The Tennessee Volunteer Emission Reduction Strategy (TVERS) is an emissions reduction plan currently being developed by TDEC with support from various partners. TDEC has developed a survey to collect input from stakeholders and the public about emission reduction priorities, current actions, and concerns. The TVERS survey should take less than ten minutes to complete and is open until November 15.

The development of the plan is funded by the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program, established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Through this program, funding will be provided to states, local governments, air pollution control agencies, tribes, and territories to develop and implement plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollutants. Watch the TVERS kickoff webinar to learn more about the plan.

REI Co-op, a specialty outdoor retailer, recently opened a new distribution center in Lebanon. The facility, which will serve more than 60 stores in the area, will use 100% renewable energy through an onsite solar array and a solar array in East Tennessee as part of REI’s partnership with Clearloop. The center also uses electric forklifts to transport goods around the 400,000 square-foot facility and provides electric vehicle (EV) chargers for staff vehicles. Additionally, the building utilizes energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, and conveyor belt sensors that pause when not in use.

Energizing Tennessee, a podcast from the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) and FirstBank, explores the latest news and insights about the advanced energy sector with experts sharing their thoughts on transportation electrification, workforce development, and the growing sector of advanced energy in Tennessee’s economy.

In the first episode of season two, host Cortney Piper interviews Julian Spector, senior reporter at Canary Media, about his recent coverage of TVA’s decarbonization efforts and the Southeast’s journey toward becoming a major EV and battery supply chain hub. 

All episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Click here to listen.

The U.S. DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) issued a request for information (RFI) on Grid Integration of Solar Energy Systems and other Invertor-based Resources. This RFI will enable SETO to better understand technical challenges and opportunities for grid integration of solar energy systems and other inverter-based resources that include photovoltaics and energy storage facilities connected to bulk power systems, distribution systems, microgrids, and behind-the-meter systems. Feedback provided through this RFI will help SETO identify key challenges, assess technology gaps, determine research needs and priorities, and develop new research, development, and demonstration initiatives to support rapid solar deployment. The deadline to submit responses is November 30. Responses should be emailed to SETO-SI-2023-RFI@ee.doe.gov as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment.

U.S. DOE is accepting applications for vouchers from U.S. entrepreneurs, businesses, technology developers, and local governments for specific commercialization services in the clean energy sector. Over $32 million is available for commercialization support or to help with technology adoption or permitting. Applicants can receive free services from pre-approved providers in the form of vouchers that can be used to access test-bed performance validation capabilities, industry certification testing, technical and business maturation services, siting/permitting support, and other commercialization assistance. Five different vouchers are available on the Energywerx website here. Applications are due November 16.

The U.S. DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations recently announced the Distributed Energy Systems Demonstration Program, a $50 million funding opportunity to help the U.S. develop more reliable, resilient, and cost-effective energy systems that support the rapidly changing electric grid as well as the growth of EV, energy storage, and the electrification of buildings and industry.  Distributed energy systems encompass distributed energy production, such as solar and distributed wind, and the flexible management of those sources and energy use by buildings, EV charging infrastructure, heat pumps, and other drivers of electricity demand.

U.S. DOE will provide up to 50% of the cost for two to four utility- and/or private-sector-led projects to demonstrate the reliable operation and financial value of connected energy systems with high levels of renewable generation and a variety of connected energy assets. Concept papers are due November 16.

U.S. DOE recently announced $10 million in funding for the Career Skills Training Program. The program offers competitive funding for nonprofit partnerships between public or private industry and labor organizations to deliver programs that provide both energy efficiency classroom instruction and on-the-job training. The program aims to increase the number of qualified green building workforce members across the country, including building performance professionals, energy auditors, and other energy efficiency workers, and support the implementation of energy efficiency improvements nationwide.

Additional information is available on the Factsheet and in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. Applications are due November 27.    

Innovation Crossroads is a lab-embedded entrepreneurship program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Innovation Crossroads supports and mentors entrepreneurial researchers whose early-stage innovations are presently too challenging or technically uncertain to pursue in a venture capital-financed startup. The program embeds innovators at ORNL for up to two years for entrepreneurial mentorship and to conduct cooperative research and development to incubate and translate innovations from proof-of-concept to proof-of-product. This opportunity allows selected innovators to leverage ORNL’s scientific facilities, equipment, capabilities, and experts to advance their early-stage scientific discoveries into potential commercial opportunities within a relatively short time. Applications for the 2024 cohort close November 30.

The U.S. DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) is providing rebates for the replacement of a qualified energy-inefficient transformer with a qualified energy-efficient transformer and for expenditures made by qualified entities for the purchase or installation of a qualified extended product system.

The Energy Efficient Transformer Rebate Program aims to help qualified entities such as domestic manufacturers, utilities, hospitals, schools, and other operators replace qualified energy-inefficient distribution transformers with qualified energy-efficient transformers. Applicants are also eligible if they are replacing transformers that were destroyed in a natural disaster. MESC will accept applications for rebates until the program deadline of December 8 or until funds are expended, whichever comes first.

Rebates under the Extended Product System Rebate Program are for qualified entities that purchased and installed or newly incorporated an extended product system. Extended Product Systems (EPS) are industrial and large HVAC systems that are comprised of combinations of electric motors, electronic control, and driven load (e.g., pumps, fans, and compressors). MESC will accept applications for rebates until funds are expended.

Please contact DOERebates@icf.com with any questions or for more information.

U.S. DOE’s Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) is open for applications for technical assistance services valued at over $18 million. The funding will support 24-32 communities to develop and advance their community-driven clean energy transition approach. Under Communities LEAP, U.S. DOE matches selected communities with technical assistance providers that will assist them with bringing their clean energy planning and economic development vision to life.

Eligible applicants are low-income, energy-burdened communities experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts or direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels. The Communities LEAP map of eligible census tracts is available here. Applications are due December 14.

The Local Infrastructure Hub (LIH) was launched to ensure that all communities can access federal infrastructure funding to drive local recovery, improve communities, and deliver results for residents. The LIH Regional Cohorts Program is now open to assist local governments and their partners in the Southeast in accessing the historic levels of federal funding available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Administered by the Southeast Sustainability Director’s Network, the Southeast Regional Cohort Program has three-tiered learning and mentoring tracks.

Cohorts can provide 1:1 local government outreach and technical assistance and can also work with strategic local and regional partners in a way that will build long-term capacity for local implementation. The three support options are:

Applications will be accepted until mid-2024 or until funds are expended, whichever comes first. Additional information, including eligible applicants, is available in the Southeast LIH Regional Cohort Invitation and on the Southeast LIH Regional Cohort website.

U.S. DOE recently launched the Community Energy Innovation Prize competition, administered through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), that will award up to $7.5 million in prizes as well as mentorship opportunities to organizations supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities historically underrepresented in climate and energy technology funding. With three prize tracks, the prize aims to support local organizations with proven track records of engaging underserved communities and/or promoting environmental, climate, and energy justice as they enact community-led climate and clean energy solutions; inspire the next generation of clean energy leaders with opportunities for college students to work with community partners; and foster innovation in clean energy manufacturing ecosystems in historically underserved communities.

The three prize tracks are as follows:

All three tracks of the prize will consist of three phases: Concept, Progress, and Impact. Any eligible team may compete in the first phase, Concept, where applicants form coalitions and develop project ideas. Up to 34 teams across the three tracks will be selected as Concept phase winners and receive an initial prize along with mentorship and access to NREL technology experts. Winning teams will be eligible to move on to the remaining phases.

Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Track applications are due on February 2, 2024.

The Better Buildings Webinar Series takes on the most pressing topics facing energy professionals, with experts leading the conversations on proven best practices, cost-effective strategies, and innovative new ways to approach sustainability and energy performance. View all upcoming webinars here, or click on any webinar below to register.

The Utility of the Future Information Exchange (UF-IX) Report provides a compilation of recommended considerations for use by the 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Working Group and TVA’s Leadership, developed by the UF-IX group over nine months. The UF-IX participants represented local power companies and direct serve partners, environmental non-government organizations and academia, State and community leaders, and social justice advocates. The report contains both considerations specific to the current IRP study cycle and considerations for broader TVA strategy and policy. Topics addressed by the working group include distributed energy resources and distribution, generation and transmission, community impact, modeling and assumptions, and general strategic considerations.

E2 recently released the eighth annual Clean Jobs America 2023 report, based on an analysis of the national 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER). The report notes that in 2022, clean energy and clean vehicle jobs in the U.S. grew by 4%. The increase in 2022 marked the full workforce recovery for multiple sectors following the earlier impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee had the fastest-growing clean energy workforce in the nation, with a 6.5% increase in clean energy employment.

E4 the Future has released its seventh annual Energy Efficiency Jobs in America Report. The 2023 national report notes that energy efficiency is the largest workforce in the clean energy industry, with over 2.2 million workers. The Tennessee Factsheet notes that within the clean energy, non-automotive sector in Tennessee, over half of the jobs are in energy efficiency, with energy efficiency workers employed in all 95 counties across the state in roles that include the manufacturing, construction, and installation of energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and building materials. Jobs data within the report was sourced from the national 2023 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), which focuses on all energy jobs. 

Visit the TDEC Office of Energy Programs Website at http://www.tn.gov/environment/energy.

Past Monthly Newsletters: 

September 2023

August 2023

July 2023

For more information or to submit an idea for a future Monthly Energy Edition, contact:

Audrey Jackson, Communications Officer
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-917-6683 or audrey.jackson@tn.gov

OR

Alexa Voytek, Deputy Director, OEP Programs
U.S. DOE State Energy Program / Innovation & Transportation / Communications
TDEC Office of Energy Programs
 615-613-1096 or alexa.voytek@tn.gov

OR

Mark Finlay, Senior Energy Analyst, TDEC Office of Energy Programs
615-772-6011 or mark.finlay@tn.gov

Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the State Energy Program Award Number DE-EE0009487

Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government.  Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.