Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003229
The Local Government Energy Program: Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003229) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy, administered through the Golden Field Office and issued by DOE's State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) on behalf of the Local Government Energy Program (LGEP). Awards are expected to be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE will stay involved during the project period through technical input, milestone reviews, and other forms of federal project oversight rather than providing a hands-off grant.
The main purpose of this FOA is to help eligible local governments and federally recognized Tribal governments move from planning to real, on-the-ground implementation of energy projects that deliver direct, visible benefits to the community. The program is structured to support projects that align with priorities identified locally (rather than only top-down federal priorities), build lasting local capacity to manage energy initiatives, and act as a catalyst for additional public and private investment. In practice, the intent is not only to fund a single project, but to help communities create momentum, partnerships, and systems that continue attracting funding and delivering benefits after the federal award ends.
A central theme in the announcement is "direct community benefits." The FOA highlights outcomes such as creating local economic opportunities for workers, incorporating workforce measures and agreements, revitalizing communities, lowering household energy burdens, expanding access to renewable energy, improving air quality, increasing public participation in local energy decisions, and improving overall quality of life. This framing signals that applicants are expected to connect technical project choices (like efficiency upgrades or microgrids) to tangible resident-facing outcomes, especially for communities that have historically faced higher energy costs, poorer air quality, or limited access to clean energy options.
Project scope under this opportunity is intentionally broad, both geographically and technologically. The FOA indicates that projects may range from neighborhood-scale efforts to wider local or regional initiatives, and it names several eligible technology and program areas. These include building efficiency projects and building electrification, electric transportation, energy infrastructure upgrades, microgrid development and deployment, renewable energy installations or expansion, resilience hubs, and workforce development. The variety suggests the program is designed to meet communities where they are, whether the priority is modernizing aging infrastructure, preparing for outages and extreme weather, reducing emissions from buildings and vehicles, or developing the local workforce needed to install and maintain new energy systems.
Eligible applicants are local public-sector entities and Tribes, specifically including county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The listing also includes "Others," but the FOA itself directs applicants to confirm eligibility details in Section III.A of the full announcement. In other words, while the headline eligibility clearly targets local governments and Tribes, any entity that does not fit neatly into those categories would need to rely on the FOA's detailed eligibility language to determine whether and how it can apply (for example, whether it can participate as a partner, subrecipient, or other allowable role rather than as the prime applicant).
Key logistical details include an original closing date of May 31, 2024, and an award ceiling listed at $3,600,000. The funding activity category is Energy, with CFDA number 81.086. The FOA was created on February 27, 2024. For the complete requirements, application instructions, and the full list of allowable activities and selection criteria, DOE points applicants to the Infrastructure Exchange website (https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/), where the official FOA document and updates are posted.Apply for DE FOA 0003229
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Local Government Energy Program: Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.086.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,600,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Local Government Energy Program: Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) DE-FOA-0003229. It is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office and issued by DOE's State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) on behalf of the Local Government Energy Program (LGEP).
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to help eligible local governments and federally recognized Tribal governments move from planning to on-the-ground implementation of energy projects that deliver direct, visible benefits to the community, while also building long-term local capacity and catalyzing additional public and private investment.
What does it mean that awards are expected to be made as "cooperative agreements"?
A cooperative agreement typically means DOE will remain involved during the project period through activities such as technical input, milestone reviews, and other forms of federal project oversight, rather than providing a fully hands-off grant.
Who is eligible to apply as the prime applicant?
The opportunity targets local public-sector entities and federally recognized Tribal governments. Examples listed include county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
The listing mentions "Others." What does that mean for eligibility?
While the headline eligibility clearly focuses on local governments and Tribes, any entity that does not clearly fit those categories is directed to confirm eligibility in Section III.A of the full FOA. The FOA language may clarify whether such entities can apply directly or participate in another allowable role (for example, as a partner or subrecipient).
What kinds of projects or activities does this FOA support?
The project scope is broad and may include neighborhood-scale efforts up to wider local or regional initiatives. The FOA names technology and program areas such as building efficiency projects, building electrification, electric transportation, energy infrastructure upgrades, microgrid development and deployment, renewable energy installations or expansion, resilience hubs, and workforce development.
Does the FOA prioritize certain technologies or project types?
The announcement describes a wide range of eligible technology and program areas, suggesting the program is designed to meet communities where they are. Applicants are expected to tie technical project choices to tangible, resident-facing outcomes.
What are "direct community benefits" in the context of this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes outcomes such as creating local economic opportunities for workers, incorporating workforce measures and agreements, revitalizing communities, lowering household energy burdens, expanding access to renewable energy, improving air quality, increasing public participation in local energy decisions, and improving overall quality of life.
Does the FOA focus on equity or benefits for communities with higher energy burdens?
Yes. The framing highlights connecting projects to tangible benefits, especially for communities that have historically faced higher energy costs, poorer air quality, or limited access to clean energy options.
Is this funding meant for planning, implementation, or both?
The stated intent is to move communities from planning to real implementation. While the program goal is implementation-focused, the full FOA should be consulted for the complete list of allowable activities and how they may support implementation.
Is this program intended to fund only a single project?
The intent is not only to fund a single project, but also to help communities create momentum, partnerships, and systems that continue attracting funding and delivering benefits after the federal award ends.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling listed is $3,600,000.
What is the original application closing date?
The original closing date listed is May 31, 2024.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on February 27, 2024.
What is the funding activity category and CFDA number?
The funding activity category is Energy, and the CFDA number is 81.086.
Where can applicants find the official FOA document, requirements, and updates?
DOE directs applicants to the Infrastructure Exchange website at https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/ where the official FOA document and any updates are posted.
Which DOE office is administering this opportunity?
It is administered through DOE's Golden Field Office and issued by DOE's State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) on behalf of LGEP.
Are projects required to be local-only, or can they be regional?
The FOA indicates projects may range from neighborhood-scale efforts to wider local or regional initiatives.
What types of community outcomes should applicants be prepared to describe?
The FOA highlights outcomes tied to community-facing benefits, including workforce and local economic opportunities, reductions in household energy burdens, improved air quality, expanded renewable access, increased public participation in energy decisions, community revitalization, and improved quality of life.
What does "catalyzing additional public and private investment" mean here?
The program intent is for federal funding to act as a catalyst that helps communities build momentum and partnerships that can attract additional public and private investment beyond the DOE award period.
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| Solar and Wind Interconnection for Future Transmission (SWIFTR) Apply for DE FOA 0003246 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003246 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
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| Promoting Domestic and International Consensus on Clean Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0003355 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003355 Agency: Headquarters Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
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| Notice of Intent (NOI) for Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA0003334 titled “Offshore Wind National and Regional Research and Development.” Apply for DE FOA 0003345 Funding Number: DE FOA 0003345 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Powertrain Electrification and Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration Apply for DE FOA 0001349 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001349 Agency: National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
| RFI: High Yields through Productivity and Integration Research (HYPIR) Apply for DE FOA 0001399 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001399 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| PHOTOVOLTAICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (PVRD) Apply for DE FOA 0001387 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001387 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,125,000 |
| SUNSHOT TECHNOLOGY TO MARKET (INCUBATOR ROUND 11, SOLARMAT ROUND 4) Apply for DE FOA 0001400 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001400 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Smart Manufacturing: Advanced Sensors, Controls, Platforms, and Modeling for Manufacturing Apply for DE FOA 0001263 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001263 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $70,000,000 |
| Request for Information: Building Sensor & Control Technologies Apply for DE FOA 0001409 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001409 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Inter-tribal Techncial Assistance Energy Providers Network Apply for DE FOA 0001408 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001408 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Request for Information: Teaming Partner List for Upcoming Funding Opportunity Announcement: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) Apply for DE FOA 0001410 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001410 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Remote Alaskan Communities Energy Efficiency Competition Apply for DE FOA 0001421 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001421 Agency: Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| SBIR/STTR FY 2016 Phase I Release 2 Apply for DE FOA 0001417 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001417 Agency: Office of Science Category: Energy Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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