The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is a $1 trillion investment in rebuilding America’s roads, bridges and rails, expanding access to clean drinking water, improving access to high-speed internet, tackling the climate crisis, advancing environmental justice and investing in communities. 

Learn more about the Act in a fact sheet from the White House.

The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy is pursuing funding opportunities under the in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Compliance With Federal Legislation and Initiatives

All federal grant opportunities provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), unless otherwise specified, are subject to compliance requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) and the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA).

At the same time, applicants should consider the Justice40 Initiative (J40) which has a goal of ensuring that at least 40% of the benefits from federal grants flow to disadvantaged communities.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

DNREC’s Weatherization Assistance Program offers free assistance to qualifying households to help establish comfortable, energy-saving homes.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $10.1 million for WAP for a 5-year period.

• $5.3 million for direct weatherization of units. New measures include weatherization of multi-family high-rises; electrification of heat pumps, ventilation systems and replacing refrigerators over 20 years old; expanding health and safety measures for residents and contractors; and installing solar panels for qualifying low- and moderate-income residents.
• $1.5 million for administrative costs, split evenly between DNREC and the weatherization subgrantee(s).
• $1.4 million for an aggregate of miscellaneous costs, such as leveraging with non-profit entities to implement cool roofing measures, liability insurance, auditing, new equipment and maintaining vehicles.
• $1.8 million for training and technical assistance for DNREC and the weatherization subgrantee(s).

DNREC will use these funds for increased certification trainings, recruiting Justice40 youth to work in WAP and initiating a DNREC Green Jobs Academy in partnership with the Green Energy Program for weatherization and solar sector workforce development.

Funding Status: Application submitted and approved by USDOE. 50% of funding received; remaining funding received as performance is achieved; We are currently exploring options for third-party (subgrantee) to implement.

WAP – Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC)

The SERC grant provides $1.5M in one-time funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP):

• This funding supplements the WAP Annual Grant with additional funding per home, allowing the Program to expand offerings for “materials, benefits, and renewable and domestic energy technologies not currently covered.”
• Funding will be used to install electric heat pump systems which, when paired with photovoltaic systems, will provide clean energy and reduce traditional grid impacts from electrification measures.

Funding Status: Application submitted and approved by USDOE; awaiting funds.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant 

This block grant provides $1.6 million in one-time funding over a five-year period. 

• $1 million must be passed on to local governments with less than 35,000 population and that are not in the top 10 most populous cities. 
• $600,000, as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, for programs to be implemented by DNREC. Possibilities include solar panel installation on government buildings, inventive programs, new traffic signals and street lighting. 
• Shelters in Solar – one in each county.

Funding Status: Application submitted and approved by USDOE; funding received; we are nearing official launch beginning with public engagement.

Revolving Loan Fund 

This fund will provide an estimated $750,000 in one-time funding. Applications were due in April.

We anticipate that the funds will be used to offer low-interest loans with terms and conditions more favorable than applicants can get in the private sector. Applicants will use the loans as stand-alone or to supplement funding they receive from our other programs.

Funding Status: Applications submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy. Waiting for final approval. 

State Energy Program (SEP)

This program provides $3.3 million in grant funding over a 5-year period.

Of that, $200,000 was set aside for development of an Energy Security Plan as a required pre-requisite by the U.S. Department Of Energy.

Funding Status: Application submitted in December, 2022, with placeholder projects of $1 million for a Cool Roof Program, $1.1 million to fund a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law consultant and $1 million for the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund Strategic Energy Management Initiative. Funding hinges on DOE approval of Energy Security Plan. 

40101d 

The 40101d program will provide Grid Resiliency Grants of up to $1.4 million, $1.6 million including match, yearly for 5 years.

Delaware’s utilities will submit applications to be awarded these funds from DNREC to improve grid resiliency. DNREC has developed a list of objectives for spending which the utilities aspire to meet in order to be awarded funding.

DNREC intends to use 5% of the funds ($73,000) to acquire a consultant to monitor the utility(s)’ projects and report findings to DOE and the public.

DNREC’s State Energy Office has also brought together stakeholders in a 40101(d) committee tasked with identifying objectives centered on Resiliency and Energy Justice and Workforce Development.

Funding Status: Application submitted and approved by USDOE; funding for first and second years received; program running; Find more information on participation.

Coastal Management

DNREC’s Coastal Management Program is utilizing two Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding opportunities available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

National Coastal Zone Management Program

Capacity Funds (non-competitive)

The goal of this funding is to support three contractual hires: a Restoration Project Coordinator, a Restoration Scientist and a Permitting Planner. Two positions (scientist and coordinator) will be co-funded with DNERR.

Funding amounts:

• Year 1 – $150,000 (12/1/2022-11/30/2023)
• Years 2 and 3 – $300,000/year anticipated (12/1/2023-11/30/2025)

National Estuarine Research Reserve System

Capacity Funds (non-competitive)

The goal of this funding is to support two contractual hires: a Restoration Project Coordinator and a Restoration Scientist. Both positions will be co-funded with DCMP.

• Year 1 – $100,000 (12/1/2022-11/30/2023)
• Years 2 and 3 – $200,000/year anticipated (12/1/2023-11/30/2025)

Related Topics:  climate coastal energy, efficiency, energy, energy conservation, funding, incentives