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| Transportation Highlights:
Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| Tennessee Solar Projects Gain Traction through Community Solar Initiatives, Energy Savings Performance Contracts, and Information and Welcome Centers
On November 17, Knox County officials and Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced the completion of a $12.45 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC). In the spring of 2015, Ameresco was selected by Knox County to install more than five-megawatts of solar photovoltaic systems on the rooftops of 11 schools plus the Knox County Central Building, and ground-mount solar arrays at the Detention and Juvenile Justice Facilities. The project, which was financed with Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, is expected to provide more than $29 million in energy savings to the County, while generating approximately $14 million in positive bottom-line cash flow for the County over the next 30 years. For more information, click here.
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| TVA Co-Generation Plant to Preserve 1,100 Jobs in Middle Tennessee On December 6, TVA announced that although it plans to shut down its oldest coal plant in New Johnsonville, Tennessee by the end of next year, it will continue to provide steam for an adjacent chemical plant, Chemours, as part of a unique co-generation partnership to preserve 1,100 jobs in Middle Tennessee. To do this, TVA will build a multi-million-dollar heat-recovery steam generator on its newest combustion turbine generator at the 720-acre Johnsonville plant, which TVA previously used only during periods of peak demand. To help keep enough steam flowing for Chemours to make its titanium dioxide product, engineers from TVA and Chemours worked out a system for TVA to regularly use its newest combustion turbine at New Johnsonville to not only generate electricity but to also make steam for Chemours' manufacturing process. For more information on the project, click here.
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| Largest Solar Farm in Alabama Added to TVA Grid On November 18, NextEra Energy Resources and TVA celebrated the commissioning of Alabama’s largest solar energy project – the River Bend Solar Energy Center. The River Bend Solar Energy Center features more than 300,000 solar panels with trackers that will follow the sun from east to west each day to maximize energy production. Together, they have a generating capacity of 75 megawatts, or enough to power more than 15,000 homes. The energy will serve TVA consumers starting this year, under a 20-year power purchase agreement. For more information on the project, click here.
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| LEDs Save Money for Tennessee Municipalities
In Putnam County, a project to swap thousands of light bulbs in government buildings with more efficient LED bulbs is already saving money, thanks to one of TDEC’s Clean Tennessee Energy Grants. The County said that the cost of the 2,450 bulbs came in at about $70,000 less than originally expected. Collectively, the project is expected to save the county $52,800 per year with the new LED light bulbs, according to estimates from TVA.
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| White Harvest Energy Wins Funding for CHP Facility in Chattanooga White Harvest Energy and Erlanger joined forces to apply for and win a $6.75 million grant, which will help pay for a new combined heat and power (CHP) facility at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga. The project includes three modular natural gas CHP units sized at two megawatts, to total six megawatts. These units will generate electricity for the hospital to use. The heat generated from the units as a by-product will be captured and used to displace natural gas consumed by the steam boilers in the existing central energy plant. Overall, the new facility will cost $13 million and will bring major energy cost savings, cleaner air and more reliable power. The project is expected to have a payback period of less than four years with the $6.25 million grant.
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| ORNL Awarded 8 "Oscars of Innovation" by R&D Magazine
R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 Awards, sometimes called the “Oscars of Innovation,” are given annually in recognition of exceptional new products or processes that were developed and introduced into the marketplace during the previous year. This year, U.S. DOE’s National Laboratories received 32 of the 100 awards. The following products, which were developed by researchers at Tennessee-based ORNL, were among the awardees: - The Roof Savings Calculator Suite is a Web-based tool for simulating energy flow and loss in businesses and homes and predicting the cost-effectiveness of cool roofing and attic technologies based on building type and location. It is more accurate and customizable than the current DOE and EPA energy calculators and is designed to educate builders and consumers about the money saving potential of roofing upgrades.
- Waste Tire Derived Carbon uses a proprietary process for repurposing discarded car tires as a source of carbon powder, a sooty hydrocarbon byproduct that can be modified to incorporate into anodes of lithium-ion batteries.
- The Wireless Power Transfer Based Electric and Plug-In Vehicle Charging System was submitted by Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America and was co-developed by a team of ORNL researchers with support from Cisco Systems and the International Transportation Innovation Center. The team developed the world’s first 20-kilowatt wireless charging system for passenger cars and achieved 90 percent efficiency at three times the rate of the plug-in systems commonly used for electric vehicles today.
To read more about the 2016 R&D 100 Awards, click here.
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| Clean Line Energy and GE Announce America's Largest Clean Energy Infrastructure Project
On December 2, Clean Line Energy and GE announced their collaboration on America’s largest clean energy infrastructure project, the Plains & Eastern Clean Line. The project will enable the delivery of enough low-cost, clean energy from the Oklahoma Panhandle region to power more than one million homes in Arkansas, Tennessee, and other states in the Mid-South and Southeast. GE has been selected as the exclusive provider of the three high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations for the project. A converter station in the Oklahoma Panhandle will convert the incoming alternating current (AC) power generated by new wind farms into direct current (DC) power. The converter stations in Pope County, Arkansas, and Shelby County, Tennessee will convert DC power back into AC power to be delivered to customers through the existing AC grid. For more information on the project, click here.
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| Environmental Show of the South Solicits Presentation Abstracts
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| TRANSPORTATION HIGHLIGHTS
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| Volkswagen Releases Zero Emission Vehicle Investment Solicitation
On December 9, 2016, Volkswagen Group of America (VW) launched www.electrifyamerica.com, which provides information on VW's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and awareness campaign, as well as details on how states, municipalities, and others can submit proposals to help inform VW's ZEV investment plans over the next ten years. The period to submit proposals for recommendations for the first 30-month investment cycle will end on January 16th, and additional proposals will be considered after the 16th on a rolling basis. The website also notes that all submissions will become the property of Volkswagen Group of America and should not include proprietary information as submissions could be shared publicly. For more information, visit www.electrifyamerica.com.
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| Piedmont Natural Gas Sees Surge in Demand for CNG
Earlier this year, Piedmont received approval from state regulators in North Carolina and South Carolina to temporarily reduce the price of CNG by $0.50 per gasoline-gallon equivalent (GGE) – passing through to customers a federal tax credit intended to expand the environmental benefits of CNG by encouraging the construction of CNG refueling stations. The company also passed the savings from the tax credit along to customers in Tennessee, where public CNG prices are unregulated. Other initiatives to accommodate the increase in demand for CNG throughout Piedmont’s three-state service area of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee include: - Working with municipalities and other local agencies in Charlotte, Nashville, Wilmington and Anderson, S.C., to expand their use of CNG in airport parking shuttles and public transit buses.
- Adding a third dispenser island at Piedmont’s public CNG refueling station in Nashville, to serve a rapidly growing customer base that includes shuttle buses serving nearby Nashville International Airport, a mail-delivery contractor and regional haulers taking advantage of the station’s proximity to I-40.
For more information, click here.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| More than $1 Million Available in Clean Tennessee Energy Grants
The Clean Tennessee Energy Grant (CTEG) program provides financial assistance to municipal governments, county governments, utility districts and other entities created by statute. On November 3, TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau announced the availability of $1.5 million in grant funding for clean energy projects statewide. Criteria include projects that reduce air emissions, improve energy efficiency and create cost savings including projects focused on: - Cleaner alternative energy – biomass, geothermal, solar, wind;
- Energy conservation – lighting, HVAC improvements, improved fuel efficiency, insulation, idling minimization;
- Air quality improvement – reduction in greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, oxides of nitrogen, hazardous air pollutants.
Funding preference will be given to distressed counties identified by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and counties that have not previously received CTEG funding. Additionally, projects must have a simple payback of less than 10 years on the entire project budget. Funding Funding for the projects comes from a 2011 Clean Air Act settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Under the Consent Decree, Tennessee received $26.4 million to fund clean air programs in the state. The funding schedule is as follows: - February 28, 2017: Pre-Proposal submission deadline
- March 24, 2017: Full proposals (by invitation only) contacted for additional items
- April 21, 2017: Full proposal supplemental information submission deadline
- Fall 2017: Announcement of recipients
The minimum grant request is $5,000 and the maximum grant request is $250,000, with a 50% match or more from the applicant. For more information, click here.
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| SunShot's Solar in Your Community Challenge
SunShot Initiative’s Solar in Your Community Challenge aims to spur the development of new and innovative financial and business models that serve non-rooftop solar users and low- and moderate-income communities. The Challenge will offer $5 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across the country to develop projects or programs that expand solar access to underserved groups, while proving that these business models can be widely replicated and adopted by similar groups. The Challenge will be conducted over the course of 18 months, with multiple opportunities throughout to earn prizes. Learn more about the Solar in Your Community Challenge, and apply today to spur solar in your community or to provide technical assistance to help others create solar programs.
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| U.S. DOE Announces $30 Million Investment for Innovation in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies On November 18, U.S. DOE announced approximately $30 million in available funding, subject to appropriations, for R&D related to low-cost hydrogen production, onboard hydrogen storage, and proton exchange membrane fuel cells to advance the widespread commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles. Selected projects will leverage national lab consortia launched under DOE's Energy Materials Network (EMN) this past year, in support of DOE's materials research and advanced manufacturing priorities. Concept papers are due by December 20, and full applications are due by February 21. For more information, click here.
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| U.S. DOE Announces Up to $19.5 Million for Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies On December 1, U.S. DOE’s Buildings Technologies Office (BTO) announced the availability of up to $19.5 million for project proposals in four topic areas: - 1.Advanced Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) – accelerated development of next generation technologies, including both electric- and fuel-driven (natural gas, propane, and other alternative fuels) solutions
- 2.Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs)– technology approaches that target diverse MELs (electric loads outside of a building’s core functions of lighting, HVAC&R, and water heating)
- 3.Early stage research and development “innovations” for hardware and software technology solutions to building energy efficiency
- 4.Pre-commercial prototype development and scale-up for hardware and software technology solutions to building energy efficiency
Concept papers are due by January 4, and full applications are due by March 3. For more information, and to apply, click here.
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| U.S. DOE Releases Notice of Intent to Fund Alternative Fuel Vehicle Community Partner Projects and Energy Efficient Mobility Systems On November 16, U.S. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement. The NOI includes two areas of interest: - Alternative Fuel Vehicle Community Partner Projects: The objective of this area of interest is to accelerate the adoption of commercially available advanced electric drive and alternative fuel vehicles and supporting infrastructure through community-based partnerships among state and local governments and the private sector. These projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce U.S. dependence on petroleum, increase local fuel diversification, and catalyze the adoption of clean transportation technologies in other communities through the sharing of best practices and the collection and sharing of data.
- Energy Efficient Mobility Systems Projects: The objective of this area of interest is to develop and implement projects, models, and tools that demonstrate and assess the return on investment (ROI) of energy efficient mobility systems that holistically reduces energy consumption while delivering the benefits of new mobility technology. Projects could include, but are not limited to:
- “Living Lab” projects that invite communities to propose how they integrate advanced electric drive and alternative fuel vehicles and/or smart technologies in a holistic approach that maximizes improvement in energy efficiency.
- Projects that demonstrate and assess the efficacy and return on investment (ROI) of electrification and shared mobility initiatives or other new mobility concepts or technologies that improves energy efficiency.
The funding opportunity announcement is expected to be released in December. For more information, click here.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Save the Date: TAEBC Annual Meeting
On February 15, the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council will host its Annual Meeting in Nashville. This is event will be open to any and all individuals that are interested in learning about the value of business council membership and how the council is championing advanced energy as an economic development and job creation strategy in Tennessee. Curious to learn more? Check out this video, which highlights some of the industry leaders in Tennessee’s advanced energy sector.
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| 2017 Home Performance Coalition (HPC) National Conference and Trade Show
HPC conferences offer the industry's leading educational events and trade shows in partnership with the nation's leading experts in home performance and weatherization, combining unparalleled educational components with ideal networking opportunities for all sectors of the industry who share the vision of advancing the home performance industry and building a stronger community.
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| Save the Date: 2017 Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum
On May 23-24, TDEC, TDOT, and the Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition will host the Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum in Nashville, Tennessee. Topics to be discussed will include: - Behavior Change - Transportation demand management and the utilization of alternatives to single occupancy vehicles
- Mobility Planning - Improved efficiency in the delivery of goods and services, reduced congestion, and improved access to alternative transportation
- Energy and the Environment - Alternative fuel use for reduced emissions, improved air quality, and resiliency
- Green Fleets Certification and Exhibit of Alternative Fuel Vehicles - Presented by the Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition
- Awards Luncheon and One Big Idea Panel to highlight award projects
Additional details related to the forum are expected to be released in the coming months. For more information, click here. To sign up for Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum email updates, click here.
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| Tools for Residential Energy Efficiency and Improved Energy Performance
U.S. DOE’s Home Energy Score evaluates what kind of energy performance can be expected out of any given home. The Score is based on evaluation of a home’s structural characteristics (insulation, conditioned floor area, windows, etc.) as well as its heating, cooling, and hot water equipment. To date, more than 50,000 Scores have been issued for homes across the country. To obtain a Home Energy Score, email HomeEnergyScore@ee.doe.gov.
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| Webinar: Get the Facts on LED Street Lighting
During this October 20, 2016 webinar, Bruce Kinzey of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory examined key issues underlying concerns raised by the American Medical Association community guidance on street lighting, and their applicability to LED street lighting. The presentation also provided essential background context to fill in existing knowledge gaps. To view the webinar, click here.
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| Small Commercial Energy Efficiency Toolkit
The commercial building sector is extremely diverse, including office buildings, warehouses, schools, restaurants, health care facilities, and hotels to name a few. Together, they consume approximately 20% of total U.S. energy consumption. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab partnered with Architecture 2030 to develop a technical toolkit that provides guidance and resources for small commercial building owners and operators. The technical toolkit delivers the ability to analyze and evaluate measures for HVAC equipment, interior equipment, lighting and/or whole building measures, ultimately helping building owners minimize risk while maximizing energy savings.
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