News
Blowing Away the Gaps with the West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Analysis
The West Coast Offshore Wind Transmission Literature Review and Gaps Analysis summarizes 13 previous studies on offshore wind interconnection and transmission in the nation’s Western Interconnection and identifies gaps that must be addressed to successfully develop offshore wind energy off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. Learn about the challenges and solutions identified in this study.
Inflation Reduction Act Domestic Content Credits Boost American Manufacturing and Deployment of Clean Energy
Building on the Inflation Reduction Act's groundbreaking investments, the Treasury Department and IRS have issued guidance on bonus credits available to clean energy projects that meet domestic content thresholds.
Read DOE's blog on how this will lead to more American manufacturing, and learn more about these and other incentive programs in the updated WETO fact sheet on U.S. Wind Industry Federal Incentives, Funding, and Partnership Opportunities.
New Tax Credit Will Spur Historic Investments in Manufacturing and Critical Materials
As part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, DOE, Treasury, and IRS announced $4 billion in tax credits for projects that expand clean energy or critical materials manufacturing or recycling, with $1.6 billion set aside for projects in designated energy and coal communities. DOE will begin accepting applications later this month, with concept papers due July 31, 2023.
To help define critical materials for this and other efforts, DOE issued a Request for Information seeking public feedback on DOE’s draft Critical Materials Assessment, which includes rare earth magnets used in wind turbines. Responses are due to CriticalMaterialsRFI@ee.doe.gov by 5:00 pm ET on June 20, 2023.
DOE Issues New Guidance for the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program
DOE’s Loan Programs Office released updated Program Guidance for the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, which can provide $300 billion in loan guarantees for clean energy, facility decarbonization, and energy infrastructure reinvestment projects. The new Program Guidance updates program eligibility, application requirements, and evaluation criteria, and incorporates new authorities established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
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DOE Announces Winners of 10th Annual Collegiate Wind Competition
The Collegiate Wind Competition wrapped up its 10th annual competition on May 19 in Colorado. Congratulations to Kansas State University for earning the top spot and the University of Colorado Boulder for coming in second place (check out their interview with CBS Colorado).
Learn about the winners of specific contests, how other teams placed, and apply for the 2024 competition.
Clean Energy Champions
Meet Clean Energy Champion Liz Hartman
It takes talents of all sorts to work toward a clean energy future: scientists, engineers, governors… but someone has to get the word out. Enter the communicators! 🗣 Meet WETO’s Communications Lead, Liz Hartman, who has been helping with internal and external wind communications for DOE since 2009. Hartman initially led communications for EERE’s combined Wind and Water Power Technologies Office until the two renewable energy powerhouses became separate offices in 2016.
In Case You Missed It
- The deadline to submit concept papers for DOE’s offshore wind Centers of Excellence funding opportunity is 5 p.m. ET on June 8, 2023.
- DOE announced $26 million for projects to demonstrate how solar power, wind energy, energy storage, and other clean energy resources can support a reliable and efficient U.S. power grid.
- WETO is looking to hire a systems engineer to serve as principal technology manager for mechanical systems within its Technology Research, Development, and Testing program.
- DOE announced a Notice of Intent for Energy Future Grants that will provide $27 million in financial assistance and technical assistance to support local, state, and tribal government-led partnership efforts that advance clean energy program innovation.