WASHINGTON, D.C.-As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, a key pillar of Bidenomics, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs today awarded $30 million in clean energy funding through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program to 28 state, local, and Tribal governments. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE awarded $21.87 million in formula grant funding to eight states and eight local governments and selected 12 recipients for $8.8 million in competitive grant funding. Funds will be deployed to improve energy efficiency and advance crucial clean energy and infrastructure upgrades in public and private spaces, including hospitals, homes, manufactured housing parks, and government buildings. This program milestone was announced today by U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm in Chicago, IL at Mercy Housing – Englewood Community Apartments.
“Our local governments are at the forefront of our clean energy revolution and are critical touchpoints with our nation’s communities creating clean, healthy and affordable communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With historic funding thanks to President Biden’s clean energy laws, more Americans will receive upgrades to their homes through residential energy efficiency rebates, expanded weatherization efforts, and electrification programs that will save them energy and increase their comfort. This funding will also invest in improving public spaces, giving more Americans across the country access to energy efficient technologies and clean energy infrastructure in their communities such as heat pumps, LED lights, solar energy, and EV charging stations.”
The eight states, four counties, and four cities announced today are the first of over 2,700 states, territories, local governments, and Tribes from every region of the country that are eligible to receive a portion of the more than $430 million in formula grant funding available through the EECBG Program. EECBG Program funding will help meet the unique energy needs in communities that serve more than 250 million Americans. All states will subgrant at least 60% of their funds to local governments that were ineligible for formula funds. Formula grants will be awarded on a rolling basis as DOE receives complete applications.