Summary:

The purpose of this program is to empower communities to identify and implement innovative clean energy solutions in a way that works for their unique needs and challenges. The program will offer prizes, at various levels, to award recipients that will work collaboratively with stakeholders interested in community-scale planning around clean energy to engage their communities, build a network of support for clean energy or decarbonization projects, and develop plans for carrying out these projects.

This program was designed to support communities as they identify and implement innovative clean energy solutions in a way that works best to address their unique needs and challenges. In doing so, the program is intended to promote the commercialization of promising energy technologies that will lead to an equitable and just energy transition. Award recipients will catalyze long-term relationships and partnerships that empower communities to achieve their energy and decarbonization goals, ensure communities are prepared for project development, and reward communities that build a credible path toward the development of solutions for identified problems.

The program is guided by the principles of the Justice40 Initiative, with its main objectives including proactive engagement with a wide range of community and labor stakeholders and ensuring that economic and environmental benefits from clean energy investments flow to all Americans.

Prizes will be provided in three phases, as follows:

• Phase 1: embark phase: award recipients will identify a community, a challenge facing that community that can be addressed by a clean technology solution, and a clear plan for engaging with the community, while also demonstrating that they have what it takes to carry out the proposed project
• Phase 2: engage phase: award recipients will engage with their community stakeholders to develop the community's vision for their future clean energy or decarbonization project
• Phase 3: establish phase: award recipients will create plans for carrying out at least one specific, technically novel clean energy or decarbonization project, and demonstrate proof that they have obtained the confirmed commitments needed to carry out their projects

Prizes will reward innovative clean energy solutions that address ongoing energy-related issues at the community level while providing economic, environmental, health, and other co-benefits to communities, specifically disadvantaged, underserved, or overburdened communities. Communities may choose from a range of energy-related challenges and identify solutions based on a variety of promising clean energy and decarbonization technologies. Particular program areas of interest are:

• Advanced materials and manufacturing technologies
• Advanced nuclear reactors
• Bioenergy
• Building efficiency
• Carbon management
• Clean hydrogen and fuel cells
• Grid modernization
• Geothermal energy
• Industrial efficiency and decarbonization
• Long-duration energy storage
• Solar energy
• Vehicles
• Water power
• Wind energy

While applicants are strongly encouraged to consider a range of potential technologies and a variety of solutions to find the best one for their communities' unique challenges, the funding agency is particularly interested in technically novel and innovative solutions. These may include first-of-a-kind demonstrations at a particular size or scale, innovative applications or approaches, and novel combinations of clean energy technologies. The funding agency is particularly interested in projects that will benefit disadvantaged communities, especially when these projects will provide lasting economic and other co-benefits.

Refer to pages 11-21 of the Guide file for detailed information regarding each of the program phases.

In addition to monetary awards, award recipients will be provided access to support via the American-Made Network, as detailed on pages 10-11 of the Guide file.