Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities Request for Applications (RFA) DEADLINE: April 28, 2022

January 18, 2022

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(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of its Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, is seeking applications proposing community-engaged research that will address the drivers and environmental impacts of energy transitions in underserved communities. For purposes of this competition and the evaluation of applications, “underserved communities” refers to populations sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, including people of color, low income, rural, tribal, indigenous, and other populations that may be disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks.

Funding Opportunity Number:
EPA-G2022-STAR-F1, Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities
EPA-G2022-STAR-F2, Early Career: Drivers and Environmental Impacts of Energy Transitions in Underserved Communities

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 66.509

Solicitation Opening Date: January 18, 2022
Solicitation Closing Date: April 28, 2022: 11:59:59 pm Eastern Time

Rapid large-scale transformations of energy and transportation systems to low-carbon, renewable, and energy efficient sources and technologies are essential to avoiding the most severe impacts of climate change. These energy transitions provide challenges and opportunities to improve environmental and public health in ways that also reduce the inequities prevalent in the current energy and transportation systems, such as the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on minority and low-income populations.

EPA is looking for applications that address at least two of the following research areas:

Understanding how air quality, the environment, and public health in underserved communities might be improved through the transformations of the energy sector;
Identifying approaches or strategies to ensure that energy transitions provide air quality benefits and reduce environmental risks while meeting the energy and transportation needs of underserved communities;
Understanding how socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, institutional, and systems factors drive individual and household decisions regarding the adoption of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies and building modifications, and new transportation modes in underserved communities;
Understanding how socioeconomic, organizational, and institutional factors affect decisions at the organization, governmental and community levels regarding the adoption and diffusion of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, building modifications, and new transportation modes in underserved communities; and
Identifying and evaluating potential multi-pollutant and/or multi-sectoral approaches to achieve climate, air quality, and other environmental goals while maximizing potential positive impacts as well as minimizing potential negative impacts to underserved communities arising from large-scale energy systems transformation. READ MORE