At the front of the room from left, Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock, Federal Energy Management Program Director Mary Sotos, and U.S. Department of Energy Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure Kathleen Hogan.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this week, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Director Mary Sotos joined a White House Council on Environmental Quality meeting of Agency Chief Sustainability Officers to introduce the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) federal agency call.
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced last week $250 million in AFFECT funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The event—held at the White House on March 28, 2023—gave participants a chance to hear more about opportunities made available by the funding, which will go toward helping federal agencies implement net-zero building projects and set an example in sustainability as the nation works to transition to clean energy and combat climate change. Sotos presented on the AFFECT funding goals, topics, selection criteria, and submission deadlines.
"We need efficient, resilient federal facilities that can operate without fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, and this funding can help make this a reality," FEMP Director Mary Sotos said of the announcement. "Sharpen your pencils and send us your proposals," she encouraged.
The AFFECT opportunity seeks applications from federal agencies that would use the funding to make energy and water efficiency upgrades to new and existing federal buildings and help them achieve net-zero through initiatives like efficiency and conservation improvements, electrification, on-site clean energy generation, and sustainable design.
At Tuesday's event, attendees received a warm welcome from DOE Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure Kathleen Hogan and were updated on the federal government's overall progress toward meeting E.O. 14057 goals by Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock.
"As our federal government's top clean energy leaders, we have a big job—an important job—to work together to set up the country to meet the President's goal of a net-zero carbon economy by 2050," said Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure Kathleen Hogan. "I'm confident in the expertise of the people here today to help us meet our ambitious goals. I know we have the resources, the people, and the leadership to guide the way," she added.
To learn more about the AFFECT funding opportunity, attend FEMP's informational webinar on April 4, 2023, at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.