The Department of Energy (DOE) provides extensive opportunities for support to local governments, tribes, and states to reduce barriers to achieving their clean energy and energy efficiency goals and maximize project impact. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program
technical assistance (TA) is available via peer networks and cohort-based learning, expert assistance in problem solving, document templates, and more opportunities that help meet specific needs of individual communities.
Explore the options below to see which resources may be helpful to your team as you implement your project!
Get Technical Assistance Today!
Developing a strategy for best use of funds: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (EECS) Support
All EECBG Program grantees are required to submit an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (EECS) for approval by DOE. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in partnership with DOE, will help communities develop an EECS for their EECBG grant. This will include establishing goals and energy planning basics. TA is available to EECBG grantees for 10-20 hours or more upon request. To sign up email EECS_TA@nrel.gov.
Leveraging grant funds for maximum impact: Blueprints
Blueprints are informational resources to provide inspiration for how to wisely spend EECBG grant dollars. The blueprints provide guides to 13 project/program ideas, outline key steps grantees should take, and provide links to key tools and resources to accomplish the projects. Blueprint cohorts will meet regularly to answer questions and share stories.
More boots on the ground to manage the work: Community Energy Fellows
Community Energy Fellows are DOE-sponsored staff that will be based in select communities to help increase the capacity and impact of EECBG Program-funded projects. Fellows will be provided on a competitive basis.
For more information, see our Community Energy Fellows webpage.
What is Technical Assistance?
Technical assistance refers to support that EECBG recipients can receive from DOE beyond their grant allocation. Technical assistance may include:
- Technical analysis
- Financial analysis
- Training
- Program assistance
- Policy and planning assistance
- Capacity building
- Stakeholder engagement and coordination assistance
What's New?
The Blueprint Cohorts have launched!
- Sign up to join a Blueprint cohort by filling in this form or emailing us at technicalassistance@hq.doe.gov.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) training
- Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) Models Training: Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. ET Register here.
JEDI models are user-friendly tools that estimate the economic impacts of constructing and operating power generation and biofuel plants at the local and state levels. Using JEDI, you can analyze the energy impacts of wind, biofuels, concentrating solar power, geothermal, marine and hydrokinetic power, coal, and natural gas power plants.
Additional Technical Assistance Available to EECBG Grantees
The Department of Energy and partner Federal agencies offer several technical assistance programs that are specific to various clean energy technologies, policies or programs. If you’d like to participate in any of the following programs, the EECBG Technical Assistance team will connect you! Email us at TechnicalAssistance@hq.doe.gov.
Technical Assistance for Energy Efficiency and Building Codes Projects
Planning for Emissions Reduction from Buildings
Ready to commit to reducing 50% greenhouse gas emissions from your buildings in 10-15 years? Join the Better Climate Challenge! Join in with leading organizations from across the country who have committed to reducing their building portfolio's GHG emissions. Access a plethora of resources and direct support from DOE, NREL, and leaders from across sectors, and make progress around emissions reductions planning for portfolios of buildings. Join the Better Buildings Climate Challenge today!
Building Performance Standards
The Building Technologies Office works with the Lawrence Berkley National Lab to provide in-depth technical assistance to communities interested in pursuing a place-based building performance standard.
Sign up here: Building Performance Standards | Building Energy Codes Program
Building Energy Codes
The Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) offers a variety of technical assistance opportunities and resources designed to answer questions about building energy codes.
BECP's team of building energy codes experts are also available to answer specific questions submitted through the web-based Help Desk.
Energy Efficiency for Wastewater Infrastructure
Wastewater treatment facilities provide tremendous opportunities for energy efficiency. DOE’s Better Buildings Program is organizing another round of the Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure of the Future (SWIFt) Accelerator. This effort will support local governments with wastewater facilities to accelerate a pathway toward sustainable infrastructure. SWIFt Accelerator 2.0 provides customized technical assistance in four critical areas: energy data management, energy efficiency improvements, advanced technology integration, and project financing. Partners receive expert technical and financial training, one-on-one assistance, energy savings resources, data analysis tools, and peer networking opportunities. State, regional, and local agencies and facility partners are welcome to join us and help develop and share replicable solutions with the market. Join the SWIFT Accelerator today!
Solar Projects
Community Solar
The Solar Energy Technologies Office program provides a wide variety of support available for states, tribes and local governments.
Join the National Community Solar Partnership to tap into these resources:
- One-on-one or group session direct support.
- Connect with other Community Solar partners and join one of the many subject-focused, peer-led working groups.
- Attend member events like stakeholder gatherings, webinars, and more.
- Access the resource database for solar toolkits, research papers, and tools for analysis.
Streamline Solar Permitting
Local governments can take some easy steps that dramatically decrease the time to go solar in your community. First, check out a free solar permitting tool called SolarAPP+. SolarAPP+ can help local governments to process solar permits more efficiently. SolarAPP+ is a standardized plan review software that can run compliance checks and process building permit approvals for eligible rooftop solar systems, and is available for free!
Next, check out the SolSmart program. SolSmart is a DOE-sponsored technical assistance team that helps local governments and regional organizations accelerate the growth of clean, affordable solar energy in their jurisdictions. This technical assistance offering is free to local nonprofits and governments, with guidance to help them meet their specific solar goals.
After reviewing the program guide and submitting a Solar Statement, communities will receive hands-on technical assistance to implement their solar project. SolSmart also has an extensive Resource Library designed to help keep projects on track with templates, project guides, and more. Join SolSmart today.
Solar Interconnection
The Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) convenes diverse stakeholders involved in the interconnection of solar energy, wind energy, and energy storage resources to facilitate peer-learning and knowledge exchange and inspire new interconnection ideas and capabilities.
- This program has 4 components that help connect wind, solar, and energy storage projects through peer-learning and knowledge exchange:
- i2X Stakeholder Engagement Center
- Structured working groups bring together stakeholders across sectors and industries to identify barriers and best practices.
- Data Collection & Analysis
- Collect data for baseline information to help set metrics, track progress on projects, and analyze results.
- Interconnection Process Roadmap
- Use the roadmap to define clear timelines, costs, and to keep your project on track to meet your decarbonization goals.
- Interconnection Technical Assistance
- Stakeholders can receive direct support from interconnection experts to implement their projects and achieve their goals.
- i2X Stakeholder Engagement Center
Learn more about the Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X).
Electric Vehicles and Alternative Fuel
Clean Cities Coalition
Connect with the Clean Cities coalition in your area. Clean Cities is a DOE-funded program that supports alternative fuel vehicle deployment in communities nationwide.
Get in touch with an expert from the Clean Cities Coalition.
- Data & Information Resources
- Use data from FuelEconomy.gov and Alternative Fuels Data Center to calculate costs, assess project potential, and set project goals.
- Ask an Expert
- The Clean Cities Coalition’s Technical Response Service provide answers to questions about alternative fuels, fuel economy improvements, Clean Cities Coalition resources, and more. Contact the Technical Response service to get in touch with an expert.
- Toolkits, Tiger Teams, and More
- Idlebox
- Toolkit for projects tackling idle-reduction
- Workplace Charging Employer Workshop Toolkit
- Toolkit for employers providing workplace charging educational opportunities
- Technical Assistance from National Labs: Tiger Teams
- Get connected to direct support for problem-solving obstacles in your alternative fuel and advanced vehicle projects.
- Electric School Bus Education Webinars & Handouts
- Resources for communities looking to learn more about and invest in alternative fuel transportation for schools.
- Resources for communities looking to learn more about and invest in alternative fuel transportation for schools.
- Idlebox
More Technical Assistance Opportunities
Technical Assistance for Indian Tribes
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy provides federally recognized Indian tribes, including Alaska Native villages, tribal energy development organizations, and other organized tribal groups and communities, with technical assistance to advance tribal energy projects.
The Office of Indian Energy, DOE national laboratories, and other partnering organizations provide the technical assistance at no cost. For general information or inquiries, please contact the help desk.
Clean Energy to Communities Expert Match from NREL
Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) Expert Match through NREL provides cities, towns, and tribes in-depth, direct support on any topic related to clean energy. Expert Match is most suitable for communities that could benefit from assistance to inform time-sensitive decisions and identify and understand the range of options for achieving clean energy goals.
The Expert Match technical assistance timeframe is 40–60 hours over 1–2 months. Sign up for Clean Energy to Communities Expert Match.
EPA Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Centers
Environmental Protection Agency: The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with DOE, has selected 17 Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (EJ TCTACs) that will receive $177 million to help underserved and overburdened communities across the country.
Each of the technical assistance centers will remove barriers and improve accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns. The centers will provide training and other assistance to build capacity for navigating federal grant application systems, writing strong grant proposals, and effectively managing grant funding.
In addition, these centers will provide guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translation and interpretation services for limited English-speaking participants, thus removing barriers and improving accessibility for communities with environmental justice concerns.
Connect with your local TCTAC today!
Resources
State and Local Solution Center
The State and Local Solution Center is a resource hub for states, local governments, and K-12 school districts. The Solution Center highlights various technical assistance opportunities to help your organization reach its energy efficiency and renewable energy goals.
Workforce Development
Check out additional informational resources around energy efficiency and green building workforce development from DOE's Green Building Workforce Development Initiatives.
Public Sector Funding & Technical Assistance Programs
Here’s a list of relevant funding and technical assistance programs currently available to public sector entities from DOE.
Webinar Archive
Justice40 Webinar
This webinar provides EECBG applicants with tools and knowledge they need to implement Justice40 goals into their EECBG projects.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WEBINAR
This webinar describes how EECBG participants can access DOE technical assistance opportunities to maximize their EECBG dollars and reduce administrative burden.
Have Questions?
Reach out to TechnicalAssistance@hq.doe.gov to learn more about how to take advantage of Technical Assistance offerings from DOE.