Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002716
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and the Golden Field Office, issued this Request for Information (RFI) to gather practical input on how to design revolving loan fund (RLF) programs that are equitable, financially sustainable over time, and effective at expanding access to energy efficiency financing. The central purpose is not to award money or fund projects directly, but to collect ideas, lessons learned, and best practices that DOE can translate into clear program guidance for states (and potentially other entities) that are building, running, or improving RLFs focused on energy efficiency.
The RFI is tied to major federal investment created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Public Law 117-58), signed on November 15, 2021. Under Section 40502 (42 U.S.C. 18792), the IIJA set aside $250 million for DOE to provide capitalization grants to states to implement energy efficiency revolving loan fund capitalization grant programs. In plain terms, these capitalization grants are meant to seed or expand state-run loan funds that can then recycle repayments into new loans, creating a long-term financing tool rather than a one-time grant program. The statute also allows these state programs to support certain grant activities, including grants for commercial and residential energy audits, along with loans (and potentially other support, within statutory boundaries) for energy upgrades and retrofits.
A key point DOE emphasizes is flexibility: IIJA Section 40502 gives states room to tailor RLF structures to their local markets, policy goals, and administrative capabilities, while still operating within the limits established by the law and any requirements set by the Secretary of Energy. DOE is explicitly using this RFI to understand which program features work best in real-world conditions, including strategies that broaden participation beyond traditional borrowers and help underserved communities access high-quality energy efficiency products and services. Another major theme is leveraging private capital. DOE is looking for approaches that do not rely solely on public dollars, but instead use public funding as a catalyst to attract lenders and investors, scale financing availability, and make energy efficiency lending more mainstream and durable.
The opportunity also recognizes that many states already have experience with revolving loan funds, including programs launched or strengthened using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding from 2009 (Public Law No. 111-5). DOE frames the IIJA funding as a chance both to start new RLFs in states that do not currently have them and to upgrade existing RLFs by diversifying products, improving administration, and reaching a broader range of borrowers and building types. In other words, DOE is seeking feedback not only on how to launch an RLF from scratch, but also on how to modernize programs that already exist so they deliver better results, reach more people, and remain financially healthy over many lending cycles.
Administratively, this is listed as a discretionary opportunity under Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0002716, with activity category Energy and CFDA number 81.041. Eligibility is described as unrestricted for purposes of responding to the RFI (open to any entity type, subject to any clarifications in the full RFI text), which signals DOE wanted broad input from state energy offices, green banks, community lenders, utilities, local governments, nonprofit implementers, private financial institutions, technical assistance providers, and other stakeholders with relevant experience. Submissions were required to be emailed electronically to EERevolvingLoanFund@ee.doe.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 6, 2022.
Finally, DOE is clear about what this RFI is and is not. It is not a solicitation for applications, and it is not offering financial assistance or incentives through this notice. DOE will not pay respondents for the information they submit, and no projects will be supported as a direct result of responding. DOE may or may not issue a future Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) after reviewing the feedback, meaning the RFI is an information-gathering step intended to shape later guidance and possible future funding structures. For additional background, DOE points readers to its revolving loan fund overview page and the full RFI text posted on EERE Exchange.Apply for DE FOA 0002716
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Request for Information (RFI): Designing Equitable, Sustainable, and Effective Revolving Loan Fund Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.041.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 31, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 06, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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| Clean Technology and Trade Partnership Initiative’s Accelerating Clean Energy Transitions Technology Needs Assessment Apply for SFOP0008761 Funding Number: SFOP0008761 Agency: Department of State, Office of Acquisitions Management Category: Energy Funding Amount: $684,000 |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Request for Information on Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities Apply for DE FOA 0002715 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002715 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI): DATA AND RESEARCH NEEDS FOR CLIMATE-INFORMED LONG-TERM HYDROPOWER OPERATION AND RESOURCE PLANNING Apply for DE FOA 0002713 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002713 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Clean Technology and Trade Partnership Initiative’s Accelerating Clean Energy Transitions Technology Needs Assessment Apply for SFOP0008826 Funding Number: SFOP0008826 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific Category: Energy Funding Amount: $684,000 |
| Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) - Request for Information on Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementations Apply for DE FOA 0002755 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002755 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL) - Request for Information (RFI) - 2022 Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Pilot Demonstrations Apply for DE FOA 0002749 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002749 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Agreement to Facilitate Coordination Between DOE-NE and Energy Communities, Vital Constituencies, and Educational Groups Apply for DE FOA 0002719 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002719 Agency: Department of Energy, Headquarters Category: Energy Funding Amount: $1,600,000 |
| Just and Secure Energy Transition (J-SET) Apply for 7200AA22RFA00018 Funding Number: 7200AA22RFA00018 Agency: Agency for International Development Category: Energy Funding Amount: $20,000,000 |
| Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) Phase II - Storage Complex Feasibility Apply for DE FOA 0002610 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002610 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: $7,500,000 |
| Notice of Intent to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002632 “Community Geothermal Heating & Cooling Technical Assistance & Deployment” Apply for DE FOA 0002661 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002661 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CENTRAL ASIA ENERGY FELLOWS PROGRAM Apply for SFOP0008948 Funding Number: SFOP0008948 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources Category: Energy Funding Amount: $296,296 |
| Copy of CENTRAL ASIA ENERGY FELLOWS PROGRAM Apply for SFOP0008959 Funding Number: SFOP0008959 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Counterterrorism Category: Energy Funding Amount: $296,296 |
| CENTRAL ASIA ENERGY FELLOWS PROGRAM Apply for SFOP0008960 Funding Number: SFOP0008960 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Energy Resources Category: Energy Funding Amount: $296,296 |
| CENTRAL ASIA ENERGY FELLOWS PROGRAM Apply for SFOP0008963 Funding Number: SFOP0008963 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $296,296 |
| DE-FOA-0002777 Request for Information (RFI) BIL Section 41001 Energy Storage Demonstration Projects Apply for DE FOA 0002777 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002777 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Accelerating Women’s Empowerment in Energy (AWEE) Apply for SFOP0008965 Funding Number: SFOP0008965 Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Category: Energy Funding Amount: $987,654 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue DE-FOA-0002735 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs (Section 40308) Apply for DE FOA 0002746 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002746 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) Apply for DE FOA 0002697 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002697 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002774, Energy Infrastructure Deployment on Tribal Lands – 2022 Apply for DE FOA 0002775 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002775 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Notice of Intent to issue Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0002737 “Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Industrial Decarbonization through Electrification of Process Heating” Apply for DE FOA 0002748 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002748 Agency: Department of Energy, Golden Field Office Category: Energy Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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