Technical Assistance Project for State and Local Officials
The Technical Assistance Project (TAP) is designed to provide state and local officials with quick, short-term access to experts at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories for assistance with their renewable energy and energy efficiency policies and programs.
State and local officials can find information about how to apply for TAP assistance, learn about the types of TAP projects funded in the past, and access analysis tools and resources on the following pages:
The Technical Assistance Project helps states with individual, short-term assistance in the following crosscutting topic areas that are not the responsibility of a single DOE technology research program:
System benefits charges or other ratepayer-funded utility energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency portfolio standards.
Use of clean energy technologies to help states and localities address air emissions.
Use of renewable energy on state and local public lands.
Use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies for state and local disaster relief, mitigation, and planning.
DOE can also provide states with case-specific assistance in other areas, if the request is in line with the intent of the TAP guidelines. TAP projects are available on a first come, first served basis.
See the TAP fact sheet titled "Take the Next Step Toward Your Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Goals" (PDF 581 KB). Download Adobe Reader.
The Technical Assistance Project is managed by a team from the DOE Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Project Management Center, and DOE national laboratories. Staffs from three laboratories participate: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado; Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.
TAP is designed to provide short-term and timely assistance to state and local officials. Project budgets are typically limited to $5,000 in staff time and travel. This is enough to provide a couple days of on-site assistance or a week's worth of analysis and consultations via phone and e-mail.
TAP requests vary in topic and type of assistance, including:
On-site technical consultation about the options for and potential impacts of proposed renewable portfolio standards.
Quantification of the emissions reductions from energy efficiency projects for use in air quality plans.
Consultation about technical issues in lease agreements for wind power on state lands.
Hosting of a design charrette about incorporating sustainable building practices in a new tropical exhibit at a city zoo.
Guidance on pollution prevention options for adding renewable energy into a municipal district heating system.
Consultation about how public facilities can sell renewable energy credits.