Communities within 50 miles of the Great Lakes can apply for free technical assistance to become more energy resilient

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is currently accepting applications until July 10, 2024 for their annual Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP): Coastal, Remote, and Island Community Technical Assistance program. ETIPP offers communities within 50 miles of the Great Lakes free energy planning and technical assistance for specific energy projects. 

DOE's ETIPP works alongside coastal, remote, and island communities seeking to transform their energy systems and increase energy resilience. These communities have unique physical features that fundamentally shape what energy options are available. For many of these communities, access to resilient, affordable, sustainable, and clean energy resources is a priority. ETIPP helps communities to assess and advance the solutions that best meet their needs. 

In addition to supporting communities in their energy system transformation, ETIPP is also committed to the Justice40 Initiative. This government-wide initiative has a goal of delivering 40% of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments in climate and energy to disadvantaged communities, and it tracks performance toward that goal. Applications that demonstrate their project will directly benefit a disadvantaged community are strongly encouraged.

ETIPP offers energy planning for communities and technical assistance for specific energy projects. Communities with an existing and current energy plan or specific project may engage in in-depth technical assistance. Communities without an energy plan will engage in an energy planning process with ETIPP prior to embarking on technical assistance for specific energy projects.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria.

• The benefitting community must match at least one of these descriptions:
  • It is located on an island.
  • It is within 50 miles of a coastline (ocean or seacoast, or along the Great Lakes).
  • It is in Alaska and not serviced by the Railbelt grid utilities.
  • It is a federally recognized tribe in an ETIPP-supported region.
• The lead applicant is a local government (e.g., municipality, county, city, town), a Tribe or Tribal organization, a community-based organization (including nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations), a special purpose district (e.g., school district, water district, sewer district), an academic institution, a municipal utility, or an electric co-op.
• A group competing as one team may be selected, provided that the online account holder of the submission is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Individuals competing as part of a team may participate if they are legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Private entities that are part of an application must be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States.
• Academic institutions that are part of an application must be based in the United States.

Communities are required to consult with an ETIPP regional partner before applying. Please contact [email protected] to connect to the Great Lakes regional lead for the program.