NASEO News

FEDERAL UPDATE

DOE Finalizes $43 Million Loan Guarantee for New York State Energy Storage

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it had finalized a $43 million loan guarantee for Beacon Power Corporation's 20 megawatt (MW) innovative flywheel energy storage plant in Stephentown, New York. The company said the plant—the first of its kind in the world—will help improve the stability and reliability of the state's electric grid by acting as what the company termed "shock absorbers", using the flywheel to absorb and discharge energy to balance power generation and consumption. The flywheel facility, which is estimated to cost $69 million, will provide approximately 10% of New York's total capacity to regulate frequency on a typical day. Overall, the project will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on petroleum products. Beacon said the operation will create 20 construction jobs in New York and 40 permanent jobs in Massachusetts, where the company is headquartered. The company will contribute roughly $26 million.  Please click here for the full story.

DOE Announces Funding Opportunity to Support Building Codes Activities

On August 11, the Department of Energy's Building Energy Codes project (BEC) announced a new contract funding opportunity for states and territories to support activities related to the adoption and implementation of the most current building energy codes. The primary purpose of the funding is to advance state building energy codes that lag behind the efficiency levels required by today's model codes. BEC anticipates providing a total of $5 million in funding and awarding up to 20 contracts. Interested states and territories will need to submit a proposal to BEC by September 30 (only one proposal for a maximum of $250,000 will be accepted from each state). Proposals must specifically address at least one of the following:

• Activities to adopt the target codes or codes that meet or exceed the target codes;
• Training activities that will integrate into existing state training venues, e.g., community college programs, adult education, universities, etc. and will enhance the state's ability to facilitate effective implementation of building energy codes; and
• Activities that will advance the State's level of compliance with state building energy codes.

Proposals may include funding for consultants and/or other organizations. States and territories interested in applying should send an email expressing initial interest to: techsupport@becp.pnl.gov.

The estimated award schedule follows:

• August 30, 2010 – The full RFP will be posted at www.energycodes.gov.
• September 30, 2010 – All proposals are due.
• October 11, 2010 – Award decisions will be posted on the website.
• Week of October 18, 2010 – Each recipient is required to send one representative to attend a one-day, kick-off meeting in Washington, DC.
• By November 30, 2010 – Contracts will be signed and finalized.
• June 30, 2011 – Funded activities will be completed.

For more information on the contracting mechanism, contact Bryan Colley at PNNL (bryan.colley@pnl.gov or 509.375.2585).

NASEO NEWS

NASEO Launches New Energy Assurance Program Webpage

NASEO is pleased to announce the launch of a new NASEO Energy Assurance Program webpage, www.naseo.org/energyassurance.  Through the Energy Assurance Program work, NASEO provides direct technical assistance, education and outreach to support states' energy assurance planning, response, and smart grid resiliency efforts.  This effort is sponsored and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE).  The NASEO Energy & Data Security Committee serves as the focal point of the program and committee members participate in planning and implementation activities aimed at facilitating peer exchange, offering expert input into state activities, and facilitating regional coordination.

This new series of webpages is designed to serve as a one-stop-shop for energy assurance resources related to the NASEO Energy Assurance Program work.  Sections include: State Energy Assurance Planning and Response Tools; DOE Energy Assurance Planning Bulletins; Analysis and Tracking of Energy Disruptions Resources; ARRA - Supporting State Government Energy Assurance Planning; and, Additional Organizational Resources.  For more information on energy assurance planning and response or NASEO's energy assurance activities, please contact Jeffrey Pillon, NASEO's Energy Assurance Director at 517-580-7626 or jpillon@naseo.org.

MEETINGS AND WEBINARS

Register Today for the NASEO Annual Meeting in Boston, September 28-October 1, 2010

This year's NASEO Annual Meeting will be held September 28-October 1, 2010, at the Sheraton Boston in Boston, Massachusetts.  While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) continues to deliver unprecedented opportunities and challenges for the State and Territory Energy Offices and their partners, what lies beyond ARRA?  Also, as the Administration evolves in Washington, D.C., keeping up with the pace of change at the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies is critical.  This meeting offers an opportunity for state energy officials to hear from key policy and decision-makers, learn about new funding and partnership opportunities, and interact with peers.

To prepare and inform conference attendees, NASEO has planned a full week of informative events, with the core conference agenda being complemented by ARRA and committee sessions, as well as site tours and in-depth tracks on topical issues.  The 2010 NASEO Annual Meeting will serve as an essential opportunity for State Energy Office (SEO) directors, staff, and interested stakeholders to hear the latest on innovative financing and project implementation, clean energy technologies, and links between energy, environment, and transportation priorities.

Upcoming NASEO Annual Meeting Session Highlights

• State Energy Program Effectiveness and Impact Evaluation Update
• ARRA State Energy Program and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Implementation
• DOE ARRA Implementation: Overall Progress and Successes
• Renewable Energy Applications: Electricity and Transportation
• Technology Investments and Innovation: Discovering and Commercializing New Energy Technologies
• Commercial Buildings Consortium: Achieving a High Performing Building Stock
• Appliance Rebate Program: Lessons Learned
• Evolving State and Federal Roles in Energy and Environmental Policy

Please click here to visit the event website to register online, view the preliminary agenda, and learn more about available sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

DOE Annual Wind Market Report Webinar

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy recently released the latest edition of the annual "Wind Technologies Market Report," which provides a comprehensive overview of trends in the U.S. wind power market.  Please click here for the full story and a link to the report.  DOE will host a webinar summarizing the key findings of the report, presented by Ryan Wiser of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.  The webinar will be held on August 18, 2010 at 2 PM Eastern (11am Pacific).  If you are interested in joining this webinar, please email Susan Fabio Hinnen at NREL (susan.hinnen@nrel.gov) by Monday, August 16 to ensure that there are an adequate number of phone lines.  To join the webinar, please use the access information below. 

Audio Access Information:
Toll-free Telephone #: 800-857-5142
Participant Passcode: 9017373

Web Access Information:
URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW3789419&p=9017373&t=c

If you have trouble with the above link, try going to this website and enter the info separately:
URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/
Conference number: PW3789419
Audience passcode: 9017373 

Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit – Honolulu, Hawaii

The Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo will be held Aug. 30 - Sept. 2, 2010 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Hawaii is one of the world's leading incubators for clean technology development through strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 corporations, U.S. military energy programs and the Hawaiian Electric Industries multiple renewable and microgrid pilot programs. To showcase the growing early clean technology success and opportunities in Hawai‘i, the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit program focuses on topics such as electric vehicle transportation, grid integration of renewable energy, energy security, efficiency, regulatory frameworks, and financing of new renewable energy technologies. Please click here to visit the APCESE website.

ECW Workshop: Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Community-Based Social Marketing, September 16, 2010, Milwaukee, WI

The Energy Center of Wisconsin is excited to announce internationally acclaimed social-marketing expert Doug McKenzie-Mohr, PhD will present, Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Community-based social marketing, September 16, 2010 in Milwaukee, WI.  This full-day workshop will provide participants with a comprehensive, introductory understanding of community-based social marketing.  This workshop is designed for energy program designers and implementers, utility program managers, communications and marketing professionals, community planners, and professionals in the fields of energy and sustainable communities. For more information, including online registration, visit www.ecw.org/socialmarketing.   

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

Idaho Plans to Distribute Up to $2.75 Million in Recovery Act Funds for the Solar Panels for School Program

The Idaho Office of Energy Resources (OER) is accepting grant proposals from Idaho school districts for the Idaho Solar Panels for Schools Program. The OER allocated $2,750,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to install large solar electric net-metered equipment on public schools. The grant is to be used to purchase and install systems on an anticipated 6 to 15 public schools around the state. Each project is expected to be 20 kilowatts (KW) to 100 KW in size and will generate electricity and revenue to reduce energy bills of the school districts through utility net-metered programs. The solar electric system is expected to operate for 30 or more years and will enhance the educational opportunities of the students for years to come.  To read more about the project, please click here.

Indiana Energy Conservation Challenge Launched

Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman recently announced the Community Conservation Challenge. This program will make grants from $50,000 to $100,000 to nonprofit groups for community scale energy efficiency projects. The competitive grant program opens August 4, 2010 and applications must be submitted by October 1, 2010.  Winning projects are expected to result in significant energy conservation, have broad community support, leverage funds, and be highly visible.  While applicants must be nonprofit organizations, collaborations with both public and private entities are encouraged.  The grants require a 50 percent cost match on the part of the applicant, but that cost share may include in-kind contributions. To read more about the Challenge, please click here.

Maine Manufacturing Company Upgrades Equipment, Saves 40 Jobs

In 2008, facing a declining economy and soaring energy costs, Tex Tech Industries of North Monmouth considered two plans to lower operating costs: move part of their Maine-based operations closer to manufacturers in China, or upgrade to cost effective alternative energy and lower energy costs to retain 40 Maine jobs. After learning about new biomass equipment that could replace an old inefficient boiler, saving the company more than $400,000 a year in fuel costs, Tex Tech officials chose to upgrade. The company needed help acquiring the new equipment, however, and turned to Efficiency Maine for access to more than $746,000 in Industrial Grant funds. A manufacturer of tennis ball felt, Tex Tech Industries is one of the first Maine businesses to benefit from the new Efficiency Maine Large Project Fund that is funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  To read more about the success story, please click here.

Do you have news you would like to share? Send us your stories and announcements. Email or call Garth Otto with the details: gotto@naseo.org , 703.299.8800, ext. 16.