Earlier this month, Director Jigar Shah and LPO staff joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to meet with potential borrowers that are engaged with IBEW. Director Shah also participated in a fireside chat with IBEW's Assistant to the International President, Austin Keyser, to discuss how partnering with unions can assist with community benefits plans, strengthen projects, and improve local community engagement.
Yesterday, Director Shah and the LPO team followed up on this meeting with IBEW in Tennessee, near the site of one of BlueOval SK, LLC's (BOSK) EV battery manufacturing plants which are expected to be financed by an up to $9.2 billion U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan conditionally committed by LPO last week. IBEW and LPO discussed the impact of BOSK on local community, construction and operations job opportunities, recruitment, organizing, and training for the project. (Read the full BOSK project conditional commitment announcement here: https://lnkd.in/giK3EsR6)
Community Benefits Plans are a new feature in applications for DOE project financing through LPO's Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program, with all new applicants required to submit one with their Part II Application. Community Benefits Plans help ensure that LPO projects 1) support meaningful community and labor engagement; 2) invest in America's workforce; 3) advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; and 4) contribute to the President's goal that 40% of the overall benefits of clean energy investment flow to disadvantaged communities (the Justice40 Initiative).
Details for what to include in a Community Benefits Plan are provided as an attachment to the new Title Part II Application Instructions: https://lnkd.in/gpvsc9cq and are described along with other program changes as part of recently updated program guidance for potential borrowers: https://lnkd.in/gQuHGz_t
LEARN MORE:
• LPO's Community Jobs & Justice page: Energy.gov/LPO/Community
• DOE's Community Benefits Plans page: https://lnkd.in/gusa453X
• DOE's Justice40 Initiative page: https://lnkd.in/gNPxPJU4
• Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program homepage: https://lnkd.in/gN2jDVbw
• Title 17 Updated Guidance Webinar: https://lnkd.in/g6aS_Wds
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