Do you represent and serve communities who have traditionally been underserved or underrepresented in the state-based energy conversation?

The Minnesota Department of Commerce Division of Energy Resources is planning to issue three to five awards ranging from $10,000-30,000 to qualified organizations or individuals to develop an equitable process(es) to engage these communities in state-level energy planning, with the goal of establishing long-term trusting relationships.

About the opportunity

The Minnesota Department of Commerce Division of Energy Resources requests proposals from qualified organizations or individuals to develop an equitable process (or multiple processes) to engage communities in state-level energy planning. Through this Community Energy Collaboration program, Commerce anticipates issuing up to 3-5 awards in the range of $10,000-$30,000 each.

The Department acknowledges that underserved communities bear the greatest adverse impacts from climate change, shoulder the highest energy burdens, and stand to benefit the most from the emerging clean energy economy. The intent of this Request for Proposals is for the Department to establish long-term trusting relationships with communities that have traditionally been underserved or underrepresented in the state-based energy conversation. As a result, the Department is seeking to proactively engage with organizations representing and serving underserved, diverse populations.

The Project Scope includes two parts:

Part I: In conjunction with the Department, develop processes or mechanisms for equitable communication flow for one or both of the following areas: Area 1: Energy Policy Development, and/or Area 2: Energy Program Development/Implementation and Communications.

Part II: Implement proposed mechanism with one or more topics, collaboratively defined by Commerce, the selected responder, and represented communities.

At minimum, successful responders will demonstrate how they will develop a reciprocal engagement structure between community-based organizations representing underserved communities and the Department of Commerce. In addition, the responders are encouraged to propose one or more of the following deliverables:

A collaboratively-designed policy proposal, including a plan for community members to testify for Legislative committees.
Comprehensive communication strategy to reach historically underserved communities for Energy-based Assistance Programs Guidelines for culturally specific language, imagery, or messaging that would resonate with underserved communities (this could be for one or more specific communities). Other applicable deliverables proposed by the responder are encouraged.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) and required forms for the Community Energy Collaboration grant are available for download. 

Applications must be submitted through the grant interface website, Minnesota Department of Commerce’s online grant interface website, link provided at the RFP website by no later than Monday, November 22, 2021, 5:00PM Central Time.

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