The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is issuing, on behalf of the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Awards made under this FOA will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act1, also more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, which will grow a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy through enhancing U.S. competitiveness, driving the creation of quality jobs, and ensuring stronger access to economic, environmental, and other benefits for disadvantaged communities (DACs). The BIL appropriates more than $62 billion to the Department of Energy (DOE)2 to invest in American manufacturing and workers; expand access to energy efficiency; deliver reliable, clean and affordable power to more Americans; and deploy the technologies of tomorrow through clean energy demonstrations.
As part of and in addition to upgrading and modernizing infrastructure, DOE’s BIL investments will address the climate crisis and support efforts to build a clean and equitable energy economy that achieves zero carbon electricity by 2035, and put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero emissions economy-wide by no later than 2050 to benefit all Americans.
This FOA supports the administration goals laid out above by supporting the development of workforce programs and partnerships that will facilitate the continued deployment of solar energy technologies, while supporting an inclusive workforce with opportunities for career advancement, including through union membership.
This FOA will support multi-stakeholder high-road workforce development partnerships that help accelerate the deployment of solar energy while advancing the Administration’s priorities around worker empowerment, quality jobs with a free and fair choice for workers to join a union, and Energy and Environmental Justice (EJ) and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the clean energy workforce.
Deadlines:
- Required Letter of Intent: Sep. 13, 2022
- Required Concept Paper: Sep, 20, 2022
- Full Applications: Dec. 6, 2022