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Upcoming Education Opportunities
Webinars
ENERGY STAR Webinar: Financing Energy Efficient Upgrades with ENERGY STAR
January 15, 2015: 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
USDA Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Webinar: Solar Program Overview
January 22, 2015: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
DOE Webinar: Best Practices in Developing a Tribal Strategic Energy Plan
January 28, 2015: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
USDA REAP Webinar: National Stakeholder Forum - NEW
February 6, 2015: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
MREA Online Course: Batteries in Solar PV Systems
February 9, 2015 - March 20, 2015
Sustainable Cities Network's Renewable Energy Project Development Course
February 10-12, 2015 and February 17-19, 2015
Events and Other Education
Midwest Energy Research Consortium Open Member Meeting: Bioenergy Potential - Milwaukee, WI
January 22, 2015: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
WI Farmer's Union Moving Solar Forward Workshop - Eau Claire, WI
January 23, 2015
NCSE Energy and Climate Change Conference - Washington, DC
January 27-29, 2015
MEEA Midwest Energy Solutions Conference - Chicago, IL
January 28-30, 2015
Getting to Zero National Forum - Washington D.C.
February 1-3, 2015
Energy On Wisconsin Meeting: Energy Efficiency Strategies in the Face of Rising Energy Costs (Save the Date) - Oneida Tribe, Brown County WI
February 20, 2015: 8:30 am - 2:30 pm
MEEA Certified Practitioner in Energy Management Systems Training - Chicago, IL
February 24-27, 2015: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Better Buildings: Better Business Conference - Residential
Rosemont, IL: February 26-27, 2015
Wisconsin Dells: March 11-13, 2015
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Rishi Tea, using Focus on Energy's Design Assistance Program, achieved 41% energy cost savings overall and a 43% reduction in lighting power density. See news article below. Photo courtesy of Focus on Energy
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News
WI Electric Rate Cases Finalized
The PSC finalized their decisions to increase fixed base electric rates to customers in WPS, We Energies and Madison Gas & Electric territories. For details see Utility Rate Restructuring Decisions in December Energy On Wisconsin news. Any challenges to the decisions must be filed by the end of January. To read more WSJ, We Energies
Wisconsin has Highest Potential for Combined Heat and Power in the Midwest
Combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration systems are energy efficient, help with resiliency, and could help comply with carbon pollution reduction requirements. CHP, the generation of on-site electricity that captures the waste heat (thermal energy) to provide heating and cooling from a single fuel source, is used at more than 4100 industrial facilities, hospitals, and universities to reduce operating costs and ensure reliability. In Wisconsin, CHP systems are in place statewide from dairies to wastewater treatment plants to paper mills. CHP represents approximately 8% of installed U.S. electric generating capacity and over 12% of total electricity generation (USDOE and USEPA, 2012), but has much greater potential.
Each year, as part of the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranks states on policies that encourage deployment of CHP. ACEEE developed a state-by-state CHP favorability index to get a rough look at the degree to which electricity and gas prices influence the CHP market in a given state. In Wisconsin, where electricity costs are among the highest in the nation, onsite energy generation with CHP is favorable. Among twelve Midwest states, Wisconsin ranked highest on the policy favorability index and among seven with an extremely high level of market favorability for CHP deployment.
Rishi Tea Saves with Focus on Energy Design Assistance
Rishi Tea, growing at a rate of 10 percent per year, designed and built a new state-of-the-art 50,000 square foot facility in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley using the Focus on Energy Design Assistance Program. The Program provides building owners, builders, developers and design professionals with analysis of energy-saving options for the design of new buildings. In addition, the program offers incentives to design teams and to building owners, which can be used to reduce the upfront cost of high-efficiency measures that exceed Wisconsin energy code requirements.
The Design Assistance Program provided a whole building energy analysis for Rishi’s specialized manufacturing facility, which has very strict environmental requirements including humidification. The strict requirements and the awareness that maintaining the tight humidity set points would be a significant contributor to energy usage led to the implementation of direct expansion (DX) cooling efficiencies. These systems, which resulted in nearly 30 percent savings over the Program baseline, are vital in keeping the tea leaves, herbs and spices used in Rishi Tea’s increasingly organic products fresh and uncompromised. To read more
RENEW Recognizes Wisconsin Clean Energy Installations and Individuals
At the RENEW Energy Policy Summit held January 2015, 16 clean energy projects that came on line in 2014 representing nearly six megawatts of energy were highlighted. They included biogas, hydro, solar utility and community projects as well as customer owned solar. Highlights included Vernon Electric Cooperative, the first and largest community member owned solar coop in Wisconsin, which sold out 922 panels at $600 per panel in 2.5 weeks. Steven and Ellen Terwilliger of Eau Claire, WI, received the Renewable Energy Grassroots Activists of the Year award for their work along with Chippewa Valley Technical College that brought renewable energy education to Northwest Wisconsin. They organized and co-hosted the Solar Power Wisconsin Affordable Energy Conference, a new outreach event that drew nearly 200 attendees November 2014. To read more
Municipal Solar Resources
Need help with permitting, zoning, or financing solutions for solar in your community? Wisconsin municipalities can tap into more resources to support solar deployment through the Grow Solar Partnership. This initiative, led by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, is designed to help bring down the soft-costs of solar in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. The partnership can help communities tap into resources and opportunities to improve solar processes in three specific areas: permitting (including inspection trainings), zoning, and financing solutions. If you are interested, please contact Elizabeth Hittman, MREA Milwaukee Director at (414) 431-0758 x 1 or email elizabethh@midwestrenew.org
WI Rural Energy Grants Awarded in 2014
For the 2014 Fiscal Year, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) awarded 50 grants out of 88 applicants in Wisconsin. The total amount allocated was $1.14 million. The initial WI grant allocation of $1,039,000 was expended and additional funds of $103,000 were received from the national office reserve pool. REAP, authorized in the 2012 farm bill, is a program that can finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for rural small businesses and farmers. 2015 funds are available now; see below for funding details. For more information, contact Brenda Heinen at brenda.heinen@wi.usda.gov or 715-345-7615, Ext 139.
DOE Releases Energy Literacy Video Series
The Department of Energy (DOE), along with the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), launched the first four videos in a series highlighting each of the seven essential principles presented in the DOE Energy Literacy Framework. The Framework seeks to help educators of all disciplines and age groups incorporate a multidisciplinary approach to energy into their lessons and programs. The final three videos are expected by September 2015. To learn more about the Energy Literacy Framework, view the archived webinar.
Harley Davidson's First Electric Motorcycle on Tour
Harley Davidson revealed their first electric motorcycle called Project Livewire on their Project Livewire Experience Tour during the second half of 2014. The tour stopped at select dealerships and allowed customers to test ride, provide feedback, and learn about the story of the motorcycle. The tour visited more than 30 Harley-Davidson dealerships along Route 66 in 2014. In 2015, the tour will continue in the U.S. and expand into Canada and Europe. Though the motorcycle is not for sale, plans for retail availability will be influenced by feedback from riders along the tour. For more information
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Funding
UPDATED - NEW Funding Opportunity - USDA Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program and Webinar
Grant applications are due February 12 for the Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Program (EA/REDA) under USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The EA/REDA provides grant assistance to entities that will assist agriculture producers and small rural businesses by conducting energy audits and providing information on renewable energy options (ex. integrating solar thermal energy to reduce propane use at a dairy farm). This grant is available to State, tribal, and local government, higher education institutions, rural electric cooperatives and public power entities, and Resource Conservation and Development Councils. There is a $100,000 maximum grant award to any one recipient for fiscal year 2015.
For help applying for this funding, listen to a recorded USDA informational webinar and download a factsheet and other resources. Wisconsin USDA representative is Brenda Heinen at at brenda.heinen@wi.usda.gov or 715-345-7615, Ext 139.
For information about other REAP funding and program changes, there is a USDA webinar February 6, 2015. Funding from the REAP program discussed in this webinar can be used to implement the recommendations from the EA/REDA audits and site assessments.
NEW - USDA Forest Service Wood Innovations Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Forest Service is seeking applications to substantially expand and accelerate wood energy and wood product markets throughout the United States to support forest management needs on National Forest System and other forest lands. A $5 million matching grant program with up to $250,000 per grant is targeted to for-profit entities; State, local, and Tribal governments; school districts; communities; not-for-profit organizations; or special purpose districts. Applications are due January 23, 2015. For more information
WPPI Renewable Energy Grants for Non-Profits
WPPI Energy is offering grant funding for renewable energy projects to non-profit organizations, nonprofit schools, universities, and local governments that receive electric service from a WPPI member utility. WPPI will accept Request for Proposals on customer-owned and sited systems for $5,000 to $25,000 in funding and retain ownership of the RECs for ten years. The grant levels are expected to best apply to solar PV projects up to 20 kW and wind projects up to 10 kW. Bid applications are due January 30, 2015. For more information and to apply
NEW - Focus on Energy Renewable Incentives
The Renewable Energy Competitive Incentive Program (RECIP) Request for Proposals (RFP) will be published on Monday, January 19, 2015 on the Focus website. A pre-bid webinar will be held January 29, 9:00am. If you have questions you want to have addressed on webinar, submit them by January 23, 2015. Proposals are due March 20, 2015 by 5:00pm. Award notifications will be made April 17, 2015.
NEW - DOE's Energy Technology Research Funds
The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has $125 million to fund transformational research aimed at the development of high‐potential, high‐impact technologies in all areas of energy research and development. Proposed technologies must be close to but not quite ready for private‐sector investment. ARPA-E focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early‐stage technology.
Notices of intent are due February 20, 2015 and applications are due February 27, 2015. Send questions to ARPA‐E‐CO@hq.doe.gov by February 20, 2015. For more information see the full solicitation at Grants.gov. Learn more about the projects currently funded by ARPA-E here.
NEW - REAP Funding for the 2015 Fiscal Year
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) is accepting applications for funding for the upcoming 2015 fiscal year. REAP offers cost-share grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency improvement or renewable energy development projects. The maximum grant is 25% of the total project costs. Approximately $210,00 will be available in Wisconsin for grant requests of $20,000 and less; and $1.45 million for grants greater than $20,000. Application deadlines are April 30, 2015 and June 30, 2015. For more information and to apply
NEW - USDA’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program
The Rural Utility Service’s (RUS) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP), managed by the USDA, is a new program with $250 million for direct loans to rural electric cooperatives and other rural electricity providers. EECLP supports energy efficiency, demand side management, and renewable energy generation. Electricity providers can re-loan funds to residential and commercial customers to make energy efficiency improvements. Customers would then repay the loan through on-bill financing. EECLP can assist with roof top solar systems as well. To learn more about the program and the energy activities the program supports, there will be another webinar January 22, 2015. For more information
DOE Loan Guarantees for Innovative Renewable Energy
The Department of Energy has $4 billion available in federal loan guarantees for innovative renewable energy projects. Eligible projects must employ an innovative technology for renewable energy, efficient electricity generation, transmission or distribution, or energy-efficient end use. The project must also avoid or reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and be located in the U.S. The window for applications is from January 14, 2015 to December 30, 2015.
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Recently Added Resources
Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels
Bioenergy: Biomass to Biofuels, a book published by the University of Vermont, November 2014, provides an overview and in-depth technical information on solid, liquid and gaseous bioenergy resources, including topics such as microbial fuels and biogas. The book details the trade-offs between various feedstocks, provides evaluation criteria for biofuel project proposals, and features case studies.
USDOE Guide to Successful Implementation of State Combined Heat and Power Policies
This guide, released March 2013, informs state utility regulators and other state policymakers with actionable information to assist them in implementing key state policies that impact combined heat and power (CHP).
USDOE Get Current Coloring Book
A Spanish-language version of the Get Current coloring book is part of an ongoing effort to expand educational resources for the growing Spanish-speaking population in the United States.
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