The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $22 million in funding to help accelerate large-scale renewable energy facilities. It will specifically direct this amount to go into improving planning, siting and permitting processes for wind, solar and energy storage facilities in the country.
Of the $22 million, 6 state-based projects will receive $10 million through the Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program. Through this program, the DOE says states and local governments get more decision-making capacity regarding large-scale renewable energy projects.
It will also provide technical assistance programs to help the local authorities take informed permitting decisions for projects to be built on private lands.
According to the department, the program can help unlock opportunities for community wealth-building, workforce development, increased grid resilience, and electricity bill savings, especially in rural or underserved communities.
The 6 states that have won the $10 million funding are Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Recently, the American Clean Power Association (ACP) said more than 60 GW of clean power projects were delayed at the end of 2023 due to a host of reasons, including lengthy permitting processes (see US Utility-Scale Clean Energy Capacity Grew By 33.8 GW In 2023).
"Often, the biggest barrier to deploying that clean generation is siting and permitting. The Biden-Harris Administration is helping provide local leaders with the resources needed to deploy more clean energy to their residents in a way that is tailored to their unique needs," said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.
The DOE plans to open a 2nd round of the R-STEP program with up to $12 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).