Energy projects across the nation are about to receive a $26.9 million boost from the Biden administration as part of the latest round of grants from a renewable energy program.
According to a May 1 press release from the Department of Energy, the funding consists of multiple grants that will go to nine states, 27 local governments, and one tribe.
All the funding is provided through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG), which aims to assist state, local, and tribal governments with initiatives to lower fossil fuel emissions and energy use.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said the EECBG grants will help lower power and transition costs for communities across the country.
“Energy efficient upgrades are a surefire way to bring down costs and shore up resiliency for communities across the nation,” she said.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is equipping local governments with funds to transform clean energy plans into real actions that deliver benefits in every corner of the country.”
The recent grants are the fifth batch to be awarded under the EECBG program since the initial awards were announced in October 2023. Overall, Ms. Granholm said, the EECBG will provide more than $430 million in formula grant funding to more than 2,700 entities, including states, territories, local governments, and tribes.
The grants cover 14 eligible categories of clean energy projects and programs, such as EV charging infrastructure, developing e-bike incentive programs, and conducting municipal building energy audits. Ms. Granholm said the program aims to help disadvantaged communities that are often energy-burdened or left behind in the clean energy transition.
The application deadline for eligible local governments, including Puerto Rican municipalities, has been extended to Oct. 31. The application deadline for tribes was extended to May 31, 2025.
In February, the Biden administration announced more than $350 million for rural renewable energy projects.
Ms. Granholm said at the time that the funding went to 17 projects in 20 states and 30 tribal nations.
Risk of Electricity Shortfalls
A report from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. has classed most of the country as at high or elevated risk of electricity capacity shortfalls over the next decade.According to the 2023 report, energy risks are projected in areas where the future resource mix could fail to deliver the necessary supply of electricity under energy-constrained conditions. The report says wind, solar, and other variable energy resource generators are dependent on the weather, and poor conditions could also restrict the delivery of traditional fuels.
“For example, subfreezing temperatures can create energy-limiting conditions by disrupting the natural gas fuel supplies to generators, leading to fuel-related derates or outages and potentially insufficient electricity supply,” the report said.
“Periods of low wind are another example of potentially energy-constrained conditions if the resource mix is not sufficiently balanced with dispatchable resources to prevent electricity shortfalls.”
