[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 [email protected]. 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