U.S. Department of Energy Allocates $10 Million to Boost Renewable Energy Siting Planning

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled plans to allocate a total of $10 million to six state-based collaborative organizations through its Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program. This initiative aims to bolster decision-making capacity for state and local governments concerning large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting.

The R-STEP program, which also provides technical assistance to the recipient organizations, is set to open an additional $12 million for funding. According to a DOE press release, this effort aims to expedite renewable energy deployment by establishing more predictable, community-oriented, and science-based siting processes for developers and permitting authorities.

Amid growing community opposition to large-scale solar development, the R-STEP program seeks to ensure that local communities benefit from land development activities. The program emphasizes meaningful community engagement to unlock opportunities for workforce development, community wealth-building, increased grid resilience, and electricity bill savings, particularly in rural areas.

The recipient states of the R-STEP funding are Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, the Carolinas, and Wisconsin. Local universities will administer the programs, receiving between $1 million to $2 million over a three-year period.

Managed by Energywerx in partnership with the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office and Wind Energy Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the RSTEP funding and technical assistance opportunity aims to advance renewable energy siting practices nationwide.