HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2024.12.12 - 41758
AGENDA ITEM: Memorandum of Understanding between Oakland County and ENERGYWERX for
US Department of Energy Voucher Program
DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:11 AM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2024-4718
Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Oakland County and
ENERGYWERX for the U.S. Department of Energy Voucher Program Clean Energy Demonstration
Project Siting and Permitting Support until January 2027; further, authorize the Chair of the Board of
Commissioners to execute the Memorandum of Understanding.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Contract Yolanda Smith Charles
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), in collaboration with
the Offices of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), Fossil Energy and Carbon Management
(FECM), and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), today announced that over 170
companies, tribes, and local governments will receive support to advance commercialization of
clean energy technologies in the form of in-kind DOE-funded vouchers. Almost 60 organizations,
including six National Labs, will provide this support valued at more than $20 million.
The Voucher Program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction
Act (IRA) as part of the Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) and leverages DOE’s
partnership intermediary agreement with ENERGYWERX. The Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) is between Oakland County and ENERGYWERX.
The program is designed to grant small businesses, local governments, and other non-traditional
partners access to the vetted resources and expertise they need to bring their clean energy
technologies and projects to the next level. In this recent round, the program offered voucher
support across 174 capabilities, ranging from testing facility access to trusted third-party subject
matter expertise. The available support works to increase the adoption readiness of the participating
organizations and ultimately brings impactful, clean energy technologies to fruition nationwide.
Selected organizations will receive vouchers worth up to$250,000 each across seven types of
support, including analytical assistance (technoeconomic analysis, market readiness assessments,
etc.), performance validation (testing, certification, etc.), siting/permitting support for jurisdictions,
and planning of industrial decarbonization projects. Since inception in 2023, more than 250
organizations have been selected to receive voucher support from BIL TCF voucher opportunities
across numerous technology areas in the purview of OCED, FECM, and EERE. Approximately half
of the recipients self-reported not having received previous DOE funding or support.
Oakland County was selected to participate in the Voucher 3 Program with 5 Lakes Energy as the
provider - VO-3 Clean Energy Demonstration Project Siting/Permitting Support(OCED/EERE): helps
authorities having jurisdiction like city or tribal governments and related institutions (including but not
limited to first responders, utilities, and transportation authorities) understand new clean energy
technology benefits and challenges, evaluate siting and permitting best practices developed by
similar jurisdictions, develop streamlined permitting processes, and support community engagement
on related issues. Voucher provider submissions are open but not limited to non-profit organizations
and consulting firms.
Here is a link to the announcement: https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/articles/doe-
announces-20-million-vouchers-support-over-170-organizations
Here is a link to the voucher programs and recipients:
https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/voucher-program-selections
POLICY ANALYSIS
Oakland County is a voucher recipient under the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Voucher
Program. Two memorandums of understanding will need to be executed - one with
ENERGYWERX, the DOE contractor administering the program, and the second with 5Lakes
Energy, the service provider. ENERGYWERX, as the program administrator, pays 5Lakes Energy
for their work. Oakland County will receive the work free of charge.
Oakland County will work with 5Lakes Energy for “Evaluating siting and permitting best practices
developed by similar jurisdictions.” The purpose is to understand new clean energy technology
benefits and challenges, evaluate siting and permitting best practices developed by similar
jurisdictions, develop streamlined permitting processes, and support community engagement on
related issues. The outcome of this work will result in the county receiving guidance and policy
language to advance renewable energy and storage siting throughout Oakland County. The Office
of Sustainability will be able to use this information to assist Oakland County’s 62 cities, villages,
and townships in this as well.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No
Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Erin Quetell, Environmental Sustainability Officer
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 12/12/2024
AGENDA DEADLINE: 12/12/2024 7:00 PM
ATTACHMENTS
1. ENERGYWERX MOU
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2024-12-04 Economic Development and Infrastructure - Recommend to Board
2024-12-12 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Linnie Taylor
Seconded by: Commissioner Penny Luebs
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Penny Luebs, Karen Joliat, Christine Long, Robert
Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, William Miller III,
Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ann Erickson Gault, Linnie Taylor
(16)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Michael Gingell, Kristen Nelson, Ajay Raman (3)
Passed
1
info@energywerx.org www.energywerx.org
DEFENSEWERX – ENERGYWERX
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”), effective as of the date of last signature herein (the “Effective Date”),
by and between DEFENSEWERX d/b/a ENERGYWERX (the “Partnership Intermediary”) and Oakland County (the
“Recipient”), sets forth the Partnership Intermediary and Recipient’s mutual understanding and agreement that
Recipient has been awarded a Voucher Opportunity and is committed to performing and completing certain work in
collaboration with a third-party support provider, identified herein.
WHEREAS, the Energy Policy Act of 2020 authorized the Department of Energy to provide voucher opportunities to
promote innovation and collaboration by granting voucher recipients access to facilities and support services via
third-party support providers (such entity identified herein, the “Identified Provider”).
WHEREAS, in support of voucher opportunities, the Department of Energy funds third-party support providers on
behalf of voucher opportunity recipients, allowing such recipients the benefit of a third-party support provider’s
facilities and support services, in exchange for a recipient’s collaboration on deliverables associated with a voucher
opportunity’s effort.
WHEREAS, the Recipient seeks a voucher opportunity (identified herein as the “Voucher Opportunity”), to be
administered by the Partnership Intermediary.
WHEREAS, the Partnership Intermediary acts as a partnership intermediary for the Department of Energy to
administer certain voucher opportunities between voucher recipients and third-party support providers, and desires
to provide administration of the Voucher Opportunity to Recipient such that Recipient can benefit from the
Identified Provider’s facilities and support services to complete certain deliverable requirements and associated
tasks.
NOW, THEREFORE, in acknowledgment of the recitals above and in consideration of the terms and mutual
understanding hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the Partnership Intermediary and Recipient, each intending to be legally bound,
hereby agree as follows:
1.Voucher Opportunity. The Voucher Opportunity shall be:
VO-3 Clean Energy
Demonstration Project
Siting/Permitting
Supoport : Evaluating
siting and permitting best
practices developed by
similar jurisdictions
VO-3 Clean Energy Demonstration Project Siting/Permitting Support (OCED/EERE):
helps authorities having jurisdiction like city or tribal governments and related
institutions (including but not limited to first responders, utilities, and
transportation authorities) understand new clean energy technology benefits and
challenges, evaluate siting and permitting best practices developed by similar
jurisdictions, develop streamlined permitting processes, and support community
engagement on related issues. Voucher provider submissions are open but not
limited to non-profit organizations and consulting firms.
The final product will be a concise but thorough document examining the
approaches to siting and permitting taken by similar AHJs for similar technologies.
The report will include descriptions of the full range of approaches taken and a
discussion of the rationales of each approach. The report will also include a set of
concrete recommendations—with justifications—for achieving the goals expressed
by the voucher recipient. In identifying “similar” AHJs for comparison, we will factor
the type of the AHJ, the scale and scope of their authorities, and the political,
demographic, economic, and geographic profiles of the jurisdiction they serve.
Depending on the prevalence of the technology type and degree of deployment in
similar AHJs, less direct or closely-aligned comparisons may be required. The mid-
point milestone will be achieved after aligning with the voucher recipient on their
2
info@energywerx.org www.energywerx.org
specific interests and goals in developing their own siting and permitting plans and
selecting the full set of comparison AHJs. The final milestone will be achieved upon
delivery of the final product, which will undergo at least two feedback cycles with
the voucher recipient to ensure completeness and full coverage of the voucher
recipient’s needs.
2.Identified Provider. The Identified Provider for this Voucher Opportunity shall be: 5 Lakes Energy
3.Term. This MOU shall be effective as of the Effective Date, continuing until its termination on January 2027,
unless terminated earlier in accordance with Section 7 below.
4.Recipient’s Obligations. The Recipient shall:
a. Fully and successfully complete any and all requirement(s) associated with the support services
offered by the Identified Provider pursuant to the Voucher Opportunity as set forth in Section 1,
including all associated tasks, comprising, but not limited to, training, data analysis, and
collaboration with the Identified Provider;
b. Complete all information necessary for the Identified Provider to provide support services to
Recipient, and prepare all reports, including a final report, as requested or coordinated by the
Identified Provider; and
c. Submit any request(s), question(s), comment(s), or concern(s) related to the Voucher Opportunity
to the Partnership Intermediary via email to info@energywerx.org, unless the Identified Provider
is a National Lab.
5.Partnership Intermediary’s Obligations. The Partnership Intermediary shall:
a. Administer the Voucher Opportunity on behalf of the Department of Energy for the benefit of the
Recipient;
b. Notify the Recipient of contact information and other requested information pertaining to its
matched Identified Provider per the Recipient’s contact information provided herein; and
c. Track the Recipient’s progress on the Voucher Opportunity.
6.Understandings. The Recipient understands that it shall not receive any compensation from the
Partnership Intermediary under this MOU other than the non-monetary benefit of the Partnership
Intermediary’s administration of the Voucher Opportunity.
7.Cancellation. This MOU may only be terminated prior to the termination date identified in Section 3:
a. Upon four (4) weeks written notice by the Partnership Intermediary or the Department of Energy
of its intent to terminate this MOU; or
b. If Recipient fails to (i) perform any obligation under Section 4, (ii) perform any obligation to the
Identified Provider related to the Voucher Opportunity, or (iii) comply with any U.S. law or
regulation applicable to the Voucher Opportunity. Cancellation under this provision shall be
effective upon Recipient’s failure to cure within fifteen (15) days after written notice by the
Partnership Intermediary or the Department of Energy.
8.Contact Information. The points of contact for the Partnership Intermediary and the Recipient, which may
be updated from time to time, for any communication related to this MOU shall be:
a.Partnership Intermediary:
DEFENSEWERX d/b/a ENERGYWERX
3
info@energywerx.org www.energywerx.org
Christi Pezzone, Deputy Director: cpezzone@energywerx.org
b.Recipient:
Oakland County
9.Attestation. By executing this MOU, the Recipient attests and certifies that it has entered into all
agreements with the Identified Provider pertinent to or required for completion of tasks associated with
the Voucher Opportunity, including, but not limited to, a Service Level Agreement or equivalent agreement,
a Timeline of Activities, and a Required Deliverables document. THIS MOU SHALL NOT BE EXECUTED
UNLESS THE AFOREMENTIONED AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN EXECUTED BY THE RECIPIENT AND THE
IDENTIFIED PROVIDER.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Partnership Intermediary and the Recipient, through duly authorized
representatives, having read and understood this Memorandum of Understanding, enter into and execute
the same, hereby agreeing to its terms by their signatures below.
ENERGYWERX (Partnership Intermediary)Oakland County (Recipient)
______________________ ______________________
By: Christi C. Pezzone By: Dave Woodward
ENERGYWERX Deputy Director Board of Commissioners Chair – Oakland County
Date: ______________________ Date: ______________________