Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program Fellowship

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Mentors are actively seeking applicants for this opportunity and will review submitted applications for selection on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Science, Technology and Policy Program is designed to provide opportunities for students, postgraduates, established scientists and faculty to participate in programs, projects, and activities at the Department. Fellows will receive hands-on experience that provides an understanding of the mission, operations, and culture of the DOE. As a result, fellows will gain deep insight into the federal government's role in the creation and implementation of energy technology policies; apply their scientific, policy, and technical expertise to the development of solutions to issues of importance to the DOE,and continue their education and involvement in areas that support the DOE mission either in a technical or policy-related role. The DOE Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) is seeking ORISE fellows to support its mission and construct several clean energy and energy efficiency programs. 

About The Office of State and Community Energy Programs

The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) works with state and local organizations to significantly accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies, catalyze local economic development and create jobs, reduce energy costs, and avoid pollution through place-based strategies involving a wide range of government, community, business, and other stakeholders.  In total, SCEP manages programs totaling $16 billion, including foundational programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program, and newly formed programs such as the Local Government Energy Program and Energy Futures Grants.

About the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is a $550 million formula- and competitive- grant program that provides direct and flexible funding to more than 2,700 state, local, and Tribal governments across the United States. 

The EECBG Program is designed to be highly flexible and to meet community needs. Specifically, eligible entities can choose to implement projects aligned to over 14 eligible clean energy use areas. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Energy Strategic Planning
• Energy Efficiency in Buildings (e.g., Audits, Upgrades, and Performance Standards)
• Renewable Energy Systems (e.g., on-site and community solar, geothermal)
• Electrified Transportation (e.g., electric vehicles)
• Financing (e.g., revolving loan funds)

The EECBG Program also is considered a Justice40 program, meaning that all eligible entities are encouraged to invest 40 percent of their allocations in communities that are considered ‘disadvantaged.’

Fellowship Activities

Under the guidance of a mentor, fellows will support the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program while learning about the role of a Project Officer in managing Federal grants to state, local, and Tribal governments.

The objectives of this opportunity include learning and developing in the areas of:

• Grants Management:
  • Support the review of grantee applications, community energy efficiency plans and associated implementation strategies, budgets, progress reports and metrics, and required award documents for completion and accuracy
  • Learning to support Project Officers in performing oversight and project management functions (i.e., monitoring progress of EECBG formula awards to scope, schedule, and budget) grantees through the pre-application, awards negotiation, active award period, and close-out processes.
  • Connecting grantees with relevant technical assistance resources (e.g., expert support from Labs, virtual resources, data and analytical tools).
  • Learning to support Project Officers with monitoring and oversight functions, including reviewing progress reports, conducting on-site monitoring visits (including visits to project sites), and implementing corrective action procedures as necessary.
  • Supporting the overall program, including reviewing submitted applications, tracking progress toward goals, and key performance indicators.
  • Meeting with recipients and organizing convenings, including local/state/regional meetings and participating in national conferences focused on state, local, and tribal audiences.
  • Identifying improvements in the grants management process.
  • Supporting grantee outreach through both written outreach and presentations.
  • Identifying policies and best practices in state, tribal, and local governments that can be shared with and adopted by SCEP’s stakeholders.

• Clean Energy Knowledge and Expertise:
  • Developing technical expertise around one or more clean energy technology areas, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, or electric vehicle technology deployment to state, local, and tribal governments
  • Researching best practices, and writing and contributing to how-to guides and success stories, such as for addressing barriers to adoption in disadvantaged communities.  
  • Collaborating with national labs, contractors or DOE staff to create and deliver clean energy technical assistance, materials, curriculums, webinars, workshops, etc.
  • Gaining deep insight into the federal government's role in the creation and implementation of policies and programs that affect clean energy technology developments.

Participant Benefits

Selected candidates will receive a stipend as described below during this appointment. Stipend rates are determined by DOE officials and are based on the candidate’s academic and professional background. Generally speaking, fellows can expect stipends that align with the following amounts, as of 2023, based on educational background, which may be adjusted based on directly relevant work experience:

• Undergraduate degree: $58,811
• Master’s degree: $71,531
• PhD: 94,199

Fellows are eligible for health insurance benefits through ORISE. Relocation expenses, not to exceed $5,000, incurred in relocating from the participant's current address to the appointment location (if more than 50 miles from the address shown on the application), may be reimbursed. A commuting allowance may be available as well.

Participants will also receive a travel and training allowance of $10,000 per appointment year to cover travel-related expenses for scientific and professional development activities. Participants should anticipate that some of the $10,000 may be expended for required travel for team meetings or site visits during the fellowship. For example, Fellows can expect that roughly $3,000 of the first year’s travel and training allowance will be expended for programmatic travel and personal development. DOE may choose to increase the first-year travel and training allowance to cover those additional costs.

Rolling Applications

Mentors are actively seeking applicants for this opportunity and will review submitted applications for selection on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Preferred Skills

Applicants must have received their Bachelor’s, Master's, or Doctoral degree within the last 5 years, or be currently pursuing their degree and will have completed all degree requirements by the desired start date. Applicants currently pursuing a degree must provide proof of completion of all degree requirements before the appointment start date.  If it has been more than 5 years since the receipt of the degree, to be considered the applicant must have an academic background and experience in a relevant field and must be seeking to gain new knowledge/experience in order to expand career opportunities or to advance professionally. 

The ideal applicants would have strong analytical, research and communication (oral and written) skills and demonstrated capacity for creative thinking and participating on a project both independently and collaboratively. Fellows should be highly organized with strong attention to detail. Preferred applicants should be proficient in Microsoft Office Programs, such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Fellows should bring a strong interest in clean and equitable energy solutions for state, tribal and local governments, and particularly for environmental justice and disadvantaged communities and other under-served areas. DOE seeks candidates with particular expertise in engagement with and outreach with Tribes.

Fellows should have an interest in being part of a multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment. Applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experience in the clean energy sector, or in state, local, or tribal governments are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

A complete application consists of:

• Zintellect Profile and responses to opportunity specific questions.
• Transcripts/Academic Records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Selected candidate may be required to provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, and relevant experiences (*see below for instructions). 
• One Recommendation - Applicants are required to provide contact information for one recommender in order to submit the application. You are encouraged to request a recommendation from professionals who can speak to your abilities and potential for success, as well as your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics. Recommendation requests must be sent through the Zintellect application system. Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect. Letters of recommendation submitted via email will not be accepted. Recommendations must be submitted on your behalf through Zintellect before an offer is made.

All documents must be submitted via Zintellect in order to be considered and must be in English or include an official English translation. Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

*The resume/CV must include the following:

• Basic applicant Information: Name, address, phone, email, and other contact information.
• Work & Research Experience: List all work and research experiences beginning with current or most recent. Include the name of the employer, location, position held, and time period involved.
• Leadership Experience: List experiences (e.g., work, civic, volunteer, research) that demonstrate your leadership skills. Detail your role, type of experience, organization, location, and duration.
• Educational History: List all institutions from which you received or expect to receive a degree, beginning with current or most recent institution. Include the name of the academic institution, degree awarded or expected date of awarded or expected degree, and academic discipline.
• Honors & Awards: List in chronological order (most recent first) any awards or public recognitions. Include the name of awarding institution, title of the award or honor, and date of award or honor.

If you have questions, please send an email to DOE-RPP@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code for this opportunity in the subject line of your email: DOE-STP-SCEP-EECBG

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• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (11 )
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (13 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (29 )
• Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 60 month(s).