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Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants

Over $2.6 billion in formula grants are now available to Indian tribes, U.S. states, territories, and local governments under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. To see a list of Indian tribes eligible for formula grants and allocation amounts, click here. To obtain a copy of the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), which contains complete information for grantees on the Program and application process, go to FedConnect and search for Reference Number DE-FOA-0000013. For more information on how to obtain a copy of the FOA, see these instructions (MS Word 29 KB).

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The Program was authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, and signed into Public Law (PL 110-140) on December 19, 2007. The Program provides federal grants to Indian tribes, units of local government, states, and territories to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and for improvements in energy efficiency. The EECBG Program is administered by the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Tribal EECBG applications are now due by August 10, 2009.

See the following sections for more information:

Some of the documents listed on this page are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

Program Description

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program provides grants to Indian tribes, local governments, states, and U.S. territories to fund projects that reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and that improve energy efficiency.

The EECBG Program represents a Presidential priority to deploy the cheapest, cleanest, and fastest energy source — energy efficiency. EECBG was authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act, and signed into law on December 19, 2007. It is modeled after the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Purpose

Section 542 of Title V, Subtitle E of EISA (PL 110-140) describes the Program purpose as the following:

  • (b) PURPOSE — The purpose of the program shall be to assist eligible entities in implementing strategies
    1. to reduce fossil fuel emissions created as a result of activities within the jurisdictions of eligible entities in a manner that
      1. is environmentally sustainable; and
      2. to the maximum extent practicable, maximizes benefits for local and regional communities;
    2. to reduce the total energy use of the eligible entities; and
    3. to improve energy efficiency in
      1. the transportation sector;
      2. the building sector; and
      3. other appropriate sectors.

Additional purposes of the EECBG Program are to spur economic growth and create and/or retain jobs under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

For more on the EECBG Program, see www.eecbg.energy.gov.

Allocations

Congress appropriated $3.2 billion for the EECBG Program, most of which (nearly $2.7 billion) will be distributed through formula grants. The balance includes approximately $455 million for competitive grants, which will be awarded through a separate Funding Opportunity Announcement coming soon. Of the nearly $2.7 billion to be distributed through formula grants, more than $54 million is set aside for Indian tribes.

For tribal allocations, see www.eecbg.energy.gov/TribeAlloc.html.

Formula

The formula for tribal governments is based on two weighted factors: tribal population and the climatic conditions in each tribe's state, derived from heating and cooling degree days. The tribal population factor receives a weight of 75% and the tribal climate factor receives a weight of 25%. The formula is calculated using data from the 2000 U.S. Decennial Census, as adjusted for birth and death rates provided by the National Center of Health Statistics used by the Indian Health Service, and heating and cooling degree day data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

A detailed description of the formula and methodology will be published in the Federal Register.

Eligibility

Indian tribes eligible for direct formula grants from DOE are those in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b), which is any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688; 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

The tribal allocation for the EECBG Program will be distributed among the 562 federally recognized Indian tribes, listed in Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, published by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Federal Register on April 4, 2008, 73 FR 18553; and the 12 Alaska Native regional corporations established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (33 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.).

Use of Funds

These funds are to assist tribal governments in implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, total energy use, and improve energy efficiency in all sectors.

Funds can be used community wide, not only for government owned facilities and infrastructure. A list of eligible activities for use of Program funds is provided in Section 544, Title V, Subtitle E of EISA. Additional details on eligible activities are included in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. To obtain a copy of the Funding Opportunity Announcement, go to FedConnect and search for Reference Number DE-FOA-0000013.

The following activities are eligible:

  • Development of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy and technical consultant services to assist in the development of such a strategy
  • Residential and commercial building energy audits
  • Financial incentive programs and mechanisms for energy efficiency improvements such as energy savings performance contracting, on-bill financing, and revolving loan funds
  • Grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing energy efficiency retrofits
  • Energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities
  • Development and implementation of transportation programs to conserve energy
  • Building codes and inspections to promote building energy efficiency
  • Energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency, including distributed resources, combined heat and power, and district heating and cooling systems
  • Material conservation programs including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency
  • Reduction and capture of methane and greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar waste-related sources
  • Energy efficient traffic signals and street lighting
  • Renewable energy technologies on government buildings
  • Any other appropriate activity that meets the purposes of the Program and is approved by DOE.

Energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy programs and projects are building blocks for increased economic vitality, energy security, and environmental quality. EECBG Program funds will have maximum impact if invested in ways that create and/or retain jobs and stimulate the economy in the short term while laying the foundation for a long-term and sustainable clean energy economy. DOE encourages grantees to prioritize programs and projects that:

  • Leverage other public and private resources
  • Enhance workforce development
  • Persist beyond the funding period
  • Promote energy market transformation such as revolving loans, low-cost loans, energy savings performance contracting, advanced building codes, building and home retrofit incentives and policies, and transportation programs and policies.

How to Apply

  1. In order to do business with the federal government, a three-step registration process is required of all applicants. Please allow 21 days to complete the registration process.

  2. For complete application instructions and program information, a copy of the Funding Opportunity Announcement can be obtained from FedConnect by searching under Reference Number DE-FOA-0000013. Applications must be submitted through FedConnect. If you have problems, e-mail support@fedconnect.net.

    FedConnect is an online marketplace where federal agencies post opportunities and make awards via the Web. For more information about FedConnect, download and read FedConnect: Ready, Set, Go! (PDF 1.4 MB).

  3. Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to www.grants.gov, select "Apply for Grants," and then select "Download Application Package." Enter the CFDA number or the funding opportunity number located on the cover of the Funding Opportunity Announcement, and then follow the prompts to save the application package. To learn more about the application process, please see Part IV of the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

    For more instructions, see Doing Business with the Federal Government: The Block Grant Program (PDF 57 KB).

More Information

More information, including frequently asked questions and answers, can be found on EERE's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program Web site.

For general questions regarding the EECBG Program, please contact the EERE Information Center:

Updates can be obtained by subscribing to EERE's Progress Alerts: www.eere.energy.gov/news/subscribe.cfm.

The Funding Opportunity Announcement contains complete information for grantees on the Program and application process — go to FedConnect and search for Reference Number DE-FOA-0000013.

If, after reviewing the FOA, you still have questions about eligibility requirements, the technical content of your application, or other items, you must submit those through the FedConnect portal. To submit a question or view responses to questions submitted by other people, you must first register with FedConnect as an interested party. It is recommended that you register as soon as possible after release of the FOA to have the benefit of seeing all responses. More information about FedConnect is available at www.compusearch.com/products/fedconnect/fedconnect.asp.

While the FedConnect portal is the preferred method of communication, specific questions relating to the application and award process may be e-mailed to eecbg@netl.doe.gov.