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| News and Events: Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities: Resources and Guides:
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| Statewide Water Plan Released, Open for Public Feedback Earlier this month, Governor Haslam, Deputy Governor Henry, and TDEC Commissioner Meghreblian released TN H20, the statewide water availability plan developed by subject matter experts and led by a steering committee appointed by Governor Haslam earlier this year. TDEC is now seeking feedback from the public on the plan, which assesses current water resources and makes recommendations for steps that can be taken to ensure that Tennessee has abundant water resources to support future population and economic growth through 2040. Public feedback on the plan will be accepted through February 28, 2018. To learn more about TN H2O, visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/TNH2O or watch the video below.
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| Nashville’s Home Energy Uplift Program to Add Green Jobs Focus
Nashville Mayor David Briley recently announced grant funding to support a green jobs component to Home Energy Uplift (HEU), a residential building weatherization program supported by TVA and NES for limited-income homeowners in Davidson County. The Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund (SSCF) will invest $300,000 to establish the Green Jobs Initiative at the Nashville Career Advancement Center (NCAC). As part of this initiative, NCAC will train individuals to perform energy-retrofit installations and water efficiency measures, provide nationally accredited certifications upon completion of this training, and connect participants to jobs created by HEU. NCAC’s Green Jobs Initiative will address HEU’s pressing need for labor talent, namely retrofit technicians, with a focus on connecting low-income or unemployed/under-employed Nashvillians to training and career pathways in the energy-efficiency sector. For more information on NCAC’s Green Jobs Initiative, click here. More information on the NES Home Energy Uplift program can be found here.
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| I-40 Solar Visitor Center Now Open
On December 4, State and local leaders gathered to celebrate the opening of the I-40 Solar Farm Information and Welcome Center in Haywood County. On display and at the heart of the center is an interactive exhibit designed by the University of Tennessee, SPECTRUM, which highlights advancements in renewable energy. The facility, designed by Memphis firm ANF Architect, also features a nearly 360-degree view of the surrounding 5 MW, 25-acre West Tennessee Solar Farm, which surrounds the building. The I-40 Solar Farm Information and Welcome Center, located in Stanton between Jackson and Memphis, provides easy and convenient access for 12 million Interstate 40 vehicles to visit the West Tennessee Solar Farm and SPECTRUM exhibit. It’s located on I-40 West Bound at Mile Marker 44. If traveling east on I-40, take exit 47 and re-enter the interstate heading west-bound. For more information, click here.
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| Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport to Expand its Solar Farm to Become 100% Energy Self-Sufficient
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, also known as Lovell Field, will soon become the nation's first airport to be entirely energy self-sufficient via solar power. Airport officials have begun construction on the third phase of its existing solar farm, which is already 2.1 MW in scale and meets 72% of the airport’s electric power requirements. The newest phase will help create enough electricity to offset Lovell Field’s remaining power bill. Construction is set to conclude in January when the airport will begin to derive all of its power needs from the sun. 90% of the new solar construction work will be funded by a federal grant, with the airport paying the remainder. Click here to read more.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| U.S. DOE and Freelancer.com Host Manufacturing Innovator Challenge
U.S. DOE has partnered with Freelancer.com to crowdsource solutions that increase manufacturing energy productivity in the U.S. Their Manufacturing Innovator Challenge will promote next generation manufacturing technologies that keep jobs in America, ensure products are made in the U.S., and strengthen America's industrial base. The Challenge offers applicants an opportunity to submit innovative design concepts for additive manufacturing and other topics within several technology areas, including bioenergy, buildings, fuel cells, and vehicle technologies. Individual prizes ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 will be awarded to innovators with the best solutions for today's manufacturing challenges. The Challenge will give out awards under six opportunity areas, including the following:
- Additive Manufacturing for Disaster Response – applications now closed
- Solid State Lighting (SSL) Manufacturing Concept – applications now closed
- Biobased Additive Manufacturing (BAM) Prize – applications due January 10, 2019
- Novel Concepts for Large Scale 3D Printing – applications due February 1, 2019
- Low-Cost Portable Refrigerant Leak Detector for Residential Use
- Lightweight Turbocharger Turbine Wheel
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| TECO Challenge Now Open for Grade 9-12 Nashville Students
The TECO (Teen + Eco) Challenge is a contest that awards students grants of up to $15,000 for projects that address environmental issues and promote sustainability in cities and communities. Supported by the Nashville Mayor’s Youth Council, this program encourages grade 9-12 students to use critical thinking and research skills to identify an environmental problem, develop a solution, and outline a plan of action to address the issue. Projects should also promote youth leadership in civic, school, and/or community affairs in Nashville. Grants must fund projects in which high school-aged youth have opportunities to take leadership in contributing to the well-being of the community through volunteering or community action projects. Application evaluators are especially interested in projects that promote community beautification, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency or conservation, water preservation, and livable spaces. Learn more about the program or submit an application here. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2019.
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| U.S. DOE Seeks Industry Partners for High Performance Computing Program
The High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) Program seeks qualified industry partners to participate in short-term, collaborative projects using high performance computing (HPC) facilities at U.S. DOE’s national laboratories. The program aims to assist in the development of energy and transportation technologies and strategies that improve energy efficiency, increase productivity, enable next-generation technologies, investigate intensified processes, lower energy costs, and accelerate innovation. Eligibility for this program is limited to either entities that manufacture or develop products in the U.S. for commercial applications or the organizations that support them. Selected demonstration projects will be awarded up to $300,000 to support compute cycles and work performed by the national lab partners. The industry partner must provide a participant contribution of at least 20%. Details on specific focus areas and other program information can be found on the HPC4EI solicitation webpage. Applications must be submitted by March 4, 2019 at 11:59 pm ET.
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| ITEAM Prize Rewards Innovators in Manufacturing Energy Efficiency
U.S. DOE recently announced its Individuals Taking Energy Action in Manufacturing (ITEAM) Prize, a competition to identify and celebrate individual employees whose ideas and practices led to significant, measurable energy savings in U.S. manufacturing facilities. Up to five winners in each category of small, medium, and large manufacturers will be selected to receive a cash prize of $5,000. In addition to the cash prize, the winners will be recognized at the annual Better Buildings Summit and will have their winning ideas and practices highlighted on the Better Buildings Solutions Center website. Applications must be submitted by May 15, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET. Self-nominations are welcome. For questions about the prize competition, contact iteamprize@ee.doe.gov. Click here to apply.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| OEP Accepting Applications for K-12 Energy Education Camps and Workshops Across TN
TDEC OEP plans to conduct three Energy Education Camps for K-12 Educators in 2019. The Camps are comprised of three-day training sessions and provide energy-related lesson plans and resources designed for use in the K-12 classroom. These lessons promote energy literacy as it relates to STEM subjects and introduce educators to topics including, but not limited to, electricity generation, consumption, and measurement; renewable energy; and energy efficiency and conservation. 2019 Camps will be hosted at the following dates/locations:
- June 18-20: Cumberland Mountain State Park
- June 25-27: Roan Mountain State Park
- July 17-19: Natchez Trace State Park
Energy Education Camps are offered free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. All participating educators will receive $200 in materials to teach energy education topics in the classroom or at afterschool programs. Educators will also receive a certificate of participation for professional development hours. Click here to access the 2019 Energy Education Camps application. Applications are due by April 5, 2019.
Click here to learn more about the Camps program. For questions about the Camps program or OEP’s other K-12 Energy Education activities, please contact Angela McGee at Angela.McGee@tn.gov or 615-532-7816.
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| First Day Hikes at Tennessee State Parks
Tennessee State Parks will host First Day Hikes on January 1, 2019 at all State Parks locations. These hikes are designed for all ages and abilities and are offered at all times of day. Find a First Day Hike near you and begin the New Year with Tennessee State Parks’ #resolutiontohike.
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| 2019 Green Power Providers Webinar
TVA will host a webinar, tentatively scheduled for January 10, 2019, to walk through the 2019 Green Power Providers (GPP) program. GPP offers Tennessee Valley businesses and homeowners a chance to be a part of TVA’s work in generating clean, renewable energy for the people and communities of the region. The 2019 GPP program will roll out by January 21, 2019. Updates on this webinar will be posted to TDEC OEP’s Calendar of Events page.
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| FEMP to Offer New ESPC ESA Webinar Series
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) is launching a four-part webinar series entitled, “Energy Savings Performance Contract Energy Sales Agreements (ESPC ESAs): A New Way of Financing On-Site Renewable Energy.” Starting in January 2019, a live webinar will occur quarterly to address various topics on financing and implementation of on-site renewable energy projects. Each webinar will include project implementation best practices, resources, and Q&A opportunities. Registration for the first webinar will be available soon. Updates on this webinar will be posted to TDEC OEP’s Calendar of Events page.
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| NASEO 2019 Energy Policy Outlook Conference
The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) 2019 Energy Policy Outlook Conference will examine the key policies and initiatives needed to drive modernization and resilience across the nation’s energy infrastructure. Join top state and federal energy policymakers and private sector leaders from around the country on February 5-8, 2019 in Washington, D.C. for in-depth discussions on the critical investments needed for strong, reliable, and affordable grid, transportation, and buildings systems. Click here to register and learn more about the conference.
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| The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) is a champion of Tennessee’s advanced energy economy. TAEBC recently sent out a Save the Date for its upcoming annual meeting, to take place at the Nashville Hub of Schneider Electric (6700 Tower Circle #700, Franklin, TN 37067) on February 12, 2019. More information on the event will follow. Click here to learn more.
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| Register for ACEEE’s 2019 Hot Water Forum Registration is now open for the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE’s) 2019 Hot Water Forum, to be held March 11-13, 2019 in Nashville. Attendees will network with their peers and gain insight from experts on the latest technologies and techniques for making, distributing, and using hot water. In addition to improving water heating efficiency, these new tools can help stakeholders respond to the evolving energy landscape, which includes smart connected equipment, renewable energy, and carbon reduction. Other event highlights include: - A pre-conference tour of the A.O. Smith world class manufacturing facility in Ashland City;
- A special reception to meet and network with local plumbers and installers;
- Breakout sessions on cutting-edge water heating technologies, safe and efficient plumbing design, innovative utility programs, and strategic carbon reduction strategies; and
- A plenary panel discussion on water heating successes and challenges in the South.
Suggested attendees include equipment and component manufacturers; water, gas, and electric utilities; local, State, and federal agency personnel; energy efficiency program planners, operators, and evaluators; plumbers and installers; policymakers; non-government organizations; consultants; and more. Register for the conference by January 17, 2019 to receive the early bird registration rate. Obtain the group hotel rate by reserving a room at the Hilton Nashville Downtown by February 8, 2019. Visit the Hot Water Forum webpage to learn more about the upcoming event. Contact ACEEE with any questions or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.
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| Lawrenceburg Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy Efficiency Case Study
TDEC OEP has released an energy efficiency case study on the Lawrenceburg Wastewater Treatment Plant. Using efficiency strategies recommended to them by OEP, Lawrenceburg’s dedicated staff reduced the plant’s annual energy costs by 22% in dollars per million gallons treated ($/MG) and its annual energy use by 26% kilowatt-hours per million gallons treated (kWh/MG), all while absorbing a 13% increase in influent loading. To learn more about OEP’s efforts to advance energy efficiency at wastewater and water treatment plants in Tennessee, click here.
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