On July 1, 2022, the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) released a first of its kind Request for Partners (RFP) on community-based metrics and energy resilience. With the RFP, DOEE seeks a partner to support a grant application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) program. Eligible partners include non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies, universities/educational institutions, and private enterprises. This would the first assessment of Washington, DC’s energy resilience that includes comprehensive impacts to the community during power outages and the risk of cascading failures. It would allow DOEE to develop innovative energy resilience metrics that prioritize the most at-risk and vulnerable communities.
The partner would help DOEE focus on the following project areas:
1. Construct a community energy resilience index;
2. Conduct survey work;
3. Perform a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) of energy resilience enhancements;
4. Plan and conduct a collaborative stakeholder engagement workshop.
This RFP could serve as a model for other State Energy Offices seeking to find partners to conduct equitable energy resilience work that focuses on community-based metrics. The RFP deadline has passed, but DOEE plans to hold a second round if the application to DOE is successful. For more information, visit the DOEE website here.