National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics (81.105)
Program
81.105 National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Authorization
Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, as amended, Public Law 95-91; Energy Policy Act of 1992, as amended, Public Law 102-486.
Program Number
81.105
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To generate new processes and/or equipment that can significantly reduce the use of energy and energy intensive feed-stocks and reduce the generation of wastes in industry. To achieve these objectives, DOE solicits projects that do the following: 1) Encourage accelerated industrial demonstration, deployment, and dissemination of energy efficiency and cleaner production technologies; 2) implement efficiency improvements in processes, material inputs, and waste streams; 3) demonstrate successful industrial applications of innovative cleaner production techniques in conjunction with energy-efficient technologies; 4) coordinate and integrate the activities of institutions responsible for energy, the environment, and industrial competitiveness at the Federal, regional, State, and local levels; 5) target technologies, processes, and procedures that are transferable to a broad range of applications within and across industrial sectors; 6) identify and develop strategies to overcome barriers that currently inhibit energy efficiency or cleaner production techniques and practices in business and industry; 7) enhance industrial competitiveness through the introduction and dissemination of cost-effective, energy-efficient, cleaner production processes, equipment, and practices; and 8) reduce greenhouse gas emissions through pollution prevention in industry.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The scope of the Program is national and is open to State agencies and industry with coordinated State agency endorsement. Particular interest is given to States identified as having industries with the highest energy consumption and the greatest levels of pollutant generation. The Program also focuses on those industries with high energy consumption and pollution problems. Industries of particular interest are those industries targeted by the DOE Office of Industrial Technologies'"Industries of the Future." These include the following: 1) Agriculture, 2) aluminum, 3) chemicals, 4) Forest Products, 5) glass, 6) metal-casting, 7) mining, 8) petroleum, and 9) steel. The following areas are excluded from the scope of the program: 1) Nuclear power generation, 2) remediation of sites, 3) treatment or storage o nuclear or mixed wastes resulting from nuclear power generation, 4) weapons, games, and toys, 5) municipal waste, 6) oil, gas, and coal exploration technologies, 7) waste tire utilization, 8) technologies that violate known laws of physics or thermodynamics, and 9) projects not relevant to the EERE program priorities. Further Program information may be found at www.oit.doe.gov/nice3.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Proposals from all States and proposals from industry that have coordinated a State agency endorsement will be considered. State agencies include State energy, State environmental, State business development, or any State agency as defined by 10 CFR 600.202. In addition to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the U.S., and all federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible. Coordinated State agency endorsement refers to the act of a State(s) 1) Recommending the proposed technology demonstration, 2) waiving its role as the primary applicant, and 3) assigning that role to industry via signature on the State Endorsement Form.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Both state and local governments will benefit from these grants. Commercial firms with expertise in waste reduction and pollution prevention, large and small businesses, and others in the business of preventing pollution and energy conserving technologies will also benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This Program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102 and E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Proposals should be prepared to respond to the details contained in the annual solicitation.
Award Procedure
The size of the Federal grant award can range up to $525,000 of which $500,000 may go to industry. A maximum of $25,000, or 10 percent of the total amount to industry, whichever is less, may be used to support a State agency's costs associated with financial assistance administration, technology transfer/dissemination, marketing, etc. (This portion of the Federal contribution is not required to be cost shared.) Nonfederal cost share from a combination of State and industrial partner sources for a single award must be at least 50 percent of the total cost of the project (if $500,000 in federal funding is requested, cost-share must equal at least $500,000).
Deadlines
Applications are due on the date and time specified in the annual solicitation.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Unsuccessful applicants are entitled to a written debriefing by DOE program officials with a clear explanation of why the proposal was not accepted for funding.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Federal funds will be awarded to States and industry applicants that can match DOE Federal funds at 50 percent. DOE regional support offices will make the grant awards and serve as grant managers. DOE support offices will work with State energy and environmental offices to actively seek out State developmental energy, and industry organizations that might be interested in this Program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Projects may cover a period of up to 3 years with release of funding subject to work progress. Access to process implementation and efficiency data is to be available for 10 years after project completion to measure performance against expectation and to support commercialization of the technology.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Quarterly project and financial status reports are required. A final report is required at the end of the contract period. A 10-year tracking and follow-up reporting mechanism may be required.
Audits
DOE may perform closing audits.
Records
Access to process implementation and efficiency data must be available for 10 years after project completion to measure performance against expectation and to support commercialization of the technology.
Program Accomplishments
Examples of funded projects include a project in Colorado that will demonstrate a new precision irrigation technology to reduce waste and save water and energy; a project in Minnesota that will demonstrate an improved mineral processing technology; and a project in California that will demonstrate an innovative compact separator for the petroleum industry. Further examples of funded projects may be accessed at www.oit.doe.gov/nice3 under the NICE3 Project Information section.
Financial Information
Account Identification
89-0215-0-1-250.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $4,000,000; FY 03 est $1,500,000; and FY 04 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$455,000 to $525,000; $475,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Further Program information may be found at www.oit.doe.gov/nice3.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Golden Field Office, U.S. DOE, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401. Telephone: (303) 275-4737; fax (303) 275-4788. Atlanta Regional Support Office, U.S. Department of Energy, 75 Spring St. SW., Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30303. Telephone: (404) 562-0556. Chicago Regional Support Office, U.S. Department of Energy, One South Whacker Dr., Suite 2380, Chicago, IL 60606-4616. Telephone: (312) 886-8571. Philadelphia Regional Support Office, U.S. Department of Energy, 1880 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Fifth Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Telephone: (215) 656-6964. Denver Regional Support Office, U.S. Department of Energy, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Building 17-2, Golden, Colorado 80401. Telephone: (303) 275-4816. Boston Regional Support Office, U.S. Department of Energy, JFK Federal Bldg., Room 675, Boston, MA 02203. Telephone: (617) 565-9700. Seattle Regional Support Office, U.S. Department of Energy, 800 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3950, Seattle, WA 98104-3122. Telephone: (206) 553-1004.
Headquarters Office
DOE Headquarters: Lisa Barnett, DOE Headquarters, EE-23, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Telephone: (202) 586-2212.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Examples of funded projects may be accessed at http://www.oit.doe.gov/nice3 under the NICE3 Project Information section.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Simultaneous reduction of industrial energy use, reduction of pollution generated by industrial processes, and improvement of process economics. Criteria available in the annual solicitation.
