U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm announced on June 27 that the newly allocated funding will extend the coverage of the Weatherization Assistance Program, benefiting additional low-income households and generating clean energy jobs. Granholm, head of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), said the $25 million was for the Enhancement & Innovation (E&I) competitive grant program.
“Today’s funding will expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program to invest in more low-income households and create clean energy jobs,” Granholm said, according to a press release issued on June 27.
On June 27, the DOE announced the launch of the Enhancement & Innovation (E&I) grant program, which offers a $25 million fund to facilitate the clean energy transition through demonstration projects, to which applications are open, according to the release. The program aims to enhance the quality of low-income homes, making them more secure and comfortable, while also serving as a platform to explore innovative weatherization techniques and technology. These projects will showcase best practices that have the potential to be replicated and adopted in other weatherization initiatives.
“The Enhancement and Innovation grants help support ambitious projects customized for local community needs: creating net-zero energy neighborhoods through community solar panels, addressing structural repairs necessary to complete weatherization, even establishing a workforce training program for the next generation of clean energy professionals—the sky’s the limit,” Granholm said, according to the DOE press release.
According to the press release by DOE, the Enhancement & Innovation (E&I) grant program, funded with a portion of the $3.5 billion allocated for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to implement government-wide strategies and showcase demonstration projects that leverage the advantages of a clean energy transition. With a focus on addressing the climate crisis, promoting worker empowerment and advancing environmental justice, these projects seek to optimize the benefits of clean energy while curbing emissions.
The DOE plans to distribute multiple grants under the WAP, with each grant amount capped at $2 million, according to the press release. These grants are open to eligible entities such as current WAP grantees, WAP subgrantees and nonprofit organizations. The Office of State and Community Energy Programs within the DOE is responsible for managing and overseeing the implementation of these programs.
