What is the current status of this program?
At this time, no further rounds of funding from DOE have been announced, but subgrants are available (see details below). Note that all DOE links on this page are archived pages stored on a non-government website and are no longer being updated.
What does this funding get me?
This funding consists of formula and competitive grants to states, local governments, and Tribes. Successful applicants may make subgrants to other entities and residents.
No applications are currently being accepted, but full guidance on eligible projects is here. The funds were generally available to projects that cut carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, or reduce energy use, including such things as:
- Development and implementation of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy
- Retaining technical consultant services to assist the eligible entity in the development of such a strategy
- Conducting residential and commercial building energy audits
- Establishment of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements
- The provision of grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies to perform energy efficiency retrofits
- Development and implementation of energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities within the jurisdiction of the eligible entity
- Development and implementation of programs to conserve energy used in transportation
- Development and implementation of building codes and inspection services to promote building energy efficiency
- Application and implementation of energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency
- Activities to increase participation and efficiency rates for material conservation programs, including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency
- The purchase and implementation of technologies to reduce, capture, and, to the maximum extent practicable, use methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources
- Replacement of traffic signals and street lighting with energy-efficient lighting technologies
- Development, implementation, and installation on or in any government building of the eligible entity of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources
- Programs for financing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure), capital investments, projects, and programs, which may include loan programs and performance contracting programs, for leveraging additional public and private sector funds, and programs that allow rebates, grants, or other incentives for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and zero-emission transportation (and associated infrastructure) measures
Build America, Buy America Waiver: On July 28, 2023, DOE released a General Applicability Public Interest Waiver for Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) equipment purchasing requirements. Now, eligible entities with EECBG Program formula allocations totaling $250,000 or less are exempt from BABA requirements.
Am I eligible?
Formula funding was designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes. Once these entities received grants, they could be used to assist residents, nonprofits, and businesses.
North Carolina
See below for information on residential energy efficiency subgrants in Durham, Orange, and Granville Counties.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Energy Office is accepting applications for subgrants through December 1, 2025. See below.
How can I access the money?
The DOE has not announced any future rounds of grants. Archived DOE information about the process can be found here. Formula grants already awarded are listed here and competitive grant awards here.
For information on round three of subgrants in SC, currently open through December 1, 2025, see below under “What is the timeline?” and visit the SC Energy Office website.
In NC, if you are a renter or homeowner in Durham, Orange, or Granville County, you may be eligible to receive funding for energy efficiency retrofits under the Energy Burden and Emissions Reduction Program, which was funded by this DOE program.
What is the timeline?
The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff’s Energy Office (SCEO) has received funding from the EECBG Program and has REOPENED the application window with a rolling application window and an expanded list of eligible entities. If you applied in the initial application periods, you are still eligible to submit an application in the third round. The request for applications opened in September and will remain open a rolling basis, pending available funding, through Monday, December 1, 2025, 11:59 pm ET.
Through SC EECBG, SCEO provides funding opportunities to support projects and programs that cut carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and reduce energy use in SC.
The expanded list of eligible SC entities for round three:
- Counties or municipalities that are ineligible for US DOE EECBG Funding
- Local public authorities
- School districts
- Special districts
- Council of Governments (COGs)
- Any other regional or intrastate governmental entity or instrumentality of a local government
- (NEW) State agencies
For more information regarding which local entities in South Carolina were eligible to receive direct funding, please review the EECBG Local Government Allocations.
On September 23, 2025 SCEO held a webinar on the SC EECBG Competitive Program that provided an overview of the Updated Guidance, Application Form, and Supplemental Information Worksheets for Round 3.
To stay up to date with the SCEO’s SC EECBG program, please email energycs@ors.sc.gov and ask to be added to the SC EECBG contact list.
This funding opportunity has closed for NC. Updates will be made to this page if future funding becomes available.
What other incentives could I use to help me accomplish my goals?
- States have received funding from the IIJA’s Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program which they will use to provide loans and grants for energy efficiency audits, upgrades, and retrofits.
- Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) for additional incentives that may be offered by your state, local government, or utility, as well as important federal, state, and local policies. For questions regarding DSIRE, contact Justin Lindemann (NC Clean Energy Technology Center) at jplindem@ncsu.edu.
- Check out our (non-exhaustive) list of non-federal funding from other sources that may fit your energy and cost-saving goals.
What are examples of projects that have been selected for awards?
North Carolina: The state of NC received a formula grant of just under $3 million to establish a competitive sub-granting program for local governments to pursue energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy installations in municipal facilities. Disadvantaged communities will be prioritized.
Durham County received a 2023 competitive grant of $1.5 million to reduce energy burdens in low-income communities. Durham’s grant will fund the N.C. Energy Burden and Emissions Reduction Program, which will help low- and moderate-income households in Durham, Orange, and Granville counties make their homes more energy-efficient through upgrades such as air-sealing, duct sealing, insulation, and minor home repairs. The program should be open for applications by 2025. Check back for updates.
South Carolina: The Energy Office received just over $2 million in funding through the EECBG program to award subgrants to projects and programs that improve energy efficiency, cut carbon emissions, and reduce energy use. More information, including a list of subgrantees, here.
The city of Rock Hill received funding to extend a pilot program for LED light retrofits on 330 traffic signals and streetlights – Rock Hill, SC ($133,080)
Anderson County will establish a pilot program to provide funding for attic and crawlspace insulation in low-to-moderate income owner-occupied homes that are receiving emergency repairs as well as perform energy retrofits on eight county buildings – Anderson County, SC ($227,180)
Where can I get more information?
- DOE main page on EECBG
- Program FAQ
- Formula grant application hub
- EECBG Comprehensive Guide for Indian Tribes
- EECBG Program Blueprints
- Program contact: eecbg@hq.doe.gov
- In addition to the resources listed above, a variety of organizations offer technical assistance that may help you access these funds. They are listed on our Get Help page.
- For questions about updates to this program, please email Sally Robertson at info@energyfundsforall.org.