energy specific funding opportunties




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Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other 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 federal programs.

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* *Minnesota Participants Needed for a Solar Workforce Study*
* Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are seeking solar workers for 1-hour, one-on-one interviews to inform a study about the solar workforce. People with knowledge and experience on solar installation, deployment, and worker well-being in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, and/or Texas are encouraged to sign up.  
* Solar Workers Needed for National Lab Study [ [link removed] ]

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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 Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA). More information can be found on the Commerce Federal Funding Opportunities web page [ [link removed] ] 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) [ #FOA1 ]
* Energy Improvement in Rural and Remote Areas Fixed Awards
* Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program - Deadline Extension
* Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program
* Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program – Deadline Extension
* Renew America’s Nonprofits Grant
* Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (Carbon SAFE) – Amendment 3
* Ride and Drive Electric Funding Opportunity
* Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage to Reduce Carbon Pollution
* DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity
* USDA Empowering Rural America New ERA Program
* HUD Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Elements
* USDA Powering Affordable Clean Energy Pace Program
* Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit

* Request for Information (RFI) [ #RFP ]
* Use of Unconventional and Secondary Sources as Feedstocks to Rebuild and Secure Domestic Critical Minerals Supply Chain
* Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants
* Critical Materials Assessment

* Program Guidance [ #taxes ]
* Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program

* Student Scholarships/Competitions [ #RFI ]
* Geothermal Collegiate Competition
* Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship

* Webinars [ #webinars ]
* Regional Teaming Events for U.S. Department of Energy Buildings Upgrade Prize (“Buildings UP”)
* Clean Energy Prize Informational Webinar
* Marketing Residential Energy Efficiency in the Era of Inflation Reduction Act
* Electric Vehicles and Equity

* Workshops, Meetings, Conferences [ #workshops ]
* Let's Get to Work: Creating Good, Inclusive Clean Energy Jobs

* Publications/videos/webpages [ #videos ]
* EERE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office launched the Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program
* Clean Energy 101: Heat Pumps
* Funding and Incentives Resource Hub
* NREL Energy Audit Tool may Help Cities Meet Climate, Building decarbonization goals
* Renewable Carbon Resources
* DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Series to Assist Applicants Apply for Funding Opportunities
* The Interconnection Bottleneck: Why Most Energy Storage Projects Never Get Built

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*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*

* *Section 40103 - Energy Improvement in Rural and Remote Areas*
* DE-FOA-0003045 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Pre-application: July 13, 2023 | Application: October 12, 2023
* $50 million is available in Federal funding which is designed to support 10 – 100 small community-driven clean energy projects requiring $500,000 to $5 million.
* Applications must identify at least one area in the United States (including U.S. territories) with a population of not more than 10,000 (using the 2020 Census Bureau figures) that will benefit from the proposal.
* *Areas of Interest: *
* Deliver measurable benefits to energy customers in rural or remote areas by funding replicable energy projects that lower energy costs, improve energy access and resilience, and/or reduce environmental harm;
* Support new rural or remote energy system models using climate-resilient technologies, business structures that promote economic resilience, new financing mechanisms, and/or new community engagement practices; and
* Build clean energy knowledge, capacity, and self-reliance in rural America.


* *Section 11101/11401 - Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program Deadline Extension*
* *New Deadline: *June 13, 2023
* 693JJ323NF00004 [ [link removed] ]
* The CFI Discretionary Grant Program [ [link removed] ] provides $2.5 billion through two $1.25 billion discretionary grant programs to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative fueling infrastructure in communities where people live and work, and along designated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFCs):
* *Community Charging and Fueling Grants:* This program will strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities.
* *Alternative Fuel Corridor Grants:* This program will strategically deploy publicly accessible EV charging infrastructure and hydrogen, propane, and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated AFCs.


* *Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Program Request for Applications*
* EPA-I-R5-GL2023-GLEJGP [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline: *August 11, 2023
* The purpose of the RFA is to help fulfill EPA’s commitment to environmental justice by establishing Great Lakes Environmental Justice Grant Programs to be used for issuing and overseeing subawards for environmental restoration projects in underserved Great Lakes communities. Approximately $30 million may be awarded in the form of up to six cooperative agreements. The number of cooperative agreements and total amount awarded is contingent upon funding availability, the quality of applications received, Agency priorities, and other applicable considerations. 


* *Section 60201 - Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program –**Deadline Extension        *
* *New Deadline: *June 30, 2023
* *EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-03* [ [link removed] ]* *
* The program was created to reduce barriers to the application process and increase the efficiency of the awards process for environmental justice grants. $550 million is available with approximately 11 entities selected to become Grantmakers to design competitive application and submission processes, award environmental justice subgrants, implement a tracking and reporting system, provide resources and support to communities, all in collaboration with EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights.


* *Section 40502 - Renew America’s Nonprofits *
* *Deadline:* Letter of Intent (not required) June 29, 2023 | Application August 3, 2023
* DE-FOA-0003066 [ [link removed] ]
* There are approximately 1.5 million 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the United States, operating more than half a million facilities, mostly in commercial spaces where efficiency improvements have the potential to reduce energy use by up to 30%.
* Awards will support projects to reduce energy use in buildings owned and operated by 501(c)(3)s, reducing emissions and utility costs in these vital institutions so that savings can be redirected to mission-critical work serving communities.  
* DOE is using an aggregation model [ [link removed] ] to enhance the technical and administrative capacity of nonprofits seeking access to this funding. Under this model, DOE will award 5-15 larger grants to nonprofits interested in serving as Prime recipients. These Prime recipients will assemble and support a group of energy efficiency projects in the facilities of other nonprofit organizations. Ultimately, hundreds of nonprofit facilities should be represented across these project bundles.
* ***Webinars: June 6, 2023| 1:00 PM CT ***Register h [ [link removed] ]ere [ [link removed] ] ***or *****June 8, 2023 | 2:00 PM CT **

Register here [ [link removed] ]


* *Section 40305 - Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (Carbon SAFE) –**Amendment 3 **Amendment adds a second round of competition with a due date of July 6, 2023*
* DE-FOA-0002711 Amd. 3 [ [link removed] ]

* *Ride and Drive Electric Funding Opportunity*
* *Deadline: Concept Paper: *June 16, 2023 | Application: July 28, 2023
* DE-FOA-0002881 [ [link removed] ]
* Through this FOA, the Joint Office will provide funding for: 1. Electric vehicle (EV) charging resiliency planning for continuity of operations and services for all EV users; 2. Equitable business model development and deployment for EV charging; 3. Workforce development to support EV charging; 4. Increased industrial capacity, competition, and redundancy for validation testing and certification in the United States of Alternating Current (AC) Level 2 and/or Direct Current (DC) fast chargers; 5. Assessing performance and reliability of DC fast charging stations.
* This funding will help to increase reliability of chargers by providing funding for validating and testing charging equipment; advance new business models for electrified shared mobility and fleet-based services; and increase opportunities for underserved communities through new jobs and training resources, among others.

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Non-*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*

* *Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage to Reduce Carbon Pollution*
* *Deadline: *July 18, 2023
* DE-FOA-0002614 [ [link removed] ]
* Projects selected under this FOA will focus on two areas:
* Developing lower cost, highly efficient technologies for carbon capture from power and industrial facilities that will capture CO2 for permanent geologic carbon storage or for conversion into long-lasting products like concrete, and


*

Accelerating the deployment of multi-modal transport of CO2 through the creation of transportation hubs. Preliminary engineering design studies will consider how hubs will connect multiple transport modes of CO2 with the aim of developing cost-efficient, long-term transportation options for all types of CO2 sources.


* In addition to advancing CO2 capture, transport, and storage technologies, applicants must carefully address the societal considerations and impacts of their proposed projects, emphasizing active engagement with communities. Applications must explain how projects are expected to deliver economic and environmental benefits and mitigate impacts; conduct community and stakeholder engagement; incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and promote workforce development and quality jobs.


* *DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity*
* *Deadline: *Concept Paper: June 26, 2023 | Application: August 11, 2023
* DE-FOA-0002893 [ [link removed] ]
* DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) has issued a FOA with *$99.5 Million* funding to support projects reducing soft costs related to improving EV charging infrastructure in underserved communities, providing consumer education on EVs and EV charging, and developing batteries that use low-cost, abundant materials. Funding will go to 14 different Areas of Interest in four topic areas: *B"atteries and Electrification": 1a* High-Capacity, Long Cycle Life Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) Batteries *1b* Mechanistic Modeling of Li-S Batteries *2* Improved 12-volt Lead Acid Batteries for Safety-critical Electric Vehicle Applications *3* Advanced Integrated On-board Charging System *4* Advanced Wireless Charging Concepts for Heavy-Duty Vehicles. *"Combustion and Advanced Fuels:"* *5* Development and Demonstration of Dimethyl Ether Engine for Off-Road Applications *6* Hydrogen Combustion Engines. *"Lightweight Materials"*: *7* Circularity and Sustainability of Polymer Composites for Vehicle Lightweighting and Decarbonization *8* Domestic Magnesium Production Research *9* Novel Lightweight Materials. *"Energy Efficient Mobility Systems"*: *10* Mobility System Approaches Supporting Public Transportation. *"Technology Integration"*: *11* Reducing Soft Costs of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure to Enable Widespread Deployment *12* Consumer Education Campaign for Electric Vehicles and Charging *13* Demonstration and Deployment (Open topic) *14* Clean Cities Coalition Network Outreach, Education and Training.

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*IRA Funding Opportunity Announcements*

* *Section 22004 – USDA Empowering Rural America New ERA Program*
* RUS-23-ELECTRIC-0005 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Letter of Interest between July 31 through August 31, 2023 – applications then invited
* The New ERA program is designed to be flexible. The program prioritizes greenhouse gas reductions rather than requiring the use of specific technologies. Applicants can seek funding for renewable and zero-emission systems that eliminate aging, obsolete, or expensive infrastructure. Applicants can also change purchased-power mixes to support cleaner portfolios, manage stranded assets, and boost the transition to clean energy.
* Funding provided to make energy efficiency improvements to eligible generation and transmission systems, to purchase, build, or deploy renewable energy, zero-emission systems, carbon capture storage systems, or to purchase renewable energy.
* $9.7 billion in various forms of financial assistance including loans only, grants only, loan and grant combinations, and loan refinancing or modifications.
* *Webinars: *
* *New ERA Program and Greenhouse Gas Calculator Overview*
* June 8, 2023 | *1:00 PM CT*
* Register here [ [link removed] ]

* *Demo: How to Submit New ERA Letters of Interest*
* *July 13, 2023 | 12:00 PM CT*
* Register here [ [link removed] ]

* *New ERA Application Webinars*
* *August 15, 2023 | 1:00 PM CT*
* Register here [ [link removed] ]
* *August 29, 2023 | 1:00 PM CT*
* Register here [ [link removed] ]


* *Section 30002 - HUD Green and Resilient Retrofit Program Elements*
* FR-6700-N-91B [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline: *March 28, 2024
* GRRP is the first HUD program to simultaneously invest in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reductions, energy generation, green and healthy housing, and climate resilience strategies specifically in HUD-assisted multifamily housing. All the investments under the GRRP will be made in affordable housing communities serving low-income families.  This Notice of Funding Opportunity makes $140,000,000 available to: 1) Lower carbon emissions and improve energy and water efficiency, 2) Incorporate renewable energy use, where appropriate, 3) Further climate resilience to better withstand the impacts of natural hazard events and protect residents; 4) Reduce resident exposure to health risks and environmental hazards, 5) Improve the quality of HUD-assisted multifamily housing for residents, 6) Support long-term housing preservation through extended affordability requirements.


* *Section 22001 – USDA Powering Affordable Clean Energy Pace Program*
* *RUS-23-ELECTRIC-0003* [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline: *Letter of Interest: June 30 to September 29, 2023 – applications are invited
* Under PACE, USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will forgive between 20 to 60 percent of loans for renewable energy projects that use wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, or biomass, as well as for renewable energy storage projects.
* $1 billion with loans ranging from $1 million to $100 million including the forgivable portion.
* *Webinars: *
* *USDA PACE Program and Eligibility Mapping Overview*
* June 6, 2023 | 1:00 PM CT
* Register here [ [link removed] ]

* *DEMO: How to Submit USDA PACE Letters of Interest*
* June 29, 2023 | 1:00 PM CT
* Register here [ [link removed] ]

* *USDA PACE Application Webinars*
* July 20, 2023 | 1:00 PM CT
* Register here [ [link removed] ]
* August 1, 2023 | 1:00 PM CT
* Register here [ [link removed] ]


* *Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit*
* *Guidance [ [link removed] ]*
* *Deadline: *June 30 - July 31, 2023 - Concept Papers
* The Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit renews and expands an existing tax credit and provides further incentive for clean energy manufacturing and recycling, industrial decarbonization, and critical materials processing, refining, and recycling. A broad variety of projects are eligible to apply for an investment tax credit of up to 30 percent, ranging from manufacturing of fuel cells and components for geothermal electricity and hydropower, to producing carbon capture equipment or installing it at an industrial facility, to critical minerals processing. $10 Billion in IRA funding is available for Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit program, with at least $4 billion reserved for projects in communities with closed coal mines or retired coal-fired power plants.  Initial program funding is $4 billion, with another ~ $1.6 billion reserved for projects in these designated coal communities.  Between June 30 and July 31, tax payers will need to submit concept papers describing their proposed projects; selected proposals will then be encouraged to submit a full application within 45 days.  More information for potential applicants, including a 48C mapping tool and an upcoming informational webinar, is available on the Department of Energy’s 48C webpage. [ [link removed] ]

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*Program Guidance*

* *IRA 1703 & 1706 - Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program *
* Read the full announcement here [ [link removed] ]
* Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, established by the Energy Act of 2005 as a tool for accelerating the deployment of clean energy and decarbonization technologies, has been expanded by IRA. The new Title 17 Program guidance updates program eligibility, application requirements, and evaluation criteria; consolidates several existing solicitations into one easy-to-read document; and incorporates new authorities established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022. Certain state-supported projects and projects that reinvest in legacy energy infrastructure are now eligible under Title 17, and Title 17 can leverage additional loan authority and funding available for projects involving innovative energy technologies.
* *There are four project categories within the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program:*
* *Innovative Energy Projects* [ [link removed] ]*:* Financing for projects that deploy "New or Significantly Improved Technology" that is technically proven but not yet widely commercialized in the United States.
* *Innovative Supply Chain Projects* [ [link removed] ]*:* Financing for projects that employ a New or Significantly Improved Technology in the manufacturing process for a qualifying clean energy technology or for projects that manufacture a New or Significantly Improved Technology.
* *State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI)-Supported Projects* [ [link removed] ]*: *Financing for projects that support deployment of qualifying clean energy technology and receive meaningful financial support or credit enhancements from an entity within a state agency or financing authority.
* *Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) Projects* [ [link removed] ]*: *Financing for projects that retool, repower, repurpose, or replace energy infrastructure that has ceased operations or upgrade operating energy infrastructure to avoid, reduce, utilize, or sequester air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions.

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Request for Information (RFI)

* *Use of Unconventional and Secondary Sources as Feedstocks to Rebuild and Secure Domestic Critical Minerals Supply Chain*
*  DE-FOA-0003075 [ [link removed] ]
* **Deadline: **July 17, 2023
* To review the RFI, please click here [ [link removed] ]
* This RFI supports DOE’s Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative. The CORE-CM program’s initial focus was on the use of coal and coal by-products as feedstocks from traditional coal-producing basins, but DOE has expanded its interests in obtaining critical minerals and materials from other secondary and unconventional feedstocks.
* The purpose of the RFI is to solicit feedback from industry, investors, developers, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, tribal governments, potentially impacted communities, and other stakeholders. DOE is looking for input to determine the best approach for the CORE-CM program to understand the full potential for all unconventional and secondary feedstocks.

*

*Greenhouse Gas Standards and Guidelines for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants*


*

*Deadline for Written Comments: * July 24, 2023 Click here to submit written comments [ [link removed] ]


*

[ [link removed] ]*Virtual Public Hearings: * June 13, and 14, 2023 | 10:00 – 6:00 PM CT and June 15, 2023 | 10:00 – 3:00 PM CT


*

Registration to speak at virtual public hearings closes on June 6, 2023. Each speaker gets 4 minutes to present.


*

Register to speak by visiting this link [ [link removed] ]


*

EPA is proposing Clean Air Act emission limits and guidelines for carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel-fired power plants based on cost-effective and available control technologies. The proposals would set limits for new gas-fired combustion turbines, existing coal, oil and gas-fired steam generating units, and certain existing gas-fired combustion turbines.

Consistent with EPA’s traditional approach to establishing pollution standards for power plants under section 111 of the Clean Air Act, the proposed standards are based on technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration/storage (CCS), low-GHG hydrogen co-firing, and natural gas co-firing, which can be applied directly to power plants that use fossil fuels to generate electricity.

As laid out in section 111 of the Clean Air Act, the proposed new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines reflect the application of the best system of emission reduction (BSER) that, taking into account costs, energy requirements, and other statutory factors, is adequately demonstrated for the purpose of improving the emissions performance of the covered electric generating units.


* *Critical Materials Assessment*
* DE-FOA-0003085 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline: *June 20, 2023 | 4:00 PM CT - Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to [email protected]
* Specifically, this RFI seeks input on the following Areas of Interest:
* Improvements to the Methodology
* Data and Information to Support Revision of Analysis

* Inclusion on DOE’s critical materials for energy list will inform crosscutting priorities including Critical Materials RDD&CA Program priorities and eligibility for the Inflation Reduction Act 48C tax credit [ [link removed] ]

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Webinars

* *Regional Teaming Events for U.S. Department of Energy Buildings Upgrade Prize (“Buildings UP”)*
* May 19, 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT (Midwest Region)  [ [link removed] ]
* The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) will award over $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams of state and local government entities, community-based organizations, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit and for-profit organizations with winning ideas to accelerate equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades in residential and commercial buildings. Applications to Buildings UP [ [link removed] ] opened on February 18 and will remain open through July 18. Browning the Green Space [ [link removed] ], partners of DOE, will host a series of interactive Buildings UP Teaming Events to connect with potential partners to help build effective project teams. Events are organized by geographic region, with the registration links below:


* *Clean Energy Prize Informational Webinar*
* June 6, 2023 | 12:00 PM CT
* The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize aims to help HBCUs connect students of all ages to clean energy educational and career development programming. The prize is comprised of two distinct tracks. The Inspire Track supports the development or expansion of HBCU-hosted academic break programs for K-12 and community college students. The Partnerships Track fosters the development of academic and industry partnerships to grow HBCU advanced clean energy programming opportunities. Together, these tracks will empower HBCUs to shape the next generation of the clean energy workforce.
* In this webinar, presenters will give an overview of the prize tracks, requirements, and timelines. This webinar will also include a Q&A session.
*

Register here [ [link removed] ]


* *Marketing Residential Energy Efficiency in the Era of Inflation Reduction Act*
* June 8, 2023 | 12:00 PM CT
* The game-changing Inflation Reduction Act is impacting how residential energy-efficiency programs and home performance contractors will market to homeowners for years to come. How can program implementers and home performance contractors clearly and effectively communicate these rebates and incentives – as well as the full range of other opportunities on offer? Hear from experienced voices in the field in this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call.
* Register here [ [link removed] ]

* *Electric Vehicles and Equity*
* June 6, 2023 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM CT
*

This Clean Energy Group webinar will overview the 4-part electric vehicles and equity blog series [ [link removed] ] and feature presentations by blog author Michael Brower of Cantus Firmus Consulting and Nathan King from Itselectric, a curbside electric vehicle charging company with a mission to unlock access to clean vehicles for millions of drivers who park their cars on the street. Panelists will discuss potential pathways for electric vehicle deployment to lower harmful emissions, reduce transportation expenses, and increase energy resilience in historically marginalized communities.


*

Register here [ [link removed] ].

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Workshops/Meetings/Conferences

* *Let's Get to Work: Creating Good, Inclusive Clean Energy Jobs*
* June 14, 2023 |12:00 - 3:30 PM CT
* The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is seeking stakeholder input on the Clean Energy Jobs & Workforce Accelerator, a potential new workforce program aimed at ensuring historic investments in clean energy result in high-quality, accessible careers. In this virtual workshop, participants will learn about the program concept and be asked to offer ideas on how this program could benefit workers and communities, key topics to include in trainings, and how to coordinate or partner with similar programs and initiatives. Participants will also be asked to share relevant experiences addressing job quality and job access in clean energy, and to connect with others in the growing field of equitable clean energy development.
* Register here [ [link removed] ]

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Student Scholarships/Competitions

* *Geothermal Collegiate Competition*
* *Registration: *Opens August 2023
* The competition invites teams from collegiate institutions to develop real-world geothermal solutions while competing for thousands of dollars in cash prizes and gaining resume experience in the renewable energy industry.
* *Registration will open in August 2023* for teams of three or more undergraduate and/or graduate students. Students of any discipline can participate, and multidisciplinary teams are encouraged; see the competition rules [ [link removed] ] to learn more. Final competition deliverables will be due in December 2023.
* New to the Fall 2023 GCC, there are now two competition tracks:
* *Technical Track* teams present a technical plan for deploying a geothermal heating and cooling system for a proposed community or campus of their choosing, including a conceptual design of the needed geothermal system based on community needs, benefits, and available resources.
* *Policy Track* teams present a high-level plan for installing a geothermal heating and cooling system in a community or campus, focused on an analysis of the regulatory environment and an assessment of economic considerations for the project.


* *Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship*
* *Deadline:* June 12, 2023
* Applications are now open [ [link removed] ] for recent graduates and early-career energy professionals to apply to DOE’s Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship. Selected applicants will spend one to two years at public utility commissions or other critical energy organizations to advance clean energy and grid resilience solutions.

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Publications/Videos/Webpages

* *EERE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office launched the Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program* (BRIDGES), a case study-based curriculum designed to encourage careers in bioenergy fields. The BRIDGES case studies can be used in high school or universities in biology, environmental science, or chemistry courses.
* BRIDGE the Gap: Bioenergy Research Case Studies for Educators [ [link removed] ]


* *Clean Energy 101: Heat Pumps*
* Meet Sparky the star of the Clean Energy 101 Video Series in this video on heat pumps.
* Clean Energy 101: Heat Pumps [ [link removed] ]


* *Funding and Incentives Resource Hub*
* The DOE Better Buildings Solution Center has launched the Funding and Incentives Resource Hub for navigating the many rebates, funding opportunities, and other incentives including those available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IJA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (IIJA).
* Explore the Hub [ [link removed] ]


* *NREL Energy Audit Tool may Help Cities Meet Climate, Building decarbonization goals*
* An article in Utility Dive featured the National Renewable Energy Lab data collection and management tool, BuildingSync, which helps municipalities and building owners plan energy efficiency and decarbonization investments and meet compliance requirements by streamlining energy audits.
* Click to read article [ [link removed] ]


* *Renewable Carbon Resources*
* DOEs Bioenergy Technologies Office has launched a new, comprehensive webpage dedicated to Renewable Carbon Resources (RCR), which helps develop RCR technologies and creates strategies for bioenergy and bioproducts production.
* The newly launched RCR webpage is organized around the following activities:


* Production and sourcing logistics
* Feedstock-conversion interface
* Waste management technologies
* Environmental remediation
* Carbon management
* Click here to go to the website [ [link removed] ]


* *DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Series to Assist Applicants Apply for Funding Opportunities*
* The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) is announcing a new video information series explaining VTO’s Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) process and application components. The videos, which are available on VTO’s Funding Opportunities [ [link removed] ] page, were created to help potential applicants understand the VTO FOA process and requirements and learn how to properly submit the required FOA components.

* *The Interconnection Bottleneck: Why Most Energy Storage Projects Never Get Built*
* This report investigates the barriers to more effective and efficient interconnection of distributed energy storage resources. In most states, the local interconnection processes have not kept up with rising interest in and incentives for energy storage resources. Applications for interconnection are increasing while authorizations lag behind.
*

Read the report here [ [link removed] ]

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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 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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*Email: [email protected]
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