End-of-Service Technical Assistance

NLR's end-of-service support provides short-term, no-cost assistance to help communities plan and manage the retirement and recycling of energy projects.

Through the Researching Energy Decommissioning and Recycling for Communities Task, NLR assists state, local, and Tribal governments and rural communities in managing the retirement of energy infrastructure.

Researching Energy Decommissioning and Recycling for Communities Task technical assistance supports stronger end-of-service policies, planning, and decision-making related to technology decommissioning, component waste and recycling, and project site remediation.

How Can This Help?

NLR's technical assistance supports a range of end-of-service topics, including:

• Regulatory and policy frameworks, such as state and local requirements; decommissioning ordinances; and permitting, siting, and regulatory authority

• Decommissioning planning and execution, including common decommissioning planning practices and potential planning gaps

• Financial assurance and cost recovery, such as financial assurance mechanisms, bond adequacy, cost estimates, sureties, closeout, and bond release

• Site restoration and environmental impacts, including foundation removal, land restoration, environmental effects, monitoring, and restoration standards

• Community and Tribal engagement and economic impacts, including addressing local economic, social, cultural, and revenue considerations

• Component recycling or disposal process pathways, regional infrastructure, materials recovery, and future waste management needs

• Repowering and asset life cycle decisions, considering options, infrastructure reuse, and permitting.

Available Assistance 

NLR's technical assistance is rapid, targeted, and advisory, with an emphasis on practical decision-making and identifying scalable solutions that support responsible wind energy infrastructure transitions. Technical assistance does not include direct funding, detailed engineering design, legal advice, permitting services, or direct project implementation.

Support may include:

• Modeling, analysis, or research

• Expert consultations

• Knowledge-sharing

• Technical document review

• Resource navigation

• Tailored decision-support materials.

Eligibility

Technical assistance should apply to real-world planning, policy, infrastructure, or operational decisions. To be considered, applicants must demonstrate:

• A tangible decision or planning need

• Relevant decision-making authority or a direct role in influencing the decision

• Clear alignment with end-of-service program objectives and the scope of technical assistance.

Eligible applicants include:

• Local governments

• State energy offices or other relevant state agencies

• Public utility commissions

• Tribal governments

• Municipal utilities

• Rural electric cooperatives.

Organizations not listed above may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate a direct public-interest decision-making role aligned with program goals.

Federal entities, research institutions and universities, consulting firms, and private industry firms are not eligible for direct technical assistance under this program.

Requesting Assistance

Follow these guidelines to request technical assistance.

Timeline

Sept. 30–Nov. 30, 2026: Applications accepted on a rolling basis

September 2026–March 2027: Rolling technical assistance scoping and implementation

Application Process

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis subject to funding availability. To request assistance:

1. Complete the online application form.
   The application takes 15–30 minutes to complete.

2. Describe the decision or planning need.
   Explain the specific question or challenge your organization is trying to address.

3. Submit your request for review.
   Applications are reviewed weekly by a committee of laboratory staff, who aim to respond within 10–14 days. This is not a competitive process; the goal is to serve all eligible and feasible requests, as staff and funding permit.

Application Tips

In your application:

• Be specific.
  Share details about the question or challenge you are trying to address. Vague requests are hard to scope or act on.

• Be timely.
  You are ready to engage now, and there is enough lead time for technical assistance to be useful.

• Connect the technical assistance request to a decision.
  Explain how the technical assistance will inform a choice, planning process, or policy decision your organization is facing.

• Be prepared to act on the result.
  Your organization has the authority or influence to use the NLR-provided technical assistance.

Contact

For help with the technical assistance form or about the program, contact endofserviceta@nlr.gov.