[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 112 (Friday, June 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35535-35536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12524]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Request for Information To Inform the Interagency Working Group 
on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization

AGENCY: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), U.S. Department 
of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: NETL, a DOE National Laboratory, provides coordination support 
on behalf of DOE for the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power 
Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Interagency Working 
Group). NETL is requesting information to help inform the efforts of 
the Interagency Working Group

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit responses by August 9, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted via the internet at: https://energycommunities.gov/comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Briggs White, Deputy Executive 
Director, Energy Communities IWG, Telephone: (412) 386-7546. Questions 
may be addressed to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 27, 2021, President Biden signed 
Executive Order 14008, ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and 
Abroad,'' which established the Interagency Working Group on Coal and 
Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (``Interagency 
Working Group''). The Interagency Working Group's mandate is to 
``coordinate the identification and delivery of federal resources to 
revitalize the economies of coal, oil and gas, and power plant 
communities.''
    The Interagency Working Group is co-chaired by the Director of the 
National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Climate Advisor, and 
administered by the Secretary of Energy. The members of the Interagency 
Working Group include the Secretary of Treasury, the Secretary of the 
Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of 
Education, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the 
Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and the federal Co-Chair of 
the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). NETL, a DOE National 
Laboratory, provides coordination support on behalf of DOE for the 
Interagency Working Group. The Director of NETL, Brian J. Anderson, 
Ph.D., was named as the Executive Director of the Interagency Working 
Group. In this role, he strategically leverages national laboratory 
resources and expertise to help ensure the shift to a clean energy 
economy creates good-paying union jobs, spurs economic revitalization, 
remediates environmental degradation and supports energy workers in 
coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities.
    Executive Order 14008 tasked the Interagency Working Group with 
preparing an Initial Report describing ``mechanisms, consistent with 
applicable law, to prioritize grantmaking, federal loan programs, 
technical assistance, financing, procurement, or other existing 
programs to support and revitalize the economies of coal and power 
plant communities.''
    In the Initial Report, the Interagency Working Group identified 25 
priority geographies hard-hit by declines in coal production and 
consumption. These geographies are also vulnerable to further economic 
distress as the remaining coal mines and coal power plants close.
    The Interagency Working Group also identified the following six 
guiding principles:

 Creating good-paying jobs
 Providing federal investment to catalyze economic 
revitalization
 Supporting energy workers by securing benefits and providing 
opportunity
 Prioritizing pollution mitigation and remediation
 Adopting a government-wide approach
 Formalizing stakeholder engagement efforts

    A copy of the Initial Report from the Interagency Working Group and 
additional information on the priority geographic areas, the guiding 
principles, near term goals and other Interagency Working Group 
activities can be found at: https://energycommunities.gov.
    This RFI seeks input from the public on the challenges facing 
energy communities, measures to address those needs, and 
recommendations for the Federal Government to consider. Comments can 
address, but are not limited to:

Integrated Support

     Methods the Federal Government can take to reduce or 
eliminate barriers that prevent some energy communities from 
effectively accessing available funding and program support.

[[Page 35536]]

     Informational and technical assistance resources needed by 
energy communities to more easily access federal support.
     Models and examples the Interagency Working Group can 
consider as it works to establish a one-stop shop for energy 
communities to access the range of federal investments that can support 
community revitalization, job creation and energy workers.

Investments

     Areas where federal investments, focused on energy 
communities, are most important, such as job creation, economic 
development, education, environmental remediation, and healthcare.
     Examples of federal programs that are working well to 
support energy workers and community revitalization and what 
specifically makes those programs successful.
     Gaps where new or additional federal funding would be 
beneficial.

Policy

     In addition to funding and technical assistance, where can 
the Federal Government better support energy workers and their 
communities as the nation transitions its energy mix.
     Specific policy recommendations for the Interagency 
Working Group to consider.

Other

     Other recommendations for the Interagency Working Group 
consider.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on June 6, 
2022, by Brian J. Anderson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Interagency 
Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic 
Revitalization and Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory 
(NETL), pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. 
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by 
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with 
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE 
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit 
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official 
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no 
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-12524 Filed 6-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P