Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)

Capacity-building planning grants for local governments. Washington will pass-through $2,046,501 in federal formula funding for the federal EECBG program to cities and counties ineligible for direct allocations from the federal Department of Energy.  In alignment with both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s (BIL) Justice 40 and Washington’s HEAL Act priorities, cities and counties demonstrating the highest levels of need as shown on the DOE’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJEST) will receive priority in scoring.  The primary objectives are:
  • advancing our state energy strategy, equity and policy goals, and expediting delivery of these funds to local governments; and
  • capacity-building for the smaller cities and counties that are not eligible for direct federal EECBG funding.

How to apply

  • Applications open on February 20, 2024 and close on April 1, 2024.

  • For RFA documents including full instructions, application materials and Q&A documents, please review the EECGB attachments (on Box).

Eligibility

Eligible applicants will be smaller cities, counties or tribal governments that did not qualify for direct EECBG allocations from the federal government. Three types of planning projects that are eligible for this program include:

  1. Communities that work with consultants to develop plans and strategies for energy efficiency and conservation including financing, purchasing, and installing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation and associated infrastructure
  2. Energy audits that are conducted on commercial and residential buildings
  3. Public education programs  developed to build public awareness and energy saving actions

Qualifications

  • Open to city or county governments that did not qualify for direct EECBG allocations.
  • Eligible applicant cities or counties will contain one or more census tracts designated as Disadvantaged using the DOE’s CEJEST tool. The planning project will include meaningful benefits for one or more of those communities.
  • Where these census tracts are also ranked highly impacted on Washington’s Environmental Health Disparities Map will be given additional priority.

Collaboration and partnership

  • Non-governmental entities such as non-profits, utilities or business associations can partner with the city or local government
    • Application must be submitted from a city, county or tribe
  • Allowable planning and development activities include:
    • Strategies to increase energy efficiency and conservation, reduce consumption, or increase community resilience
    • Identification of buildings and facilities that would benefit from retrofits
    • Programs to expand the use of renewable energy technologies
    • District energy distribution
    • Increasing community resilience

Considerations

  • Councils of government may apply on behalf of jurisdictions they represent
    • Pursue your jurisdiction’s own project or choose one of several step-by-step project plans
  • No match funding is required
  • Applications are competitive and must be submitted by a city, county or tribe
  • Scoring considerations are expected to include:
    • Projected environmental benefit
    • Anticipated impacts to disadvantaged and highly impacted communities within the jurisdiction
    • Extent of intended community engagement in the planning process

Tentative timeline

  • Request for Applications (RFA), full instructions published to EECGB attachments (on Box) by February 20, 2024
  • Applications open February 20, 2024
  • Pre-application Q&A webinar February 26, 2024
  • Applications due April 1, 2024
  • Contingent awards sent out the end of April 2024
  • Grant contracting begins second half of May 2024

Contact

For more information on this program, see the Commerce Energy page.

Contact Kristen Kalbrener with any questions at EnergyRetrofits@Commerce.wa.gov.