The Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure (S3) focuses on deploying clean energy infrastructure in pursuit of national goals for affordable and reliable energy, creating high quality jobs, enhancing U.S. manufacturing, and addressing the climate crisis. Its efforts support achieving carbon-free electricity in the U.S. by 2035 and a net zero economy by 2050 and delivering substantial benefits to the communities that are frequently left behind. 

The Office provides skilled teams in energy planning; energy security; infrastructure financing; project development; project management; clean energy supply chains; state, community, and tribal engagement; and other key areas, critical to the success of demonstration and deployment efforts as appropriated through the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations. 

The Office engages and works in partnership with a diverse set of stakeholders as it stewards and seeks the greatest benefits from federal funding. The Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure includes twelve Departmental Elements with important areas of focus and capabilities: Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, Grid Deployment Office, Office of Federal Energy Management Programs, Office of Indian Energy, Loan Programs Office, Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, Bonneville Power Administration, Southeastern Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration, and the Western Area Power Administration.

Leadership

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations' (OCED) mission is to deliver clean energy demonstration projects at scale in partnership with the private sector to launch or accelerate market adoption and deployment of  technologies, as part of an equitable transition to a decarbonized energy system. OCED is a technology-neutral office that serves as a project management center of excellence, implementing key multi-billion dollar demonstration projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as supporting the applied programs and other offices to ensure a consistent approach to implementing capital-intensive late-stage technology demonstrations across DOE. OCED supports both full-scale and commercial-scale demonstration projects that have viability at scale and an expectation of achieving cost competitiveness and bankability. OCED investments are part of a clear progression between the research, development, and early-stage demonstration projects within DOE technology offices and initial deployments supported by the private sector or other programs, such as the Loan Programs Office, ensuring coherent strategies for advancing and deploying clean energy technologies and systems. Funding decisions are made to support scalable outcomes that lead to commercialization and deployment, while focusing on greenhouse gas emission reductions, job creation, environmental justice and Justice40 Initiative priorities, and energy transition communities.

Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response

The Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) leads the nation’s efforts to enhance the security and resilience of the U.S. energy sector from all hazards—physical or cyber attacks, or natural causes like hurricanes, wildfires, and the impacts of climate change. CESER manages DOE’s responsibilities as the Sector Risk Management Agency, identifying and mitigating risks to the energy sector in collaboration with government and industry partners and through research, development, and deployment of tools and technologies. Under the National Response Framework, CESER carries out DOE’s Emergency Support Function 12 (ESF-12) role, working alongside public and private sector partners during any incidents affecting the energy sector to restore power and fuel efficiently and effectively. CESER ensures that cybersecurity, energy security, and resilience priorities are embedded in early-stage research and development and in the deployment of clean energy systems. This includes supporting capacity building and planning with industry and the states and informing resilience investments in partnership with other DOE offices, including the Grid Deployment Office, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Office of Electricity.

The Grid Deployment Office (GDO) is responsible for accelerating deployment efforts to modernize, strengthen, and transform the nation’s electricity  infrastructure so consumers have access to resilient, secure, and clean sources of electricity. The GDO oversees a muti-billion dollar portfolio in deployment, regulatory, and operational activities, to support upgrading and expanding the nation’s transmission grid, increasing the resilience of distribution grids and accelerating the transition to a smart grid, and maintaining existing clean energy generation by retaining the civilian nuclear fleet and upgrading hydroelectric facilities. The GDO works in close collaboration with all parts of the Office of the Under Secretary for Science and Innovation research and development offices to integrate advances in grid and clean energy technologies. GDO programs and funding are critical to catalyzing the nationwide development of new and upgraded high-capacity electric transmission lines that are necessary to reach President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a zero emissions economy by 2050. GDO engages with state, tribal, utilities, and grid operator partners to enable the successful transformation of grid modernization.

The Office of Federal Energy Management Programs (FEMP) helps federal agencies meet their ambitious 2035 and 2050 carbon reduction and other sustainability goals by accelerating energy and water conservation projects, charting pathways for deep retrofit, electrification, and decarbonization approaches, and improving energy resilience. Federal agencies have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to lead by example, both in sharing practices and approaches that state, local and private sector actors can adopt and by demonstrating and deploying technologies at scale to drive market transformation.  FEMP builds federal agencies’ capacity to meet those goals by supplying agencies with the information, tools, and assistance they need to meet and track their energy-related requirements and goals, and by administering the Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT) Grant Program.

The Federal Energy Management Program is an existing program under the Office of Energy and Renewable Energy. This program is being moved into the new Office of Federal Energy Management Programs as part of a phased approach to the DOE organizational realignment announced on February 9 ensuring the Department has the structure needed to effectively implement clean energy investments.

The Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (IE) mission is to maximize the development and deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives. IE works within DOE, across government agencies, and with Indian tribes and organizations to promote Indian energy policies and initiatives. IE performs these functions in support of the federal government's trust responsibility, tribal self-determination policy, and government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes.  IE delivers programs that promote Indian tribal energy development, efficiency, and use; reduce or stabilize Indian tribal energy costs; strengthen Indian tribal energy infrastructure and electrify Indian land, housing, and businesses; and bring energy to many of the households on tribal lands without it today.

The Loan Programs Office (LPO) functions as the ‘tip of the spear’ for commercial-scale technology deployment at DOE. LPO has over $40 billion in loan authorities, has been receiving $7-8 billion in applications each month since May 2021, and has received interest from hundreds of companies working to enable the U.S. energy transition. LPO’s current portfolio of more than $35 billion continues to perform well and will grow as new projects are underwritten – with a track record of transforming existing energy infrastructure, reviving nuclear construction, scaling utility-scale solar and wind, and expanding domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles. Through its loan authorities, LPO acts as a ‘Bridge-to-Bankability,’ bridging gaps in the private debt markets for new clean energy technologies along the last mile to full-scale commercialization. LPO financing is geared towards creating irreversible momentum towards $100+ billion in capital formation for each technology and sector where it receives applications – creating good, high paying jobs through an equitable energy transition.

The Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) is responsible for strengthening and securing manufacturing and energy supply chains needed to modernize the nation’s energy infrastructure and support a clean and equitable energy transition. MESC catalyzes the development of an energy sector industrial base through targeted investments that establish and secure domestic clean energy supply chains and manufacturing, and by engaging with private-sector companies, other Federal agencies, and key stakeholders to collect, analyze, respond to, and share data about energy supply chains to inform future decision making and investment. The office manages programs that develop clean domestic manufacturing and workforce capabilities, with an emphasis on opportunities for small and medium enterprises and communities in energy transition. MESC coordinates closely with the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations for the management of major demonstration projects, and across all of DOE’s programs on manufacturing and supply chain issues, including with the Advanced Manufacturing Office in EERE.

The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is responsible for significantly accelerating --  in partnership with state, tribal, local, and other organizations -- the deployment of clean energy technologies and practices, the improvement of the nation’s energy infrastructure, and an equitable clean energy transition. SCEP manages BIL and annually appropriated funding to support state and community energy infrastructure improvements, energy planning, workforce training and development, low income weatherization, and related efforts.  The office supports key relationships with the state and local governments and community-based stakeholders, enabling strategic investments in clean energy technologies. SCEP serves as the primary gateway into DOE for states, tribes, and communities interested in greater energy affordability, security and resilience, and connects these important stakeholders to other programs, funding, and technical assistance opportunities across the U.S. Department of Energy.

Leadership

Bonneville Power Administration delivers reliable, affordable, and carbon-free electricity from the federal hydropower system in the Pacific Northwest, Columbia Generating Station, and several small nonfederal carbon-free power plants. BPA markets nearly 40 percent of the electric power in the Pacific Northwest, and operates, maintains, and sells over 75 percent of the transmission on an open access basis. In addition to power and transmission, BPA promotes energy efficiency and funds regional efforts to mitigate the impacts of the federal dams on the region's fish and wildlife. As a self-funding nonprofit, BPA covers its costs by selling its products and services.

Leadership

John Hairston, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer

The Southeastern Power Administration markets and delivers 3,365 megawatts of carbon free Federal hydroelectric power from 22 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owned facilities at the lowest possible cost to 473 public bodies and cooperatives in 11 States, from Illinois to Florida and Mississippi to Virginia, in a professional, innovative, customer-oriented manner, while continuing to meet the challenges of an ever-changing electric utility environment.

Leadership

The Southwestern Power Administration markets and delivers Federal hydroelectric power from 24 Corps multipurpose projects to preference customers in a six-state area and participates with other water resource users in an effort to balance diverse interests with power needs. To deliver power to its customers, Southwestern maintains 1,380 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, 26 substations / switchyards, and 51 microwave and VHF radio sites.

Leadership

Western Area Power Administration works to secure a resilient energy future and empower the communities that serve 40 million Americans in 15 states by safely providing reliable, cost-based hydropower and transmission to around 700 customers. In 2020, WAPA marketed more than 21,900 gigawatt hours of power from 57 federal hydropower plants operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers and the International Boundary and Water Commission and transmitted this clean, renewable energy over its more than 17,000-circuit-mile system.

Leadership

Tracey LeBeau​, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer