CERTs Monthly Update - May 2009

Hello CERT members and friends, and welcome to the May 2009 edition of our Monthly Update!

 
This Monthly Update is brimming with CERTs announcements, news from the regions, statewide opportunities, new resources available on the CERTs Web site, and ways that you can take action in your home and your community. Explore and enjoy!

Scene at Green Institute on Bike to Work Day

Regional Highlights & Activities

Statewide

 
The Minnesota legislative session ended this month with outcomes relevant to future Minnesota solar programs. Below is a partial summary. Thanks to Stacy Miller at the DOC-OES for compiling this!

  • HF 2123 Energy Appropriations Bill: Appropriates $400,000 from the Renewable Development Fund for the Minnesota Solar Electric Rebate Program. Guidelines from the existing Program are subject to change.

  • SF 550 Energy Policy Bill:
    • Establishes a “Central Corridor Light Rail Transit Utility Zone” between Saint Paul and Minneapolis; directs the electric utility to develop solar energy and energy efficiency along the mass transit zone
    • Authorizes Xcel Energy to count up to one percent solar generated electricity toward its renewable energy standard (RES) in addition to wind. (Currently, Xcel cannot count any solar generation toward its RES mandate.)
    • Authorizes the creation of a performance incentive for solar projects. Currently, only energy savings from solar projects can be considered under the utility Conservation Improvement Program (CIP)
    • Authorizes utilities to request permission from the commissioner of Commerce to increase the existing 5% cap to10% on CIP expenditures for solar projects.
  • SF 657 Energy Stimulus Bill:

  • Appropriates a minimum of $3 million for solar energy programs, including the Solar Electric Rebate Program and the Solar Hot Water Program. We anticipate developing a solar air heating program as well with this appropriation. Guidelines from the existing Program are subject to change.

  • Creates a School District and Local Government Renewable Energy Grant Program Requests for proposals will be issued for qualifying projects. The maximum grant to a local government under this section may not exceed:
    • for solar electric projects greater than or equal to 100 kilowatts rated capacity, the lesser of 40 percent of total project cost or $200,000;
    • for solar electric projects less than 100 kilowatts rated capacity, the lesser of 40 percent of total project cost or $100,000;
    • for wind projects greater than or equal to 40 kilowatts rated capacity, the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $150,000;
    • for wind projects less than 40 kilowatts rated capacity, the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $25,000;
    • for geothermal energy projects, the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $100,000;
    • for solar thermal projects, the lesser of 50 percent of total project cost or $75,000; or
    • for combined heat and power projects and district energy projects, the lesser of 35 percent of total project cost or $200,000.

  • School districts must integrate information about the renewable energy system for which a grant is received under this section in its educational programming.
    • Creates a Solar Cities Grant Program for the installation of large and small-scale solar projects, including innovative energy storage technology.
      General information
    • Installation work under all the above programs must be performed by licensed contractors.
    • Measuring performance outcomes and quality of installations will be important for these programs. Expect system monitoring along with site audits to verify system performance and appropriate siting.
    • There are provisions related to some of the above programs that require preference for disadvantaged businesses, and certified solar contractors.
    • There are prevailing wage requirements that apply to some or all of the above programs.
      While our office will work to introduce new programs quickly, we are in need of additional guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy regarding the use of stimulus funds before we can open the programs. For instance, there are questions at the federal level relating to how states should track green jobs and how to interpret, monitor and enforce the prevailing wage requirements established by Congress. We must also wait for approval from the U.S. DOE for our planned energy stimulus programs. For now, we continue to accept applications for the solar programs for our waiting list. However, we cannot reserve funds under these programs until we have DOE approval. All applications on the waiting list will be subject to any new program guidelines.

USDA Announces REAP Energy Technical Assistance Funding: The 2008 Farm Bill’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) added, for the first time, a new Energy Audit and Technical Assistance program to REAP. Under this program, state, local and tribal governments, universities, rural electric cooperatives and public power entities can apply to the USDA to receive grants to implement energy technical assistance programs to benefit agricultural producers and rural small businesses. The program will cut energy waste, help farmers and businesses produce their own renewable energy and improve the bottom line of farm and rural business operations.This year, based on likely REAP funding, we expect that up to $2.4 million will be available nationwide under this REAP program. The maximum grant per applicant is $100,000, and the deadline to apply for grants is June 10, 2009. Click here for a summary of the new program and the full notice. To learn more about USDA REAP grants, click here to read an exclusive CERTs interview with grant writer Kellye Rose.

Central Region

 
Central CERT meeting at WELRP: 25 people attended the meeting in Callaway, MN, at the White Earth Land Recovery Project office. Read the meeting notes. Director Winona LaDuke gave some background information on the White Earth Land Recovery Project (http://nativeharvest.com) and some of the CERTs-Funded projects that CERTs has partially funded these last few years, including an energy efficiency campaign installing CFLs in the homes of elderly residents and a solar thermal hot air installation and training. Winona and Tony Tibbetts also took us on a tour of the site where the refurbished 75 kw Lolland wind turbine will be installed; WELRP is working with XH Industries in California (http://usedrebuiltwindturbines.com/home). During the tour, people talked about the energy assistance programs and weatherization programs offered for low-income individuals (Learn more) Attendees were also interested in the residential energy audit trainings available from Dunwoody Technical College In Minneapolis. To learn about available dates in Minneapolis and sites across the state, please click here >>.

Focus on the West River Townhomes Project: West River Townhomes is a 12-unit permanent supportive housing project (an 8 plex and 4 plex) with a focus on serving families with dependent children who have experienced long term homelessness. Each unit has its own geothermal system (there are 36 wells, 225’ deep) providing heating and cooling. A 4.32 kW Solar PV array is installed on the south facing roof of the 4-plex. The site has on-site storm water mitigation and a prairie planting was completed this spring on the unoccupied ½ acre that sits to the north of the development. The funding for the project is comprised of $1.4 million in GO Bonds (MN Housing Finance Agency), a $216,000 0% loan from the Greater MN Housing Finance Corp., and approx. $200,000 in grants (Bremer, Federal Home Loan Bank, MMCDC, City of Detroit Lakes, and MN Housing Partnership). A special thanks to Guy Fischer, Housing/Economic Development Coordinator with Becker County, for sharing information about this innovative housing project.

Metro Region

 
Living Green Expo: Metro CERTs coordinated the “Communities Cutting Carbon” panel for the Living Green Expo. We highlighted the MN Schools Cutting Carbon project as well as the GreenStep Cities program with examples from the City of St. Louis Park and Center for Energy and Environment’s residential energy efficiency project, which CERTs supported last fall.

Bike to Work Day: On May 14, the Green Institute & Friends hosted their second bike to work breakfast for walkers and bikers as part of Bike Walk Week. We more than doubled last year’s attendance with 273 bikers/walkers, served up 20 dozen eggs, 200 sausages, 7 ½ pounds of oatmeal, bags and bags of apples and oranges, and 400 cups of Peace Coffee. We did all of this as a zero waste event and produced LESS than a pound of trash thanks to Eureka Recycling! Click here to see video and pictures from the event >>

Staff Update: Kai Bosworth, our fabulous intern from Macalester this year, will be taking the summer off, but will be back at it next fall. We are lucky to have McKynlee Westman as our intern from Yale this summer.

New Metro CERTs Affiliate: The Commonwealth Terrace Cooperative (CTC) at the University of Minnesota is our newest affiliate. For more info about affiliates, click here >>

Northeast Region

 
Cook County School District Brightens Buildings: Congratulations to Cook County School District and Grand Marais Public Utilities for their excellent energy efficiency projects! Click here to learn more >>

Update from Northeast CERT organizer Bill Mittlefehldt: Bill had a busy May. Civic teams with an interest in energy and the environment have been growing in Cloquet, Duluth, Silver Bay, Ely, Grand Marais and other communities of the NE. As the regional economy has slowed, civic leaders in these communities have begun to ask questions about how best to protect their communities in the future from uncertain energy and environmental costs:

  • Ricky DeFoe of the Fondu Lac Band and co-chair of the Duluth American Indian Commission has been working to safeguard the quality of Lake Superior’s drinking water. He hopes to avoid the need to drill new wells, pump new water and disseminate it to Western Lake Superior customers. A number of Faith communities in the Lake’s watershed are taking actions to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions. The Twin Ports Interfaith Initiative has organized more than 25 Faith teams in response to this climate-energy-economy challenge.

  • Silver Bay has been awarded a $40,000 MPCA grant for developing the plans for their “Eco-Industrial Park” on Lake Superior and highway 61. They have been working with Dr. Mike Mageau on wind resources. And they are working with Chuck Hartley on biomass applications for the park. With transport options of highway 61 and shipping possibilities on the Lake, the Silver Bay civic team is excited to learn their way through the next phase, as they harness hope for a sustainable future.
  • Rebecca Spengler, a member of the Energy Efficient Ely Team, has installed her solar thermal collectors on The Laundry Room (partially funded by a CERTs grant). She hopes to bring down the costs of her propane heated water, reduce her carbon emissions and increase her profits. This mother, entrepreneur, civic leader and innovator is creating a new model for sustainable business in our region. She will be featured in a CERTs videoshort that will be streamed from our website this summer. Steve Piragis, a lead member of Energy Efficient Ely, has gone to Italy to study biomass technology and applications for Ely.
  • Grand Marais is moving forward with plans for a district heating with co-generated electrical power as part of the system’s efficiency. The County, City and School Board have expressed interest in pursuing a common heating and power plant. The process of design and funding has begun.
  • The NE Coordinator has been expanding outreach activities through the Gunflint Green Up presentation about building sustainability by building community. He presented at Pilgrim Church in Duluth: “Creation, Covenant and Climate.” This month involved working with MN Power, GPM of Duluth, the DNR’s team on Bioeconomics and the MPCA. We are also working to capture and retell some remarkable stories of climate-energy collaboration. There will be a video production from the Twin Ports Interfaith Initiative on Global Warming and its outreach to the Faith communities.

Northwest Region

 
Renewable Energy Assessment & Feasibility Tool: This tool by AURI can be used as a first step for identifying renewable energy opportunities and assisting with developing a preliminary feasibility assessment for identified renewable energy ventures. If you have any questions please contact Randy Hilliard, AURI Project Development Director by email at rhilliar@auri.org or phone at 218-281-9006 (Direct), 218-280-8573 (Cell). CERTs is currently partnering with the Northwest Regional Development Commission, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, West Central Initiative Foundation, and Region 5 Regional Development Commission to provide funding support for 18 northwestern counties to populate these templates with information and then to share the findings with county developers and entrepreneurs.
Click here to check out the tool >>

Southeast Region

 
SE CERT Tour at ARTech: On Tuesday May 12th the SE CERT held an inspiring meeting at ARTech in Norhtfield. ARTech is a charter school that over the course of the past year and a half has worked to put up a 2 kW PV solar array—working on everything from the up-front fundraising (to which SE CERT contributed) to developing curriculum that will help students integrate the solar system into their course work. The group also sat down with members from the former Northfield Energy Task Force—now the Energy Subcommittee of the Environmental Quality Commission—to learn about their recommendations to fast track Northfield’s efforts toward carbon neutrality. Both efforts offered great insights into how individuals, their schools and communities can team up to advance clean energy. Many thanks to our wonderful hosts!

Video: Conserving & Saving in Owatonna: Here is a GREAT video from Fresh Energy that focuses on the innovative program of Owatonna Public Utility’s Conserve & Save Home Energy Report (Austin Public Utility is doing a similar program). SE CERT Steering Committee member Roger Warehime is featured.
Click here to watch now >>

Riverland College approved for Wind Turbine Program: Riverland Community College received final approval from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities for the new Wind Turbine Program. The program is currently taking applications for fall semester 2009. The partners to date include: Juhl Energy Development Inc., Vestas, Horizon Wind/Prairie Star Wind Farm, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Workforce Development Inc., Alliant Energy, Austin Utilities, Freeborn Mower Cooperative Services, Albert Lea Public Schools, Owatonna Senior High School, Albert Lea Economic Development Agency and the Development Corporation of Austin. Read the full article >>

Southwest Region

 
A Family Riding the Wind: The Espenson family’s part in a 12 turbine, 12 family community wind project in Cottonwood County is featured here in the 5-17-09 Pioneer Press article, Riding the Wind. Click here to read >>

MN Renewable Energy Marketplace – Alliance for Talent Development RFP: The Executive Committee of the ‘Renewable Energy Marketplace – An Alliance for Talent Development’ (MNREM) is requesting Proposals from businesses and organizations in the 36-county MNREM region. Proposals should present innovative concepts for addressing the talent development needs to transform the region from primarily agriculture-dependent to a knowledge and innovation-based economy that capitalizes on the region’s strength in agriculture and renewable/alternative energy. The ‘Renewable Energy Marketplace – An Alliance for Talent Development’ initiative is one of thirty-nine regional projects throughout the country funded through the United States Department of Labor WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Initiative. Proposals must address Talent Development or Entrepreneurship/Innovation/Business Growth goals, and one or more outcomes. Click here to learn more and apply >>

Juhl Wind Announces New Project: Juhl Wind Inc., a community wind developer based in Woodstock, Minn., recently entered into a feasibility study agreement with a group of local owners to study and develop a 5.4 MW community wind farm in Jackson County, Minn. The Delafield project comprises seven local farmer owner/partners and is located approximately 5 miles southeast of Windom, Minn. Click here to learn more >>

Windy in Southwest MN – Articles in Pipestone Star:

West Central Region

 
West Central Tribune article: Construction Officially Begins on MUC’s Two Wind Turbines. Congratulations to Willmar Municipal Utility and a special shout out to Wes Hompe for his good work on this project!
Read the full article >>

Hutchinson High School Softens Carbon Impact with Trees: The tree distribution is part of an ongoing campaign, funded by a grant from Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon. Past events included a May 20 high school tree planting and an alternative transportation week May 18-22. Read the full Hutchinson Leader article and check out their school page on the Schools Cutting Carbon site.

Tax Incentives Assistance Program Provides Detailed Information


Tax Incentive Assistance Program

 
So you’re convinced that NOW is the time to make energy efficiency and renewbale energy improvements in your home, business, or property and you’ve visited ENERGY STAR to learn about it.

But questions still remain, like:

  • Can I get a rebate for improvements and purchases in 2008?
  • What is included in the $1,500 rebate limit?
  • Is there a separate limit for 2009 and 2010, or is it for 2009-2010?

Luckily there is the Tax Incentives Assistance Program, which provides detailed information for consumers, businesses, builders, and manufacturers, including an extremely helpful Frequently Asked Questions page.

Visit http://energytaxincentives.org to dig up answers to your questions on tax incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy today!

Rural Energy for America Program & Other Resources

 
The USDA Rural Energy For American Program (REAP) is due July 31st! For a good overview of the program, visit FarmEnergy.org. For renewable energy, visit Grants.gov, renewables. For energy efficiency, visit Grants.gov, efficiency.

The Database for State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a great resource for both energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives by state, as well as the federal incentives: http://www.dsireusa.org.

And speaking of federal incentives, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security (DOC-OES) is an outstanding resource for the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and many other resources: energy.state.gov.

Introducing: CERTs TV!

 
Click here to watch now! CERTs TV is a new resource where you can view CERTs video clips and news sightings,
as well as videos and full documentaries produced by CERTs partners!

Click here to watch now!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Action Alert

How Do Smaller Communities Get Ready for the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants?

 
St. Charles at dusk on July 4, 2007 - Andrea Smith The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) contains over $18 billion in energy efficiency funding that qualifying entities (primarily states, cities, and counties) can pursue. The primary objectives of this funding are to build jobs, save energy, and build energy efficiency infrastructure for the longer-term. To accomplish these objectives, the Administration and Congress have placed heavy emphasis on transparency and accountability in the use of ARRA funds.

At the same time, funds must be obligated and expended rapidly, to have a significant effect on economic recovery in the near future. The Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit is being provided to help recipients of ARRA funding meet these objectives and challenges. The RDEE Toolkit provides detailed program design and implementation guides for 10 broadly applicable energy efficiency programs.

We here at CERTs have been posting as often as possible with updates on recovery news and opportunities in Minnesota to try to assist folks—you can click here to see all blog posts related to the recovery. We have the Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency Toolkit as one of the posts there, and a good first step for folks to take. To go directly to the EPA’s site, click here.

If you are concerned with the allocation of dollars for larger cities and counties in Minnesota, who will deal directly with the Department Of Energy, you can find that information by clicking here. These larger cities and counties will need to be signed up via grants.gov or fed.connect by June 25th.

If you have questions regarding the EECBG program, please contact the EERE Information Center via toll-free phone at 1-877-EERE-INFO (1-877-337-3463). These two links will also prove helpful for larger cities and counties, here and here.

We called the number above to confirm that the smaller towns and counties do not have to sign up—they will deal directly with Minnesota Department Of Commerce, Office of Energy Security through a competitive grant process. Click here to learn more >>.

If you start digging into the RDEET information now and identifying some decent projects using those guidelines, that may be the best way to get ready for the competitive grants coming soon. And keep watching the Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security website for further updates at http://www.energy.mn.gov.