[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57111-57113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28592]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Notice of Competitive Financial Assistance for the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of competitive financial assistance solicitation.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy announces a competitive solicitation
for applications for grants and cooperative agreements for information
dissemination, public outreach, training, and related technical
analysis and technical assistance activities involving renewable energy
and energy conservation. It is estimated that funding of approximately
$5.5 million will be available under renewable energy programs and $6.5
million will be available under energy conservation programs for awards
under this
[[Page 57112]]
solicitation in fiscal year 1999. Areas of interest involving renewable
energy include biomass, geothermal, hydrogen, photovoltaic, solar
building, concentrating solar power, and wind technologies.
Conservation areas of interest include energy efficiency in
transportation, buildings, industry, and the federal sector. The awards
may be for a period of six months to four years. Proposals will be
subject to the objective merit review procedures for the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
ADDRESSES: The formal solicitation is expected to be issued in late
October 1998. It will be available as solicitation number DE-PS01-
99EE10649 through the Department of Energy's ``Current Business
Opportunities at Headquarters Procurement Services'' Homepage located
at www.pr.doe.gov/solicit.html. Interested applicants that do not have
Internet access may request a copy of the solicitation by sending a
request with a virus-free diskette and self-addressed, stamped,
diskette mailer to U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Headquarters
Procurement Services, Attn: Document Control Specialist, HR-543, 1000
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, D.C. 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jackie Kniskern, HR-542, Office of
Headquarters Procurement Services, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone number (202)
426-0046, e-mail at jacqueline.kniskern@hq.doe.gov. E:mail is the
preferred method for submission of comments and/or questions.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy supports the Department of Energy's strategic
objectives of increasing the efficiency and productivity of energy use,
while limiting environmental impacts; reducing the vulnerability of the
U.S. economy to disruptions in energy supplies; ensuring that a
competitive electric utility industry is in place that can deliver
adequate and affordable supplies with reduced environmental impacts;
supporting U.S. energy, environmental, and economic interests in global
markets; and delivering leading-edge technologies. A key component of
this program is the support of information dissemination, public
outreach, training and related technical analysis and technical
assistance activities to: (1) stimulate increased energy efficiency in
transportation, buildings, and industry and increased use of renewable
energy; and (2) accelerate the adoption of new technologies to increase
energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. The purpose of this
solicitation is to further these objectives through financial
assistance in the following areas:
Office of Utility Technologies--The primary mission of this Office
is to lead the national effort to develop solar and other renewable
energy technologies and to accelerate their acceptance and use on a
national and international level. The Office also develops advanced
high temperature superconducting power equipment and energy storage
systems, addresses advanced technology needs for transmission and
distribution systems, and provides information and technical assistance
on electric utility restructuring issues. Financial assistance
applications will be requested for information dissemination, public
outreach, and related technical analysis activities involving specific
renewable technologies (e.g., geothermal, concentrating solar power,
biopower, photovoltaic, wind, hydrogen) as well as activities that
involve multiple technologies within the Office's purview. Proposals
also will be requested to perform other activities, such as information
dissemination, technical assistance, and outreach relating to electric
utility restructuring.
Office of Transportation Technologies--The mission of this Office
is to support the development and use of advanced transportation
vehicles and alternative fuel technologies which will reduce energy
demand, particularly for petroleum; reduce criteria pollutant emissions
and greenhouse gas emissions; and enable the U.S. transportation
industry to sustain a strong competitive position in domestic and world
markets. Financial assistance applications will be requested to support
national and regional biomass resource assessments; technical analysis
and outreach related to energy and environmental impacts of advanced
transportation technologies; and information dissemination and outreach
to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
Office of Industrial Technologies--The mission of this Office is to
improve the energy efficiency and pollution prevention performance of
U.S. industry. The Office has a particular focus on several key
industries, including the steel, aluminum, glass, metal casting, forest
products, chemicals, petroleum, agriculture, and mining industries.
Financial assistance applications will be requested to support specific
information dissemination and related technical analysis activities
associated with the development and adoption of energy efficient
technologies in the industrial sector. Many of these issues involve the
examination of changes in the marketplace; differing needs associated
with small and medium-sized businesses; competing technologies;
institutional and infrastructure issues; and energy efficiency
activities in other countries and their impact or potential for U.S.
technologies.
Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs--The
mission of this Office is to develop, promote, and integrate energy
technologies and practices to make buildings more efficient and
affordable and communities more liveable. Financial assistance
applications will be requested to support information dissemination,
technical analysis, and outreach activities designed to facilitate the
adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy in residential and
commercial buildings and communities. For example, proposed projects
may include the development and dissemination of educational tools and
training programs that educate the general public and stakeholders
about the benefits of employing energy efficient technologies and
practices in buildings and communities.
Federal Energy Management Program--The mission of this Program is
to assist agencies in achieving the Federal energy management goals and
to disseminate information to States, local governments, and the public
on innovative approaches to the use of energy. Financial assistance
applications will be requested to support several specific program
areas, such as a national lighting certification program for lighting
professionals.
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy has overall management responsibility for the entire
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including the Office
of Utility Technologies, the Office of Transportation Technologies, the
Office of Industrial Technologies, the Office of Building Technology,
State and Community Programs, and the Federal Energy Management
Program. Financial assistance applications will be requested to support
information dissemination, outreach, training, and related technical
analysis and technical assistance activities involving: (1) multiple
energy efficiency sectors; (2) both renewable energy and energy
efficiency sectors; (3) international efforts; and (4) other projects
which stimulate increased energy efficiency
[[Page 57113]]
and increased use of renewable energy or accelerate the adoption of new
technologies to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable
energy.
Additional information about the programs of the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy can be obtained at the Office's
Internet site at www.eren.doe.gov/ee.html.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 600.9, a draft solicitation, which will include
greater detail about specific program areas of interest, application
instructions, and evaluation criteria, is expected to be issued in late
October 1998. Comments will be accepted for two weeks after the release
of the draft solicitation.
Issued in Washington, D.C. on October 20, 1998.
Carol M. Rueter,
Acting Director, Program Services Division, Office of Headquarters
Procurement Services.
[FR Doc. 98-28592 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
