48C Updates
Round 1 Tax Credit Allocations Announced
The Department of Treasury and DOE have announced $4 Billion in tax credits to build clean energy supply chains, drive investments, and lower costs in energy communities.
Round 2 Coming
The Department of Treasury has announced it will issue a notice for the second round of allocations for the 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit in the coming months.
New Portal Live!
Effective February 29, 2024, the Qualifying Advanced Energy Tax Credit Portal is migrating from eXCHANGE to a new system, 48C Portal. You’ll sign into the new 48C Portal with ID.me instead of Login.gov. You will still be able to access your application information in eXCHANGE, but all future actions will be performed on the new 48C Portal. Allocation decisions for 2023 applicants will only be accessible through the new 48C Portal. More information on the can be found at go live announcement and the 48C Portal applicant user guide.
GET HELP: Applicant Portal
From the new 48C Portal, select Help Center on the navigation bar to view additional help resources including FAQs, the Applicant User Guide, and other helpful information. You will be able to access help articles including How to View Your Application Status and Decisions, and How to Withdraw an Application. Additional help articles will continue to be added to the Applicant Portal.
Any questions or comments can be submitted to the Department of Energy at 48CQuestions@hq.doe.gov.
Overview
The Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C) program was established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and expanded with a $10 billion investment under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The Advanced Energy Project Credit provides a tax credit for investments in advanced energy projects, as defined in 26 USC § 48C(c)(1).
The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, in partnership with DOE, have announced up to $4 billion in a first round of tax credits for projects that expand clean energy manufacturing and recycling and critical materials refining, processing and recycling, and for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at industrial facilities.
Approximately $1.6 billion of this allocation will be set aside for projects in designated energy communities. The program will provide an investment tax credit of up to 30% of qualified investments for certified projects that meet prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.
Support 48C as a Reviewer - Now recruiting Round 2 Reviewers!
Are you interested in supporting the implementation of this impactful program? The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains has exciting opportunities to contribute to the § 48C Tax Credit Program Application merit review process. The § 48C Tax Credit Program aims to play a critical role to create high-quality jobs, reduce industrial emissions, and increase domestic production of critical clean energy products and materials.
To implement this mission, we need support from a diverse group of people with expertise in commercialization, supply chains, GHG emissions impacts, and workforce and community engagement. Because the scope of the § 48C program spans multiple technologies and industries in areas such as clean energy manufacturing, critical minerals and GHG emissions reductions, we also need support from experts across different technical areas.
Are you considering applying to be a DOE reviewer? As a reviewer, you will:
- Have the opportunity to apply your expertise to inform how DOE supports energy infrastructure and supply chain activities.
- Receive a stipend (only applicable to reviewers external to the federal government)
- Have clear time commitments and expectations, which are clearly described in the brochure below.
Interested in being a reviewer, learn more below.
Those interested in assisting in the merit review process should send an email to 48cProgram@hq.doe.gov with sufficient details. Please do not attach your resume.
Based on the program requirements and specific reviewer needs, 48C program team will get in touch with you on the next steps to complete and on onboarding process.
There are 3 anticipated groups of reviewers for each application:
| Special Purpose Reviewers | Super Reviewers | General Reviewers |
|---|---|---|
Expected to review the specific content that relates to the specific sub-elements in each merit review criteria and prepare a summary analysis and high-level list of strengths and weaknesses.
| Expected to review the application section that focus on their area of expertise (e.g., commercial viability, supply chain, workforce and community engagement) and provide their score for the merit review criterion, as well as providing comment on strengths and weaknesses. They will have access to the analysis prepared by Special Purpose Reviewers and, if needed, suggest additional analysis to help with their review. Each application will be reviewed by four Super Reviewers, one for each merit review criterion.
| Expected to review the complete application and provide their scores for all the merit review criteria, in addition to providing comment on strengths and weaknesses. They will have access to the analysis prepared by Special Purpose Reviewers and, if needed, suggest additional analysis to help with their review.
|
Desired qualifications: These reviewers are expected to be in the early stage of their careers in their area of expertise. | Desired qualifications: These reviewers are expected to be senior experts/leaders in their area of expertise. | Desired qualifications: These reviewers are expected to be senior subject matter experts in respective technology areas, with broad understanding of the commercial viability, supply chains, general workforce practices for the specific technology areas. |
Compensation: Varies based on terms of actual contract with reviewer, but generally $300-$500 per application, plus $500 for administrative activities such as but not limited to: attending the merit review training, completing vendor paperwork, and/or uploading comments/scores into 48C Portal.
| Compensation: Varies based on terms of actual contract with reviewer, but generally $800-$1,000 per application, plus $500 for administrative activities such as but not limited to: attending the merit review training, completing vendor paperwork, making travel arrangements, and/or uploading comments/scores into48C Portal. When travel is required, certain pre-approved costs may be paid by the program, within GSA allowable costs, but time spent traveling will not be reimbursed. | Compensation: Varies based on terms of actual contract with reviewer, but generally $800-$1,200 per application, plus $500 for administrative activities such as but not limited to: attending the merit review training, completing vendor paperwork, making travel arrangements, and/or uploading comments/scores into 48C Portal. When travel is required, certain pre-approved costs may be paid by the program, within GSA allowable costs, but time spent traveling will not be reimbursed. |
KBC Energy Solutions, LLC, is supporting the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) in reviewer onboarding. Additional details will be provided later.
All reviewers are required to sign the Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) and Conflict of Interest and Foreign Government-Sponsored Talent Recruitment Program Involvement forms, in addition to IRS Data Privacy forms.
All reviewers are required to submit for background checks (fingerprinting, background investigation) before they can be considered for merit review of applications.
Several training sessions will be provided on:
- Reviewer Conflict of Interest and Foreign Government-Sponsored Talent Recruitment Program Involvement and Nondisclosure obligations, and Data Privacy requirements.
- 48C Round 1 guidance, technical content background
- Merit review process, review guidelines/rubric
- “Office hours” to answer any questions/concerns before or during the merit review process.
Guidance
- Additional Guidance Notice 2023-44.
- Initial Guidance Notice 2023-18.
- Read Appendix C, which lists the Section 48C(e) Energy Communities Census Tracts that taxpayers may rely on to substantiate a tax return position.
Blog
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 48C FAQs - February 13, 2024 - NEW questions added.
- 48C FAQs - December 21, 2023
- 48C FAQs - December 4, 2023
- 48C FAQs - September 25, 2023
- 48C FAQs - July 31, 2023
- 48C FAQs - July 21, 2023
- 48C FAQs - July 17, 2023
- 48C FAQs - July 13, 2023.
- The Internal Revenue Service provides frequently asked questions related to the eligibility and application of the credit.
Program Resources
- 48C designated energy communities map -NOTE: The mapping tool may not be relied upon by taxpayers to substantiate a tax return position or for determining whether certain penalties apply and will not be used by the IRS for examination purposes. The mapping tool does not reflect the application of the law to a specific taxpayer’s situation, and the applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions ultimately control.
- Interagency Working Group’s landing page on 48C Tax Credit Program
- Refer to DOE’s draft critical materials for energy list and USGS critical mineral list for eligibility
Regional Events
DOE has partnered with the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization to hold several regional events in the coming months. These events will provide:
- An overview of the 48C program to prepare potential applicants.
- Discussion of the advantages of investing in energy communities.
- Networking with community leaders and clean energy manufacturing professionals.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. MT
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
University of Charleston, Charleston, WV
Tuesday, April 16, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. CT
University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, IN
Informational Webinar
DOE hosted a webinar on November 28, 2023, at 12pm ET for an informational webinar on the application process. The webinar will cover the 48C(e) application process and provide guidance for developing a strong application. Watch the webinar below, or view the webinar slides here.
DOE and Treasury previously hosted a virtual informational webinar for potential applicants on June 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. ET. Watch the webinar below, or view the webinar slides here.
Questions
Visit the 48C Portal help center to view additional resources including FAQs, the Applicant User Guide, and other helpful information. You will be able to access help articles including How to View Your Application Status and Decisions, and How to Withdraw an Application. Additional help articles will continue to be added to the Applicant Portal.
Any questions or comments can be submitted to the Department of Energy at 48CQuestions@hq.doe.gov.