Modernizing Federal Agency Practices

The report outlines a framework for federal agencies to optimize the delivery of energy incentives through three core principles: strategic planning, resource management, and communications. It suggests that agencies narrow their priorities, delegate decision-making, and involve industry early in program design to accelerate the commercialization of energy technologies. Specific recommendations include streamlining the application process for grants and loans, tailoring community benefit models to local needs, and providing transparent, phased guidance for tax credits to increase investor certainty.

• Federal agencies should adopt a narrow set of priorities and clarify decision-making authority to align resources and expedite program execution.
• To optimize staff time, agencies should focus internal personnel on government decision-making tasks, such as application evaluations, while outsourcing technical assistance and evaluations to third-party contractors.
• Agencies should improve communication by setting clear expectations for process timelines and educating the public and policymakers on the technology innovation cycle to support future investments.
• Program design for grants and loans should incorporate early industry input and a 'whole-of-government' strategy to ensure alignment with market readiness and avoid interagency delays.
• The application process for federal funding can be improved by developing tailored Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) and standardizing application components to facilitate coordination across programs.
• Community benefit models should be flexible, allowing communities to self-determine their needs or receive allocated budget lines to streamline front-end agreements.
• The Treasury Department should prioritize tax credit guidance based on industry needs and provide advance notice of guidance schedules to provide investment certainty.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2026). Modernizing Federal Agency Practices. https://www.catf.us/resource/modernizing-federal-agency-practices/

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Modernizing Federal Agency Practices. 2026. https://www.catf.us/resource/modernizing-federal-agency-practices/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Modernizing Federal Agency Practices |date=2 June 2026 |url=https://www.catf.us/resource/modernizing-federal-agency-practices/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2026modernizing, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Modernizing Federal Agency Practices}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.catf.us/resource/modernizing-federal-agency-practices/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }