Energizing Insular Communities Program Funding Now Open for Applications from U.S. Territories

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech announced that proposals are now being accepted for the Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) program funding for fiscal year (FY) 2020. Those eligible to apply are local government entities, independent authorities, and educational institutions located in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The deadline is June 15, 2020.

“This program supports the President and the Department’s priority to promote energy and economic security for America,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “We are a committed partner with the governors to help advance their collective goal to make power more affordable in the islands and increase energy security for their communities.”  

Each proposal will be reviewed and evaluated for two important criteria:

1) whether the proposal is directly tied to the territory’s respective strategic energy plan, energy action plan, or integrated resource plan; and

2) whether there is a projected energy cost savings to end-users.

The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) recently entered into an interagency agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) thereby making technical assistance and expertise from DOE available to the territories. Applicants should indicate interest for such assistance in their application. All applications should be submitted through the federal website for grants at Grants.Gov - where the EIC grant is listed under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 15.875. For detailed instructions, visit https://www.doi.gov/oia/financial-assistance.

 For more information about the work of the Office of Insular Affairs, visit http://www.doi.gov/oia or follow on Twitter @ASIIADomenech.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

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