[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27058-27059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13541]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

State Energy Program Special Projects Financial Assistance

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As part of the new consolidated State Energy Program (SEP) 
being implemented for fiscal year 1996, the Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy is announcing the availability of financial 
assistance to States for a group of special project activities. Funding 
is being provided by a number of end-use sector programs in the Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, such as Climate Wise, Clean 
Cities, Rebuild America, Motor Challenge, Building Codes and Standards, 
and State Alternative Fuel Transportation efforts. States may apply to 
undertake any of the projects being offered by these programs. States 
will carry out their selected projects in conjunction with their 
efforts under SEP.
    The projects must meet the relevant requirements of the programs 
providing the funding, as well as of SEP, as specified in the program 
guidance/solicitation. Among the goals of the special project 
activities are to assist States to: accelerate deployment of energy 
efficiency and renewable energy technologies; facilitate the acceptance 
of emerging and underutilized energy efficiency and renewable energy 
technologies; and increase the responsiveness of Federally funded 
technology development efforts to private sector needs.

DATES: The program guidance/solicitation will be available June 3, 
1996. Applications must be received by June 28, 1996.

ADDRESSES AND FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ernest Chabot at the U. 
S. Department of Energy Headquarters, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
Washington, D. C. 20585, (202) 586-8128, for referral to the 
appropriate DOE Regional Support Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fiscal year 1996 is the first year special 
project activities will be funded in conjunction with the new 
consolidated State Energy Program. Most of these special projects are 
related to or based on similar efforts that have been funded separately 
by the

[[Page 27059]]

various DOE end-use sector programs that are now providing funding for 
this new consolidated State-oriented approach.

Availability of Fiscal Year 1996 Funds

    With this publication, DOE is announcing the availability of up to 
$12 million in financial assistance funds for fiscal year 1996. The 
awards will be made through a competitive process. No State will be 
awarded financial assistance for special projects in excess of $500,000 
for fiscal year 1996. Projects may cover a period of up to 2 years.

Restricted Eligibility

    Eligible applicants for purposes of funding under this program are 
limited to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or any 
territory or possession of the United States, specifically, the State 
energy or other agency responsible for administering the State Energy 
Program pursuant to 10 CFR part 420. For convenience, the term State in 
this notice refers to all eligible State applicants.
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number assigned to the 
State Energy Program is 81.041.
    Requirements for cost sharing or matching contributions will be 
addressed in the program guidance/solicitation for each special project 
activity, as appropriate. Cost sharing or matching contributions beyond 
any required percentage is desirable.
    Any application must be signed by an authorized State official, in 
accordance with the program guidance/solicitation.

Evaluation Review and Criteria

    A first tier review for completeness will occur at the appropriate 
DOE Regional Support Office. Applications found to be complete will 
undergo a merit review process by panels comprised of members 
representing the respective participating end-use sector programs in 
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. A decision as 
to the applications selected for funding will then be made by the 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Building Technology, State and Community 
Programs, or designee, based on the findings of the technical merit 
review and any stated program policy factors. DOE reserves the right to 
fund, in whole or in part, any, all, or none of the applications 
submitted in response to this notice.
    More detailed information is available from the U. S. Department of 
Energy Headquarters at (202) 586-8128.

    Issued in Washington, D. C., May 23, 1996.
Christine A. Ervin,
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 96-13541 Filed 5-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P