The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) today announced up to $2.7 million in federal funding available to help local communities across the country create a roadmap toward repurposing existing energy assets, with expanded eligibility for participants. This announcement builds on the Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets initiative that was first launched in August 2023 to assist communities where a significant portion of their local economy has historically been supported by energy assets, such as coal, oil, and/or natural gas power facilities and accompanying equipment and infrastructure.
The initiative will help communities build technical capacity and develop a workforce necessary to help revitalize energy systems, address environmental impacts, and tackle challenges associated with energy assets that have been retired, or are slated for retirement (2009-2033). This effort advances FECM’s mission of minimizing environmental and climate impacts of energy systems and industrial processes while working to achieve net-zero emissions across our economy. It also supports the broader DOE mission of ensuring efficient transformation of the energy system while prioritizing labor and community engagement.
The re-issuance of this initiative expands the eligibility for communities to partner with eligible entities that include:
This effort seeks to support performers (e.g., municipal governments, community-based NGOs) in capacity building and workforce development planning in communities that host existing energy assets that have retired, or are slated for retirement, and that comprise or comprised a significant portion of local activities (e.g., jobs, tax revenue, and related considerations).
In particular, the objective of this effort is to directly support an embedded work stream supported by a staffer whose primary responsibility is coordination and planning, with a particular emphasis on workforce development oriented around productively and sustainably repurposing such assets, their sites and associated infrastructure.
This effort advances FECM’s mission of minimizing environmental and climate impacts of fossil fuels and industrial processes while working to achieve net-zero emissions across our economy and the broader DOE mission of ensuring efficient transformation of the energy system while prioritizing labor and community engagement.
Community-based government or nongovernmental organizations (e.g., municipal governments; nonprofit organizations dedicated to community development, especially related to energy and economic transition) will dedicate a staff member whose primary responsibility is coordination and planning the productive and sustainable repurposing of an existing energy asset(s), especially emphasizing workforce development.
How to Participate
DOE Invests $800,000 for Workforce Development Opportunities in Energy Communities Across the Unites States: Eight local government and non-profit organizations will receive funding and technical assistance toward repurposing existing energy facilities, equipment, and infrastructure - Click Here to Read More
Pre-Recorded Session: February 9, 2024
Office Hours (April 11, 2024 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET): ENERGYWERX and the U.S. Department of Energy will host open office hours for potential applicants. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to ask questions.
Phase 1 – Submissions Open [February 22, 2024 to April 18, 2024]: Interested respondents must complete a submission form (for Government review only) no later than April 18, 2024, 3:00 PM ET. Submitters must download, complete, and upload a Capabilities Overview (maximum of 3 pages). The list of criteria is listed on the Capabilities Overview Template, found at the bottom of this webpage.
Phase 2 – Government Review and Downselect [April 18, 2024 to May 31, 2024]: DOE will downselect respondents/submissions with the highest likelihood of satisfying their needs. All respondents will receive a selection or non-selection notification o/a May 31, 2024.
Phase 3 – Path Forward [June 2024 to March 2025]: Subsequently, selectees will participate in a discussion with DOE SMEs to learn more about the scope of work determined by the Government. The intent is for selectees to receive a formal Business-to-Business (B2B) Research and Development Agreement (RDA) andStatement of Effort (SOE) as a sub-award (15 U.S. Code, Section 3715) from ENERGYWERX. However, after discussions with the Government, successfully negotiated awards may fall under (but are not limited to) alternate mechanism of awards/interactions with any combination of these categories:
Phase 4 – Effort Underway [August 22, December 12, 2024 and January 30, 2025]: Throughout the work, DOE seeks that selected organizations work closely with the DOE team, including attending and participating in three interactive sessions as a commitment to knowledge sharing and learning with other selected performers. The participants should be able to articulate and share knowledge with other organizations facing similar challenges who are also working on completion of this work stream. This would be a highly collaborative, fast-paced engagement model. Materials would be created in partnership and conversation with DOE stakeholders – with additional research and analysis supplementing where needed. The goal would be to produce as much useful content in time for key DOE decision points as possible with the option to finalize work products after that date. In addition, DOE encourages (as needed) check-ins via email, when possible (info@energywerx.org), to provide feedback & guidance and share learnings and insights.
Deep technical subject matter expertise is not required as background; however, some familiarity with relevant technologies and industries will be helpful. The selected performer will need the work at a fast pace, quickly synthesize information, write in a clear and concise manner (with detailed footnotes and source tracking where appropriate), and to find supplementary information as needed (e.g., existing market landscape, relevant manufacturing announcements, pricing/cost data, supply/demand projections).
Complete the Submission Form & Upload Completed Template: Click Here to Submit
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact ENERGYWERX: info@energywerx.org
Office Hours (April 11, 2024 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET): ENERGYWERX and the U.S. Department of Energy will host open office hours for potential applicants. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to ask questions.
Complete the Submission Form & Upload Completed Template: Click Here to Submit (Submissions are due NLT April 18, 2024 at 3:00 PM ET)