ARRA Provides Big Funding Boost for State Energy Program

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-05) provides $3.1 billion in for the State Energy Program (SEP, CFDA 81.041). This is an enormous funding increase for a program that has never received annual funding of more than $50 million. Accordingly, both states and the Department of Energy (DoE) have a steep learning curve to navigate as they seek to distribute and invest program funds in a timely and effective manner. To that end, DoE has released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that explains the steps states must take to secure their shares of funding. This brief summarizes that announcement.