Through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Biden-Harris Administration has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on a new $1 billion program to improve energy generation in rural or remote communities across the country. This funding comes from the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program passed via President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, which manages the ERA program, is tasked with identifying innovative solutions to make energy systems in rural or remote communities more resilient to climate change while supporting new economic opportunities and creating high-quality jobs.
The RFI seeks input on the types of energy demonstration projects, programmatic design considerations, equity, environmental and energy justice, and transfer of knowledge gained through ERA demonstrations to ensure that the projects selected are scalable and replicable. Public input is welcome from cooperatives, utilities, energy project developers, community organizations, and environmental justice organizations.
Feedback to this RFI can be submitted to ERA@hq.doe.gov until November 28, 2022, at noon EST.
Before the RFI window closes, DOE will host a series of in-person and virtual workshops for communities and interested stakeholders to learn more, ask questions and discuss the types of projects that can improve their energy systems as they prepare to respond to the RFI.
Virtual:
DOE will host a virtual workshop from November 1-2, 2022 for communities and interested stakeholders to learn more, ask questions and discuss the types of projects that can improve their energy systems as they prepare to respond to the RFI.
