US Department of Energy BIL/IIJA Implementation
ACEC National Resource for Members
See Major DOE office links in the attachment for more on the initiatives, goals, objectives, and strategies as they develop in the new programs. Some DOE offices offer newsletters to alert subscribers to these RFIs, NOIs, program developments, and funding opportunities.
Courtesy of ACEC National, this is a general overview of useful IIJA DOE provisions for our members, including links to key DOE implementation sites. All this information is also included on ACEC’s IIJA resource center (ACEC IIJA Resources). As new information is released, regular updates are provided through the ACEC National Water Energy and Environment Committee Updates. Click here to join the ACEC National WEE committee to receive WEE Updates and DOE updates will be sent directly to you as significant announcements are made.
While funding for the transportation and water components of IIJA are starting to flow under existing state formulae programs as expected, only 11 percent of the $62 billion of DOE spending authorized under IIJA energy funds will flow under state formula programs, existing and new. DOE funds are comparatively slower in distribution.
Over the next five years, DOE will develop 60 new, and expand existing programs. The program additions and expansions require DOE to issue requests for information, develop and publish strategies, and follow-on with funding announcements. Most of the major programs are listed with brief descriptions below (see the attachment: “Major DOE BIL/IIJA Program Links”).
The funding generally covers manufacturing, energy efficiency (residential and communities), power (grid upgrades and resilience, nuclear and hydropower maintenance), and commercialization of technologies (demonstration and research hubs, hydrogen, carbon capture, advanced nuclear, and rural demonstrations).
The DOE BIL Homepage also includes a link to DOE BIL Frequently Asked Questions where short answers address:
- Timelines for distribution of funds; and
- Formulae funding delivery to the state and local level.
- Business and organizational engagement in DOE implementation.
- DOE engagement with other federal agencies e.g., the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation
- Tackling the climate challenge, Equity and Environmental Justice.
- The new Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
- Davis-Bacon Act; Build America, Buy America (BABA) Made in America.
- Supply chain challenges for energy technologies.
- Regional hydrogen hub funding (H2 Matchmaker).
- The Civil Nuclear Credit Program.
- Weather Assistance Program, WAP website.
- Grid upgrade funding through Building a Better Grid Initiative.
- Public school grants for energy efficiency.
- Hot topics points of contact:
- Davis Bacon Act and Build American Buy American [email protected]
- Clean Hydrogen Hubs [email protected]
- Solar projects [email protected]
- State and local matters [email protected]
- Civil Nuclear Credit Program Civil Nuclear Credit Program
- Information about batteries [email protected]
State, Local, Tribal Funding
State and local funding ($7.1B) will be delivered through formula grant funds to state, local, and tribal governments, as well as through competitive solicitations. Details on application requirements and instructions will become available as these various programs are developed. The best way to directly receive announcements is to sign up for notification subscriptions from the DOE.
DOE BIL/IIJA funding flows under state, local, and tribal formula grants include:
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants ($550 million)
- Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grants ($250 million)
- Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid Grants ($2.5 billion)
- State Energy Program ($500 million)
- Weatherization Assistance Program ($3.5 billion)
Major DOE office links are provided in the attachment. These links offer better understanding of the initiatives, goals, objectives, and strategies as they develop in the new programs. Some offices offer newsletters to alert subscribers to these RFIs, NOIs, program developments, and funding opportunities.
Any questions about DOE BIL/IIJA implementation? Contact ACEC's Lynn Schloesser