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| Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| U.S. DOE Awards 43 new Business-Laboratory Collaborations under Small Business Vouchers Pilot
On August 18, U.S. DOE announced that 43 small businesses were selected to participate in the second round of the Small Business Vouchers (SBV) pilot. The businesses selected in this round will have the ability to work with 12 different national laboratories to address challenges and bring their next-generation technologies to the marketplace faster. ORNL is one of the core national labs already facilitating the pilot. Of note, Tennessee-based Nano Elements Source, LLC was selected to work with ORNL on advanced manufacturing research to further commercialize the production of low cost, cadmium free photoluminescent nanoparticles for application in solid-state lighting. Information on the next round of small business selections is scheduled to be released in October. For more information on the SBV pilot, click here.
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| Utility Scale Community Solar Project Underway in Tennessee
On August 1, Appalachian Electric Cooperative (AEC) and ARiES Energy marked the start of construction on the utility’s 1.37 megawatt community solar array. More than 9,000 solar panels make up the system, and prices will be determined on a per-panel basis. Panels will cost subscribers $125 each, and subscribers will receive a credit each month on their power bill. Commercial customers will also be able to benefit from Renewable Energy Credits, or RECs, generated by their panels. Subscriptions will initially be limited to 5 kW for residential use and 10kW for commercial use, to ensure that all members have a chance to benefit. The installation is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2016. Tennessee-based ARiES Energy was also recently featured in the Top 500 Solar Contractors List for 2016 by Solar Power World magazine. ARiES employs 14 workers; since its founding in 2011, the company has installed more than 2 megawatts of solar. ARiES Energy has doubled its revenues in each of the last 4 years and has 1.5 megawatts of solar installations under contract so far in 2016. For more information, click here.
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| Schneider Electric Launches Corporate Clean Energy Research Network
Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management with specialization in electricity distribution and automation management, officially launched its New Energy Opportunities (NEO) Network to help corporate end users, solution providers, banks, law firms and other organizations get the resources they need to accelerate renewable energy investments. Schneider Electric, which has multiple operations facilities across Middle Tennessee, notes that the NEO platform gives stakeholders access to market briefs and case studies, allows participants to connect through an online forum similar to LinkedIn, and offers a virtual exchange where buyers can connect with a vetted group of solution providers. NEO is offered through Schneider Electric’s energy and sustainability services business, an advisory arm with decades of experience helping companies, cities and other organizations procure and develop energy supplies. The business currently manages 40 gigawatts of electricity load on behalf of clients in more than 100 countries. For more information, click here.
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| EPA and DOT Finalize Emission and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks
Heavy-duty trucks are the second largest segment and collectively make up the biggest increase in the U.S. transportation sector in terms of emissions and energy use. These vehicles currently account for about 20 percent of emissions and oil use in the U.S. transportation sector. Globally, emissions from heavy-duty vehicles are growing rapidly and are expected to surpass emissions from passenger vehicles by 2030. On August 16, U.S. EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) jointly finalized standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that will improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution, while bolstering energy security and spurring manufacturing innovation. The program promotes a new generation of cleaner, more fuel-efficient trucks by encouraging the wider application of currently available technologies and the development of new and advanced cost-effective technologies through model year 2027. In the State of Tennessee, technology suppliers are already developing and manufacturing high-efficiency technologies for heavy-duty vehicles. A map developed by CALSTART, to highlight the current landscape of technology suppliers for high-efficiency heavy-duty vehicles, features four companies in Tennessee: - Hankook Tire in Clarksville develops three new tires that maintain the best driving performance.
- Bridgestone in Nashville creates new tire designs with narrower treads, larger diameters and higher inflation pressure to reach maximum fuel efficiency thanks to “ologic” technology.
- Spicerparts located in Gordonsville makes driveshaft technology in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that are light-weight, lower cost and last longer on the open road with vibration control.
- Magneti Marelli in Pulaski offers advanced solutions for diesel engines while respecting the environment. The company creates a Multijet system which reduces pollutants and noise.
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| Three, New DC Fast Charge Electric Vehicle Locations Unveiled in Greater Knoxville Area
Each unit includes two charging cables: one for charging EVs that have CHAdeMO‐type connectors (e.g., Nissan LEAF, Kia Soul EV) and one for charging EVs that have the SAE Combo type‐connectors (e.g., BMW i3, Chevy Spark EV, VW e‐Golf). Owners of Tesla EVs can utilize a short adapter to refuel using these chargers. The chargers are part of a larger national infrastructure initiative backed by Nissan, the maker of the Tennessee‐produced LEAF electric vehicle. Four similar chargers were installed earlier this year in the greater Chattanooga area as part of the same initiative. These chargers are also a part of Nissan’s No Charge to Charge program, which provides two years of complimentary charging with the purchase or lease of a new Nissan LEAF. The seven new chargers installed in Tennessee this year have helped to bring the total number of DCFC‐type equipment in the state to almost 50. To find out where these charging locations are, please visit the Drive Electric Tennessee website here: http://driveelectrictn.org/ev‐station‐locator/.
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| Metro Nashville Transit Authority Releases 25-Year Transit Plan
On August 17, Metro Nashville Transit Authority released its 25-year transit plan, nMotion, which aims to improve bus routes and mass transit throughout the city. To inform the plan, the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee engaged in a region wide public discussion of the best strategies to improve regional mobility. The plan was thus shaped by the feedback and input received over the course of 16 months from Middle Tennessee residents. The overwhelming response from the public was that Nashville and the Middle Tennessee region should pursue a bold, long-term investment in mass transit, along with ancillary investments in infrastructure to make such a system effective. To execute this, the plan outlines short-term and long-term solutions at 5 year, 15 year, and 25 year intervals. For more information and to view the full plan, click here.
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| ORNL to Advance U.S. Manufacturing through High Performance Computing
On August 16, U.S. DOE announced that it would invest $16 million over the next four years to accelerate the design of new materials through the use of supercomputers. Two four-year projects—one team led by ORNL, the other team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)—will take advantage of superfast computers by developing software to design fundamentally new functional materials destined to revolutionize applications in alternative and renewable energy, electronics, and a wide range of other fields. The teams are expected to develop sophisticated and user-friendly open-source software that captures the essential physics of relevant systems and can be used by the broader research community and by industry to accelerate the design of new functional materials. For more information, click here. Also in August, U.S. DOE announced $3.8 million in funding for 13 projects to use high performance computing resources at various national laboratories to improve manufacturing. The collaborations will address key challenges by applying modeling, simulation, and data analysis to manufacturing, with the intent to aid in decision making, optimize processes and design, improve quality and efficiency, predict performance and failure, quicken or eliminate testing, and/or shorten the time for adoption of new energy-related technologies. Tennessee-based ORNL has been chosen to partner and assist with the following six projects: - Shiloh Industries of Ohio will study phase change cooling of tooling to speed up casting processes in a project titled "Development of a Transformational Micro-Cooling Technology for High-Pressure Die Casting using High-Performance Computing."
- Rolls-Royce Corporation of Indiana will improve silicon carbide composites in a project titled "Level-set Modeling Simulations of Chemical Vapor Infiltration for Ceramic Matrix Composites Manufacturing."
- Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance, a consortium focused on the paper industry, will design better catalysts for lignin breakdown in a project titled “Catalytic Pulping of Wood."
- Actasys, Incorporated of New York will decrease the fuel consumption of trucks by actively modifying the flow around the trucks in a project titled "High Performance Computational Modeling of Synthetic Jet Actuators for Increased Freight Efficiency in the Transportation Industry."
- General Motors LLC of Michigan and EPRI of California will improve welding techniques for automobile manufacturing and power plant builds in a project titled "High Performance Computing Tools to Advance Materials Joining Technology."
- Harper International Corp. of New York will reduce the cost of carbon fibers in a project titled "Development and Validation of Simulation Capability for the High Capacity Production of Carbon Fiber."
For more information and to view the full list of selected projects, click here.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| No-Cost Energy Assessments to Tennessee Manufacturing Plants
The U.S DOE funded Industrial Assessment Center at Tennessee Tech University is offering free whole plant energy assessments to manufacturing plants in Tennessee and surrounding states. A team of students and faculty will spend a day in your plant, looking for cost effective ways to save energy and reduce operating costs and emissions. A typical assessment results in recommendations to reduce the total utility spend by 5-10% or more. If interested, please contact Michelle Davis at mdavis@tntech.edu (931-372-6386) or Glenn Cunningham at gcunningham@tntech.edu (931-372-3826).
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| Additional Resources and Incentives to Save Energy at Home
Are you curious about what you can do to enhance your home energy savings? By way of the eScore program, TVA and your local power company are making it easier for homeowners to conserve energy and lower monthly energy bills. Take the eScore™ Self Audit at your place of residence. This quick and easy online audit will help you learn about your home’s energy use and provide recommendations to help you save money right away. All qualifying households that complete the audit will receive a free energy saving kit containing CFLs, a $10 Home Depot gift card, and other tools to help you save energy and money. Additionally, TVA and participating local power companies have partnered to offer the eScore™ residential energy efficiency program. Customers who make a qualified energy efficiency upgrade performed by a Quality Contractor Network (QCN) member or a participating Home Depot retailer will receive an in-home energy evaluation by a TVA-Certified Energy Advisor, an online eScore card with a customized list of recommended energy efficiency upgrades, and access to rebates for upgrades made. Work your way toward a score of 10 while increasing your home’s comfort and saving money!
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| Funding Available for Commercial-scale Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse Systems
As part of a recent Water Summit to raise awareness of priority water issues and potential solutions in the U.S. and to catalyze ideas and actions to help build a sustainable and secure water future, a company called Sustainable Water has committed to deploy $500 million towards the development of 50 eco-engineered decentralized water reclamation and reuse systems across governmental, institutional, and commercial market sectors. This commitment is anticipated to save 7.5 billion gallons of potable water annually in the next 10 years. Sustainable Water is seeking applicants from various industries to ensure a diverse array of market sector representation under this initiative. Commercial-scale projects (greater than 100,000 gallons per day) will be selected for participation. 50 projects will be chosen from various regions throughout the United States (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West), and assessed based on each institution’s commitment to a sustainable water future. For more information and to apply, click here.
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| TDEC Accepts Recycling Grants Applications
TDEC is now accepting applications for Recycling and Waste Reduction Grants, as well as Recycling Rebates. The application period began July 1 and applications are due October 3. There are three separate offerings: Recycling Equipment Grants, Used Oil Grants and Recycling Rebates. TDEC is contacting local communities about the grant availability and will host workshops during the month of July to help communities understand the application process. The grant programs were authorized by the Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 and funded by the Tennessee Solid Waste Management Fund. The fund, which is administered by the TDEC, receives its revenues from a state surcharge on each ton of municipal solid waste disposed in landfills and from a fee collected from new tires sold in Tennessee. The used oil grants are authorized by the Used Oil Collection Act and funded by the Used Oil Collection Fund. The Used Oil Collection Fund receives its revenues from a $0.02 fee on each quart of oil sold at wholesale.
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| Good Sports Always Recycle School Challenge
Good Sports Always Recycle (GSAR) is the nation’s largest stadium recycling program and is sponsored by Eastman, Food City, and Waste Connections, in conjunction with the University of Tennessee. GSAR encourages fans to reduce their footprint and recycle their waste inside and outside the stadium. During the 2015 football season alone, GSAR recycled 143.5 tons, composted 17.3 tons and donated 2.9 tons of food. Each year since 1993, GSAR has also recognized Tennessee schools by inviting school representatives from the top 10 school environmental programs to a UT home game. Recognized schools are awarded up to $1,500 to support their future sustainability and environmental efforts. To date, the program has provided more than 230 schools with $141,000 for their environmental programs. To nominate a school for the 2016 challenge, click here. Applications are due by October 3.
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| Request for Information on U.S. DOE Traineeship Program Focus Areas
U.S. DOE funds university-led traineeship programs that strategically address workforce training needs in key technical focus areas. In particular, these traineeship programs advance specific science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce competencies to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its science, energy, and environmental challenges.
In line with these programs, U.S. DOE has issued an RFI soliciting feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to traineeship programs. In particular, U.S. DOE seeks information on potential focus areas for traineeships where there are identified needs and/or gaps in the expected knowledge workforce relative to advanced manufacturing technical topics. To view the official request and submission instructions, click here. Responses must be submitted electronically to AMOTraineeship@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00 pm Eastern on October 14.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| National Drive Electric Week Comes to Tennessee
National Drive Electric Week (September 10-17) is a chance to celebrate electric vehicles (EVs) and their many benefits. This year, a variety of groups across Tennessee are hosting events in support of this nationwide cause. Events are scheduled in Chattanooga, Germantown, Kingsport, Knoxville (two events), Memphis and Pigeon Forge. Click below to visit each location’s page at the National Drive Electric Week website to find more details about planned activities: These events will help to educate Tennessee communities about EVs, and are part of almost 200 such events across the country. At each event, attendees will be able to speak with EV drivers about their vehicles, how they work and perform, and their application to everyday life, as well as with experts about recharging EVs in Tennessee. For more information, visit http://driveelectricweek.org.
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| Webinar on Promising New Products from U.S. DOE's High Impact Technologies Catalyst Program
On September 13, from 3:00-4:00 pm Central, U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings team will host a webinar to preview some of the new and innovative technologies that have sprouted out of the High Impact Technology (HIT) Catalyst program. This will include an update on micro-Combined Heat and Power demonstrations, a sneak peek into the energy savings from the testing of multi-technology packages (beyond widgets), as well as an overview of opportunities to host demonstrations that verify the performance of emerging technologies. Find out more about how you can engage with the Better Buildings Tech team to help lower energy use in your building portfolio. For more information, and to register for the webinar, click here.
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| Webinar on Residential Behavior-Based Energy Efficiency Programs
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with support from U.S. DOE and in collaboration with NASEO, NARUC and U.S. EPA, is offering a series of webinars on energy efficiency program and project evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V). The next webinar will take place on September 21, from 1:00-2:15 pm Eastern. The webinar will focus on residential behavior-based (BB) programs, which use strategies grounded in the behavioral and social sciences to influence household energy use. These programs have unique evaluation challenges and usually require different evaluation methods than those currently employed for most other types of efficiency programs. The webinar will provide an introduction to documenting the energy savings associated with BB programs and examples of how different jurisdictions are addressing BB program evaluation. For more information on this webinar, as well as information on past and planned future webinars in the series, please visit https://emp.lbl.gov/emv-webinar-series.
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| Webinar on Energy Efficiency Communications Strategies
Capturing the story behind energy savings projects can help catapult a culture around planning future projects, funding them, and growing a team's value in a company or organization. On October 4, from 3:00-4:00 pm Central, U.S. DOE will host a webinar to highlight how leading partners such as Hilton Worldwide and Whole Foods Market capture and depict their energy savings stories. The webinar will also feature media expert advice to provide tips on telling your tale. For more information and to register, click here.
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| Webinar on Energy Efficiency Financing for Local Governmental Entities
Energy efficiency is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to reduce operating and maintenance costs, save taxpayer money, foster economic development, and protect the environment. With low-cost financing, local governments can further enhance project scopes and maximize savings. TDEC OEP and Pathway Lending are hosting a free webinar for local governmental entities to learn about and discuss some of the challenges and solutions related to financing energy efficiency retrofits. The webinar will take place on October 5, from 9:00 -10:00 am Central. This webinar is free, but registration is required. To register, contact Brandon England at Brandon.England@pathwaylending.org. During the webinar, participants will have the opportunity to propose example project ideas to help shape the discussion regarding feasibility and potential savings. Webinar participants will also learn about: - The Pathway Lending Energy Efficiency Loan Program, which provides below-market rate financing to cover up to 100 percent of project costs
- How to structure investments so that energy cost savings derived from each project can provide for the repayment of the financing
- Various project types and their relative paybacks (efficient lighting, HVAC replacement, energy management systems, reflective roofs, pumps and motor systems, etc.)
- Terms and conditions of financing
- The process and timeline to apply, as well as the items needed for an application
- Successful case studies and example projects
The Energy Efficiency Loan Program is a collaborative effort between Pathway Lending, the State of Tennessee / Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Since the program launched in 2010, it has originated more than $24 million in loans to date to both for- and non-profit businesses. The program now welcomes Tennessee local governmental entities to participate on a first come, first serve basis. For more information, contact Brandon England at 615-425-7171 or Brandon.England@pathwaylending.org.
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| iREV Southeast Workshop - Integrating Alternative Fuel Vehicles into Emergency Planning
The Initiative for Resiliency in Energy through Vehicles (iREV) will be holding the iREV Southeast Regional Workshop on October 19 in Savannah, Georgia. iREV is a nation-wide project that has developed resources that emergency planners can use to integrate alternative fuel vehicles into emergency planning and response activities. When petroleum is in short supply, alternative fuel vehicles can provide needed transportation services and help communities prepare for and recover from disaster. Having a diverse fuel mix is one of the key resiliency strategies that communities employ to ensure continuous operations during emergencies. Join us for a half-day workshop to learn about how alternative fuel vehicles have been used successfully in emergencies, review new resources and tools for emergency planners, network with energy assurance and alternative fuel stakeholders, and explore opportunities for alternative fuels to be integrated into emergency planning and response.
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| UT Baker Center Fall Energy Events
In the coming months, the UT Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy will host a variety of energy and environment-related interdisciplinary panels. These panels will all be held in the Toyota Auditorium on UT’s campus and are free and open to the public. - On October 20, from 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern, Becky Jacobs, Waller Lansden Distinguished Professor of Law at UT, will moderate a panel entitled, “An Ethical, Sustainable Energy Industry.”
- On October 27, from 1:00-2:30 pm Eastern, Peter Z. Grossman, Clarence Efroymson Professor of Economics at Butler University, will moderate a panel entitled, “Energy Policy and the Next President.”
- On October 27, from 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern, Peter Z. Grossman, Clarence Efroymson Professor of Economics at Butler University and Lorna A. Greening, UT Baker Center Energy and Environment Fellow, will moderate a panel entitled, “Analyzing the Process of Energy Policy: Why Policy Responses to the Same Problems Differ Among Countries.”
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| MOMENTUM: 2016 SEEA & AESP Southeast Conference
The 2016 SEEA and Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) Southeast Conference will take place on October 25-26 in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s conference will highlight the momentum of energy efficiency in the Southeast, from economic opportunity and innovation to imagined possibilities. Session topics will touch on low-income empowerment, barriers to energy efficiency, the Internet of Things, agricultural energy security, consumer efficiency case studies, TVA’s eScore program, and combined heat and power. To view the full agenda and to register for the event, click here.
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| SAE 2016 Range Extenders for Electric Vehicles Symposium
The ultimate measure of success for mass acceptance and use of electric vehicles relies heavily upon extending a vehicle’s range. This is one of the major barriers to large-scale adoption of all-electric vehicles by the public. As a result, finding a suitable solution that can alleviate drivers’ range anxiety is essential. On November 2-3, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) will host a symposium in Knoxville on the role of engines and novel prime movers in extending electric vehicle range. This unique event will focus on powertrain and fuel opportunities and challenges, as well as the policy and regulation driving design, infrastructure, and advances in range extender technology. To view the program and to register, visit http://www.sae.org/events/rex/.
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| Case Studies on Alternative Fuel Vehicle Use in Emergency Response
The National Association of State Energy Officials’ (NASEO) Initiative for Resiliency in Energy through Vehicles (iREV) released a series of case studies that feature stories from communities that have successfully used alternative fuel vehicles to prepare for and respond to disasters. When petroleum is in short supply, alternative fuel vehicles can provide needed transportation services to help communities during emergency situations. Having a diverse fuel mix is one of the key resiliency strategies that municipalities and states employ to ensure continuous operations during extreme natural and man-made events. The four iREV reports highlight ways that communities and others have used biodiesel, electric, natural gas, and propane vehicles to assist with emergency operations in disasters, and also explores other benefits and considerations associated with the various fuels. The case studies were developed under iREV, a nation-wide project that supports state and local emergency management decision makers by providing customized tools, information, and strategies about alternative fuel vehicle technologies, infrastructure, and potential uses in emergency scenarios. The authors received significant input from the iREV Steering Committee, which TDEC OEP is a member of. To learn more about iREV and to get involved, visit www.naseo.org/irev.
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| Electric Bus Charging Cost Calculator
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has published a downloadable macro-enabled worksheet for estimating electricity costs for electric bus deployments. Transit agencies considering purchases of electric buses can use the spreadsheet to calculate their cost savings. The tool estimates monthly electricity costs for buses that are either charged at the depot or charged en route. For more information, click here.
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