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| News and Events: Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities: Resources and Guides:
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| 2019 U.S. Energy Employment Report
According to the 2019 U.S. Energy and Employment Report (USEER), jointly compiled by the National Association for State Energy Officials and the Energy Futures Initiative, Tennessee’s energy sector employed more than 200,000 workers in 2018: - Traditional Energy employed 55,248 workers (1.6 percent of all U.S. Traditional Energy jobs): 11,901 workers in Electric Power Generation; 7,702 workers in Fuels; 35,644 workers in Transmission, Distribution, and Storage
- Energy Efficiency employed 53,006 workers (2.3 percent of all U.S. Energy Efficiency jobs)
- Motor Vehicles employed 104,591 workers (4.1 percent of all U.S. Motor Vehicle jobs)
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| TVA Releases Draft IRP, EIS for Public Review
TVA recently released its draft 2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The 2019 IRP is a comprehensive study that provides direction on how TVA can best deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy in the Valley over the next 20 years. As part of the study, TVA must prepare a programmatic EIS to assess the natural, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts associated with the IRP. TVA is now inviting public comment on the IRP and EIS until April 8. To submit comments, click here. Comments can also be sent to IRP@tva.gov. After public input is incorporated, the final IRP and EIS will be available to the public and then presented to the TVA Board of Directors for approval. Once approved, a Record of Decision will be published. Learn more about the IRP and EIS at www.TVA.com/IRP.
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| OEP Presents Energy Education Programming at Christiana Middle School STEM Night
On March 12, Christiana Middle School hosted a STEM Night to celebrate educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). OEP staff attended the event to share information about OEP’s K-12 Energy Education programming, which includes Energy Camps for K-12 Educators and Energy Workshops for both educators and students. These programs provide local STEM educators with the knowledge and resources necessary to teach energy concepts in the K-12 classroom.
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| Energy Efficient and Sustainable Family Safety Center Opens in Nashville
The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County’s Department of General Services recently opened a Family Safety Center, adjacent to the City’s new Police Headquarters. The Center provides critical resources for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, and is the largest facility of its kind in the U.S. The Center also features the largest rooftop solar system in Nashville and will generate approximately 392,000 kWh of energy annually (approximately 8% of the facility’s energy needs). Designed for LEED Silver certification, the Center contains other efficiency and sustainability features, including high performance reflective windows; low-emitting paints, adhesives, sealants, and composite wood products; energy efficient LED lighting fixtures; eight dual-port electric vehicle charging stations; a shared-use courtyard with native and drought-tolerant plants; and more. Click here to learn more about the Center.
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| JBG America Partners with TREEDC on Morgan County Sustainable Development Project
In 2018, House Bill 2116 authorized Morgan County officials to create jobs and increase economic growth by establishing a minimum special development area of 2,000 acres, designated for sustainable living and economic development. Within this development area, Just Be Green Villages of America (JBG Villages) will build a mixed use village, which will include global green labs, environmentally sensitive housing, a green academy, veterans’ health services, and the utilization of sustainable agriculture and aquaculture technologies. JBG Villages recently partnered with the Tennessee Renewable Energy & Economic Development Council (TREEDC) to announce a strategic marketing and educational alliance for the future sustainable village. Click here to learn more.
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| Nominations Open for 2019 Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards
TDEC is inviting Tennesseans to submit nominations for the 2019 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, which honor outstanding accomplishments that support the protection and enhancement of Tennessee’s natural resources. “Being good stewards of our state’s resources is part of what makes Tennessee the beautiful and remarkable place it is,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “These awards help show that we all can do our part, and I can’t wait to see the potential solutions that individual Tennesseans come up with.”
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2019 awards, which include the following categories: Building Green; Clean Air; Energy and Renewable Resources; Environmental Education and Outreach (for both school and non-school projects); Land Use; Materials Management; Natural Heritage; Sustainable Performance; and Lifetime Achievement. Any individual, business, organization, educational institution, or agency is eligible for nomination, provided it is located in Tennessee and the project was completed during the 2018 calendar year. A panel of judges will select award recipients based on criteria including level of project or program completion, innovation, and public education. The deadline for nominations is April 30, and winners will be announced in June. Contact Kathy Glapa at (615) 253-8780 or GESA.Awards@tn.gov with any questions.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| TDEC Seeking Applications for Risk and Resilience Strategic Planning And Engagement Sessions
The TDEC Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices (OPSP) is seeking applicants to participate in its Risk & Resilience Strategic Planning and Community Engagement Sessions. These sessions are designed to support Tennessee communities in performing comprehensive vulnerability and needs evaluations, identifying local priorities, and providing technical assistance and community engagement activities that align with risk-management, resilience planning, environmental stewardship, conservation, smart growth, and sustainability. Up to five community applicants will be selected to receive technical assistance over the project period, which includes: - A half-day strategic planning session with community leaders to identify resilience, environmental, infrastructure, public health, energy, and/or smart growth needs, vulnerabilities, and priorities;
- A report summarizing the strategic planning session, community vulnerabilities and priorities, and identification of available resources and technical assistance to support strategic action;
- A full-day workshop featuring technical experts and/or peer communities identifying resources to support community risk management, resilience, and mitigation efforts in at least one community priority area (e.g. water quality, general hazard mitigation planning, or access to natural resources and open spaces) and a community involvement session to identify activities that will educate and engage citizens (e.g., a watershed clean-up, home energy efficiency workshop, or backyard composting workshop); and
- Periodic follow-up and technical assistance to support the community as it implements its strategic plan.
Click here to learn more and download an application. The deadline to submit is May 3, and announcement of participant selection is anticipated by May 17. Applications can be emailed to Christina Guidry at Christina.Guidry@tn.gov. For more information about OPSP’s Sustainable Resilience for Communities program, click here.
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| U.S. DOE Announces $130M for Solar Energy Technologies Research
U.S. DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) recently announced $130 in funding for up to 80 projects that will advance research in solar energy technologies. The funding program will target five research areas: photovoltaics, concentrating solar-thermal power, soft costs reduction, innovations in manufacturing, and solar systems integration. These projects will help achieve the office’s goal of improving the affordability, reliability, and performance of solar technologies on the grid. Several topic areas in this funding program encourage collaborative work to enable and accelerate outcomes. SETO seeks diverse teams comprising members of companies and community organizations, researchers, solar developers, and other stakeholders who work across various technology sectors, locations, and scientific disciplines. SETO will host six webinars next week to discuss the funding program as well as the five topic areas:
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| U.S. DOE Announces $70M for Cybersecurity in Energy Efficient Manufacturing
U.S. DOE recently announced up to $70 million to establish a Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute dedicated to advancing cybersecurity in energy efficient manufacturing. The Institute will pursue targeted research and development that will focus on understanding the evolving cybersecurity threats to greater energy efficiency in manufacturing industries, developing new cybersecurity technologies and methods, and sharing information and knowledge to the broader community of U.S. manufacturers. The Institute will leverage expertise from industry, academia, State and local governments, non-governmental organizations, non-profits, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers. Concept papers are due by May 15 at 5:00 PM ET, and those invited to submit a full application must do so by August 20. Click here to access the funding announcement.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Webinar: Energy Sector Threat and Vulnerability Summary
InfraGard, a non-profit organization focused on the protection and resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure, will hold a webinar on April 4 at 1:00 PM ET, during which analysts from the Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) on Electricity, Oil and Natural Gas, and Downstream Natural Gas will discuss both the cyber and physical threats/vulnerabilities of the energy sector from 2018. Guest speakers will also make predictions as to the key threats and vulnerabilities for 2019. This webinar is designed to help representatives from all sectors better understand energy vulnerability, to prepare for their own responses to energy disruptions. Click here to register for the webinar.
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| Whites Creek High School Solar Project Ribbon Cutting
On April 11 at 9:30 AM, the Academy of Alternative Energy, Sustainability, and Logistics at Whites Creek High School in Nashville will celebrate its first solar installation with an official ribbon cutting. Following the project launch, the school will develop new curriculum to continue the student-led solar project and enhance the solar array in the future. Click here to RSVP for the event.
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| Earth Day Events in Tennessee
First established on April 22, 1970, Earth Day is now a global event dedicated to improving the environment through political action and civic participation. Throughout April, events across the state will be held in honor of Earth Day. Below is a list of some of these events: - April 6, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Nashville VegFest at the Nashville Fairgrounds
- April 20, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Jackson Earth Day Festival at the Farmer’s Market
- April 20, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Knoxville Earth Fest at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens & Arboretum
- April 20, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Nashville Earth Day Festival at Centennial Park
- April 23, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Tennessee Tech University Earth Day at Centennial Plaza, 1 William L Jones Dr, Cookeville, TN 38505
- April 27, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Chattanooga Eco Field Day at Miller Park
- April 27, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Gallatin Square Fest at Gallatin Square
- April 27, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Murfreesboro Earth Day Celebration at Historic Downtown Square
- April 27, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Shelby Farms Park Down to Earth Festival at 6903 Great View Drive North, Memphis, TN 38120
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| Save the Date: Tennessee Solar Valley Conference
The Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA) will host the Tennessee Valley Solar Conference on October 16 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Franklin. The purpose of the conference is to bring together solar advocates and adopters to discuss strategies, market trends, and policies that impact the Tennessee Valley solar industry. Visit https://tenneseiasolar.com/conference/ to learn more. Registration information will be made available soon.
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| Off-Site Renewable Power for Southeast Corporate Entities
As businesses, institutions, local governments, and other entities make commitments to use renewable energy, they increasingly turning to off-site solar installations to meet their goals. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has developed a report that assesses such projects in the Southeast; the report includes discussion on the challenges and opportunities that off-site solar faces in the region and identifies several possible ways to expand the market. Fact sheets highlighting the pathways to procurement for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee have also been released to improve commercial solar adoption in these states.
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| Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for Rural K-12 School Energy Managers and Educators
A new report from U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Solution Center helps states, school administrators, school boards, and facilities personnel supporting rural school districts make prudent decisions on energy improvement investments within their master facility management plans. The report lists several resources and provides best practices to identify energy performance problems unique to schools in rural areas (e.g., limitations on service providers, limitations on available funding incentives, etc.) as well as solutions to overcome these challenges (e.g., simplified energy audits, low-cost energy efficiency projects, etc.). Click here to read the report.
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