WASHINGTON, D.C. – In support of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is opening applications for the $27 million Energy Future Grants (EFG) program. Energy Future Grants will encourage local, tribal, and state governments to partner and build ideas that will benefit disadvantaged communities.

EFG will provide direct funding to support meaningful partnerships between jurisdictions who may also partner with community-based organizations, academia, utility companies and nonprofit organizations. With these funds, teams should address barriers preventing low income and disadvantaged communities from realizing the benefits of clean energy.

This first-of-its-kind program promotes ideas led by EFG teams of at least 3-4 governmental partners joining together to present solutions in and across the power, transportation, and building sectors.

“To champion an equitable clean energy future, we must work with communities to foster integrated clean energy solutions across the power, transportation and building sectors,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “These Energy Future Grants represent an opportunity to spearhead innovative projects through collaboration, creating clean energy solutions that are equitable, and scalable of clean energy strategies nationwide.”

This program, led by the DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs, anticipates making approximately 50 awards under this funding opportunity with each awardee team potentially receiving approximately $500,000 in federal funding. Applicants are required to submit a Community Benefits Plan (CBP) outlining how the project will achieve four goals: (1) support community and labor engagement, (2) invest in the American workforce, (3) promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), and (4) contribute to the President’s goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities (the Justice40 Initiative).

To support program success, two webinars are scheduled, a general overview on July 27 at 2:00 p.m. ET and a tribal government focused webinar on August 3 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Applications are due September 30, 2023, at 5 p.m. ET. Visit the Energy Future Grants webpage to stay up to date on program announcements. No registration is needed to attend the webinars; links can be found here: July 27 webinar here and the August 3 webinar here.

Through the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, the Department of Energy is overseeing the administration of these funding programs while ensuring that nonprofits, industry leaders, and states are prepared to deliver the energy efficiency projects needed to decarbonize buildings. For more information, visit the Energy Future Grants webpage.