Notice2022-27901
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) regarding Preparing Workers and Businesses To Deliver Energy Efficiency and Residential Building Electrification Measures
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 22, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) invites public input for its Request for Information (RFI) number DE-FOA-0002885 regarding the solicitation process and structure of future DOE Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) to fund the Energy Auditor and Career Skills Training (EAT and CST) grant programs, in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This RFI also seeks public input on the State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training program (Contractor Training Program), as set forth in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The information collected from this RFI will be used by DOE for planning purposes to develop one or multiple potential FOAs related to these programs.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 245 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 245 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78666-78667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27901]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Request for Information (RFI) regarding Preparing
Workers and Businesses To Deliver Energy Efficiency and Residential
Building Electrification Measures
AGENCY: Office of State and Community Energy Programs, Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Request for information (RFI).
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of State and
Community Energy Programs (SCEP) invites public input for its Request
for Information (RFI) number DE-FOA-0002885 regarding the solicitation
process and structure of future DOE Funding Opportunity Announcements
(FOA) to fund the Energy Auditor and Career Skills Training (EAT and
CST) grant programs, in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
This RFI also seeks public input on the State-Based Home Energy
Efficiency Contractor Training program (Contractor Training Program),
as set forth in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The information
collected from this RFI will be used by DOE for planning purposes to
develop one or multiple potential FOAs related to these programs.
DATES: Responses to the RFI must be received no later than 5:00 p.m.
EDT on January 26, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are to submit comments electronically to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d38382a322f363b322f3e382d2f323a2f3c302e1d352c73393238733a322b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="93f6f6e4fce1f8f5fce1f0f6e3e1fcf4e1f2fee0d3fbe2bdf7fcf6bdf4fce5">[email protected]</span></a>. Responses must be provided as
attachments to an email that includes ``Workforce RFI Response'' in the
subject line. It is recommended that attachments with file sizes
exceeding 25MB be compressed (i.e., zipped) to ensure message delivery.
Responses must be provided as a Microsoft Word (.docx), text document,
or PDF attachment to the email, and no more than 10 pages in length,
12-point font, 1-inch margins. Only electronic responses will be
accepted. The complete RFI is located at <a href="https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/">https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/</a>. For ease of replying and to aid categorization of
your responses, please copy and paste the RFI questions, including the
question numbering, and use them as a template for your response.
Respondents may answer as many or as few questions as they wish.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be addressed to Mary
MacPherson, email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2742425048554c41485544425755484055464a54674f560943484209404851"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f2a2a38203d2429203d2c2a3f3d20283d2e223c0f273e612b202a61282039">[email protected]</span></a> or phone number
202-586-5000. Further instruction can be found in the RFI document
posted on <a href="https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/">https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 15, 2021, President Joseph R.
Biden, Jr. signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL),\1\ which
appropriates more than $62 billion to DOE to ensure the clean energy
future delivers true economic prosperity to the American people by:
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\1\ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58
(November 15, 2021).
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<bullet> Investing in American manufacturing and workers, including
good-paying jobs that are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage
protections and provide the free and fair opportunity to join a union,
effective workforce development to upskill incumbent and dislocated
workers, and equitable workforce development pathways for good jobs for
workers from underserved communities.
<bullet> Expanding access to energy efficiency and clean energy for
families, communities, and businesses.
<bullet> Delivering reliable, clean, and affordable power to more
Americans.
<bullet> Building the technologies of tomorrow through clean energy
demonstrations.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction
Act (IRA).\2\ The energy and climate provisions of this bill include
tax credits for clean energy technologies, almost $9 billion in
residential energy efficiency rebates, $200 million for energy
efficiency contractor training, and billions more for clean energy
research and development, community investment, energy justice, and
permitting processes. Sections 40503 and 40513 \3\ of the BIL
established the EAT and CST programs, respectively. Section 50123 \4\
of the IRA established the Contractor Training Program.
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\2\ Inflation Reduction Act, Public Law 117-169 (August 16,
2022).
\3\ Codified at 42 U.S.C. 18793 and 18802, respectively.
\4\ Codified at 42 U.S.C. 18795b.
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SCEP intends to use principles of equity and justice to guide BIL
and IRA implementation, consistent with the Biden Administration's
commitments to ensure that overburdened, underserved, and
underrepresented individuals and communities have access to federal
resources. The BIL and IRA implementation processes should advance
equity for all, including people of color and others who have been
historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by
persistent poverty and inequality. BIL and IRA implementation efforts
for the EAT and CST support the goal that 40 percent of the overall
benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged
communities (the Justice40 Initiative).
The implementation of the EAT, CST, and Contractor Training
Programs aims to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free
and fair choice to join a union, the incorporation of strong labor
standards, and high-road workforce development, especially sector-based
training, Registered Apprenticeship, and quality pre-apprenticeship.
Having a well-trained workforce is essential to improving the
energy performance and quality of the nation's building stock,
developing career pathways in the building trades and ensuring Federal
funds can be deployed quickly and efficiently to meet our climate
challenge and market demand. A study from the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) states the number of workers in renewable energy and
energy efficiency will double by 2025 and triple by 2030.\5\ Workforce
development and business owner training programs at the local, state,
and federal levels can prepare students, workers, and businesses for
opportunities in these crucial industries. For example, a number of
cities, states, and utilities are delivering energy efficiency
workforce development programs to increase the supply of qualified
workers while also pursuing policies and programs to increase demand
for the technologies and services these workers deliver.
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\5\ NREL, State-Level Employment Projections for Four Clean
Energy Technologies in 2025 and 2030.
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DOE seeks to enhance and expand new and established, nonprofit-,
state-, and locally driven efforts to scale a well-trained, diverse
workforce. The agency will do so in part through three new workforce
development programs: Contractor Training Program, EAT, and CST. DOE
intends to use these three programs to support the development of a
more equitable energy efficiency and residential buildings-focused
electrification workforce. For example, the existing energy efficiency
workforce is disproportionately male and has a lower concentration of
Hispanic workers compared to the national,
[[Page 78667]]
economywide workforce, although it has a higher percentage of other
non-White workers.
The table below describes the purpose, funding levels, and eligible
entities for the Contractor Training Program, EAT, and CST.
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Program name Authorizing statute Funds available Eligible recipient(s) Purpose
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Energy Auditor Training (EAT)...... BIL Sec. 40503....... $40 million for the States \6\........... The Secretary ``shall establish a competitive
period of fiscal grant program'' to ``award grants to eligible
years 2022 through States to train individuals to conduct energy
2026. audits or surveys of commercial and
residential buildings.''
Career Skills Training (CST)....... BIL Sec. 40513....... $10 million to remain Nonprofit The Secretary ``shall award grants to eligible
available until partnerships \7\. entities to pay the Federal share of
expended. associated career skills training programs
under which students concurrently receive
classroom instruction and on-the-job training
for the purpose of obtaining an industry-
related certification to install energy
efficient buildings technologies.''
State-Based Home Energy Efficiency IRA Sec. 50123....... $200 million to States \8\........... To develop and implement a State program to
Contractor Training Program remain available ``provide training and education to
(Contractor Training Program). through September contractors involved in the installation of
30, 2031. home energy efficiency and electrification
improvements, including improvements eligible
for rebates under a HOMES rebate program or a
high-efficiency electric home rebate program,
as part of an approved State energy
conservation plan under the State Energy
Program.''
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Purpose
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\6\ Under section 40503(a)(2), an ``eligible State'' means a
State that--``has a demonstrated need for assistance for training
energy auditors; and [] meets any additional criteria determined
necessary by the Secretary.'' 42 U.S.C. 18793(a)(2).
\7\ Under section 40513(a), an ``eligible entity'' means a
nonprofit partnership that ``(1) includes the equal participation of
industry, including public or private employers, and labor
organizations, including joint labor-management training programs;
(2) may include workforce investment boards, community-based
organizations, qualified service and conservation corps, educational
institutions, small businesses, cooperatives, State and local
veterans agencies, and veterans service organizations; and (3)
demonstrates (A) experience in implementing and operating worker
skills training and education programs; (B) the ability to identify
and involve in training programs carried out under this section,
target populations of individuals who would benefit from training
and be actively involved in activities relating to energy efficiency
and renewable energy industries; and (C) the ability to help
individuals achieve economic self-sufficiency.'' 42 U.S.C. 18802(a).
\8\ The term ``State'' means a State, the District of Columbia,
and a United States Insular Area, which means American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. IRA sections
50111 and 50211 (42 U.S.C. 17113b note and 43 U.S.C. 3006 note,
respectively).
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The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from states and
nonprofits, as well as partner stakeholders such as labor unions,
employers and contractors, workforce development boards (WDBs),
institutions of higher education including community colleges,
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges
and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), and
other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), energy efficiency training
providers, researchers, community partners, manufacturers, community-
based organizations (CBOs), and others on issues related to the
development and implementation of the Contractor Training Program, EAT,
and CST. These programs focus on energy efficiency and/or residential
buildings-focused electrification and do not cover renewable energy or
transportation electrification workforce development programs. This is
solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity
Announcement. SCEP is not accepting applications through the release of
this RFI. Specifically, DOE is interested in public input on questions
across the following categories:
A. Respondent type
B. Workforce and business characteristics
C. Workforce development and business owner training strategies
D. Accessing federal funding
E. Equity and partnerships
F. Access to high quality jobs
G. Other
Confidential Business Information: According to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
person submitting information that he or she believes to be
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via
email, postal mail, or hand delivery two well-marked copies: one copy
of the document marked ``confidential'' including all the information
believed to be confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-
confidential'' with the information believed to be confidential
deleted. Submit these documents via email or on a CD, if feasible. DOE
will make its own determination about the confidential status of the
information and treat it according to its determination.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December
16, 2022, by Dr. Henry McKoy, Director of the Office of State and
Community Energy Programs, pursuant to delegated authority from the
Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date
is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December 19, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-27901 Filed 12-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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