Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002632
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office, released a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment" (Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0002632; CFDA: 81.087). The program is built around the Biden Administration's broader clean energy and climate targets, including reaching carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and putting the United States on a path to net-zero, economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050. A central theme of the opportunity is pairing climate action with equity by ensuring environmental justice and meaningful inclusion of underserved communities as the country expands clean energy infrastructure and jobs.
At its core, the FOA is meant to help form and support U.S.-based community coalitions that can move beyond planning and into real-world deployment of community-scale geothermal heating and cooling. The intent is not simply to study geothermal potential, but to develop, design, and install systems that measurably reduce emissions by replacing or cutting reliance on fossil-fuel-based heating and cooling in homes and businesses. DOE frames this as part of its research, development, demonstration, and deployment approach, emphasizing practical projects that can be implemented, operated, and replicated.
A key performance requirement is that funded projects must result in community geothermal heating and cooling systems that supply at least 25 percent of a community's total heating demand, or total combined heating and cooling demand, depending on how the community defines its needs. The target communities are those where existing heating or heating and cooling fuel use is contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions, meaning the opportunity is designed to deliver tangible emissions reductions where they are most needed and where switching to geothermal can make a noticeable difference in local air quality and climate impact.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically means DOE expects an active partnership role during the project period rather than a hands-off grant. The maximum award amount listed is $10,000,000, and DOE anticipated making about 10 awards under this announcement. Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many types of entities (with the caveat that applicants must still follow any additional eligibility details contained in the full FOA text). The funding activity categories associated with the opportunity include energy, community development, employment and workforce-related efforts, labor and training, and regional development, reflecting that these projects are expected to deliver community-wide benefits beyond energy savings alone, such as local job creation and capacity building.
The opportunity was created on July 12, 2022, and originally closed on October 11, 2022. Overall, the FOA is aimed at accelerating adoption of community geothermal systems at meaningful scale by supporting coalitions that can coordinate stakeholders, design technically sound systems, and carry projects through installation in a way that advances emissions reductions while prioritizing equity and inclusion.Apply for DE FOA 0002632
- The Department of Energy, Golden Field Office in the community development, employment, labor and training, energy, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 12, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 11, 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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment.
2) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Golden Field Office.
3) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DE-FOA-0002632.
4) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 81.087.
5) What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is designed to help form and support U.S.-based community coalitions that can move beyond planning and into the real-world design and deployment of community-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems.
6) Is this opportunity focused on studies and planning, or on deployment?
It is primarily focused on practical implementation. The intent is not simply to study geothermal potential, but to develop, design, and install systems that reduce emissions by replacing or reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based heating and cooling.
7) What types of outcomes is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for projects that deliver measurable emissions reductions by cutting fossil-fuel-based heating and cooling in homes and businesses, using geothermal heating and cooling at a meaningful community scale.
8) Is there a specific performance requirement for funded projects?
Yes. Funded projects must result in community geothermal heating and cooling systems that supply at least 25 percent of either (a) a community's total heating demand, or (b) a community's total combined heating and cooling demand, depending on how the community defines its needs.
9) What kinds of communities are targeted by this opportunity?
The opportunity targets communities where existing heating (or heating and cooling) fuel use is contributing to higher greenhouse gas emissions, so that switching to geothermal can create meaningful emissions reductions and local benefits.
10) How does this FOA connect to broader federal climate and clean energy goals?
The FOA is framed as supporting the Biden Administration's climate and clean energy targets, including goals such as carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and putting the U.S. on a path to net-zero, economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.
11) How does equity or environmental justice factor into this opportunity?
A central theme is pairing climate action with equity by promoting environmental justice and the meaningful inclusion of underserved communities as clean energy infrastructure and related jobs expand.
12) What type of federal funding instrument will be used?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements.
13) What does it mean that awards are cooperative agreements?
Based on the description provided, cooperative agreements typically mean DOE expects an active partnership role during the project period rather than acting as a hands-off funder.
14) What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $10,000,000.
15) How many awards did DOE anticipate making?
DOE anticipated making about 10 awards under this announcement.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to many types of entities, with the caveat that applicants must still follow any additional eligibility details contained in the full FOA text.
17) Are projects expected to provide benefits beyond energy and emissions reductions?
Yes. The funding activity categories linked to the opportunity include energy, community development, employment and workforce-related efforts, labor and training, and regional development, reflecting expectations of broader community benefits such as local job creation and capacity building.
18) What is DOE's overall approach reflected in this FOA?
DOE describes the effort as part of a research, development, demonstration, and deployment approach, emphasizing projects that can be implemented, operated, and replicated.
19) When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 12, 2022.
20) What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The opportunity originally closed on October 11, 2022.
21) What is the overall goal of the FOA in practical terms?
The FOA aims to accelerate adoption of community geothermal systems at meaningful scale by supporting coalitions that can coordinate stakeholders, design technically sound systems, and carry projects through installation in a way that advances emissions reductions while prioritizing equity and inclusion.
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