Cities Leading through Energy Analysis and Planning (Cities-LEAP)

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.

Overview

Office:

State and Community Energy Program

New Program:

No

Funding amount:

$550,000,000

Funding Mechanism:

Formula and Competitive Grants

Recipients:

State/Local Government/Tribes

Period of Availability:

Available until expended

EECBG Program Awards & Selections

Resources for Tribes

  • Application deadline for Tribes extended to May 31, 2025!
    The application deadline for eligible Tribes has been extended from April 30, 2024 to May 31, 2025. DOE welcomes early submissions and will review applications on a rolling basis.
  • Tribe-Specific EECBG Program Website. This site contains application information and tailored technical assistance. Take a look here: EECBG Program Comprehensive Guide for Indian Tribes.
  • Join for Tribal-Specific Office Hours. Our team holds bi-weekly Office Hour Sessions - come with questions or just to listen in! Sign up here: EECBG Program Tribal Applicant Office Hours

EECBG Program Technical Assistance Hub

DOE provides technical assistance offerings for eligible entities, including the EECBG Program Blueprints and the opportunity to host a Community Energy Fellow in your local government or Tribe. Read more about the technical assistance available to eligible EECBG Program entities on our Technical Assistance Hub.

Voucher Application Option Information

DOE has released the voucher application portal where local governments and Tribes can apply for a technical assistance and/or equipment rebate voucher. The voucher option allows Local and Tribal governments eligible for EECBG Program formula funding to receive technical assistance and/or equipment rebates rather than traditional grants. 

Instructions to apply for a voucher can be found on the EECBG Program Formula Grant Application Hub.

The voucher portal can be accessed here.

To learn more about the voucher option, please review:

EECBG Program Voucher Handbook
EECBG Program Equipment Rebate Application Template
EECBG Program Technical Assistance Application Template

Upcoming Events

Financing Upfront Capital and Revenue - March 19, 2024, at 12 p.m. ET | Register to attend

This training from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will provide a basic introduction to options for financing a clean energy project as well as for recovering the investment and generating revenue from the project. Follow-up technical assistance will be available to communities that request it. 

Join DOE at Bi-Weekly Office Hours

DOE is excited to offer EECBG formula grant applicants the opportunity to participate in EECBG Office Hours!

  • EECBG Program Office Hours will be held on a bi-weekly basis. Due to high demand, we will not be able to include all interested parties in each session.
  • Please fill out this form to sign up for Office Hours. DOE will then extend invitations to applicants to attend specific Office Hour sessions.
  • Please note that these sessions will only be for questions about the formula grant process.

More Information

DOE will announce EECBG Program Formula awards on a rolling basis. To see which awards have been made, see here

Eligible Uses:

(1) Development and implementation of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy

(2) retaining technical consultant services to assist the eligible entity in the development of such a strategy, including—

  • (A) formulation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and energy usage goals;
  • (B) identification of strategies to achieve those goals—
    • (i) through efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption; and
    • (ii) by encouraging behavioral changes among the population served by the eligible entity;
  • (C) development of methods to measure progress in achieving the goals;
  • (D) development and publication of annual reports to the population served by the eligible entity describing—
    • (i) the strategies and goals; and
    • (ii) the progress made in achieving the strategies and goals during the preceding calendar year; and
  • (E) other services to assist in the implementation of the energy efficiency and conservation strategy;

(3) conducting residential and commercial building energy audits;

(4) establishment of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements;

(5) the provision of grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing energy efficiency retrofits;

(6) development and implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, including—

  • (A) design and operation of the programs;
  • (B) identifying the most effective methods for achieving maximum participation and efficiency rates;
  • (C) public education;
  • (D) measurement and verification protocols; and
  • (E) identification of energy efficient technologies;

(7) development and implementation of programs to conserve energy used in transportation, including—

  • (A) use of flex time by employers;
  • (B) satellite work centers;
  • (C) development and promotion of zoning guidelines or requirements that promote energy efficient development;
  • (D) development of infrastructure, such as bike lanes and pathways and pedestrian walkways;
  • (E) synchronization of traffic signals; and
  • (F) other measures that increase energy efficiency and decrease energy consumption;

(8) development and implementation of building codes and inspection services to promote building energy efficiency;

(9) application and implementation of energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency, including—

  • (A) distributed resources; and
  • (B) district heating and cooling systems;

(10) activities to increase participation and efficiency rates for material conservation programs, including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency;

(11) the purchase and implementation of technologies to reduce, capture, and, to the maximum extent practicable, use methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources;

(12) replacement of traffic signals and street lighting with energy efficient lighting technologies, including—

  • (A) light emitting diodes; and
  • (B) any other technology of equal or greater energy efficiency;

(13) development, implementation, and installation on or in any government building of the eligible entity of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources, including—

  • (A) solar energy;
  • (B) wind energy;
  • (C) fuel cells; and
  • (D) biomass;

(14) programs for financing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure), capital investments, projects, and programs, which may include loan programs and performance contracting programs, for leveraging of additional public and private sector funds, and programs that allow rebates, grants, or other incentives for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure) measures; and

(15) any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with—

  • (A) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
  • (B) the Secretary of Transportation; and
  • (C) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

  • Application deadline extended to April 30, 2024 for local governments and May 31, 2025 for Tribes
    The application deadline to apply for EECBG Program formula funding has been extended to April 30, 2024 for local governments and May 31, 2025 for Tribes. This applies to direct grant and voucher applications. DOE welcomes early submissions and will review applications on a rolling basis. The deadline for states and territories was July 31, 2023.
  • Voucher application portal released! 
    DOE has released the voucher application portal where local governments and Tribes can apply for a technical assistance and/or equipment rebate voucher instead of a traditional grant. Instructions to apply for a voucher can be found on the EECBG Program Formula Grant Application Hub.
  • Build America, Buy America Waiver
    On July 28, DOE released a General Applicability Public Interest Waiver for Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) equipment purchasing requirements. Now, eligible entities with EECBG Program formula allocations totaling $250,000 or less are exempt from BABA requirements. These eligible entities do not need to submit additional paperwork to be exempted from the requirements. Eligible entities with EECBG Program formula allocations totaling $250,000 or more are still required to comply with Build America, Buy America.

  • Pre-Application Information Sheet due to EECBG Program Inbox ASAP for entities applying for a traditional grant. See the Pre-Award Information Sheet here, and submit to EECBG@hq.doe.gov
  • Entities applying for a voucher may register directly on the EECBG Program application portal and do not need to submit a Pre-Award Information Sheet. 
  • State and territory applications due to DOE ASAP.
  • Complete local government applications are due by April 30, 2024.
  • Complete Tribal applications are due by May 31, 2025.

See our Frequently Asked Questions page with commonly asked questions. If this page does not answer your questions, please write to our program inbox: EECBG@hq.doe.gov.

Vouchers: As an alternative to traditional grants, DOE will providing Local and Tribal governments with the option to apply for vouchers to receive technical assistance and/or equipment rebates.

Vouchers provide a streamlined application process with fewer administrative requirements and allow Local and Tribal governments to take advantage of customized technical expertise or get reimbursed for eligible equipment. Eligible entities may choose to use a voucher or a grant, but not both.

DOE has released the voucher application portal where local governments and Tribes can apply for a technical assistance and/or equipment rebate voucher. Instructions to apply for a voucher can be found on the EECBG Program Formula Grant Application Hub.

To learn more about the voucher application process, please review:

Blueprints: Additionally, DOE will publish blueprints, which provide step-by-step roadmaps for high-impact projects and programs based on proven practices. Blueprints are designed to simplify the project selection process and may expedite review compared to traditional grant applications. Please see the Program Application Instructions Section 4.5 and Appendix 2 for more information.

View recordings and see presentations of previous sessions of EECBG Program webinars below.

State Governments 

Local Governments

Tribal Governments 

Introduction to Grant Application Process

Review this webinar for detailed guidance about the EECBG Program Grant Application Process. This webinar includes information about the necessary steps and materials required to apply for the program.

EECBG Program Vouchers Option

Introduction to Vouchers Option

This webinar includes information about the requirements and process for applying for an EECBG Program Voucher in lieu of a cash grant. 

EECBG Program Voucher Portal Demonstration

Technical Assistance

This webinar provides EECBG Program Formula Grant applicants with guidance on how to access technical assistance opportunities from the Department of Energy to maximize their EECBG dollars and reduce administrative burden.

Justice40

This webinar provides EECBG applicants with tools and knowledge they need to implement Justice40 goals into their EECBG projects.

PAGE Webinar training

This webinar provided a training for EECBG Program formula grantees pursuing the direct grant option (not the voucher). Because it used the PAGE platform to demonstrate the training live, there are no slides.

GRANT REPORTING WEBINAR 

This webinar covered the basics of grant reporting requirements (and the process for doing so on the PAGE Platform). Note: this webinar only applies for those pursuing traditional grants - not vouchers.

The EECBG Program Blueprints are model projects and programs designed to help local and tribal governments achieve high impact results with limited grant dollars. Blueprints offer ideas in energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation electrification, clean energy finance, and workforce development. 

Key activity areas under each blueprint serve as a step-by-step guide for communities to follow. Each activity is accompanied by relevant tools and resources that go into much more detail. EECBG Program grantees are encouraged to consider blueprints as inspiration for ways they could use their grant dollars. 

Learn more about the EECBG Program blueprints.

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