Notice of Request for Information (RFI) regarding Preparing Workers and Businesses To Deliver Energy Efficiency and Residential Building Electrification Measures, 78666-78667 [2022-27901]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 245 / Thursday, December 22, 2022 / Notices
available at the following website:
https://cab.srs.gov/srs-cab.html.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December
16, 2022.
LaTanya Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022–27842 Filed 12–21–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Request for Information (RFI)
regarding Preparing Workers and
Businesses To Deliver Energy
Efficiency and Residential Building
Electrification Measures
Office of State and Community
Energy Programs, Department of Energy
(DOE).
ACTION: Request for information (RFI).
AGENCY:
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
eeworkforceprograms@hq.doe.gov.
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 https://eereexchange.energy.gov/. For ease of
replying and to aid categorization of
your responses, please copy and paste
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:01 Dec 21, 2022
Jkt 259001
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
eeworkforceprograms@hq.doe.gov or
phone number 202–586–5000. Further
instruction can be found in the RFI
document posted on https://eereexchange.energy.gov/.
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:
• 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.
• Expanding access to energy
efficiency and clean energy for families,
communities, and businesses.
• Delivering reliable, clean, and
affordable power to more Americans.
• 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.
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,
1 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public
Law 117–58 (November 15, 2021).
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.
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 preapprenticeship.
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.
DOE seeks to enhance and expand
new and established, nonprofit-, state-,
and locally driven efforts to scale a welltrained, 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,
5 NREL, State-Level Employment Projections for
Four Clean Energy Technologies in 2025 and 2030.
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 245 / Thursday, December 22, 2022 / Notices
economywide workforce, although it
has a higher percentage of other nonWhite workers.
The table below describes the
purpose, funding levels, and eligible
Authorizing statute
Funds available
Energy Auditor
Training (EAT).
BIL Sec. 40503 ..
Career Skills Training (CST).
BIL Sec. 40513 ..
$40 million for the
period of fiscal
years 2022
through 2026.
$10 million to remain available
until expended.
State-Based Home
Energy Efficiency
Contractor Training Program
(Contractor
Training Program).
IRA Sec. 50123 ..
Program name
$200 million to
remain available through
September 30,
2031.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Purpose
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
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).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:01 Dec 21, 2022
Jkt 259001
Purpose
The Secretary ‘‘shall establish a competitive grant program’’ to ‘‘award
grants to eligible States to train individuals to conduct energy audits
or surveys of commercial and residential buildings.’’
Nonprofit The Secretary ‘‘shall award grants to eligible entities to pay the Federal
partshare of associated career skills training programs under which stunerdents concurrently receive classroom instruction and on-the-job trainships 7.
ing for the purpose of obtaining an industry-related certification to install energy efficient buildings technologies.’’
States 8
To develop and implement a State program to ‘‘provide training and
education to contractors involved in the installation of 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.’’
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.
PO 00000
entities for the Contractor Training
Program, EAT, and CST.
Eligible
recipient(s)
States 6
78667
Frm 00037
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Intent Regarding Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law (BIL) Support for
Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis,
Manufacturing, and Recycling
Office Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) announces the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM
22DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 245 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78666-78667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-27901]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
[email protected]. 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 https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/. 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 [email protected] or phone number
202-586-5000. Further instruction can be found in the RFI document
posted on https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
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:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58
(November 15, 2021).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Expanding access to energy efficiency and clean energy for
families, communities, and businesses.
Delivering reliable, clean, and affordable power to more
Americans.
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ NREL, State-Level Employment Projections for Four Clean
Energy Technologies in 2025 and 2030.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program name Authorizing statute Funds available Eligible recipient(s) Purpose
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.''
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purpose
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
