Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) Round 2 Opportunity

Q: Will a municipal application be competitive for this grant?

A: The R-STEP program is designed to build capacity at the state level so that multiple local municipalities can benefit. DOE anticipates supporting state-based Collaboratives that could include but are not limited to state energy offices, Governor’s offices, Extension offices, universities, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and other organizations. An application designed to improve the siting capabilities of a single municipality is not likely to be competitive.

Q: Can multiple states apply under one collaborative?

A: There are no restrictions on regional or multi-state Collaboratives. However, applicants should carefully consider and discuss the challenges associated with the variability in permitting processes, community needs, and deployment targets between the states of interest.

Q: What types of organizations can lead an application?

A: DOE highly encourages state energy offices (or equivalent state agencies) and university extension offices to lead or participate in applications but recognizes that the organizations best suited to perform these activities will vary from state to state. Other organizations that could play a key role include, but are not limited to, Tribal governments, universities, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations.

Lead applicants must be able to develop or expand state-wide programs that can be leveraged by many communities within the state.

Q: What types of organizations are NOT allowed to lead an application?

A: DOE will not consider applications led by for-profit organizations, developers of renewable energy facilities, or national laboratories. These organizations maybe partners in Collaboratives.

Q: What technologies are eligible?

A: Applications should primarily focus on activities that expand the planning and evaluation capacity of state and local decision makers regarding the siting of large-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage infrastructure. Where there is appreciable need within a state, proposals may include activities related to other clean energy technologies, such as geothermal power, agrivoltaics, offshore wind, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Applicants must provide sufficient detail and reasoning to justify the technologies included in the scope of activities.

Q: Are partners required or can I apply alone? Is there a limit to the number of partners per application?

A: There are no requirements for the number of organizations in a Collaborative. However, successful Collaboratives will be cross-disciplinary and have experience facilitating stakeholder engagement and providing technical assistance on technical issues to local communities. DOE recognizes that the organizations best suited to lead or participate in a Collaborative will vary from state to state. Applicants should justify why their Collaborative is best suited to meet the stated R-STEP goals.

There is no limit to the number of project partners on an application. To facilitate the formation of collaboratives, R-STEP is establishing an online Teaming Partner List where organizations can express interest in partnering with others and share contact information. If you are interested in being added to the teaming partner list and having your information shared with others, please Click Here to Complete This Form

Q: What is difference between the independent Technical Assistance Providers vs. Individuals/organizations an applicant would include as part of Collaborative?      

A: Applicants are encouraged to include organizations with technical expertise on large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting as part of their project team.

Collaboratives awarded will also be eligible to receive additional Technical Assistance (TA) from other leading experts. This additional TA will be provided using funds separate from the Collaborative budgets. Applicants should highlight topic areas where additional TA will be necessary because expertise is lacking as part of the project team. DOE has a limited amount of additional funding to provide additional TA to awardees and all additional TA requests may not be fulfilled.

Q: Can one organization apply on multiple applications?

A: Yes. Applicants are encouraged to include organizations with technical expertise on large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting as part of their project team. An organization may be a part of more than one Collaborative.

Q: Who would own the IP for newly developed resources, processes, products, etc.?

A: DOE does not envision patentable IP being developed under R-STEP. In general, awardees may assert ownership or copyright for data, software, and other copyrightable materials developed under R-STEP, but DOE and the U.S. government will retain unlimited rights to use, reproduce, and distribute that data or software to the public.

Q: Can awardees recommend improvements to state and local government regulatory/approval processes for renewable energy projects?

A: No. Federal law (18 USC 1913) prohibits the use of federal funds for lobbying government officials at all levels of government about any legislation, law, policy or appropriation, unless expressly authorized by Congress. In addition, policy work is inherently governmental. Collaboratives funded through R-STEP therefore cannot use DOE funds to advance or advocate for specific policy changes. Collaboratives can, however, use DOE funds to develop general best practices, or work with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to evaluate the potential effects of current or potential future policies related to renewable energy planning, siting and permitting, provided they do not recommend or otherwise advocate for specific policy changes with those AHJs.

Q: Are there any IT or data specific requirements necessary for an applicant to meet?

A: DOE encourages all applicants to adhere to cybersecurity best practices and coordinate within their collaborative on how to implement these in their proposed work, but there are no specific data security requirements associated with R-STEP awards. That said, DOE may require an awardee to submit a cybersecurity plan for projects involving information technology, if any. Please note that ENERGYWERX administers R-STEP under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with DOE. Like the PIA, the intent is for awards (from ENERGYWERX, i.e., sub-awards) made to collaboratives under R-STEP to be transactions authorized under 15 U.S.C. 3715, which are not a procurement, grant, cooperative agreement or loan.  DOE’s interim pilot guide on PIAs is available here: DOE Partnership Intermediary Agreement | Department of Energy. However, as phase 4 states, “after potential discussions with DOE, successfully negotiated awards may fall under (but are not limited to) alternate mechanism[s] of awards/interactions,” such as contracts and cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs).

Q: What is an Objective Strategic Session (OSS)?

A: Interested participants join a virtual, open forum session to engage with Government Partners, Subject Matter Experts (SME), and other potential performers regarding the Government’s desired focus area(s) of interest.

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For additional Q&A, download the R-STEP Q&A document below, which is based mostly on questions received from Round 1 and will be updated under Round 2 as new questions arise.