US DOE allocates US$366 million to 17 projects in Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas programme  

By Simon Yuen
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a plan to allocate over US$366 million for 17 clean energy projects in rural and remote areas in the US. 

DOE said the selected projects are located in or adjacent to disadvantaged communities affected by pollution and historically underserved. The projects cover different types of clean energy, including solar, battery energy storage systems (BESS), microgrids and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, to name a few.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

At least 12 projects will support tribal communities, installing solar and BESS to provide electricity for 300 homes. Among these projects, the Solar + Storage Microgrids for Rural Community Health Centers project plans to provide solar PV systems, BESS and microgrids in community health centres to decrease power outages and ensure electricity for critical life-saving equipment.

Meanwhile, the Hopi Nation Community Solar Project will use hybrid microgrids, solar PV systems, and BESS to power critical community services, IT, waste management and health and human services.

DOE said rural and remote communities usually face multiple energy challenges due to their smaller populations and isolation from larger electrical systems, including higher electric bills, unreliable energy supplies and no access to electricity.

In total, more than 17 projects across 20 states and 30 Tribal Nations and communities were included in this announcement. The announced projects are part of DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) programme, which improves the reliability and affordability of energy systems in communities across the country with 10,000 or fewer people.

Prior to these projects, DOE also chose three companies, including Sunrun, Sunnova and power product supplier Generac, to install rooftop solar and battery storage systems for vulnerable households in Puerto Rico.

The selection was the first round from the 2023 PR-ERF Funding Opportunity Announcement. Eligible beneficiaries will include very low-income, single-family households that are either located in areas that have a high percentage of very low-income households and experience frequent and prolonged power outages or include a resident with an energy-dependent disability.

This story first appeared on PV Tech.

Energy-Storage.news’ publisher Solar Media will host the 6th Energy Storage Summit USA, 19-20 March 2024 in Austin, Texas. Featuring a packed programme of panels, presentations and fireside chats from industry leaders focusing on accelerating the market for energy storage across the country. For more information, go to the website.

Read Next

July 10, 2025
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into a settlement agreement with IPP LS Power to direct cleanup after a lithium-ion battery fire at the company’s Gateway energy storage facility in San Diego, California. 
July 10, 2025
Indonesia’s national Consumer Protection Agency (BKPN) will coordinate at least US$1 billion in investment for off-grid solar-plus-storage.
July 9, 2025
A news roundup focusing on TerraFlow’s recent partnership with Storion, JinkoSolar’s deployment of distributed systems in Massachusetts and a credit facility for Lightshift.
Premium
July 9, 2025
Coval Infrastructure has become the latest developer to submit an application with the California Energy Commission (CEC), as part of the regulator’s opt-in certification scheme.
July 8, 2025
Developer and independent power producer (IPP) Recurrent Energy, subsidiary of Canadian Solar, announced commercial operation of its 1,200MWh Papago Storage facility in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter