DOE Announces Notice of Intent and Request for Information on the Transmission Facilitation Program
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Notice of Intent and Request for Information for input on the $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The TFP is a revolving fund program that will facilitate development of new interregional transmission lines, upgrade existing transmission lines, and assist with the connection of microgrids through federal support. There are three financing tools that DOE is authorized to borrow the $2.5 billion through: loans from DOE, DOE participation in public-private partnerships, and capacity contracts with eligible projects where DOE would serve as an anchor customer. Once this Request for Information has been added to the Federal registry, stakeholders will have 30 days to submit comments.
DOE Issues Notice of Intent for Section 40101 Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid Formula Grants to States and Indian Tribes
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for the $2.5 billion formula grants to states and tribes under the Section 40101 Grid Resilience Program as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. A DOE summary provides high level information. DOE is specifically seeking feedback on the formula grant program Notice of Intent, draft application and award requirements, and draft award formula allocation. The deadline to submit comments is June 2, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET. A public webinar will be held on May 5, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET to provide additional information. Registration required.
DOE Announces Request for Information on Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Information (RFI) for input on the $505 million Long Duration Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere Initiative created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The $505 million will be invested over four years to support long duration energy storage technologies and implement three demonstration programs. One of which, the pilot grant program, seeks to enable greater storage investment by State Energy Offices, Tribal Nations, and other eligible entities. The RFI specifically outlines the objectives of the pilot grant program, the requirements of potential projects, and questions that State Energy Offices and other entities interested in the program should consider. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on June 16, 2022.
Department of Energy Notice of Intent: Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released this Notice of Intent (No. DE-FOA-0002677) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement. DOE anticipates making $2.8 billion available to fund research and development within electric vehicle battery processing, increase domestic battery manufacturing, and create good-paying jobs. The upcoming FOA is expected to cover five areas of interest, found in the full announcement.
Department of Energy Notice of Intent: Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released this Notice of Intent (No. DE-FOA-0002679) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement. DOE anticipates making $60 million available to fund research, development, and demonstration projects in two areas. First, Recycling Processing and Reintegration into the Battery Supply Chain. Second, Second Use Battery Scale Up and Demonstration.
DOE Releases Request for Information (RFI) for Rare Earth Element Demonstration Facility
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) released a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain public input in support of a DOE plan to design, construct, and build-out a demonstration facility enabling domestic rare earth element (REE) and critical mineral (CM) supply chains for commercial commodities and national defense industries as well as for clean energy technologies. The RFI seeks to solicit feedback from industry members, investors, developers, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, potentially impacted communities, customers, and other stakeholders on a REE demonstration facility and its associated location(s) all while considering environmental justice, energy transition, Tribes, and other impacted communities. The deadline to respond to the RFI is March 31, 2022, at 8pm ET.
U.S. Department of Energy Notice of Intent (NOI) “Building a Better Grid”
The NOI describes pending program elements and associated funding for the various electric-grid provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
DOE Releases two Requests for Information on Hydrogen
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released two Requests for Information (RFI) regarding the implementation of the hydrogen provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
The first RFI on the Hydrogen Hubs Implementation Strategy seeks input on the solicitation process and structure of a DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to fund regional clean hydrogen hubs. Specifically, the RFI seeks information on the following items:
- Regional Clean Hydrogen Provisions and Requirements
- Solicitation Process, FOA Structure, and Implementation Strategy
- Equity, Environmental, and Energy Justice Priorities
- Market Adoption and Sustainability of the Hubs
Responses are due March 21, 2022 (extended deadline), by 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
The second RFI on Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling, and Electrolysis seeks input on priority areas that will advance domestic manufacturing and recycling of clean hydrogen technologies, including fuel cells, storage equipment, and other hydrogen related components; and on priority areas that will advance electrolyzer technologies for affordable clean hydrogen production. Responses to this RFI are due March 29, 2022, by 5pm EST.
To learn more about DOE’s clean hydrogen programs and the RFIs, please register for DOE’s next H2IQ Hour on February 24, 2022 at 12pm EST.
DOE Releases Notice of Intent and Request for Information on Civil Nuclear Credit Program
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established the Civil Nuclear Credit Program (CNC). The CNC will allow owners or operators of commercial U.S. reactors to apply for certification and competitively bid on credits to help support their continued operations. DOE’s Request for Information (RFI) and Notice of Intent (NOI) seeks input on the structure and execution of the CNC Program, including the certification process and eligibility criteria, invitations to submit bids for credits, and the allocation of credits. Responses to the NOI and RFI addressing general program design and bid process are due no later than 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on March 17, 2022. Substantive responses relating specifically to the certification process should be submitted to DOE by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time on March 8, 2022, to ensure that this feedback can be used to meet the Department's expedited schedule.