience and help lower energy costs.
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Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prior Lake - $1,258,799 – to deploy five solar PV systems, totaling approximately 596-kW, on the rooftops of existing buildings. The systems will offset approximately 11% of the total energy usage of five critical buildings and support the Tribe’s long-term vision of being carbon-neutral by avoiding approximately 28,119,128 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the systems.
Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grant Awards – Fiscal Year 2024
The DOE’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants program is designed to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters that are exacerbated by the climate crisis. Below are Minnesota State and Tribal awardees for Fiscal Year 2024.
- Bois Forte Band of Chippewa - $217,160
- Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa - $216,067
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe - $262,787
- Lower Sioux Indian Community - $192,964
- Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe - $194,705
- Red Lake Nation - $260,694
- White Earth Nation - $285,880
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Minnesota Department of Commerce - $6,415,731
Tribal Electrification Program
The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs has announced a $71 million investment to electrify homes in 13 Tribal communities. The Tribal Electrification Program provides financial and technical assistance to connect homes in Tribal communities to transmission and distribution that is powered by clean energy; provide electricity to unelectrified homes through zero-emissions energy systems; transition electrified homes to zero-emissions energy systems; and support associated home repairs and retrofitting necessary to install the zero-emissions energy systems.
- Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians - $8,738,100
Energy Improvements in Rural or Remoted Areas
DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has awarded more than $9 million to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) plans to create a consortium of rural electric cooperatives to deploy microgrids—which could include solar photovoltaic, battery energy storage systems, and distribution upgrades—across seven rural communities in Arizona, California, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This project aims to create a national microgrid deployment effort to demonstrate region-specific microgrids that improve energy access, enhance energy resilience, and increase capacity for renewable energy deployments at a community level.
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National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Research – up to $45 million - Microgrids for Community Affordability, Resilience, and Energy Decarbonization (CARED)
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Minnesota
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
The USDA’s REAP program through Inflation Reduction Act funding, is partnering with rural farmers and small businesses to provide loans and grants that will increase access to clean energy and lower energy bills. The ten Minnesota projects totaled $1,368,213 in funding and include:
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Lawrence Capko – Swanville - $39,975 to purchase and install a 501-kilowatt solar which is expected to save the farm $8,750 in electrical costs per year.
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David J. Scheibel – Bird Island - $122,500 - to purchase and install a 25-kilowatt wind which is expected to save the farm $11,870 in annual electrical costs.
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Brad D. Baumgardt – Buffalo Lake - $245,000 - to purchase and install two 25-kilowatt wind turbines which is expected to save the farm $20,207 in annual electrical costs.
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Larry Baumgardt – Buffalo Lake - $245,000 - to purchase and install two 25-kilowatt wind turbines which is expected to save the farm $20,901 in electrical costs per year.
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Karen S. Dunlay – St. Charles - $29,500 - to purchase and install a 37.5- kilowatt (kW) solar array which is expected to save the business $8,177 in annual electrical costs.
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Kevin Hoban – Ogema - $208,034 - to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer which is expected to save the business $8,606 in annual electrical costs.
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Forrest D. Briard – Frazee - $148,693 - to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer which is expected to save the business $37,193 in annual electrical costs.
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William Souba – Owatonna - $244,207 - to purchase and install two 25-kilowatt (kW) wind turbines which is expected to save the business $27,550 in annual electrical costs.
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Kolling Family Corporation – Spring Valley - $23,229 - to purchase and install a 15.5 kilowatt (kW) solar array which is expected to save the business $3,174 in annual electrical costs.
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Dierks Bros Inc. – Chokio - $62,075 - to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer which is expected to save the business $9,870 in annual electrical costs.
USDA continues to accept REAP applications and has set aside a portion of the program funds to support underutilized renewable energy technologies, like wind and geothermal power. For additional information contact: Minnesota Contacts | Rural Development (usda.gov)
Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI)
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $90 million in competitive awards to help states, cities, tribal nations, and their partners implement updated energy codes for residential and commercial buildings. The funding is part of the $225 million Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation initiative established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOE's Building Technologies Office.
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Center for Energy and Environment – $3.2 million - Minneapolis - to advance energy codes throughout Minnesota by developing a statewide residential stretch code, addressing compliance challenges, growing the code implementation workforce, and expanding implementation support throughout Minnesota’s tribal nations and rural communities.
Industrial Training and Assessment Centers Implementation Grants Program
DOE announced 162 small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) across 36 states were selected to receive a combined total of more than $26.2 million to implement energy saving improvements, matched by $51 million in industry investment under the Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) Implementation Grants program. The ITAC Implementation Grants program provides up to $300,000 to manufacturers for implementing recommendations made by DOE and other qualified energy assessments. Minnesota Implementation Grant Selectees:
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R&M Manufacturing Company LLC – Buffalo - $300,000 federal cost share – HVAC-Furnace-Boiler, Thermostat Installation, Onsite Power
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Ichor Systems – Sauk Rapids - $19,366 federal cost share – LEDs, Heavy Machinery Upgrades
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Winona Wastewater Treatment Plant – Winona - $300,000 federal cost share – Onsite Power
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Ichor Systems – Osakis - $7,680 federal cost share – LEDs, Heavy Machinery Upgrade
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Solidify Manufacturing – Rogers - $300,000 federal cost share – Installation of VFDs, Process Optimization, Heavy Machinery Upgrades
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City of Le Sueur – Le Sueur - $201,500 federal cost share - LEDs, Process Optimization, Heavy Machinery Upgrades
A total of 30 additional energy assessment providers have been selected for qualification as "ITAC-equivalent." Minnesota Third Party Assessments Selectees:
- Frontier Energy, Inc. – Chanhassen
- Sustainable Energy Savings, Inc. - Minneapolis
- Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) - Minneapolis
Powering Affordable Clean Energy Program: Project Announcements
USDA’s Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which helps make clean, affordable, and reliable energy accessible to the people of rural America. The PACE program is supporting the following Minnesota clean energy investments:
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Stag Moose Solar, LLC – Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa - $79,995,000 –for financing of 22 ground mounted solar facility projects totaling 62.75 megawatts of renewable energy across counties located in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This will provide enough locally generated electricity to power approximately 16,000 households annually.
Hydroelectric Production Incentive – Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded
The DOE’s Grid Deployment Office announced 39 hydropower facilities throughout the country will receive more than $12 million in incentive payments for electricity generated and sold from dams and other water infrastructure that add or expand hydroelectric power generating capabilities. The Hydroelectric Production Incentive is part of a comprehensive program funded by a $750 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the continued operation of the U.S. hydropower fleet and ensure a more reliable and resilient electric grid system.
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Albion Hydro LLC - $6,500
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SAF Hydroelectric LLC - $933,546 – Lower St. Anthony Falls Hydroelectric Project
Clean Energy to Communities (C2C)
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy has announced that three new communities will receive a combined $10 million in funding and technical assistance to research, model, validate, and deploy local clean energy strategies. Teams of local governments, electric utilities, and community-based groups will work closely with experts from DOE's world class national laboratories over two to three years through an in-depth partnership with the DOE's Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program.
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Duluth, Minnesota - Minnesota is the nation's largest producer of iron ore used for steel production. Ecolibrium3, Minnesota Power, Itasca Economic Development Corporation, and the City of Duluth plan to develop renewable energy, hydrogen power, and a workforce to support a green iron plant in the region. The team will work with DOE lab experts to de-risk their plans to procure renewable energy and hydrogen and support industrial decarbonization in Northeastern Minnesota.
Recent and Expected Federal Funding Activity
The federal government issues a variety of announcements related to federal funding opportunities: Requests for Information (RFI), Notices of Intent (NOI) and energy Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). More information can be found on the Commerce Federal Funding Opportunities web page or by clicking the links below.
To facilitate a quick review of this newsletter, the subject matter of included items is previewed here; full details can be found in the body of the newsletter.
Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA), Administrative and Legal Requirements Document (ALRD), Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Requests for Applications (RFA)
- Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program (BIL)
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants (BIL § 40302)
- Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas – Fiscal Year 2025 Release (BIL)
- Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness
- Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits)
- Advancing Technology Development for Securing a Domestic Supply of Critical Minerals and Materials
- Oxygen-conducting SOFC and SOEC Research and Development for Hydrogen Production
- FY24 Scale-up of Integrated Biorefineries
Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities & Items of Interest
- Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development – 2025
- Proposed Guidance to Clarify Wholly-Owned Tribally Chartered Entities are not Subject to Income Tax and Expand Access to Clean Energy Tax Credits
Notice of Intent (NOI)
- Wind Turbine Technology Recycling
- Point Source Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilots, Commercial Demonstrations, & Networked Demonstration Commercialization
- Renewable Integration Management with Innovative High Voltage Direct Current Power Circuit Breakers (REIMAGINE BREAKERS)
Request for Information (RFI)
- Carbon Management Strategy - Draft
Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs
- Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
Technical Assistance
Webinars
- Using eDNA for Wind Energy and Wildlife Studies
- Right-Sizing Electric Mobility
Publications/Videos/Webpages
- Advanced Nuclear Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Report Updated
- Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Tool
- Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool
- Aerosol Envelope Sealing of Existing Residences
- Tracking New Clean Energy Projects Across the US
- Solar Curriculum Toolkit
- Geothermal Heat Pump Case Study Yearbook
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IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)
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Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program - BIL
DOE’s Idaho Operations Office is issuing this Nuclear Reactor Safety Training and Workforce Development Program FOA. The initial round of funding provides up to $50 million (with a 50% cost share) for workforce development programs focused on nuclear safety training that supports the continued safe operation of existing nuclear power plants. An additional $50 million is expected to be available in 2025 in a second round of funding. This FOA has two Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1: Training and Workforce Program Demonstration and Implementation
Topic Area 2: Curriculum Focused Training Program Development
Program funding targets university-led partnerships with industry, national laboratories, technical colleges, community colleges and universities, with a special emphasis on academic institutions located within 50 miles of an active nuclear power plant.
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Carbon Utilization Procurement Grants (BIL § 40302)
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Deadline: Concept Papers: Anytime during the application period | Application: April 30, 2025 (This FOA was amended on April 29, 2024 and will remain open until April 30, 2025)
DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced it is making $100 million available to offset 50% of the costs to states, local governments, and public utilities or agencies to procure and use products developed through the conversion of captured carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide emissions. The commercial or industrial products to be procured and used under these grants must demonstrate a significant net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to incumbent products via a life cycle analysis. There is one topic area for this FOA:
Topic Area 1: Demonstration Grants Supporting the Procurement and Use of Carbon Conversion Products Derived from Anthropogenic Carbon Oxide Emissions
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Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) – Fiscal Year 2025 Release (BIL § 40101(c))
- DE-FOA-0003428
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Deadlines: Concept Papers: February 27, 2025 | Applications: August 28, 2025
DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has opened applications for up to $400 million to spur innovative, community-focused, clean energy solutions for rural and remote communities. The ERA will fund community-driven projects that demonstrate clean energy systems, deliver measurable and sustained benefits to people who live in areas with fewer than 10,000 people, and build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance throughout rural America. Eligible entities include Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, state and local governments, non-profit and for-profit organizations, rural electric coops, farming associations and coops, labor unions, higher education institutions, incorporated and unincorporated consortia. Topic areas include:
Topic Area 1: Open Category - Funding of rural or remote clean energy infrastructure for many different project types, demonstrating approaches to addressing one or more relevant adoption barriers
Topic Area 2: Dual use and co-location - Provide funding for clean energy demonstration projects in rural and remote communities that either:
~ Allow for using land or water for both energy supply and other activities; or
~ Are co-located with other activities and result in additional benefits beyond energy supply and reduced pollution.
Topic Area 3: Smaller-scale community-centered - Fund smaller-scale clean energy projects that are initiated, driven, and/or broadly supported by residents of the host community(ies).
Topic Area 4: Isolated microgrids & unelectrified buildings - Build clean energy projects for either:
~ Isolated microgrids (often located in ultra-remote areas and served primarily by diesel generators); or
~ Unelectrified homes or community buildings not currently served by an electrical grid.
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Other Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)
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Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness
DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office has announced the $1.9 million Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness program with awards of up to $250,000 to successful applicants offering offshore wind education and training programs that offer apprenticeship readiness programs, registered apprenticeship programs, or maritime/mariner programs, with particular attention to programs that support underserved communities.
The Offshore Wind Workforce Readiness program supports the following objectives:
Objective 1: Addressing the immediate and anticipated workforce needs of the domestic offshore wind industry through the deployment of trainings.
Objective 2: Broaden paths to high-quality offshore wind jobs.
Objective 3: Deliver holistic supportive services to training participants.
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Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits)
DOE’s Renew America’s Nonprofits Program is launching the Building Upgrades Inspiring Local Transformation (BUILT Nonprofits) opportunity which will provide a total of $2 million with awards up to $100,000 for energy efficiency upgrades in community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits that owns its building. Funds will support improvement projects that reduce energy use, lower carbon emissions, and generate short and long-term energy cost saving so that operational dollars can be redirected toward mission-critical work. This grant funds equipment and installation for energy efficiency improvements such as: HVAC equipment, water heater equipment, weatherization materials, and efficient lighting sources, and more.
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Advancing Technology Development for Securing a Domestic Supply of Critical Minerals and Materials
DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, along with DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, announced up to $19.5 million to advance technologies that will help reduce costs for recovering critical minerals and materials from domestic secondary and unconventional sources. DOE expects to make up to 10 awards between $500,000 and $2.5 million each with a minimum of a 20% cost-sharing from the awardees. This FOA has four areas of interest:
Area of Interest 1: Coproduction of Critical Minerals and Materials and Carbon Manufacturing Precursor Materials from Coal, Coal Waste, and Other Unconventional Carbon-based Feedstocks
Area of Interest 2: Recovery of Heavy Rare Earth Elements from Secondary and Unconventional Resources
Area of Interest 3: Critical Mineral Recovery from Produced Water
Area of Interest 4: Process Diversification: Production of Rare Earth Elements from Secondary/Unconventional Resources and Recycled Materials
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Oxygen-conducting SOFC and SOEC Research and Development for Hydrogen Production
DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has announced up to $4 million to support research and development projects that will expand the versatility and applicability of solid oxide fuel cell technology—a source of efficient, low-cost electricity from hydrogen or natural gas—with a focus on reversible solid oxide fuel cell (R-SOFC) systems. DOE expects to make up to six awards between $500,000 and $750,000 each with a minimum of a 20% cost-sharing from the awardees.
Projects selected under this funding opportunity will help to achieve a low long-term degradation rate in high-temperature reversible solid oxide fuel cell systems by performing research on the following two areas of interest:
Area of Interest 1: Solid oxide fuel cell and solid oxide electrolysis cells research and development for reduced long-term degradation at high current density and high steam utilization.
Area of Interest 2: Solid oxide fuel cell and solid oxide electrolysis cells component materials thermodynamic database.
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FY24 Scale-up of Integrated Biorefineries
- DE-FOA-0003371
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Deadlines: Concept Papers: November 7, 2024 | Application: January 16, 2024
DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office seeks applications to address the scale-up of promising technical pathways that produce cost-effective biofuels for aviation, marine, rail, off-road vehicle and heavy-duty trucks, and renewable chemicals. This FOA will fund the development, testing, and verification at engineering scale, of new technology and feedstock pathways for integrated biorefineries to reduce technology uncertainty through cost-shared pilot- and demonstration-scale biorefinery projects with industry. There is three Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1: Pilot Scale-up of Integrated Biorefineries – Phase 1 Preliminary Design and Phased Construction
Topic Area 2: Demonstration Scale-up of Integrated Biorefineries – Phase 1 Preliminary Design and Phased Construction
Topic Area 3: Scale-up of Organic Chemical Pathways – Phase 1 Preliminary Design and Phased Construction
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Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities & Items of Interest
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Tribal Clean Energy Planning and Development – 2025
DOE’s Office of Indian Energy anticipates making approximately 20–40 awards that range from $100,000 to $2,500,000 for projects that support the planning, assessment, and development of clean energy for Tribal buildings or on Tribal lands. There is three Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1: Tribal Clean Energy Planning - strategic energy plan, energy options analysis; energy audits; climate resiliency plan; development of an energy organization or office; establishment of energy policy, regulations, or codes; and skills development and training.
Topic Area 2: Comprehensive Clean Energy Feasibility and Viability Assessment - will result in a comprehensive project plan sufficient to move a project to the design and development phase of a clean energy project on Tribal Buildings or Tribal Land.
Topic Area 3: Design and Development of Clean Energy Projects - will result in projects ready for deployment (final design, installation, commissioning, and monitoring) of clean energy technology on Tribal Buildings or Tribal Lands.
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Proposed Guidance to Clarify Wholly-Owned Tribally Chartered Entities are not Subject to Income Tax and Expand Access to Clean Energy Tax Credits
The proposed regulations would provide that entities that are wholly owned by Tribes and organized or incorporated exclusively under the laws of the Tribes that own them generally are not recognized as separate entities for Federal tax purposes. The proposed rule describes that federally-chartered Tribal corporations and wholly-owned Tribal entities may directly register for and claim applicable Inflation Reduction Act clean energy tax credits through a payment mechanism known as elective pay. In addition, Tribally chartered entities and Federally chartered Tribal corporations that are wholly owned by multiple Tribes may also be the entity that registers for and claims applicable clean energy tax credits via elective pay.
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Notice of Intent (NOI)
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Wind Turbine Technology Recycling – BIL §41007(b)(2)
DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office has announced an intent to release a $20 million NOFO from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help increase the recyclability of wind energy materials. DOE anticipates releasing this FOA in Fall 2024.
This funding opportunity will help address technological and supply chain challenges limiting recycling of key wind turbine components; accelerate the creation of designs that are more easily recyclable and reusable; and speed up the development of end-of-life processing technologies to cost effectively, sustainably, and efficiently recycle and recover materials from wind turbines, including manufacturing waste.
Topic 1: Enabling Sustainable Wind Turbine Components
Topic 2: Enabling Wind Turbine Material Recycling and Reuse Processes
Topic 3: Recycled and Recyclable Material Qualification
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Point Source Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilots, Commercial Demonstrations, & Networked Demonstration Commercialization - BIL
DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations intends to issue a $1.3 billion NOFO entitled “Point-Source Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilots, Commercial Demonstrations, & Networked Demonstration Commercialization” during the last quarter of calendar year 2024. This funding program will broadly support the design, stakeholder and community engagement, construction, and operation of point-source capture facilities and supporting transport and storage infrastructure through three Topic Areas:
Topic Area 1: Will support commercial-scale demonstrations of integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage at up to one coal-fired power plant and up to one industrial plant.
Topic Area 2: Will support large-scale pilot projects validating transformational technical advances in point-source carbon capture in the electricity generation or industrial sectors.
Topic Area 3: Will support activities towards achieving financial investment decisions within commercial partnerships of carbon management entities with the goal of unlocking Carbon Capture and Storage as an economic option.
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Renewable Integration Management with Innovative High Voltage Direct Current Power Circuit Breakers (REIMAGINE BREAKERS)
Prior to the end of calendar year 2024, the DOE on behalf of the Office of Electricity and the Wind Energy Technologies Office, intends to issue a FOA seeking applications to support research and development related to high voltage direct current power circuit breakers (HVDC PCB).
This FOA aims to support grid modernization and the advancement of clean energy by reducing the cost of high-voltage circuit breaker technology, therefore supporting widespread adoption of HVDC transmission systems.
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Request for Information (RFI)
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Carbon Management Strategy - Draft
DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has released a draft of the Carbon Management Strategy for public comment. The Strategy provides a comprehensive roadmap for the remainder of the decade that outlines the diverse tools and approaches DOE will use to develop and deploy carbon management solutions.
DOE is soliciting additional comments from stakeholders, including industry, nongovernmental organizations, labor, state and local officials, tribal governments, community organizations, and the public. Comments on the report must be submitted electronically to [email protected]
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Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs
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Section 30C Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and additional guidance on the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit as expanded by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. The guidance will provide clarity on alternative fuel vehicle refueling property investments for battery-powered electric vehicle charging and other clean fuel infrastructure such as hydrogen refueling.
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Technical Assistance
Energy Ready offers expert guidance on solar energy, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, and distributed wind energy. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has launched Energy Ready, a new integrated effort funded by the DOE that supports local governments with free technical assistance and recognizes their improvements in planning, zoning, and for permitting distributed energy generation.
Energy Ready is a coordinated effort that brings together SolSmart, the new Charging Smart program, and the forthcoming Distributed Wind Smart program, and will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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Webinars
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Using eDNA for Wind Energy and Wildlife Studies
- October 17, 2024 | 9:00 AM CT | Register
The International Energy Agency Task 34, Working Together to Resolve Environmental Effects of Wind Energy (WREN), is hosting a webinar. Researchers from France and the United States will present their research on the feasibility of using environmental DNA, or eDNA, to detect marine wildlife.
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Right-Sizing Electric Mobility
- November 7, 2024 | 1:00 PM CT | Register
In this webinar, The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation discusses Right-Sizing e-mobility. Most travel in the U.S. takes place using vehicles that are significantly overpowered for a substantial portion of travel needs. Nearly 86 percent of trips are taken in personal vehicles designed to travel at highway speeds, yet more than half of daily trips in the U.S. are under 5 miles and the average occupancy of vehicle trips is 1.5 persons.
Many of these trips are too far to walk but too short to necessitate a personal vehicle. Right-sizing e-mobility means providing opportunities to safely use smaller-format, low-speed vehicle types such as: e-scooters, e-bikes, and low-speed vehicles.
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Publications/Videos/Webpages
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Advanced Nuclear Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Report Updated
DOE released an update to its Advanced Nuclear Pathways to Commercial Liftoff Report due to unprecedented load growth, renewed interest in building large-scale nuclear power plants, and the value of the existing nuclear fleet. The new updated report provides a fact base to generate faster, more coordinated action for the deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technology to help increase access to clean energy.
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Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Tool
The goal of this DOE tool is to help contractors, installers, and homeowners through the decision-making process for heat pump water heater product selection and installation, with a focus on overcoming installation barriers.
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Cold Climate Heat Pump Decision Tool
This DOE tool guides contractors and installers through the decision-making process for heat pump sizing, identifying personalized CCHP recommendations, and applicable tax credits, with a focus on retrofits in cold climates.
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Aerosol Envelope Sealing of Existing Residences
Addressing complexities surrounding air-sealing methods, the Center for Energy and Environment identified a possible solution to seal existing homes more efficiently—and at a reasonable cost.
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Tracking New Clean Energy Projects Across the US
E2 (Good for the Economy. Good for the Environment.) is a national nonpartisan group of business leaders, investors and others who advocate for smart policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. E2 has created a tracking system for new clean economy projects, expansions, and production in the US since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
DOE has funded the creation of the Bright Solar Futures, a three-year curriculum that includes lesson plans, worksheets, syllabi, a scope and sequence, and tools and materials lists. Detailed solar energy technology, energy efficiency and weatherization lesson plans for Year 1 of the program are currently available for download. All lesson plans include objectives, key terms, applicable standards, step-by-step instructions for delivering the lesson, and links to additional resources.
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Geothermal Heat Pump Case Study Yearbook
DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office has published 19 case studies that detail geothermal heat pump installations in climate zones across the United States, with varying system types, sizes, and end uses. There is an interactive map that provides information using geothermal heat pumps. Each case study has a web version and a downloadable PDF version.
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Energy-specific funding opportunities, Commerce is here for you
The Minnesota Department of Commerce seeks to work with and facilitate connections with local and Tribal governments, utilities, businesses, communities and other entities interested in energy-related partnerships. The opportunities outlined here are funded by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and other federal and state energy programs. Interested in partnering with Commerce on funding opportunities or have questions? Stay updated by clicking subscribe below and e-mail us at [email protected].
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