DOE Announces Technical Assistance Program to Support Recovery Act Projects
July 15, 2010
The Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the launch of a technical assistance program that will support projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through DOE's State Energy Program (SEP) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). Funded with up to $25 million under the Recovery Act, the program will provide states, cities, and tribes with the tools and resources they need to implement successful and sustainable renewable energy projects, such as wind farms and solar systems, and deploy cost-effective, clean, and reliable energy-saving technologies in buildings and infrastructure nationwide. The Technical Assistance Program (TAP)—which is jointly-funded with EECBG and SEP Recovery Act funds—will accelerate project execution, improve program performance, and increase the return on Recovery Act investments. This effort is another way that the Department is creating green jobs, making homes and businesses more energy efficient, and installing renewable energy systems across America.
TAP offers a wide range of resources including one-on-one assistance, an extensive online resource library, and a peer-exchange forum for best practices and lessons learned to serve the needs of EECBG and SEP grant recipients. The online Solution Center will provide access to the latest information on best practices, case studies, online trainings and Webcasts, an interactive SEP and EECBG project map, and an events calendar. The Solution Center will also house the TAP Blog—a platform that allows grantees to connect with technical and program experts to help them implement these state, local, and tribal projects.
Through the TAP program, SEP and EECBG grantees and sub-grantees are also eligible to receive free direct assistance from a diverse network of over 200 technical experts including representatives from DOE's national laboratories, non-profits, stakeholder organizations, and for-profit consulting firms.
These technical assistance providers can provide short-term, unbiased expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, state and local capacity building, financing, performance contracting, and program design and implementation strategies. In addition to providing one-on-one assistance, providers are available to work with grantees at no cost to facilitate peer-to-peer matching, workshops, and trainings.
Requests for direct assistance can be submitted online via the Technical Assistance Center or by calling 1-877-EERE-TAP (1-877-337-3827). Once a request has been submitted it will be evaluated to determine the level and type of assistance TAP will provide.
For more information, visit The Solution Center or contact the TAP Team at 1-877-EERE-TAP (1-877-337-3827) or solutioncenter@ee.doe.gov.
