NASEO News

DOE Solicits Proposals for State Energy Assurance Plans and Transmission Projects

On June 15, the U.S. Department of Energy announced three of the latest Recovery Act opportunities, totaling nearly $150 million in state and local funding for energy security and electricity projects.  The funding will support state and local governments on energy assurance planning, critical infrastructure improvements, regulatory oversight, and transmission expansion.   The full Funding Opportunity Announcements are available on DOE's Recovery Funding Opportunities page.

State Government Energy Assurance Capabilities and Planning for Smart Grid Resiliency

Funding in the amount of $39.5 million is available for state governments to improve emergency preparedness plans and ensure grid resiliency on a regional basis, including staff training on smart grid technologies integration, interdependencies, and cyber-security.  The funds focus on developing new, or refining existing, plans to integrate new energy portfolios (renewables, biofuels, etc) and new applications, such as Smart Grid technology, into energy assurance and emergency preparedness plans.  Better planning efforts will help contribute to the resiliency of the energy sector, including the electricity grid, by focusing on the entire energy supply system, which includes refining, storage, and distribution of fossil and renewable fuels.  Applications are due July 30, 2009.  Eligibility for award is restricted to States, Territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands), and the District of Columbia (hereinafter "States").  Funding is intended for the State Energy Offices.  The State Energy Offices may make sub-awards to other State agencies, entities, or functions having the responsibility, as recognized within the State, for energy assurance planning.  NASEO will be working with interested State and Territory Energy Offices in preparing responses to this funding announcement.  If you have any questions, please contact NASEO or email energyassurance@naseo.org.  Please click here to view this announcement and for more information visit DOE's Recovery Funding Opportunities page link above.

Transmission Analysis and Planning

Eighty million will be available for interconnection transmission planning.  Sixty million will support long-term interconnection plans in each of the regions, including collaboration among states within an interconnection on meeting long-term electricity supply needs.  The remaining $20 million will support transmission and demand analyses to be performed by DOE's national laboratories and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).  

Regulatory Funding

Public utility commissions will receive $50 million to support their key role of regulating and overseeing new electricity projects, including smart grid developments, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, and carbon capture and storage projects.  The funds will be used by states and public utility commissions for staff training to accelerate reviews of the large number of electric utility requests expected under the Recovery Act. 

EECBG Application Resources

EECBG applications are due next week!  As a reminder, here are some of the useful websites that NASEO has highlighted for states, cities, counties and tribes.  As always, please contact NASEO if you have any questions:

• NASEO's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Local Government Sample Grant Application Template
• US DOE Sample Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy for States
• US DOE EECBG Solution Center
• NETL PowerPoint on submitting a response in FedConnect

In addition, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing sample text for proven energy efficiency activities that you may use in your EECBG application. These templates can be used to complete the mandatory project activity worksheets and offer ready-to-use ideas for energy efficiency programs with ENERGY STAR, including:

Sample Templates for Cities, Counties, and Tribes

• Strategic Implementation of Energy Efficiency Improvements in Public Buildings
• Improving Building Energy Efficiency within Target Market Sectors
• Implementing Energy Retrofits in Existing Homes

Sample Templates for States

• Strategic Implementation of Energy Efficiency Improvements in Public Buildings
• Improving Building Energy Efficiency within State-wide Target Market Sectors
• Improving Building Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools
• Implementing Energy Retrofits in Existing Homes

Please click here for sample text that can be used to integrate ENERGY STAR tools and resources into the "Project Summary" section of the EECBG Activity Worksheet. You can insert customized program details within the sample text where items are listed in brackets.  If you have any questions, please contact Leslie Cook at Cook.Leslie@epamail.epa.gov.

EIA Release of Territory Energy Profiles

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) EIA has released new Energy Profiles covering American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Each new Profile consists of an energy map, a set of Quick Facts, a written overview of the territory, and a table that displays data on electricity generation, imports, exports, consumption, and other topics.  Please click here for the 56 State and Territory Energy Profiles from EIA. 

Recovery Act SEP Plans

More states have informed NASEO of publicly posted application details for State Energy Program (SEP) funding from the Recovery Act (click on the state name for the link): Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan and Utah.  (The June 3rd NASEO newsletter included links to state plans from 15 additional states) Other state energy offices may send application information to Benjamin Deitchman at bdeitchman@naseo.org.

Western Renewable Energy Zones Report Available

The Department of Energy and the Western Governors' Association released a joint report by the Western Renewable Energy Zones initiative that identifies areas in the Western transmission network that have the potential for large-scale development of renewable resources with low environmental impacts.  In May 2008, the Western Governors' Association and DOE launched the Western Renewable Energy Zones initiative to identify areas in the West with vast renewable resources to expedite the development and delivery of renewable energy to where it is needed. Under the Initiative, renewable energy resources are being analyzed within 11 states, two Canadian provinces, and areas in Mexico that are part of the Western Interconnection.  Additional information is available from the Western Governors' Association.