Developing an implementation plan
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Developing an implementation plan
You’ve narrowed in on specific technologies and have explored how each would function for your system. Now, you need to pick a technology and develop a specific implementation plan. Key considerations may include:
- Regulations:
- Assess federal, state, and industry standards and regulatory requirements.
- New Locations and Facilities:
- Study the history of land use and the surrounding community.
- Employee Readiness:
- Ensure employees are educated and comfortable with maintenance and operations plans.
- Determine if hiring is necessary to fill any new roles.
- Cost:
- Identify financing options.
- Develop short and long-term operation management plans.
- Plan for software updates and associated costs.
- Plan for predictive maintenance and associated costs.
Funding resources to support developing an implementation plan
| Opportunity | Program Objectives | Eligibility (who is eligible to apply) | Funding type (grant to community, technical assistance, loan, …) | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) - Clean Community to Communities (C2C) Program | Accelerates the deployment of clean energy systems that are reflective of local and regional priorities. | Local governments, electric utilities, community-based groups, and others | Technical assistance | Clean Energy to Communities Program | Department of Energy | In-depth technical partnership: Multiyear partnership for cross-sector modeling, analysis, and validation paired with direct funding- Peer-learning cohorts- Expert matches: short term assistance (40-60 hrs) with one or more technical experts |
| Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) - 50001 Ready | Build a culture of structured energy improvement that leads to deeper and sustained savings. Develop a customized decarbonization plan that can be used as a part of the ISO 50001 continual improvement process. | Electric utilities, facilities, organizations and others | Technical assistance | 50001 Ready Program | Better Buildings Initiative | |
| Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) - Onsite Energy Program | Provide technical assistance, market analysis, and best practices to help industrial facilities and other large energy users increase the adoption of onsite clean energy technologies | Industrial facilities, large energy users | Technical assistance | Onsite Energy Program | Department of Energy | |
| Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEPâ„¢) | Enhance capacity of state and local governments to effectively plan, site and permit large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. It aims to create a streamlined, community-oriented, and science-based siting process by providing technical assistance, fostering community engagement, and developing state-specific tools and resources. | U.S. state and local governments | Grant | Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEPâ„¢) | Department of Energy | |
| Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) - Connected Communities | Supports projects that expand DOE’s network of grid-interactive, efficient building communities nationwide. These communities interact with the electrical grid to optimize their energy consumption, which will reduce their carbon emissions and cut energy costs. | Utilities, grid planners and operators, automakers and smart charge management service providers, and the communities they serve | Grant | Connected Communities | GEB | |
| Office of Indian Energy | Catalyze Tribal energy development, efficiency and use, reduce or stabilize energy costs, enhance and strengthen Tribal energy infrastructure, and deliver affordable reliable energy to Tribal lands and homes. | Indian Tribe, which includes Alaska Native Regional Corporations or Village Corporations, an Intertribal Organization, or a Tribal Energy Development Organization | Financial Assistance, Technical Assistance, Education ad Capacity Buildings | Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs | Department of Energy | The Office of Indian Energy provides financial assistance on a competitive basis to develop and deploy energy infrastructure and technology. E.g., conduct clean energy planning, comprehensively assess feasibility and viability of deploying clean energy technology, and conduct clean energy design and development activities. - The Office of Indian Energy provides technical assistance to advance Tribal energy projects - The Office of Indian Energy helps build local Tribal capacity through webinars, workshops, and workforce development opportunities |
| USDA Rural Development (U.S. Department of Agriculture) – Electric Programs | Provide leadership and capital to maintain, expand, upgrade, and modernize America's vast rural electric infrastructure. | Electric utilities (wholesale and retail providers) serving rural customers, nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, associations, and public bodies | Direct loans, loan guarantees, grants, loan forgiveness | Electric Programs | Rural Development | Denali Commission High Energy Cost Grants - Distributed Generation Energy Project Financing - Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program - Empowering Rural America New ERA Program - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program - Energy Resource Conservation - High Energy Cost Grants - Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) Program |
| Office of Electricity - Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership (C-MAP) | Program supports design or deploy a microgrid that aligns with community-defined priorities to improve or to optimize existing microgrid technology. | Communities, or groups of communities, that are either developing or have developed microgrid energy systems | Technical assistance | Community Microgrid Assistance Partnership | Department of Energy |
Engaging community in modernization planning
Community engagement is a crucial aspect of the planning process for grid infrastructure modernization. Utilities must involve the communities they serve in the decision-making process to build trust, foster transparency and ensure that the modernization efforts align with the needs and values of the community. Click below to explore community engagement resources.Â
Community Engagement
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