| From | Commerce Energy Division <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Energy Specific Funding Opportunities - January 3, 2024 |
| Date | January 3, 2024 3:37 PM |
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energy specific funding opportunties
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January 3, 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.
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Announcements: Department of Commerce Energy Programs
Community Solar Garden Program
During the 2023 Legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature made changes to the Community Solar Garden statute: Sec. 216B.1641 MN Statutes [ [link removed] ]. These legislative updates include sunsetting the ?Legacy? solar garden program, operated by Xcel Energy, which closed to new applications on December 31, 2023. The legislation established a new program to be administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Commerce).
Commerce is now launching the new Low and Moderate-Income Accessible Community Solar Garden program (LMI-Accessible CSG Program). Click here [ [link removed] ] for program information including details about the application process.
Commerce will review community solar applications in batches on a monthly basis. *The first application window will open on February 1, 2024, and close on February 21, 2024, at 4:00 pm CST.* Future application rounds will similarly open on the first of the month and close on the 21st of the month until the program has reached its maximum capacity of 100 MW for the year.
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Energy-related Funding Awards to Minnesota Entities
Congratulations to the recent funding award recipients! To ensure we include your project award in future editions of our newsletter, please send the following information [email protected]:? <[email protected]>Project title, award amount, total project cost, a brief description of the project, and funding program title and number.?
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!*
* EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program. [ [link removed] ] *The Minneapolis Foundation* is one of the awardees receiving $50 million?in federal funding to make it easier for small community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding. The Minneapolis Foundation (and 10 other entity awardees) will work in collaboration with?EPA?s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights [ [link removed] ]?to issue subgrants to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations representing disadvantaged communities. This program will ensure community feedback is heard to reduce the barriers faced by smaller entities in pursuit of federal funds, and to improve the efficiency of the awards process.
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* Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Peer-Learning Cohorts program [ [link removed] ]: *Morris, Minnesota* has been selected by the DOE to participate in the program bringing 46 community entities together to address common clean energy opportunities and challenges. Participants? including county and local governments, tribes, community-based organizations, and utilities?will convene regularly from January to July 2024 to exchange strategies and best practices, learn in a collaborative environment from each other and DOE?s national laboratory experts, and workshop policy and program proposals across specific energy resilience, building efficiency, and electric vehicle topics.??Morris?s project is entitled *Enhancing Resilience at Critical Municipal Facilities Through Solar, Storage, and Microgrids.*
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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 ]
* Storage Validation and Testing: Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): Phases II, III, III.5, and IV
* Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
* Assistance for Latest and Zero Building Energy Code Adoption
* National Clean Hydrogen Strategy
* Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS)
* Grid-enhancing Data Analytics Demonstrations for Operations, Monitoring and Control
* Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)
Notice of Intent [ #NoticeofIntent ]
* Accelerating Energy Storage Solutions in Minnesota: Stakeholder Engagement Meeting Recording and Request for Comment
* Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants
* Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
* Clean Fuels & Products Shot: Supporting Carbon Utilization Products via Electrochemical Conversion and Refinery Retrofitting
* FY2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Research & Development
* FY2024 Technology Integration
* Distributed Wind Competitiveness Improvement Project
Request for Information (RFI) [ #RequestforInformation ]
* High Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production
* Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Based Turbomachinery for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Plants
* Council on Environmental Quality Environmental Justice Scorecard
* Clean Hydrogen Production Credit
* Final Guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process
Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities (FOA) and Request for Information (RFI) [ #Tribal ]
* DOE Seeks Tribal and ANC Leader Input on Draft Consultation Policy Updates
Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs [ #taxes ]
* Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit
* Pre-Filing Registration for Elective Payment or Transfer of Clean Energy Credits
Program Guidance [ #Guidance ]
* Justice40 Initiative Covered Programs List
Student Scholarships/Competitions/Fellowships [ #ScholarshipsStudentCompetitions ]
* NREL Engineering Internships: Enabling Native Research in Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) Summer 2024 Internship Program
Webinars [ #webinars ]
* Building Weatherization Workforce with Green Workforce Connect
Workshops, Meetings, Conferences [ #workshops ]
* DOE Energy Transition Summit: Grid Modernization Initiative and Clean Energy Cybersecurity
* 2024 Photovoltaic (PV) Reliability Workshop
* Free Online Training for Community Solar Development: Community Power Accelerator Learning Lab
* Hydrogen Infrastructure Strategies Workshop
Publications/Videos/Webpages [ #videos ]
* Grid Cost and Total Emissions Reductions Through Mass Deployment of Geothermal Heat Pumps for Building Heating and Cooling Electrification in the United States
* New Study Identifies Wind Energy Development?s Effects on Home Property Values
* State Level Residential Building Stock and Energy Efficiency and Electrification Package Analysis
* NREL & MTERA Guide to Tribal Solar Energy: Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook
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*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*
* *Storage Validation and Testing (?40305): Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): Phases II, III, III.5, and IV *
* DE-FOA-0002711 Amd. 5 [ [link removed] ]
* *Third Submission Deadline:* Full Application: February 20, 2024
DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have jointly issued a FOA with $2.25 billion in funding to support the expansion of national carbon dioxide storage infrastructure and accelerate the development of new or expanded commercial-scale geologic carbon storage projects and associated CO2 transport infrastructure. CarbonSAFE Phases and areas of interest (AOI) covered by this FOA are as below, along with the expected size and number of grants for each Phase:
*Phase II:* Storage Complex Feasibility "(AOI 4). "20-40 awards up to a maximum grant size of $9 million;
*Phase III:* Site Characterization and Permitting "(AOI 1)." 15-40 awards, ranging from $15 million to $110.5 million each;
*Phase III.5:* NEPA, FEED Studies, and Storage Field Development Plan Only "(AOI 2)."? 0-10 awards, ranging from $100,000 to $4.55 million each;
*Phase IV:* Construction "(AOI 3)." 5-20 awards, ranging from $30 million to $195 million each.
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* *Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications (? 40208) *
* DE-FOA-0003120 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: February 7, 2024 | Full Application: April 19, 202
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), has issued a FOA to provide $37 million for the electric drive vehicle battery recycling and second life applications program. DOE will fund research, development and demonstration projects focused on: 1) reducing the costs associated with transportation, dismantling, and preprocessing of end-of-life electric drive vehicle batteries for recycling, 2) recycling of plastic and polymer electric drive vehicle battery accessory components.
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*IRA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*
* *Assistance for Latest and Zero Building Energy Code Adoption ? (?50131) *
* DE-FOA-0003056 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *First Round of Concept Papers: February 9, 2024 | First Round of Applications: April 30, 2024
* Second Round of Concept Papers and Applications: Fall 2024
* Third Round of Concept Papers and Applications: Spring 2025
DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP)?issued a FOA [ [link removed] ] with up to $1 billion in funding to assist with the adoption and implementation of the latest model building energy codes, zero energy codes, and certain innovative code equivalents.
Topic Areas included in this FOA complement but do not duplicate the topics covered by the previously released Section 50131 Formula Grant opportunity. This FOA is designed to fund additional qualifying jurisdictions and expands qualifying activities to include customized codes and innovative code approaches such as building performance standards. Cost-share is not required. Topic areas included in this FOA:
*Topic Area 1:* Adoption and Implementation of Qualifying Building Energy Codes by Certain Units of Local Government;
*Topic Area 2:* Adoption and Implementation of the Latest Model Energy Codes or Zero Energy Codes with Combinations of Strengthening and Weakening Amendments by States and Certain Units of Local Governments;
*Topic Area 3:* Adoption and Implementation of Innovative Building Energy Code Approaches by States and Certain Units of Local Government.
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*Other Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*
* *National Clean Hydrogen Strategy *
* DE-FOA-0003213 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: January 26, 2024 | Full Application: March 22, 2024
The DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) has released a FOA with up to $59 million in funding to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) of affordable clean-hydrogen technologies. Funded projects will reduce the cost and improve the performance of critical elements of hydrogen infrastructure, demonstrate innovative clean hydrogen end-use applications, and streamline equitable deployment of clean hydrogen technologies.
The following topic areas are of interest:
*Topic 1: *Components for Hydrogen Fueling of Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MD/HD) Vehicles;
*Topic 2: *Standardized Hydrogen Refueling Station of the Future;
*Topic 3: *Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Port Equipment;
*Topic 4: *Enabling Permitting and Safety for Hydrogen Deployment;
*Topic 5: *Equitable Hydrogen Technology Community Engagement.
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* *Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS)*
* DE-FOA-0003234 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: January 25, 2024 | Full Application: TBD
DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has announced up to $38 million in funding to support the GREENWELLS program. The new GREENWELLS program seeks to develop sustainable carbon-containing liquids from renewable energy via development of chemical reactor systems that can store energy from sustainable, intermittent sources as low-carbon fuels or chemicals using a renewables-to-liquids (RtL) approach.
GREENWELLS will support projects that focus on the development of RtL reactor systems that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and an intermittent feedstock of electricity or hydrogen (H2) to carbon-containing liquids. Their work will include developing the necessary catalysts, manufacturing methods, and balance of plant. Sustainable energy resources like wind and solar are most effective in areas typically not convenient for grid connection. GREENWELLS seeks to develop chemical reactors and supporting units with at least 50 percent electricity-to-liquid efficiency to store incoming intermittent electrical energy in liquid form.
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* *Grid-enhancing Data Analytics Demonstrations for Operations, Monitoring and Control ?*
* DE-FOA-0003127 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *?Concept Paper: January 23, 2024 | Full Application: April 4, 2024
DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Electricity (OE) is soliciting applications to enhance grid reliability and resilience with demonstrations of sensors and advanced analytics to develop the grid of the future. ?The FOA?s sole area of interest will be Sensor Data Analytics Demonstrations for system monitoring and control. Projects should support *at least one *of the following:
1. Demonstration of applications utilizing existing AMI data;
2. Demonstration utilizing high fidelity synchronized measurement for grid stability monitoring and control;
3. Demonstration of applications utilizing mixes of different sensors for improving grid resilience, security, and safety leveraging commercial off-the-shelf sensors.
The proposed project team must include a prime recipient and/or subrecipient(s) that meets the definition of a domestic utility.
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* *Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4) *
* DE-FOA-0003226 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: January 30, 2024 | Full Application: March 15, 2024
DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the SEEDS4 opportunity with up to $7 million in funding for social science research.? Funded research will generate actionable insights to improve?large-scale solar (LSS) siting [ [link removed] ]?processes and outcomes for host communities?particularly those that are disadvantaged?as well as the solar industry and other stakeholders.?
SETO seeks proposals for projects that examine how siting practices affect outcomes; specific areas of interest under this FOA are:
*Area of Interest 1:* Community Acceptance and Opposition;
*Area of Interest 2:* Permitting and Land Use Planning Processes and Outcomes;
*Area of Interest 3:* Community Impact Evaluation.
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*Notice of Intent (NOI)*
* *Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants *
* DE-FOA-0003221 [ [link removed] ]
* Application period expected to open in January 2024
DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO) has published the Notice of Intent and the grant allocation amounts for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants. ?The State of Minnesota has been allocated $6,415,731 for FY2024; Commerce?s State Energy Office will submit a proposal to claim these funds. ?
Tribes sharing geography within the borders of Minnesota have been allocated a total of $2,366,453 and will apply directly to the DOE for their allocations. ?The process of requesting FY24 allocations will vary depending on an applicant?s current status in the program, but all categories of applicants must take action within 90 days from the opening of the FY24 ALRD amendment?to request the FY24 allocations.??
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* *Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops*
* DE-FOA-0003233 [ [link removed] ]
* FOA anticipated release January 2024.
DOE?s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), a FOA entitled ?Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops?. Award funding will support the demonstration of long-term yield and sustainability of purpose-grown energy crops across varied agronomic and geographic landscapes, accelerating feedstock supply chain development via the generation of data. Feedstocks of interest include, but are not limited to, algae (microalgae, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria), herbaceous crops (switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane, sweet sorghum, and high-biomass sorghum), short-rotation woody crops (hybrid poplars and shrub willows), and intermediate crops (carinata, pennycress, and camelina).
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* *Clean Fuels & Products Shot: Supporting Carbon Utilization Products via Electrochemical Conversion and Refinery Retrofitting (IIJA ?40302)*
* DE-FOA-0003122 [ [link removed] ]
* FOA anticipated quarter 1 of 2024
DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to issue a FOA on behalf of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) in the first quarter of 2024. This NOI provides a high-level draft plan of DOE-FECM?s current vision for supporting carbon utilization products via R&D projects for engineering-scale electrochemical conversion and feasibility studies for refinery retrofits. Projects of interest include experimental and/or design and analytical efforts to illustrate the viability of technologies and to address technical gaps. Projects are also expected to produce volumes of data to be used as the basis for lifecycle and techno-economic analyses to quantify the environmental impact and commercial viability of the technology.
Specific areas of interest under this FOA are:
*Area of Interest 1:* Engineering-Scale Testing of Electrochemical Systems for the Conversion CO2 into Value-Added Products;
*Area of Interest 2:* Retrofitting of Refineries for Carbon Conversion.
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* *FY2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Research & Development *
* DE-FOA-0003247 [ [link removed] ]
* Anticipated FOA release date: January ? February 2024
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), a FOA to advance Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (RDD&D) in several areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Areas of Interest:
*Area of Interest 1:* Next Generation Phosphate-Based Cathodes;
*Area of Interest 2:* Na-ion Battery Seedling Projects for Electric Vehicle Applications;
*Area of Interest 3:* Low-GHG Concepts for Off-Road Vehicles;
*Area of Interest 4:* Saving Energy with Connectivity;
*Area of Interest 5*: Domestically Produced E-steel;
*Area of Interest 6:* Cybersecurity for Smart and Secure Electric Vehicle Charging.
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* *FY2024 Technology Integration*
* DE-FOA-0003249 [ [link removed] ]
* Anticipated FOA releases date: January - February 2024
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), a FOA with funding to support the integration of clean transportation in community. The following Areas of Interest are expected to be included:
** Area of Interest 1:?*Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance;
* *Area of Interest 2:?*Training on Zero Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Technologies for Critical; Emergency Response Workers;
* *Area of Interest 3:?*Demonstration and Deployment Open Topic.
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* *Distributed Wind Competitiveness Improvement Project*
* Special Notice: Distributed Wind Competitiveness Improvement Project [ [link removed] ]
DOE has issued a notice of intent under the Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) calling for US manufacturers of small-and-medium sized wind turbine technology to develop project ideas and teams in preparation for a 2024 request for proposal.
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Request for Information (RFI)
* *Accelerating Energy Storage Solutions in Minnesota: Stakeholder Engagement Meeting Recording and Request for Comment??*
* View the Meeting Recording [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comment:?*January 5, 2024?*to *[email protected]|?Siemens PTI is requesting comments and suggestions by January 5, 2024, on the modeling methodology and what battery storage incentives could be considered in the model.
The MN Department of Commerce, in conjunction with Siemens PTI, held a stakeholder engagement meeting on December 22, 2023. The meeting discussed initial modeling around battery energy storage solutions needed in MN to meet our 2030, 2035, and 2040 clean energy goals. Participants included utilities located in Minnesota, as well as battery and solar industry professionals. The meeting was recorded to allow additional viewership, available at the link above.
* *High Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production*
* DE-FOA-0003259 [ [link removed] ]
* *Responses Due: *February 12, 2024 and submitted to: [email protected] with the subject line ?DE-FOA-0003259 RFI?
DOE is requesting information on strategies and technologies for developing innovative gasification designs for converting biomass/mixed waste feedstocks into syngas to enable the low-cost production of clean hydrogen. The program is motivated by the unique potential of carbon capture-friendly oxygen-blown gasification processes to convert solid mixed biomass and waste feedstocks to clean hydrogen, useful as a decarbonized energy carrier and for synthesis of decarbonized transportation fuels, chemicals, electricity, and other useful products. Advances made will contribute toward the Hydrogen with Carbon Management Program [ [link removed]. ]?s overall efforts and DOE?s Hydrogen Shot [ [link removed]. ].
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* *Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Based Turbomachinery for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Plants*
* DE-FOA-0003270 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline:* January 31, 2024 - Responses must be submitted electronically to [email protected] <[email protected]> no later than 4:00 PM CT.
DOE Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO), DOE Offices of Nuclear Energy (NE) and DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) all work to support the development of the sCO2 Brayton power cycle. These DOE offices are seeking insights into the specific challenges preventing more widespread deployment of sCO2 turbomachinery-based applications, as well as information regarding the prioritization of development activities.
Feedback is sought from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on two separate topic areas:
*Category A: *sCO2 Turbomachinery Sub-Component De-Risking;
*Category B: *sCO2 Turbomachinery Market.
The RFI questions focus on CSP based applications, although development efforts will inherently share much with other thermal power plants.
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* *Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Environmental Justice Scorecard *
* CEQ-2023-0005 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments:* January 19, 2024 by 10:59 PM CT |See the RFI document for submission details
CEQ and the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) seek feedback on the experiences of the public using Phase One of the Environmental Justice Scorecard, as well as input to drive updates on future versions of the Scorecard. Input may be offered on any aspect of the Environmental Justice Scorecard but is particularly welcome in response to the five questions listed on the Request for Information (found at the link above).
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* *Clean Hydrogen Production Credit (45V)*
* Section 45V Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen; Section 48(a)(15) Election to Treat Clean Hydrogen Production Facilities as Energy Property [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments: *February 26, 2024 - See the RFI document for submission details
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released?proposed regulations?on the Clean Hydrogen Production Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Treasury and the IRS are seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed regulations; all questions and comments should be submitted through the NPRM comment process during the official comment period.
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* *Final Guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process *
* Guidance Document [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Public Information and Submissions:* February 2, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT. Submit information via email information to [email protected].
The DOE Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released final guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) designation process [ [link removed] ]. This process will enable DOE to independently identify narrow areas in the country where transmission development is urgently needed and to work with affected states, tribes, local communities, and industry to accelerate the development of transmission projects in those areas.
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*Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities (FOA) and Request for Information (RFI)*
* *DOE Seeks Tribal and ANC Leader Input on Draft Consultation Policy Updates *
* Consultation Documents [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for written comments, questions or suggestions: *January 31, 2024 and emailed to: [email protected]
DOE is seeking Tribal Leader input on proposed improvements to internal policies and procedures related to Tribal interactions and consultation. A virtual consultation was held on December 11, 2023; proposed changes resulting from the December consultation include:
* Expanding the requirements for Tribal *training* for DOE officials to understand the Department?s responsibilities to Tribal nations;
* Giving more guidance on what DOE needs to do to *support government-to-government consultation* and engagement with Tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act?Corporations;
* Providing additional details on what needs to be included in *annual reporting* from DOE offices to DOE headquarters;
* Designating in writing one or more *Tribal Liaison Officer positions* in each program office and at least one Tribal liaison for each field office or site;
* Requiring program offices to develop an *implementation plan* to implement this Order and Policy, including identifying staff, budget, and training.
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Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs
* *Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit *
* Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit [ [link removed] ]
The US Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act. The credit incentivizes the production of SAF which achieve a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction of at least 50% as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel. SAF which decreases GHG emissions by 50% are eligible for the $1.25 credit per gallon amount, and SAF that decreases GHG emissions by more than 50% are eligible for an additional $0.01 per gallon for each percentage point the reduction exceeds 50%, up to $0.50 per gallon.?
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* *Pre-Filing Registration for Elective Payment or Transfer of Clean Energy Credits*
* Registration Portal [ [link removed] ]
* User Guide [ [link removed] ]
* Fact Sheets [ [link removed] ]
* Webinar ? January 9, 2023, 1:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]
The IRS has opened an IRA and CHIPS *"pre-filing registration portal "*for organizations to register to monetize clean energy credits. Qualifying businesses, tax exempt organizations and state, local and Tribal governments can register to receive elective payment or transfer clean energy credits. IRS recommends pre-filing registration at least 120 days prior to filing a tax return for which the election will be made.
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Program Guidance
* *Justice40 Initiative Covered Programs List *
* See the List [ [link removed] ]
Federal programs covered by the Justice40 Initiative [ [link removed] ] are programs that make covered investments in any one of the following seven categories: climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure. An update to the Justice40 Initiative Covered Programs List (Version 2.0) was released in November 2023; existing and new programs making covered investments in any of the above categories are considered Justice40 covered programs.
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Scholarships/Student Competitions/Fellowships
* *NREL Engineering Internships: Enabling Native Research in Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) Summer 2024 Internship Program *
* *Deadline: *January 31, 2024
* Information & Application [ [link removed] ]
The Enabling Native Researchers in Graduate Education (ENRGE) program offers opportunities for engineering students from minority and underrepresented communities to gain experience at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) world-class facilities.?NREL, located in Golden, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Those accepted into the internship program will support research efforts within NREL?s Energy Security and Resilience Center?s research portfolio, contributing to research on topics including, but not limited to:
* Characterization of the potential for U.S. electric grid disruption from natural hazards and human threats;
* Assessment of the cybersecurity of distributed energy systems; and
* Strengthening the resilience of the U.S. electric grid.
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Webinars
* *Building Weatherization Workforce with Green Workforce Connect *
* January 25, 2024 | 1:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]
Green Workforce Connect is a new online platform that connects job seekers, contractors, and training providers to weatherization employers. Green Workforce Connect is the product of a nationwide, collaborative effort to raise awareness of career opportunities in clean energy. This resource will help the Weatherization Assistance Program hire a new generation of home energy professionals, including those from underrepresented communities.
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Workshops/Meetings/Conferences
* *DOE Energy Transition Summit: Grid Modernization Initiative and Clean Energy Cybersecurity*
* February 5 ? 8, 2024 | Arlington, Virginia | Registration [ [link removed] ]
Attendees will learn about opportunities to engage with DOE-led efforts modernizing the future power grid and enabling a more resilient, secure, and equitable energy transition. This event will host thought leaders and include working sessions with dialogs on strategies for future energy systems through partnerships and technology transition across government, industry, research organizations, and local communities.?The summit agenda features keynote speakers and focused sessions on the two summit themes: the DOE Grid Modernization Initiative [ [link removed]. ] and Clean Energy Cybersecurity [ [link removed] ]. Evening receptions will feature?technical exhibits and invited participants from Congress and state governments.?
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* *2024 Photovoltaic (PV) Reliability Workshop *
* February 27 ? 29, 2024 | Lakewood, Colorado | Registration [ [link removed] ]
NREL hosts an annual Photovoltaic Reliability Workshop (PVRW) to allow solar technology experts to discuss current and future issues in PV reliability. Longer-lasting PV systems make lower-cost solar electricity and have less impact on the environment, human health, and natural resources. The Workshop agenda offers a combination of oral presentations, panel discussions with vigorous audience participation, and poster presentations.
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* *Free Online Training for Community Solar Development: Community Power Accelerator Learning Lab *
The Center for Impact Finance at the University of New Hampshire?s Carsey School of Public Policy is offering*?free online training*?for non-profit organizations, cooperatives, and mission-driven organizations interested in building out a business line to develop community solar projects. The Community Power Learning Lab includes two virtual courses:
** Introduction to Community Solar* [ [link removed] ] ? a self-paced, single module course for organizations wishing to understand community solar or to partner with community solar developers.
** Community Power Accelerator* ? an instructor-led, seven-module virtual course held via Zoom. This course will deliver practical information to guide community-based, mission-driven, and low-income-focused organizations in how to develop community power projects that serve low-income communities and further environmental and social justice. Learn more here [ [link removed] ]
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* *Hydrogen Infrastructure Strategies Workshop *
* January 17 ? 18, 2024 | Denver, Colorado | Registration [ [link removed] ]
This two-day event*,?*hosted by DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), will convene stakeholders from industry, academia, national laboratories, and government to explore strategies to develop and demonstrate clean hydrogen storage, delivery, and dispensing infrastructure in three high-impact sectors:
* Medium- and heavy-duty transportation;
* Industrial and chemical manufacturing;
* Long-duration energy storage.
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Publications/Videos/Webpages
* *Grid Cost and Total Emissions Reductions Through Mass Deployment of Geothermal Heat Pumps for Building Heating and Cooling Electrification in the United States *
* View the Technical Report [ [link removed] ]
The DOE Geothermal Technologies Office has funded an analysis that shows geothermal heat pumps, deployed at a mass scale, could decarbonize heating and cooling and save energy in U.S. buildings while reducing the need for new grid transmission. This reduction in demand would avoid as much as 24,500 miles of new grid transmission lines by 2050?enough to cross the continental United States eight times.
*?*
* *New Study Identifies Wind Energy Development?s Effects on Home Property Values *
* Commercial Wind Turbines and Residential Home Values: New Evidence from the Universe of Land-Based Wind Projects in the United States [ [link removed] ]
DOE?s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has published a study [ [link removed] ] with new findings on the effects of wind energy development on home prices.
*?*
* *State Level Residential Building Stock and Energy Efficiency and Electrification Package Analysis*
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently launched an interactive Tableau dashboard [ [link removed] ]for states to analyze the impacts of energy efficiency and electrification measure packages on the residential building stock. Users can explore decarbonization pathways using the new and accessible online data resource here [ [link removed] ].?
*?*
* *NREL & MTERA Guide to Tribal Solar Energy: Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook *
* Background [ [link removed] ]
* _Guidebook [ [link removed] ]_
* Key Findings Report [ [link removed] ]
In April of 2023, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published the "Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook" [ [link removed] ], developed in partnership with?the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA) to identify key barriers and develop replicable solutions for Tribes seeking to install solar on Tribal land.?
The Tribal Guide to Solar Energy answers common questions about solar development on Tribal lands such as:
* How can a Tribe determine whether distributed-scale, community solar, or utility-scale solar is the right project?
* How will a Tribe?s land ownership structure affect solar development?
* How much solar energy can be deployed on Tribal lands?
Tribes interested in developing tribal solar projects can request technical assistance (energy planning, energy efficiency assessments, resource assessments, project planning, and building codes and utility formation activities) from the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs [ [link removed] ].
Tribes interested in exploring financing options should *note the January 9, 2024?webinar on clean energy tax credits (direct pay) listed under the Guidance section?**above *and?should also be aware of available?Tribal Energy Financing [ [link removed] ] through the DOE Loan Program Office.
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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 [email protected].
*Subscribe* [ [link removed] ]
*Minnesota Department of Commerce | Energy Division
*85 7th Place East, Suite?280 | St. Paul, MN 55101*
*Email: [email protected]
Local: 651-539-1886 |?Greater MN: 1-800-657-3710
*Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ]??| ?Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]??| ?Help [ [link removed] ]? | ?mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ]
*
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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Minnesota Department of Commerce GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
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January 3, 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.
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Announcements: Department of Commerce Energy Programs
Community Solar Garden Program
During the 2023 Legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature made changes to the Community Solar Garden statute: Sec. 216B.1641 MN Statutes [ [link removed] ]. These legislative updates include sunsetting the ?Legacy? solar garden program, operated by Xcel Energy, which closed to new applications on December 31, 2023. The legislation established a new program to be administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce (Commerce).
Commerce is now launching the new Low and Moderate-Income Accessible Community Solar Garden program (LMI-Accessible CSG Program). Click here [ [link removed] ] for program information including details about the application process.
Commerce will review community solar applications in batches on a monthly basis. *The first application window will open on February 1, 2024, and close on February 21, 2024, at 4:00 pm CST.* Future application rounds will similarly open on the first of the month and close on the 21st of the month until the program has reached its maximum capacity of 100 MW for the year.
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Energy-related Funding Awards to Minnesota Entities
Congratulations to the recent funding award recipients! To ensure we include your project award in future editions of our newsletter, please send the following information [email protected]:? <[email protected]>Project title, award amount, total project cost, a brief description of the project, and funding program title and number.?
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!*
* EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program. [ [link removed] ] *The Minneapolis Foundation* is one of the awardees receiving $50 million?in federal funding to make it easier for small community-based organizations to access federal environmental justice funding. The Minneapolis Foundation (and 10 other entity awardees) will work in collaboration with?EPA?s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights [ [link removed] ]?to issue subgrants to community-based nonprofit organizations and other eligible organizations representing disadvantaged communities. This program will ensure community feedback is heard to reduce the barriers faced by smaller entities in pursuit of federal funds, and to improve the efficiency of the awards process.
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* Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Peer-Learning Cohorts program [ [link removed] ]: *Morris, Minnesota* has been selected by the DOE to participate in the program bringing 46 community entities together to address common clean energy opportunities and challenges. Participants? including county and local governments, tribes, community-based organizations, and utilities?will convene regularly from January to July 2024 to exchange strategies and best practices, learn in a collaborative environment from each other and DOE?s national laboratory experts, and workshop policy and program proposals across specific energy resilience, building efficiency, and electric vehicle topics.??Morris?s project is entitled *Enhancing Resilience at Critical Municipal Facilities Through Solar, Storage, and Microgrids.*
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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 ]
* Storage Validation and Testing: Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): Phases II, III, III.5, and IV
* Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
* Assistance for Latest and Zero Building Energy Code Adoption
* National Clean Hydrogen Strategy
* Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS)
* Grid-enhancing Data Analytics Demonstrations for Operations, Monitoring and Control
* Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)
Notice of Intent [ #NoticeofIntent ]
* Accelerating Energy Storage Solutions in Minnesota: Stakeholder Engagement Meeting Recording and Request for Comment
* Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants
* Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
* Clean Fuels & Products Shot: Supporting Carbon Utilization Products via Electrochemical Conversion and Refinery Retrofitting
* FY2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Research & Development
* FY2024 Technology Integration
* Distributed Wind Competitiveness Improvement Project
Request for Information (RFI) [ #RequestforInformation ]
* High Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production
* Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Based Turbomachinery for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Plants
* Council on Environmental Quality Environmental Justice Scorecard
* Clean Hydrogen Production Credit
* Final Guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process
Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities (FOA) and Request for Information (RFI) [ #Tribal ]
* DOE Seeks Tribal and ANC Leader Input on Draft Consultation Policy Updates
Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs [ #taxes ]
* Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit
* Pre-Filing Registration for Elective Payment or Transfer of Clean Energy Credits
Program Guidance [ #Guidance ]
* Justice40 Initiative Covered Programs List
Student Scholarships/Competitions/Fellowships [ #ScholarshipsStudentCompetitions ]
* NREL Engineering Internships: Enabling Native Research in Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) Summer 2024 Internship Program
Webinars [ #webinars ]
* Building Weatherization Workforce with Green Workforce Connect
Workshops, Meetings, Conferences [ #workshops ]
* DOE Energy Transition Summit: Grid Modernization Initiative and Clean Energy Cybersecurity
* 2024 Photovoltaic (PV) Reliability Workshop
* Free Online Training for Community Solar Development: Community Power Accelerator Learning Lab
* Hydrogen Infrastructure Strategies Workshop
Publications/Videos/Webpages [ #videos ]
* Grid Cost and Total Emissions Reductions Through Mass Deployment of Geothermal Heat Pumps for Building Heating and Cooling Electrification in the United States
* New Study Identifies Wind Energy Development?s Effects on Home Property Values
* State Level Residential Building Stock and Energy Efficiency and Electrification Package Analysis
* NREL & MTERA Guide to Tribal Solar Energy: Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook
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*IIJA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*
* *Storage Validation and Testing (?40305): Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): Phases II, III, III.5, and IV *
* DE-FOA-0002711 Amd. 5 [ [link removed] ]
* *Third Submission Deadline:* Full Application: February 20, 2024
DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have jointly issued a FOA with $2.25 billion in funding to support the expansion of national carbon dioxide storage infrastructure and accelerate the development of new or expanded commercial-scale geologic carbon storage projects and associated CO2 transport infrastructure. CarbonSAFE Phases and areas of interest (AOI) covered by this FOA are as below, along with the expected size and number of grants for each Phase:
*Phase II:* Storage Complex Feasibility "(AOI 4). "20-40 awards up to a maximum grant size of $9 million;
*Phase III:* Site Characterization and Permitting "(AOI 1)." 15-40 awards, ranging from $15 million to $110.5 million each;
*Phase III.5:* NEPA, FEED Studies, and Storage Field Development Plan Only "(AOI 2)."? 0-10 awards, ranging from $100,000 to $4.55 million each;
*Phase IV:* Construction "(AOI 3)." 5-20 awards, ranging from $30 million to $195 million each.
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* *Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications (? 40208) *
* DE-FOA-0003120 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: February 7, 2024 | Full Application: April 19, 202
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), has issued a FOA to provide $37 million for the electric drive vehicle battery recycling and second life applications program. DOE will fund research, development and demonstration projects focused on: 1) reducing the costs associated with transportation, dismantling, and preprocessing of end-of-life electric drive vehicle batteries for recycling, 2) recycling of plastic and polymer electric drive vehicle battery accessory components.
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*IRA Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*
* *Assistance for Latest and Zero Building Energy Code Adoption ? (?50131) *
* DE-FOA-0003056 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *First Round of Concept Papers: February 9, 2024 | First Round of Applications: April 30, 2024
* Second Round of Concept Papers and Applications: Fall 2024
* Third Round of Concept Papers and Applications: Spring 2025
DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP)?issued a FOA [ [link removed] ] with up to $1 billion in funding to assist with the adoption and implementation of the latest model building energy codes, zero energy codes, and certain innovative code equivalents.
Topic Areas included in this FOA complement but do not duplicate the topics covered by the previously released Section 50131 Formula Grant opportunity. This FOA is designed to fund additional qualifying jurisdictions and expands qualifying activities to include customized codes and innovative code approaches such as building performance standards. Cost-share is not required. Topic areas included in this FOA:
*Topic Area 1:* Adoption and Implementation of Qualifying Building Energy Codes by Certain Units of Local Government;
*Topic Area 2:* Adoption and Implementation of the Latest Model Energy Codes or Zero Energy Codes with Combinations of Strengthening and Weakening Amendments by States and Certain Units of Local Governments;
*Topic Area 3:* Adoption and Implementation of Innovative Building Energy Code Approaches by States and Certain Units of Local Government.
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*Other Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA)*
* *National Clean Hydrogen Strategy *
* DE-FOA-0003213 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: January 26, 2024 | Full Application: March 22, 2024
The DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) has released a FOA with up to $59 million in funding to accelerate the research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) of affordable clean-hydrogen technologies. Funded projects will reduce the cost and improve the performance of critical elements of hydrogen infrastructure, demonstrate innovative clean hydrogen end-use applications, and streamline equitable deployment of clean hydrogen technologies.
The following topic areas are of interest:
*Topic 1: *Components for Hydrogen Fueling of Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MD/HD) Vehicles;
*Topic 2: *Standardized Hydrogen Refueling Station of the Future;
*Topic 3: *Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered Port Equipment;
*Topic 4: *Enabling Permitting and Safety for Hydrogen Deployment;
*Topic 5: *Equitable Hydrogen Technology Community Engagement.
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* *Grid-free Renewable Energy Enabling New Ways to Economical Liquids and Long-term Storage (GREENWELLS)*
* DE-FOA-0003234 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: January 25, 2024 | Full Application: TBD
DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has announced up to $38 million in funding to support the GREENWELLS program. The new GREENWELLS program seeks to develop sustainable carbon-containing liquids from renewable energy via development of chemical reactor systems that can store energy from sustainable, intermittent sources as low-carbon fuels or chemicals using a renewables-to-liquids (RtL) approach.
GREENWELLS will support projects that focus on the development of RtL reactor systems that can efficiently convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and an intermittent feedstock of electricity or hydrogen (H2) to carbon-containing liquids. Their work will include developing the necessary catalysts, manufacturing methods, and balance of plant. Sustainable energy resources like wind and solar are most effective in areas typically not convenient for grid connection. GREENWELLS seeks to develop chemical reactors and supporting units with at least 50 percent electricity-to-liquid efficiency to store incoming intermittent electrical energy in liquid form.
*?*
* *Grid-enhancing Data Analytics Demonstrations for Operations, Monitoring and Control ?*
* DE-FOA-0003127 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *?Concept Paper: January 23, 2024 | Full Application: April 4, 2024
DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Electricity (OE) is soliciting applications to enhance grid reliability and resilience with demonstrations of sensors and advanced analytics to develop the grid of the future. ?The FOA?s sole area of interest will be Sensor Data Analytics Demonstrations for system monitoring and control. Projects should support *at least one *of the following:
1. Demonstration of applications utilizing existing AMI data;
2. Demonstration utilizing high fidelity synchronized measurement for grid stability monitoring and control;
3. Demonstration of applications utilizing mixes of different sensors for improving grid resilience, security, and safety leveraging commercial off-the-shelf sensors.
The proposed project team must include a prime recipient and/or subrecipient(s) that meets the definition of a domestic utility.
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* *Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4) *
* DE-FOA-0003226 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadlines: *Concept Paper: January 30, 2024 | Full Application: March 15, 2024
DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the SEEDS4 opportunity with up to $7 million in funding for social science research.? Funded research will generate actionable insights to improve?large-scale solar (LSS) siting [ [link removed] ]?processes and outcomes for host communities?particularly those that are disadvantaged?as well as the solar industry and other stakeholders.?
SETO seeks proposals for projects that examine how siting practices affect outcomes; specific areas of interest under this FOA are:
*Area of Interest 1:* Community Acceptance and Opposition;
*Area of Interest 2:* Permitting and Land Use Planning Processes and Outcomes;
*Area of Interest 3:* Community Impact Evaluation.
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*Notice of Intent (NOI)*
* *Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants *
* DE-FOA-0003221 [ [link removed] ]
* Application period expected to open in January 2024
DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO) has published the Notice of Intent and the grant allocation amounts for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants. ?The State of Minnesota has been allocated $6,415,731 for FY2024; Commerce?s State Energy Office will submit a proposal to claim these funds. ?
Tribes sharing geography within the borders of Minnesota have been allocated a total of $2,366,453 and will apply directly to the DOE for their allocations. ?The process of requesting FY24 allocations will vary depending on an applicant?s current status in the program, but all categories of applicants must take action within 90 days from the opening of the FY24 ALRD amendment?to request the FY24 allocations.??
*?*
* *Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops*
* DE-FOA-0003233 [ [link removed] ]
* FOA anticipated release January 2024.
DOE?s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), a FOA entitled ?Regional Resource Hubs for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops?. Award funding will support the demonstration of long-term yield and sustainability of purpose-grown energy crops across varied agronomic and geographic landscapes, accelerating feedstock supply chain development via the generation of data. Feedstocks of interest include, but are not limited to, algae (microalgae, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria), herbaceous crops (switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane, sweet sorghum, and high-biomass sorghum), short-rotation woody crops (hybrid poplars and shrub willows), and intermediate crops (carinata, pennycress, and camelina).
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* *Clean Fuels & Products Shot: Supporting Carbon Utilization Products via Electrochemical Conversion and Refinery Retrofitting (IIJA ?40302)*
* DE-FOA-0003122 [ [link removed] ]
* FOA anticipated quarter 1 of 2024
DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to issue a FOA on behalf of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) in the first quarter of 2024. This NOI provides a high-level draft plan of DOE-FECM?s current vision for supporting carbon utilization products via R&D projects for engineering-scale electrochemical conversion and feasibility studies for refinery retrofits. Projects of interest include experimental and/or design and analytical efforts to illustrate the viability of technologies and to address technical gaps. Projects are also expected to produce volumes of data to be used as the basis for lifecycle and techno-economic analyses to quantify the environmental impact and commercial viability of the technology.
Specific areas of interest under this FOA are:
*Area of Interest 1:* Engineering-Scale Testing of Electrochemical Systems for the Conversion CO2 into Value-Added Products;
*Area of Interest 2:* Retrofitting of Refineries for Carbon Conversion.
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* *FY2024 Vehicle Technologies Office Research & Development *
* DE-FOA-0003247 [ [link removed] ]
* Anticipated FOA release date: January ? February 2024
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), a FOA to advance Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (RDD&D) in several areas critical to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Areas of Interest:
*Area of Interest 1:* Next Generation Phosphate-Based Cathodes;
*Area of Interest 2:* Na-ion Battery Seedling Projects for Electric Vehicle Applications;
*Area of Interest 3:* Low-GHG Concepts for Off-Road Vehicles;
*Area of Interest 4:* Saving Energy with Connectivity;
*Area of Interest 5*: Domestically Produced E-steel;
*Area of Interest 6:* Cybersecurity for Smart and Secure Electric Vehicle Charging.
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* *FY2024 Technology Integration*
* DE-FOA-0003249 [ [link removed] ]
* Anticipated FOA releases date: January - February 2024
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) intends to issue, on behalf of the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), a FOA with funding to support the integration of clean transportation in community. The following Areas of Interest are expected to be included:
** Area of Interest 1:?*Clean Cities Outreach, Engagement, and Technical Assistance;
* *Area of Interest 2:?*Training on Zero Emission Vehicle and Infrastructure Technologies for Critical; Emergency Response Workers;
* *Area of Interest 3:?*Demonstration and Deployment Open Topic.
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* *Distributed Wind Competitiveness Improvement Project*
* Special Notice: Distributed Wind Competitiveness Improvement Project [ [link removed] ]
DOE has issued a notice of intent under the Competitiveness Improvement Project (CIP) calling for US manufacturers of small-and-medium sized wind turbine technology to develop project ideas and teams in preparation for a 2024 request for proposal.
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Request for Information (RFI)
* *Accelerating Energy Storage Solutions in Minnesota: Stakeholder Engagement Meeting Recording and Request for Comment??*
* View the Meeting Recording [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comment:?*January 5, 2024?*to *[email protected]|?Siemens PTI is requesting comments and suggestions by January 5, 2024, on the modeling methodology and what battery storage incentives could be considered in the model.
The MN Department of Commerce, in conjunction with Siemens PTI, held a stakeholder engagement meeting on December 22, 2023. The meeting discussed initial modeling around battery energy storage solutions needed in MN to meet our 2030, 2035, and 2040 clean energy goals. Participants included utilities located in Minnesota, as well as battery and solar industry professionals. The meeting was recorded to allow additional viewership, available at the link above.
* *High Efficiency Gasification for Clean Hydrogen Production*
* DE-FOA-0003259 [ [link removed] ]
* *Responses Due: *February 12, 2024 and submitted to: [email protected] with the subject line ?DE-FOA-0003259 RFI?
DOE is requesting information on strategies and technologies for developing innovative gasification designs for converting biomass/mixed waste feedstocks into syngas to enable the low-cost production of clean hydrogen. The program is motivated by the unique potential of carbon capture-friendly oxygen-blown gasification processes to convert solid mixed biomass and waste feedstocks to clean hydrogen, useful as a decarbonized energy carrier and for synthesis of decarbonized transportation fuels, chemicals, electricity, and other useful products. Advances made will contribute toward the Hydrogen with Carbon Management Program [ [link removed]. ]?s overall efforts and DOE?s Hydrogen Shot [ [link removed]. ].
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* *Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Based Turbomachinery for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Plants*
* DE-FOA-0003270 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline:* January 31, 2024 - Responses must be submitted electronically to [email protected] <[email protected]> no later than 4:00 PM CT.
DOE Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO), DOE Offices of Nuclear Energy (NE) and DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) all work to support the development of the sCO2 Brayton power cycle. These DOE offices are seeking insights into the specific challenges preventing more widespread deployment of sCO2 turbomachinery-based applications, as well as information regarding the prioritization of development activities.
Feedback is sought from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on two separate topic areas:
*Category A: *sCO2 Turbomachinery Sub-Component De-Risking;
*Category B: *sCO2 Turbomachinery Market.
The RFI questions focus on CSP based applications, although development efforts will inherently share much with other thermal power plants.
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* *Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Environmental Justice Scorecard *
* CEQ-2023-0005 [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments:* January 19, 2024 by 10:59 PM CT |See the RFI document for submission details
CEQ and the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) seek feedback on the experiences of the public using Phase One of the Environmental Justice Scorecard, as well as input to drive updates on future versions of the Scorecard. Input may be offered on any aspect of the Environmental Justice Scorecard but is particularly welcome in response to the five questions listed on the Request for Information (found at the link above).
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* *Clean Hydrogen Production Credit (45V)*
* Section 45V Credit for Production of Clean Hydrogen; Section 48(a)(15) Election to Treat Clean Hydrogen Production Facilities as Energy Property [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Comments: *February 26, 2024 - See the RFI document for submission details
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released?proposed regulations?on the Clean Hydrogen Production Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Treasury and the IRS are seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed regulations; all questions and comments should be submitted through the NPRM comment process during the official comment period.
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* *Final Guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Designation Process *
* Guidance Document [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for Public Information and Submissions:* February 2, 2024 by 4:00 PM CT. Submit information via email information to [email protected].
The DOE Grid Deployment Office (GDO) released final guidance for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) designation process [ [link removed] ]. This process will enable DOE to independently identify narrow areas in the country where transmission development is urgently needed and to work with affected states, tribes, local communities, and industry to accelerate the development of transmission projects in those areas.
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*Tribal Governments Funding Opportunities (FOA) and Request for Information (RFI)*
* *DOE Seeks Tribal and ANC Leader Input on Draft Consultation Policy Updates *
* Consultation Documents [ [link removed] ]
* *Deadline for written comments, questions or suggestions: *January 31, 2024 and emailed to: [email protected]
DOE is seeking Tribal Leader input on proposed improvements to internal policies and procedures related to Tribal interactions and consultation. A virtual consultation was held on December 11, 2023; proposed changes resulting from the December consultation include:
* Expanding the requirements for Tribal *training* for DOE officials to understand the Department?s responsibilities to Tribal nations;
* Giving more guidance on what DOE needs to do to *support government-to-government consultation* and engagement with Tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act?Corporations;
* Providing additional details on what needs to be included in *annual reporting* from DOE offices to DOE headquarters;
* Designating in writing one or more *Tribal Liaison Officer positions* in each program office and at least one Tribal liaison for each field office or site;
* Requiring program offices to develop an *implementation plan* to implement this Order and Policy, including identifying staff, budget, and training.
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Guidance on IRA Tax Credit Programs
* *Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit *
* Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit [ [link removed] ]
The US Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have released guidance on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit established by the Inflation Reduction Act. The credit incentivizes the production of SAF which achieve a lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction of at least 50% as compared with petroleum-based jet fuel. SAF which decreases GHG emissions by 50% are eligible for the $1.25 credit per gallon amount, and SAF that decreases GHG emissions by more than 50% are eligible for an additional $0.01 per gallon for each percentage point the reduction exceeds 50%, up to $0.50 per gallon.?
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* *Pre-Filing Registration for Elective Payment or Transfer of Clean Energy Credits*
* Registration Portal [ [link removed] ]
* User Guide [ [link removed] ]
* Fact Sheets [ [link removed] ]
* Webinar ? January 9, 2023, 1:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]
The IRS has opened an IRA and CHIPS *"pre-filing registration portal "*for organizations to register to monetize clean energy credits. Qualifying businesses, tax exempt organizations and state, local and Tribal governments can register to receive elective payment or transfer clean energy credits. IRS recommends pre-filing registration at least 120 days prior to filing a tax return for which the election will be made.
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Program Guidance
* *Justice40 Initiative Covered Programs List *
* See the List [ [link removed] ]
Federal programs covered by the Justice40 Initiative [ [link removed] ] are programs that make covered investments in any one of the following seven categories: climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure. An update to the Justice40 Initiative Covered Programs List (Version 2.0) was released in November 2023; existing and new programs making covered investments in any of the above categories are considered Justice40 covered programs.
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Scholarships/Student Competitions/Fellowships
* *NREL Engineering Internships: Enabling Native Research in Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) Summer 2024 Internship Program *
* *Deadline: *January 31, 2024
* Information & Application [ [link removed] ]
The Enabling Native Researchers in Graduate Education (ENRGE) program offers opportunities for engineering students from minority and underrepresented communities to gain experience at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) world-class facilities.?NREL, located in Golden, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Those accepted into the internship program will support research efforts within NREL?s Energy Security and Resilience Center?s research portfolio, contributing to research on topics including, but not limited to:
* Characterization of the potential for U.S. electric grid disruption from natural hazards and human threats;
* Assessment of the cybersecurity of distributed energy systems; and
* Strengthening the resilience of the U.S. electric grid.
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Webinars
* *Building Weatherization Workforce with Green Workforce Connect *
* January 25, 2024 | 1:00 PM CT | Register [ [link removed] ]
Green Workforce Connect is a new online platform that connects job seekers, contractors, and training providers to weatherization employers. Green Workforce Connect is the product of a nationwide, collaborative effort to raise awareness of career opportunities in clean energy. This resource will help the Weatherization Assistance Program hire a new generation of home energy professionals, including those from underrepresented communities.
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Workshops/Meetings/Conferences
* *DOE Energy Transition Summit: Grid Modernization Initiative and Clean Energy Cybersecurity*
* February 5 ? 8, 2024 | Arlington, Virginia | Registration [ [link removed] ]
Attendees will learn about opportunities to engage with DOE-led efforts modernizing the future power grid and enabling a more resilient, secure, and equitable energy transition. This event will host thought leaders and include working sessions with dialogs on strategies for future energy systems through partnerships and technology transition across government, industry, research organizations, and local communities.?The summit agenda features keynote speakers and focused sessions on the two summit themes: the DOE Grid Modernization Initiative [ [link removed]. ] and Clean Energy Cybersecurity [ [link removed] ]. Evening receptions will feature?technical exhibits and invited participants from Congress and state governments.?
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* *2024 Photovoltaic (PV) Reliability Workshop *
* February 27 ? 29, 2024 | Lakewood, Colorado | Registration [ [link removed] ]
NREL hosts an annual Photovoltaic Reliability Workshop (PVRW) to allow solar technology experts to discuss current and future issues in PV reliability. Longer-lasting PV systems make lower-cost solar electricity and have less impact on the environment, human health, and natural resources. The Workshop agenda offers a combination of oral presentations, panel discussions with vigorous audience participation, and poster presentations.
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* *Free Online Training for Community Solar Development: Community Power Accelerator Learning Lab *
The Center for Impact Finance at the University of New Hampshire?s Carsey School of Public Policy is offering*?free online training*?for non-profit organizations, cooperatives, and mission-driven organizations interested in building out a business line to develop community solar projects. The Community Power Learning Lab includes two virtual courses:
** Introduction to Community Solar* [ [link removed] ] ? a self-paced, single module course for organizations wishing to understand community solar or to partner with community solar developers.
** Community Power Accelerator* ? an instructor-led, seven-module virtual course held via Zoom. This course will deliver practical information to guide community-based, mission-driven, and low-income-focused organizations in how to develop community power projects that serve low-income communities and further environmental and social justice. Learn more here [ [link removed] ]
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* *Hydrogen Infrastructure Strategies Workshop *
* January 17 ? 18, 2024 | Denver, Colorado | Registration [ [link removed] ]
This two-day event*,?*hosted by DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO), will convene stakeholders from industry, academia, national laboratories, and government to explore strategies to develop and demonstrate clean hydrogen storage, delivery, and dispensing infrastructure in three high-impact sectors:
* Medium- and heavy-duty transportation;
* Industrial and chemical manufacturing;
* Long-duration energy storage.
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Publications/Videos/Webpages
* *Grid Cost and Total Emissions Reductions Through Mass Deployment of Geothermal Heat Pumps for Building Heating and Cooling Electrification in the United States *
* View the Technical Report [ [link removed] ]
The DOE Geothermal Technologies Office has funded an analysis that shows geothermal heat pumps, deployed at a mass scale, could decarbonize heating and cooling and save energy in U.S. buildings while reducing the need for new grid transmission. This reduction in demand would avoid as much as 24,500 miles of new grid transmission lines by 2050?enough to cross the continental United States eight times.
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* *New Study Identifies Wind Energy Development?s Effects on Home Property Values *
* Commercial Wind Turbines and Residential Home Values: New Evidence from the Universe of Land-Based Wind Projects in the United States [ [link removed] ]
DOE?s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has published a study [ [link removed] ] with new findings on the effects of wind energy development on home prices.
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* *State Level Residential Building Stock and Energy Efficiency and Electrification Package Analysis*
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently launched an interactive Tableau dashboard [ [link removed] ]for states to analyze the impacts of energy efficiency and electrification measure packages on the residential building stock. Users can explore decarbonization pathways using the new and accessible online data resource here [ [link removed] ].?
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* *NREL & MTERA Guide to Tribal Solar Energy: Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook *
* Background [ [link removed] ]
* _Guidebook [ [link removed] ]_
* Key Findings Report [ [link removed] ]
In April of 2023, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published the "Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Deployment Guidebook" [ [link removed] ], developed in partnership with?the Midwest Tribal Energy Resources Association (MTERA) to identify key barriers and develop replicable solutions for Tribes seeking to install solar on Tribal land.?
The Tribal Guide to Solar Energy answers common questions about solar development on Tribal lands such as:
* How can a Tribe determine whether distributed-scale, community solar, or utility-scale solar is the right project?
* How will a Tribe?s land ownership structure affect solar development?
* How much solar energy can be deployed on Tribal lands?
Tribes interested in developing tribal solar projects can request technical assistance (energy planning, energy efficiency assessments, resource assessments, project planning, and building codes and utility formation activities) from the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs [ [link removed] ].
Tribes interested in exploring financing options should *note the January 9, 2024?webinar on clean energy tax credits (direct pay) listed under the Guidance section?**above *and?should also be aware of available?Tribal Energy Financing [ [link removed] ] through the DOE Loan Program Office.
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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 [email protected].
*Subscribe* [ [link removed] ]
*Minnesota Department of Commerce | Energy Division
*85 7th Place East, Suite?280 | St. Paul, MN 55101*
*Email: [email protected]
Local: 651-539-1886 |?Greater MN: 1-800-657-3710
*Manage Preferences [ [link removed] ]??| ?Unsubscribe [ [link removed] ]??| ?Help [ [link removed] ]? | ?mn.gov/commerce [ [link removed] ]
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