Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) Round 2 Opportunity

The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program was established in 2023 to expand the decision-making capacity and expertise of state and local governments around large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting. Through funding, technical assistance (TA), and peer-to-peer information sharing, R-STEP supports the development or expansion of state initiatives that serve as a resource to their local communities. Selections from Round 1 of R-STEP were announced in March 2024 and include six different collaboratives working in seven states.

The R-STEP program is managed by ENERGYWERX in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative Partnership Intermediary Agreement set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Transitions. This agreement enables ENERGYWERX to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of clean energy solutions. ENERGYWERX is facilitating this opportunity to identify performers for Round 2 of R-STEP.

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Through this R-STEP Opportunity, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is requesting applications from state-based collaboratives aiming to increase state and local capacity for large-scale renewable energy planning and siting. R-STEP will also serve as a platform for Collaboratives to share learnings and best practices with other stakeholders.

A single application should be submitted by a team of organizations interested in working together to form a collaborative. DOE highly encourages state energy offices (or equivalent state agencies) and university extension offices to lead or participate in applications but recognizes that the organizations best suited to perform these activities will vary from state to state. Applicants are encouraged to team with other organizations including, but not limited to: Tribal governments, universities, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. DOE also recommends that teams include organizations familiar with the needs of local communities in the state. They should have experience providing educational or technical assistance services to local communities and have technical expertise on renewable energy siting topics (e.g., environmental impacts, tax policies, land use, zoning ordinance development). 

Applications should:

1. Focus on plans to establish or expand a state-level initiative that improves decision-making by state, local, and/or Tribal governments on large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting;
2. Prioritize equitable and inclusive community engagement both to identify local needs and disseminate technical resources; and
3. Be submitted by cross-disciplinary collaboratives with experience engaging local communities and technical expertise on siting issues.

Applicants can request up to $2 million to execute proposed activities over the course of up to 3 years (36 months).

Applications should primarily focus on activities that expand the planning and evaluation capacity of state and local decision makers regarding the siting of large-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage infrastructure. Where there is appreciable need within a state, proposals may include activities related to other clean energy technologies, such as geothermal power, agrivoltaics, offshore wind, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Applicants must provide sufficient detail and reasoning to justify the technologies included in the scope of activities. In addition, applicants are encouraged to consider whether and how software tools, including those that utilize machine learning (ML) or similar technology, could improve the efficacy, speed, and/or environmental justice outcomes of renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting.

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DOE may request to virtually meet with applicants during submission review

How to Participate

1. Review details on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and how to apply: Click Here to Download
2. Participate in the Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session on May 2nd, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 PM ET: Click Here to RSVP
3. Participate in the informational Office Hours session on May 22nd, 2024 from 3:00-4:00 PM ET: Click Here to RSVP
4. Download Project Narrative Template: Click Here to Download
5. Complete Submission Form and Upload Project Narrative: Click Here to Submit (Submissions are due NLT June 13th, 2024 by 5:00 PM ET)

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For more detailed information on this opportunity from DOE: Click Here to Read More

Informational Webinar/Objective Strategic Session (IW/OSS) [May 2nd, 2024]: DOE will provide further details about the R-STEP Round 2 opportunity. Potential performers have the opportunity to better understand the scope, scale, and intent of the opportunity and ask questions of the Government Stakeholders. The optional, virtual IW/OSS will take place on May 2nd, 2024 from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET. Click Here to Register

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Informational Office Hours [May 22nd, 2024]: Interested applicants have the opportunity to ask additional questions of DOE on May 22, 2024, from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET. Click Here to Register

Submission Window: April 17, 2024 - June 13, 2024 (5:00 PM ET)

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PHASE 1: InformationalWebinar/Objective Strategic Session (IW/OSS) [May 2nd, 2024]: DOE will provide further details about the R-STEP Round 2 opportunity. Potential performers have the opportunity to better understand the scope, scale, and intent of the opportunity and ask questions. The optional, virtual IW/OSS will take place on May 2nd, 2024 at 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET. Click Here to Register

PHASE 2: Project Applications Open [April 17th, 2024 – June 13th, 2024 (5:00 PM ET)]: Interested Collaboratives are to submit one (1) application for DOE review. Additional information on what will be required for submission can be found here.

PHASE 2A: Teaming Partners: To facilitate the formation of collaboratives, R-STEP is establishing an online Teaming Partner List where organizations can express interest in partnering with others and share contact information.If you are interested in being added to the teaming partner list and having your information shared with others, please click here to complete this form NLT June 13th, 2024. This teaming partner list includes individuals that expressed interest for Round 1 of R-STEP and will be updated with new individuals that submit information under Round 2.
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By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of its contact information. By enabling and publishing the Teaming Partner List, EERE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. EERE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

To access the list of teaming partners, please click here and use the password: TEAMING.
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PHASE 2B: Informational Office Hours [May 22nd, 2024]: Interested applicants have the opportunity to ask additional questions of DOE on May 22, 2024, from 3:00 – 4:00PM ET. Click Here to Register

PHASE 3: Government Review and Selection: DOE will select respondents/submissions with the highest likelihood of satisfying their needs. Selection criteria can be found here. DOE may request to virtually meet with applicants during submission review.

PHASE 4 – Path Forward [Anticipated Fall 2024]: Over the Period of Performance (not to exceed 3 years), DOE seeks regular (once per quarter) check-ins with selected organizations to receive progress updates, address questions, or provide feedback as appropriate. Additionally, during this time, DOE will also consider and evaluate requests for additional technical assistance. Applicants may also be asked to participate in webinars, workshops, or other state-to-state information sharing sessions. The intent is for selectees to receive a formal Business-to-Business (B2B) Research and Development Agreement (RDA) and Statement of Effort (SOE) as a sub-award (15U.S. Code, Section 3715) from ENERGYWERX. However, after potential discussions with DOE, successfully negotiated awards may fall under (but are not limited to) alternate mechanism of awards/interactions with any combination of these categories:

• Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (15 U.S. Code, Section 3710a)
• OTA for research or prototype projects (10 U.S. Code Sections 4021, 4022)
• An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 4022 may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award even if all successful prototype criteria are not fully met during the prototype project
• Procurement for experimental purposes (10 U.S. Code Section 4023)
• Prizes for advanced technology achievements (10 U. S. Code Section 4025) and/or prize competitions (15 U.S. Code 3719)
• FAR-based procurement contract

PHASE 4A – Technical Assistance Provider Assessment Effort: Collaboratives selected to receive funding from R-STEP will also be eligible to receive technical assistance from experts in the field. Technical assistance providers will be identified through an assessment even to be conducted in 2024.

• Entities interested in providing technical assistance to R-STEP awardees should Click here to sign up to receive additional information

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Complete the Submission Form & upload completed Project Narrative: Click Here to Submit (Submissions are due NLT June 13, 2024 by 5:00 PM ET)

If you have any questions, please contact ENERGYWERX: info@energywerx.org

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