Is Your Community Ready for Geothermal Energy?
Let’s find out with a quick guide to navigate the Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)!

The FOA will support the formation of U.S.-based community coalitions to develop, design, and install community geothermal heating and cooling systems, as well as to create related workforce training and identify and address environmental justice concerns. Applicants should be diverse teams with representatives for four key roles: community voice, analysis and design, workforce, and deployment. Coalitions can be from urban, suburban, rural, remote, island, or islanded communities where geothermal can reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as natural gas or heating oil.

This guide provides tips for the key items you’ll need—but be sure to read the FOA in its entirety, too!

• Read the full FOA located on EERE’s Exchange: https://eere-Exchange.energy.gov 

• Determine if the opportunity is a good fit for you. If you’re ready to develop, design, and install a community geothermal heating and cooling system, chances are the answer is yes!
  • Sections I.A. and I.B. of the FOA provide details that can help you decide if such a project is the right fit for your community.
  • Sections II.A. and II.B. provide information on the funding available and the cost share your coalition would need to provide to participate. 

• Make sure you’re eligible by reviewing the eligibility requirements. You can find the information in Section III of the FOA.

• Build a coalition. Many organizations can get involved! Be sure to select a primary applicant and then include at least the four required roles described in the FOA Specific Goals subsection in Section I.A.ii : community voice, deployment, analysis and design, and workforce training.
  • A teaming partners list is available here to help connect you to potential partners. You can have as many partners as you’d like, as long as you include all four of the required roles.

• Write your application! Read the Eligibility Information in Section III and consider the Technical Review Criteria and Program Policy Factors in Section V in developing your project plan and application materials. 

• Edit and review your application to ensure you have covered everything that’s needed and that you meet the requirements in the Application and Submission Information in Section IV. 

• Questions? Attend a FOA information webinar on August 10, 2022 or August 22, 2022 or email CommunityGeo@ee.doe.gov.

• Use the instructions in the Application and Submission Information in Section IV. As of September 30, 2022*, potential applicants will be required to have a Login.gov account to access EERE eXCHANGE. You can find more information in Section VI.B.i, Registration Requirements in the FOA.

*Date is tentative and subject to change.