The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently opened the application for the $550 million Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the EECBG Program will award formula grants directly to local governments, including counties, states and Tribes to implement strategies to reduce emissions, decrease total energy use and improve energy efficiency. Eligible entities must submit their Pre-award Information Sheet by April 28, 2023 in order to receive their allocation.

DOE has also published the EECBG program local government allocations, which can be viewed here. Those counties that are ineligible to receive direct formula grants from DOE will be able to apply for $8.8 million in EECBG program competitive grants, which will be made available at a lower date. Further, states are required to sub-grant at least 60 percent of their award to local governments who are ineligible for a direct formula grant under the program.

DOE will reserve $110 million of the total funding for program administration and technical assistance. Additionally, DOE is considering allowing EECBG Program recipients to claim a voucher for technical assistance or equipment rebates instead of the formula grant and is recommending that entities with allocations under $250,000 claim a rebate.

Allocation Amounts

View Chart

Eligible Uses  

• Eligible uses of EECBG funds include: 
• Development and implementation of an Energy and Conservation Strategy; 
• Retaining technical consultant services to assist the eligible entity in the development of such a strategy; 
• Conducting residential and commercial building energy audits; 
• Establishment of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements; 
• The provision of grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing energy efficiency retrofits; 
• Development and implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; 
• Development and implementation of programs to conserve energy used in transportation; 
• Development and implementation of building codes and inspection services to promote building energy efficiency; 
• Application and implementation of energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency; 
• Activities to increase participation and efficiency rates for material conservation programs, including source reduction, recycling and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency; 
• The purchase and implementation of technologies to reduce, capture and, to the maximum extent practicable, use methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources; 
• Replacement of traffic signals and street lighting with energy efficient lighting technologies; 
• Development, implementation and installation on or in any government building of the eligible entity of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources; 
• Programs for financing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure), capital investments, projects and programs, which may include loan programs and performance contracting programs, for leveraging of additional public and private sector funds and programs that allow rebates, grants or other incentives for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency, renewable energy and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure) measures; and 
• Any other appropriate activity, as determined by the Secretary of DOE. 

Counties play a crucial role in reducing national emission levels through the deployment of clean and renewable energy, among other initiatives. Counties support increased financial and technical assistance to local governments to help develop and implement local climate change adaptation and mitigation plans and projects, including renewable energy deployment.  

NACo played a critical role in securing funds for the EECBG Program in the BIL and is pleased that DOE is taking actionable steps to award these formula funds directly to counties.