WASHINGTON, D.C.— In support of President Biden’s "Investing in America" agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $26.9 million to nine states, 27 local governments and one tribe for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and managed by DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP).
Funds will be deployed to advance clean energy and infrastructure upgrades by state governments, local governments, and tribes to reduce energy use, curb fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. Together with other DOE initiatives, this program seeks to support communities in the nation’s clean energy transition and in meeting the goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.
“Energy efficient upgrades are a surefire way to bring down costs and shore up resiliency for communities across the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “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.”
This is the fifth tranche of formula awards granted to EECBG Program eligible entities since the initial awards were announced in October 2023. The program provides over $430 million in formula grant funding to more than 2,700 states, territories, local governments, and tribes. Entities have the option to choose activities from 14 eligible categories of clean energy projects and programs that fulfill their clean energy objectives.
The program also advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative by assisting eligible governments to direct 40% of overall benefits from EECBG Program-funded programs and to disadvantaged communities that are often energy-burdened or left behind in the clean energy transition.