Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy

Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy

Type	Initiative
Sponsor Organization	Office of State and Community Energy Programs
Creation Legislation	N/A
Website	Website
Purpose	To support high-impact clean energy projects in disadvantaged communities, energy communities, small- and medium-sized cities, and Tribal lands, promoting economic revitalization, job creation, and environmental benefits. It aims to deliver direct community benefits and spark additional investments.
Program Start	2024
Initial Funding	$18 million
Duration	Specific projects have 12 to 36 months duration
Historic	Yes

Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy (C-SITE) is an initiative aimed at supporting high-impact clean energy projects in disadvantaged communities, energy communities, small- and medium-sized cities, and Tribal lands. It seeks to promote economic revitalization, job creation, and environmental benefits, delivering direct community benefits and sparking additional investments.

Official Site

Goals

• Implement municipally or Tribal-led high-impact clean energy projects.
• Reduce energy costs and improve air quality in targeted communities.
• Spark additional investments in community-led clean energy initiatives.

Organization

The C-SITE initiative is managed by the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) within the U.S. Department of Energy. The leadership position is held by the Director of SCEP.

Partners

• No specific partnerships are listed; however, it engages with local governments, Tribes, and community organizations.

History

C-SITE was launched in 2024 to address the unique energy needs of specific community types under the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda. It was part of a broader initiative to ensure that the benefits of clean energy transition reach all corners of society, focusing on equity and justice in energy investments. The first round of funding was announced in early 2024, with the selection of 12 projects announced later that year, illustrating a range of transformative clean energy initiatives across the U.S.

Funding

The initiative started with an allocation of approximately $18 million for its first round of grants. Funding is awarded to projects with specific durations ranging from 12 to 36 months. There's no definitive end date for the program, but its continuation depends on future funding allocations and the success of initial projects.

Implementation

C-SITE's implementation involves:

• Competitive grant applications for community-led clean energy projects.
• Technical assistance to support project development and implementation.
• A focus on community engagement, ensuring projects align with local priorities.

Each project has its timeline, generally concluding within 36 months, but the initiative itself is designed for ongoing support of community energy transformation.

Related

• Office of State and Community Energy Programs
• Justice40 Initiative

External links

• https://www.energy.gov/scep/communities-sparking-investment-transformative-energy
• wikipedia:Communities Sparking Investment in Transformative Energy

Social media

• No specific social media accounts for C-SITE; follow the Department of Energy for updates.