[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 38 (Friday, February 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9486-9487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4848]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Competitive Financial Assistance for the Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Amendment to Competitive Financial Assistance 
Solicitation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On December 3, 1998, the Department of Energy issued a notice 
which announced a competitive solicitation for applications for grants 
and cooperative agreements for information dissemination, public 
outreach, training, and related technical analysis activities involving 
renewable energy and energy efficiency. The solicitation had two 
closing dates--January 8, 1999 and March 31, 1999.
    The purpose of this announcement is to: (1) Extend the second 
closing date until April 16, 1999; (2) announce new Program Areas of 
Interest for competition, which were not contained in the December 3 
solicitation; (3) identify Program Areas of Interest contained in the 
December 3 solicitation (Attachment A) which are being cancelled for 
the second closing date because funds are expected to be exhausted 
under the first round of awards; (4) modify certain Program Areas of 
Interest; and (5) indicate that certain technical amendments will be 
made to the solicitation. It is estimated that funding of up to $1 
million will be available under renewable energy programs and up to $1 
million will be available under energy conservation programs for awards 
for project funding in FY 1999 and FY 2000. The anticipated project 
periods are from six months to three years, and awards are expected by 
July 1999. Proposals received in response to this solicitation will be 
subjected to the objective merit review procedures for the Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

ADDRESSES: The formal amendment to the solicitation is expected to be 
issued by early March 1999. It will be available as solicitation number 
DE-PS01-99EE10649 through the Department of Energy's 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, a 
diskette mailer to U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Headquarters 
Procurement Services, Attn.: Document Control Specialist, MA-543, 1000 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Jacqueline Kniskern, MA-
542, Office of Headquarters Procurement Services, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, 
facsimile number (202) 426-0168, 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

[[Page 9487]]

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 assistance activities to: (1) Stimulate 
increased energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and industry 
and increased use of renewable and alternative energy; and (2) 
accelerate the adoption of new technologies to increase energy and the 
use of renewable and alternative energy. The purpose of this 
solicitation (as amended) is to further these objectives through 
financial assistance in the following areas:
    Office of Power 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. Program Areas of Interest 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 
1G, 1H, 1I, 1J, and 1K are cancelled for the second closing date. 
Financial assistance applications will be accepted for Program Area of 
Interest 1L, ``Utility Sector: Co-Sponsorship of Conferences.'' 
Applications also will be accepted for an amended Program Area of 
Interest 1A, which will be focused on public outreach involving 
distributed power.
    Office of Industrial Technologies--Due to the large volume of 
applications received during the first round, applications will not be 
accepted in Program Areas of Interest 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, and 2G.
    Office of Transportation Technologies--During this round of 
applications, proposals will not be accepted for Program Areas of 
Interest 3A, 3B, and 3C. A limited amount of funding will be competed 
to support projects in Program Area of Interest 3D, ``Training Programs 
for Local Clean Cities Coalitions and Alternative Fuels Curriculum 
Development.''
    Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs---Due 
to the large volume of applications received during the first round, 
applications will not be accepted in Program Area of Interest 4.
    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. During this round of 
applications, proposals will not be accepted for Program Areas of 
Interest 5A and 5C. However, financial assistance applications will be 
requested for a revised Program Area of Interest 5B, the ``Product 
Energy Efficiency Information.'' In addition, proposals will be 
requested for two new areas: (1) ``Information Dissemination and 
Technical Analysis on Federal Mobile Equipment Energy Efficiency 
Potential; and (2) ``Information Dissemination and Outreach to the 
Federal Sector.''
    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. Due to the large 
number of applications in the first round, proposals will not be 
accepted for Program Area of Interest 6A. Financial assistance 
applications will be requested to support information dissemination, 
outreach, and training involving international energy efficiency and 
renewable energy efforts (Program Area of Interest 6B). However, funds 
available will be reduced substantially, and this Area of Interest will 
be modified to focus on region-wide activities in Africa, South Asia, 
and Latin America.
    In addition, a new Program Area of Interest will be added for 
technical assistance under the Million Solar Roofs Initiative for 
national efforts to remove barriers to the use of solar energy systems. 
Applications will be requested for activities that address the barriers 
and opportunities in the following areas: (1) Residential and 
commercial codes and covenants that restrict the use of solar energy on 
buildings; (2) financing solar energy systems on residential and 
commercial buildings; (3) interconnection of photovoltaic systems to 
the utility grid; and (4) solar energy information materials.
    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.gov/ee.html.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 22, 1999.
Carol M. Rueter,
Acting Director, Program Services Division, Office of Headquarters 
Procurement Services.
[FR Doc. 99-4848 Filed 2-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P