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Solar Power in Your Community: DOE Office of Energy Efficacy and Renewable Energy Release a Guidebook for Localities to Develop Solar Energy 

In 2022 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) released the Solar Power in Your Community guidebook, which will assist regional and local government officials and stakeholders in boosting solar deployment and overcoming common barriers in today’s market. This marks the third edition of the guidebook, which DOE originally published in 2011. The report provides best practices, case studies, and links to additional resources. Many examples are the direct result of SolSmart, a national designation program that recognized municipalities, counties, and regional organizations that are addressing market barriers and making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar. NARC joined the SolSmart project team in 2021. Additional information about NARC’s involvement and support for the regional designation pathway can be found on our website.   

Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook – Examples and Insights from Local Communities

The guidebook developed by NREL and DOE serves as a resource to assist government officials and regional stakeholders in increasing deployment and local access to solar photovoltaics. Through diverse case studies, information about new technologies, and more, you will gain invaluable insight and strategies for improving the equity of solar deployment at the local and regional level. 

Access the guidebook to learn more. 

Submission of Bulk Challenges

Regional Councils, COGs, and MPOs are encouraged to review and validate the availability data presented on the new National Broadband Map to determine whether to submit a challenge. If your organization or local districts determine that a challenge is needed, the FCC has provided steps to follow here. 

Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook – Reaching for Greater Solar Equity

Despite substantial market growth, barriers to solar adoption disproportionally impact low- to moderate-income (LMI) households and under-resourced communities. Regional and local governments are uniquely positioned to remove many of the barriers to widespread solar adoption and make solar energy more affordable and accessible for all.  

Steps Your Community Can Take Today to Increase Solar Deployment

What actions can regional governments, local jurisdictions, and communities take to make solar accessible and affordable? There’s a lot of options, including:  

  • Organizing and Strategizing a Regional Solar Effort 
  • Updating Regional and Local Policies and Processes 
  • Developing Local Workforce Training and Education Programs 
  • Educating and Empowering Potential Customers using Inclusive Strategies  
  • Installing Solar on Local Land and Buildings 

Learn more about all of these (and more) in the U.S. Department of Energy’s To learn more,  access the report on energy.gov.  

USDOT Announce New Guidance and $6.4 Billion to Help States Reduce Carbon Emissions

Date: April 21, 202

(04/21/2022)
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration today announced a new program that unlocks $6.4 billion in formula funding for states and localities over five years. The new Carbon Reduction Program (CRP), created under the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help states develop carbon reduction strategies and address the climate crisis facing our nation.

Your Help Needed to Increase Funding for HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program

Date: April 11, 202

Please urge your members of Congress to support HOME in FY 2023 appropriations. Please urge your local, state, and regional partners to support the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) program and urge Congress to direct renewed investment of $2.5 billion for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 through the National Sign On Letter by COB Friday, April 22.

NARC and AMPO Submit Public Comments to FHWA on IIJA Implementation

Date: April 8, 2022

In a letter to the Federal Highway Administration, the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) write to jointly request consideration of the following comments in response to the Request for Information (RFI) (Docket No. FHWA-2021-0021) that was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2021.

Your Help Needed to Increase Funding for the Older Americans Act

Date: April 12, 2022

Please call your Representatives and urge them to sign the Bipartisan OAA Funding Letter sponsored by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) calling for increases in OAA funding for this year. Rep. Bonomici, along with Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Ted Deutch (D-FL) and John Katko (R-NY), is sponsoring a “Dear Colleague” letter calling for a doubling of fiscal year 2023 OAA Title III “aging independently”  programs.  Signatures for the Bonamici-Stefanik OAA sign-on letter are due Friday, April 22.
 
OAA programs are facing stagnant funding levels along with declining emergency funds. These fund levels are inadequate to meet the growing numbers of older adults needing support. Please encourage your representatives to join Reps. Bonamici and Stefanik in calling for increased OAA funding.  If adopted it would increase funding for OAA Title III B Supportive Services, Title III C Nutrition, Title III D Evidence-Based Health Promotion and Prevention Programs and Title III E National Family Caregiver Support Program.
 
For more information click here:
 
USAging’s request to double FY 2023 funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III programs.
 
Again, signatures for the Bonamici-Stefanik OAA sign-on letter are due Friday, April 22. 

Treasury Issues Final Rule: State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Program to Support…

Date: January 6, 2022

The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the Final Rule for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, enacted as a part of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), which delivers $350 billion to state, local, and Tribal governments to support their response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The SLFRF program ensures governments have the resources needed to respond to the pandemic, including providing health and vaccine services, supporting families and businesses struggling with the pandemic’s economic impacts, maintaining vital public services, and building a strong and equitable recovery. Click here to view the final rule text. Click here to view a user-friendly overview of the major provisions of the final rule. 

Congress Sends Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to Biden’s Desk

Date: November 05, 2021 

Last week the Honorable Alejandra Castillo U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) testified before the Senate Committee on EnviOn November 4, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) tCongress passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package Friday, approving a signature part of President Joe Biden’s economic agenda. It will deliver $550 billion of new federal investments in America’s infrastructure over five years, touching everything from bridges and roads to the nation’s broadband, water and energy systems. Experts say the money is sorely needed to ensure safe travel, as well as the efficient transport of goods and produce across the country. Democrats claim the bill pays for itself through a multitude of measures and without raising taxes. But the Congressional Budget Office brushed aside several of those pay-for provisions, ultimately finding the bill would add $256 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. It’s significantly smaller than the $2.25 trillion proposal that Biden unveiled in March, known as the American Jobs Plan. 

OSHA Releases New Rule on COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing

Date: November 04, 2021 

Last week the Honorable Alejandra Castillo U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) testified before the Senate Committee on EnviOn November 4, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to require large employers to develop, implement and enforce a COVID-19 vaccination policy or institute a policy to allow employees to choose between vaccination and weekly testing. The ETS applies to employers with 100 employees or more that are subject to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. This includes county governments located in the 26 states with OSHA-approved state plans, which are OSHA-approved workplace safety and health programs operated by individual states or U.S. territories. The ETS will take effect on November 5, 2021, and covered employees must have their vaccination policies in place within 30 days. The deadline for employees to be fully vaccinated or begin regular testing is January 4, 2022. OSHA has already initiated a 30-day public comment period. Aside from seeking general comments on all aspects of the rule and how it would be adopted as a final standard, OSHA is seeking public input on nine specific topics.   

Assistant Secretary Castillo Highlights Regional Collaboration in Testimony Before the Senate EPW Committee on EDA Reauthorization

Date: November 03, 2021 

Last week the Honorable Alejandra Castillo U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) on the importance of reauthorizing EDA, which has not been reauthorized since 2004. In her testimony, Secretary Castillo highlighted EDA’s growth in size and budget over the past 17 years and especially over the past four years in response to disasters. She also recognized the need for regional collaboration as a means to achieving economic growth and ensuring equitable growth that reaches the nation’s underserved communities. EDA has increasingly been called on to play a prominent role in disaster recovery efforts, including two disaster supplementals in Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 totaling $1.2 billion, $1.5 billion under the CARES Act, and now $3 billion under the ARP Act. Reauthorization is vitally important now to position EDA to respond to new and existing economic development challenges.