| Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council Holds Event to Highlight Public/Private Financing for Advanced Energy and Manufacturing On December 10, the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council, a TEEI partner, the University of Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and Cherokee Farms co-sponsored “Opportunities in Energy: Public/Private Financing Options to Deploy Advanced Energy & Manufacturing.” Taking place at the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy in Knoxville, the three-panel event highlighted best practices in advanced energy and manufacturing finance and discussed how we can grow advanced energy companies, technologies and jobs throughout Tennessee. Panels touched on the following topics: Finance Tools and Funding Resources to Accelerate Advanced Manufacturing; Public/private partnerships and financing mechanisms for advanced energy project; and a speed round titled “I had no idea our region has so much going on!” The audience of approximately 80 participants heard from representatives from the City of Knoxville, LED North America, Knoxville Locomotive Corporation, Alstom, Renewable Algal Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, TennEra, West Tennessee Solar Farm, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs, PHG Energy, Wampler’s Farm Sausage, Hitachi, CURENT, Genera Energy, Clean Line Energy Partners, Local Motors, and Cherokee Farm Development Corporation. During the forum, DOE Chief of Staff Kevin Knobloch recognized Mayor Madeline Rogero and the City of Knoxville as one of just 16 Climate Action Champion communities for the City’s commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2020.
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| TDEC Opens Nominations for Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards Each year, the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards (GESA) recognize outstanding and voluntary achievements by individuals, businesses, organizations, educational institutions and agencies that demonstrate leadership in environmental protection and conservation. Award categories include Building Green, Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Land Use, Materials Management, Natural Heritage, Sustainable Performance, and Robert Starks Walker Lifetime Achievement. TDEC is now accepting applications for 2015 award nominations. For more information and to apply, visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/gov-awards_categories.shtml.
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| New Fuel Economy Guide for Car Buyers Released The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has released the 2015 Fuel Economy Guide. This guide provides customers with valuable information on the fuel efficiency and emissions of vehicles. The guide allows users to search for vehicles based on their size and ranking. Users can also learn detailed information on each vehicle’s average fuel economy in miles per gallon, or its per gallon equivalent, as well as projections on long term cost savings, annual fuel costs, costs to drive a certain mileage, and the cost to fill a vehicle’s tank. It also allows for customization based on driver habits and the local cost of fuel. Additionally, the guide contains information on older models, and can arrange models in a number of price ranges. According to the EPA, national fuel efficiency standards are expected to reduce 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetimes of vehicles from model years 2012-2025, and result in more than $1.7 trillion in savings for fuel costs. These car program standards are supported by the Climate Action Plan and the National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration.
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| EPA Unveils New Tool for Homeowners to Save Energy and Money
With Energy Star Home Advisor’s interactive features, users create a home energy profile using a “do-it-yourself” energy assessment and receive a list of customized and prioritized energy improvement project recommendations, which typically include air sealing, insulation, lighting and appliance upgrades, programmable thermostats, and HVAC maintenance. The Energy Star Home Advisor allows users to track their progress, update their home energy profile, and receive additional recommendations as projects are completed.
In addition to the Energy Star Home Advisor, EPA also features an “Energy Savings at Home” website that provides advice, tools, and resources for both homeowners and renters to make cost-effective energy improvements. The website is available at https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/waysToSave.
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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| USDA Announces New Round of Funding for Rural Energy America Program (REAP) On December 29, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a Notice of Funding Announcement for the agency’s Rural Energy America Program (REAP), which is designed to help “agricultural producers and rural small businesses” with reducing their energy consumption and costs and meeting more of their energy needs through renewable sources. Under REAP, USDA offers two types of funding assistance: (1) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Assistance and (2) Energy Audit and Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants. Eligible projects include: the purchase, installation, and construction of renewable energy systems; energy efficiency improvements to commercial buildings and facilities; use of renewable energy technologies that reduce energy use; and participation in energy audits and renewable energy development studies. The first round of REAP funding applications are due April 30, 2015. Agricultural producers or qualifying small businesses interested in applying for REAP funding are encouraged to contact Pamela Crozier, USDA’s State Specialist/Energy Coordinator for Tennessee. Ms. Crozier can be reached at Pamela.Crozier@tn.usda.gov or 615-783-1367.
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Reminder: Applications for TDEC's Clean Tennessee Energy Grants due January 30, 2015 On November 4, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau announced a fourth offering of the Clean Tennessee Energy Grants (CTEG), totaling $2 million, to fund energy efficiency projects for municipal governments, county governments, utility districts and other similar entities across Tennessee. Funding for the projects comes from an April 2011 Clean Air Act settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. CTEG provides financial assistance to municipal government, county government, utility districts, and other entities created by statute (e.g. airport authority) to purchase, install and construct energy projects. Eligible categories of the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program include: - 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
The maximum grant amount per project is $250,000 and requires a match from the applicant . Grant applications are available on TDEC’s website and will be accepted until January 30, 2015. Recipients are expected to be announced in the summer. Grant recipients will be selected with careful consideration given to the projects that meet the selection criteria and express the greatest need. To learn more about the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant or to obtain an application, please visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/grants_energy.shtml or contact Kathy Glapa at (615) 253-8780 or Kathy.Glapa@tn.gov.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| TEEI Programming Survey
In early 2015, TEEI will release a brief programming survey with the goal of identifying what education, outreach, training, and technical assistance offerings will be of most assistance to stakeholders and decision makers in Tennessee in the upcoming year. The survey will be sent out to all TEEI listserv subscribers and will be available at tnenergy.org. We thank you in advance for your participation in the survey!
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| Nashville to Host National Energy Codes Conference
The U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office has chosen Nashville as the site for its National Energy Codes Conference, which is taking place March 23-26, 2015. Additional details, including registration information, a preliminary agenda, the application for the Jeffrey A. Johnson Award, and more are available on the conference webpage.
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