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[Federal Register: May 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 99)]
[Notices]               
[Page 28801-28802]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24my10-51]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

 
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program: Funding 
Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000013)

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application deadline guideline.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that applications under the 
Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000013) for the formula 
grants of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) 
Program of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will not 
be accepted after June 25, 2010.

DATES: Eligible entities that have not submitted an application for a 
formula allocation under the program to date may submit an application 
to DOE by 11:59 p.m., ET, June 25, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Johanna Zetterberg, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program, EE-2K, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 586-8778 or e-mail: 
Johanna.Zetterberg@ee.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background
II. Extension of the FOA Application Deadlines
III. Application Information for Eligible Entities

I. Background

    The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)

[[Page 28802]]

Program was established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
2007 (Pub. L. 110-140; (EISA)). The EECBG Program provides Federal 
grants to States, units of local government, Indian Tribes, and 
consortia of these entities to reduce energy use and fossil fuel 
emissions, and for energy efficiency programs and projects. (42 U.S.C. 
17152) Generally, the EECBG Program provides for formula grants to 
States, cities and counties of specified populations, and specified 
Indian Tribes (collectively referred to as ``eligible entities''). (42 
U.S.C. 17153(a)) Entities eligible for a formula grant and their 
funding allocations are published on DOE's Web site at http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/. The EECBG Program is administered by the Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) of the U.S. Department 
of Energy (DOE).
    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5; 
ARRA) appropriated $3.2 billion to DOE to implement the program. DOE 
initially provided $2.741 billion for formula grants from the ARRA 
appropriations. The distribution was determined using the most recent 
and accurate population data available, as follows:
     68 percent to eligible units of local government;
     28 percent to States through formula grants;
     Two percent to Indian Tribes through formula grants; and
     Two percent for competitive grants to ineligible cities, 
counties, and Indian Tribes.
    (42 U.S.C. 17153(a); see also 74 FR 17146 (April 15, 2009) 
available at (http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/pdfs/eecbg_federal_register_notice_04_15_09.pdf).
    In June 2009, DOE established an appeals process regarding 
eligibility determinations. (74 FR 30061; June 24, 2009). The deadline 
for filing appeals regarding eligibility determinations for direct 
formula grants for units of local government under the EECBG Program 
was July 24, 2009. Appeals were reviewed and adjudicated by DOE's 
Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), and decisions were issued from 
July 23, 2009, through September 15, 2009. Thirty one appeals were 
granted, six appeals were denied, and one was dismissed. All case 
decisions are available at http://www.oha.doe.gov/EECBG/report.asp. For 
detailed information regarding issues that could be appealed, the 
process for filing an appeal, and the procedure applicable to 
adjudicate such appeals, see the notice available at http://www.oha.doe.gov/EECBG/EECBG.asp.
    The total number of eligible entities under the EECBG Program, 
including entities that successfully appealed, is 2,359; 56 States 
(including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Mariana 
Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa), 1,258 cities and 
city-equivalents, 471 counties and county-equivalents, and 574 Indian 
Tribes. Under ARRA, all EECBG Program funds from ARRA must be obligated 
by DOE by September 30, 2010.

II. Extension of the FOA Application Deadlines

    DOE issued DE-FOA-0000013 on March 26, 2009, establishing an 
application deadline for States of May 26, 2009, and for units of local 
government and Indian Tribes of June 25, 2009. The FOA specifically 
stated that applications received after the deadline would not be 
reviewed or considered for award. However, DOE issued amendment 003 on 
May 11, 2009, establishing an application deadline for all applicants 
of June 25, 2009. DOE issued amendment 005 on June 25, 2009, 
establishing a deadline of August 10, 2009. This notice is to inform 
eligible entities that an amended deadline for applications for formula 
funding under the EECBG Program of June 25, 2010 has been established. 
Applications not received by this date will not be reviewed or 
considered for award.
    If there are any funds remaining upon closure of DE-FOA-0000013 for 
formula grants to eligible entities, DOE will reallocate the remaining 
funds consistent with the EECBG statutory formula.

III. Application Information for Eligible Entities

    Eligible entities that have not submitted an application for a 
formula allocation under the program to date may submit an application 
to DOE by 11:59 p.m., ET, June 25, 2010. Applicants must follow all 
registration and submission requirements and instructions in DE-FOA-
0000013.
    DOE encourages eligible entities that do not intend to apply for an 
allocation to submit a Letter of Intent. Letters of Intent are not 
required. However, if you are an eligible entity in accordance with 
section 541, Subtitle E of EISA of 2007 and do not intend to apply for 
these funds, please submit an e-mail to EECBG@netl.doe.gov with the 
subject line: ``DE-FOA-0000013--No intention of applying for funding.'' 
In the body of the e-mail message, state that ``the following entity: 
[State/City, State/County, State/Indian Tribe/State] will not be 
applying for their formula-based funding available under the Energy 
Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.'' Please include a PDF 
of a letter on the entity's letterhead also stating the intention not 
to apply for funding with the signature, name and contact information 
of the authorized individual responsible for this decision.

IV. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved publication of this notice.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 18, 2010.
Cathy Zoi,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2010-12405 Filed 5-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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