Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced updated program guidance for the Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program in the DOE Loan Programs Office (LPO), which replaces the previous solicitations under the Innovative Clean Energy programs. This program, which received significant funding and authorities from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), may issue up to $300 billion in loan guarantees for projects focused on facility decarbonization, clean energy development and energy infrastructure reinvestment.
The announced changes are significant and impact the eligibility, application and evaluation requirements for prospective projects. Additionally, proposed projects must fall under one of new designated categories, which include:
- Innovative Energy projects deploy qualifying new or significantly improved technology that is technically proven but is not widely commercialized in the United States.
- Innovative Supply Chain projects employ a new or significantly improved technology in the manufacturing process for a qualifying clean energy technology or manufacture a qualifying new or significantly improved technology.
- Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) projects retool, repower, repurpose or replace energy infrastructure that has ceased operations; or enable operating energy infrastructure to avoid, reduce, utilize or sequester air pollutants or emissions of greenhouse gases. EIR projects are not required to employ innovative technology.
- State Energy Financing Institution (SEFI) projects support deployment of a qualifying clean energy technology and receive meaningful financial support or credit enhancements from an entity within a state agency or financing authority. SEFI projects are not required to employ innovative technology.
Energy Workforce Member Companies may have direct opportunities for project funding through the Innovative Energy, Innovative Supply Chain and Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment programs. Member Companies looking for opportunities to develop and expand new technologies in fields such as hydrogen or CCS could look to the Innovative Energy or Innovative Supply Chain programs.
Additionally, the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program might provide Member Companies the opportunity for funding to recycle existing or outdated energy infrastructure into a cleaner or more efficient product. This program also holds opportunities for coal-to-nuclear power generation facility development that has garnered recent interest from the industry.
The full program guidance for the new Title 17 categories and application process can be found here.
The Energy Workforce Government Affairs team will continue to monitor and keep Members updated on funding opportunities stemming from recently passed legislation, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
If you are interested in Energy Workforce’s advocacy efforts or would like to join the Government Affairs Committee, contact Senior Director Government Affairs Deidre Kohlrus.
Deidre Almstead Kohlrus, Senior Director Government Affairs, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
