SLOPE Training

Monday, Oct. 3, 12 p.m. ET. Register here.

​​​​​​​The SLOPE tool provides data on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation at the state and local level. It can answer key energy planning questions such as “How can various energy strategies help my community achieve its energy or decarbonization goals?”

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.

• The application for the EECBG Formula Grant Program is now live. See the EECBG Program Formula Grant Application Hub for more information.
• More information about voucher applications has been released! See the EECBG Program Formula Grant Application Hub for the Voucher Handbook and Voucher Application Templates. 
• 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. See the Pre-Award Information Sheet here, and submit to EECBG@hq.doe.gov.
• State and territory applications due to DOE ASAP.
• Local government and tribal full applications are due by January 31, 2024.

eecbg@hq.doe.gov

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.

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 

• Introduction to the EECBG Program for states and territories webinar recording. 
• Introduction to the EECBG Program for states and territories webinar presentation slides.

Local Governments

• Introduction to the EECBG Program for local governments webinar recording.
• Introduction to the EECBG Program for local governments webinar presentation slides.

Tribal Governments 

• Introduction to the EECBG Program for tribal governments webinar recording.
• Introduction to the EECBG Program for tribal governments webinar presentation slides.

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.

• Watch the grant application webinar recording.
• Read through the webinar presentation slides. 

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. 

• Watch the voucher option webinar recording.
• Read through the voucher option webinar presentation slides.

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.

• Watch the technical assistance webinar recording. 
• EECBG Program technical assistance webinar presentation slides. 

Justice40

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

• Watch the Justice40 webinar recording.
• View the EECBG Justice40 presentation slides.
   

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.