Alachua County recently announced that the EMPOWER Coalition was chosen for Cohort 2 of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP). The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) administers LEAP technical assistance to low-income communities for clean energy initiatives.
"This new DOE award aligns with our commitment to a clean energy future for all residents," said Alachua County Sustainability Manager Dr. Betsy Riley.
The EMPOWER Coalition is one of only 30 communities in the nation selected by DOE.
Through Communities LEAP, Alachua County will collaborate with the local EMPOWER Coalition to refine the technical aspects of its Solar Benefits for All plan, which aims to address local energy challenges for energy-burdened communities.
The plan will focus on:
- Engineering/Solar Expertise: To evaluate rooftops for solar compatibility and determine the best return on investment.
- Economic Expertise: Understanding the economic implications of negotiating with rooftop owners.
- Policy Expertise: To prepare for potential changes in the policy landscape.
- Community Engagement Expertise: To develop a structured approach for gathering community input.
"The selection underscores EMPOWER Coalition leadership in clean energy,” said RD Bonnaghan, the executive director of Rebuilding Together and an EMPOWER Coalition member. “This program will further strengthen the county's commitment to environmental sustainability and economic development."
The Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) Cohort 2 Competitive Technical Assistance Opportunity aims to facilitate sustained community-wide economic empowerment through clean energy, improve local environmental conditions, and open the way for other benefits, primarily through DOE's clean energy deployment work.
This opportunity is specifically open to low-income, energy-burdened communities that are also experiencing either disadvantaged or experiencing direct economic impacts from a shift away from historical reliance on fossil fuels.
