In late October, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $149.87 million in funding for 67 energy conservation and clean energy projects at federal facilities across 28 U.S. states and territories and six international locations. The selected projects will advance the adoption of cleaner, more cost-effective technologies to reduce pollution, improve air quality, create good-paying jobs, and cut the federal government’s carbon footprint.

The announcement represents the second and final installment of the $250 million “Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies” (AFFECT) grant program, which will help the federal government achieve its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from all federal buildings by 2045.

Managed by DOE’s “Federal Energy Management Program” (FEMP), the AFFECT projects will support the transition to net-zero emissions federal buildings by implementing clean energy technologies such as battery energy storage systems, microgrids, and building automation systems, and integrating renewable energy through solar photovoltaics, wind, and geothermal. These upgrades are essential for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. These projects support achievement of the federal sustainability goals established in “Executive Order 14057” and the “Federal Building Performance Standard.”

The AFFECT announcement will be bolstered by leveraging nearly $1.6 billion in private capital and federal funds, corresponding to a total investment of $13.50 for every federal dollar spent.

“Today’s announcement will empower federal facilities across the United States to upgrade critical infrastructure with cutting-edge, cost-effective technologies they need to improve reliability while saving taxpayers money,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

The 67 projects announced today will deliver substantial benefits:

– Reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 19,370 gas-powered vehicles from the road annually (81,388 Mt CO2e/year).

– Save taxpayers $41.7 million annually in energy and water costs.

– Achieve energy savings equivalent to powering 35,701 homes annually (883,525 MMBtu/year).

– Generate carbon pollution-free electricity equivalent to driving 494 million miles in electric cars (176,383 MWh/year).

– Ensure that 100 percent of projects comply with “Made in America” (Executive Order 14005) which will boost American manufacturing and good-paying union jobs.

Selected projects include:

1 – Creativity and resourcefulness combine with underutilized technologies to meet federal and agency goals: For example, a DOE national laboratory in California will expand its microgrid solution to 9.4 megawatts of solar PV capacity and boost battery energy storage to 2,000 kilowatt-hours, and a Coast Guard yard in Maryland will slash on-site fossil fuel usage with a comprehensive ground-source heat pump solution.

2 – Complete elimination of on-site fossil fuel in five federal projects: Through comprehensive retrofitting and electrification efforts, these projects will eliminate 100 percent of their direct on-site emissions, demonstrating an important step toward decarbonization and advancing progress toward more sustainable federal infrastructure.

As demand for AFFECT funding continues to grow, DOE is preparing for the next wave of support. With even more projects in the pipeline, federal facilities will have additional opportunities to apply for funding to further reduce emissions, enhance resilience, and accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions. This continued investment in sustainable federal infrastructure will not only bolster national security and energy reliability but also drive economic growth by creating good-paying jobs and fostering innovation through partnerships.