DOE/EERE is offering this Request for Information to solicit public feedback on clean energy career development programs.

The Biden Administration is committed to ensuring that overburdened, underserved, and underrepresented individuals and communities have access to federal resources, and specifically that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities, as described in its Justice40 Initiative. The clean energy transition should advance equity3 for people of color, people with disabilities, and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality. Advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the entire government. As part of the whole of government approach, DOE is taking proactive steps to lower barriers to entry.

EERE supports research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. DOE funds RDD&D activities in climate and energy technologies through a variety of mechanisms, including external competitive solicitations and through its 17 national laboratories. In addition, DOE programs support building and sustaining an innovation ecosystem for climate and energy technologies, encompassing early career and workforce development, entrepreneurial programs and resources for individuals and organizations, and technical and financial assistance for communities and regions.

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit public feedback about issues related to educational and professional development programming—created and delivered by diverse science and engineering non-profits—that inspires students, alumni, and professionals to explore, pursue, and succeed in STEM-related careers in clean energy. The expansion of the clean energy economy presents an opportunity to include those who have been underrepresented in the clean energy industry.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to CECFA@ee.doe.gov no later than 5 p.m. ET on Friday, January 26, 2024. Responses must be provided as attachments to an email. To ensure message delivery, DOE recommends that respondents compress (i.e., zip) attachments with file sizes exceeding 25 MB. Responses must be provided as a Microsoft Word (.docx) email attachment of no more than 6 pages in length, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. DOE will only accept electronic responses.

This is solely a request for information and not a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). EERE is not accepting applications.