Project management staff are often pleased to identify high-quality outcomes of financial assistance projects, and work to share those outcomes with others who may be able to benefit quickly from them. In this way, EERE works to maximize the public benefit realized by its investments in emerging technologies.
In the case of one Recipient, a nonprofit economic development organization working to promote hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in early market applications, project results were leveraged across other states in the region. EERE staff observed that the Recipient had been particularly effective in its work on an education subprogram, and had taken a novel technology approach: the Recipient focused on increasing the deployment of early market stationary fuel cells. To achieve this, the Recipient assisted local governments in developing energy plans, held workshops and training sessions, facilitated communication between Federal, state, and local governments, and coordinated technology policy development and strategic planning. Efforts in the Recipient’s home state resulted in the identification of public policy and funding, the creation of analytical models, and mapping out prospective locations for project development.
Recognizing the Recipient’s effectiveness in rolling-out economic development plans for fuel cells in its home state, EERE in coordination with the Recipient expanded the scope of the project to include facilitation of the implementation of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies throughout the region over the course of one year. With a modest increase in EERE funding, the Recipient was able to prepare additional hydrogen and fuel cell plans for seven additional states in the region. The expanded project scope and the increase in funding enabled the Recipient to provide additional states in the region with hydrogen and fuel cell market assessments, assistance in identifying target locations for fuel cell deployment, training, and assistance in developing plans to deploy fuel cell technologies.
By staying informed and cultivating a relationship with the Recipient organization, EERE staff recognized the Recipient’s success in developing technology deployment plans and coordinating a diverse array of stakeholders. And, by sharing the Recipient’s expertise and experience, EERE was able to accomplish similar projects in seven additional states at significant cost savings. This collaboration saved at least 50% compared to the cost if the plans had been prepared independently. EERE staff continue to monitor outcomes of the project as states begin to deploy their new hydrogen and fuel cell technology plans.