Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

**Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy** The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) drives U.S. leadership in the research, development, validation, and effective utilization of energy technologies and processes, ensuring an integrated energy system that is affordable, reliable, resilient, secure, and clean. **EERE is working to ensure that all Americans benefit from energy innovation.** EERE supports the advancement of energy technologies and processes through these core mechanisms: **Funding.** EERE regularly issues [funding opportunities](https://www.energy.gov/eere/funding/eere-funding-opportunities) through its 11 technology suboffices and the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer ([SBIR/STTR](https://www.energy.gov/science/sbir/small-business-innovation-research-and-small-business-technology-transfer)) programs. This funding comes from congressional appropriations of your tax dollars. Diverse groups of innovators submit proposals for innovative energy solutions, and EERE invests in the most promising ideas. **World-class research and development.** DOE’s [17 national laboratories](https://www.energy.gov/national-laboratories) have unparalleled facilities, tools, and expertise. The labs play an integral role in EERE’s funding and technical assistance initiatives and are responsible for some of the most significant developments in the history of energy technology. **Technical assistance.** EERE offers [technical assistance](https://www.energy.gov/eere/technical-assistance) to communities, local, tribal, and state governments, building professionals, manufacturers, utility companies, and others to help them form realistic plans to improve their energy infrastructure. This assistance comes in various forms, depending on the recipients’ wants and needs. For example, the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project offers analysis, planning, and implementation assistance specifically tailored to the needs of remote, island, and islanded communities, as well as analysis, planning, and implementation assistance. **Developing our brain trust.** Through initiatives like the [Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship](https://www.energy.gov/eere/amo/lab-embedded-entrepreneurship-program) Program, the [Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship](https://www.energy.gov/eere/clean-energy-innovator-fellowship), and [various prizes](https://network.americanmadechallenges.org/) and [competitions](https://www.energy.gov/eere/eere-competitions-challenges-and-industry-prizes) designed to incentivize entrepreneurial innovators, EERE pairs up innovators with experts across DOE, the national labs, incubators, and more, to advance energy solutions and careers.