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Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities:
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| Metro Nashville's Department of General Services Increases LEED Facilities Portfolio In accordance with Metro Nashville’s LEED Ordinance, Nashville’s Department of General Services (DGS) is proud to now have 21 LEED certified buildings in its portfolio. The ordinance states that Metro buildings of 5,000 square feet or larger must be built or renovated to LEED Silver or greater levels of certification. A LEED facility must meet strict standards in the categories of sustainable sites, water efficiency, indoor air quality, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, and innovation & design process. Future DGS facilities that are currently undergoing LEED facilitation include the Criminal Justice Center, the Family Justice Center, and the Police Headquarters. For more information, click here.
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| Chattanooga Mayor Reveals City's Showcase Project
On December 15, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke announced its first Better Buildings Challenge showcase project, the Chattanooga Public Library. In the heart of downtown Chattanooga’s Innovation District, this unique 4-story, 12,000-square-foot space will undergo three phases of energy efficiency revitalization through lighting, HVAC, and digital control upgrades. The planned energy conservation measures are projected to lower the Library’s energy consumption by 41% and save over $60,000 in annual energy costs. In addition to the city’s municipal buildings, Chattanooga continues to engage the community at-large to encourage participation in the city’s Better Buildings Challenge commitment to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2025. For more information on the Better Buildings Challenge, and to view the commitments of other Tennessee Challenge partners, click here.
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| Solar Spreads to Cities Across Tennessee According to a recent article in Tennessee Town & City, the cost of solar systems in Tennessee has dropped 66% in the past five years, and the state has 134 solar companies employing nearly 3,800 Tennesseans. As costs drop, more businesses and residents have begun exploring solar energy’s potential. The article highlights how smaller cities like Ducktown, Franklin, Rockwood, and Millington have all taken different approaches to incorporating solar into their energy portfolios to realize energy cost savings and to attract and sustain business. On a similar note, on December 17, the Johnson City Power Board (JCPB) announced that it will begin construction on a first-of-its-kind 40-acre solar farm during the first half of 2017. The solar production facility, which will be the first public utility solar venture in Northeast Tennessee, will be built in southwestern Washington County near the vicinity of Jonesborough. The facility, which is being developed under TVA’s Distributed Solar Solutions program, is expected to generate 6.3 MW of power at peak efficiency, or enough to power an average of about 400 homes. The JCPB and three other local power companies were selected by the TVA in late March to take part in the Distributed Solar Solution program. In all, 16.7 megawatts of solar generation capacity was awarded by the TVA project. For more information, click here.
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| Tennessee Fortune 100 and 500 Companies Setting Renewable Energy, Sustainability Targets
The report highlights that 71 of Fortune 100 companies have set renewable energy or sustainability targets, up from 60 just two years ago. In the State of Tennessee, this includes both FedEx Corp. and HCA Holdings Inc. FedEx has set ambitious goals to reduce its footprint by increasing FedEx Express vehicle efficiency by 30% by 2020, utilizing alternative fuels for 30% of its total jet fuel usage by 2030 and expanding on-site renewable energy generation and procurement of renewable energy credits. HCA Holdings, the nation’s largest hospital chain, has created a 2016 Sustainability Plan, which includes plans for pursuit of LEED status on new construction projects as well as plans for the incorporation of solar, wind, and combined heat and power energy systems into new construction. For more information, click here.
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| Tennessee Tech Selected to Continue Participation in Industrial Assessment Centers Program
On December 14, U.S. DOE announced nearly $35 million, subject to appropriations, for 28 higher education institutions to set up and operate regional Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs). The centers will provide site-specific recommendations to small manufacturers with opportunities to improve productivity, secure information, reduce waste, and lower energy costs while providing training for undergraduate and graduate engineering students in manufacturing processes, energy assessment procedures, and energy management systems. Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, which currently operates an IAC, was selected to continue its participation in the program. Universities chosen to host the IACs will each receive between $1.25 and $1.75 million over five years, subject to congressional appropriations. Led by engineering faculty, students at the selected IACs will perform on-site assessments at small- and medium-sized manufacturing business partners, currently defined as having gross annual sales below $100 million, fewer than 500 employees, and annual energy bills between $100,000 and $2.5 million. In exchange for hosting the hands-on assessment training opportunities, these manufacturers receive an assessment that the company can use to improve their operations. Tennessee Tech’s IAC continues to provide no-cost whole plant assessments to manufacturing plants in Middle and East Tennessee. For more information, contact Michelle Davis at mdavis@tntech.edu (931-372-6386) or Glenn Cunningham at gcunningham@tntech.edu (931-372-3826). U.S. DOE is also making up to $5 million in funding available for an Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) Field Manager to act as a liaison between the Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) and the individual IACs and to provide technical assistance and outreach to all 28 centers. For more information, view the full solicitation here. Letters of Intent are due by January 10 and applications are due by February 14.
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| Manufacturing USA Catalyzes New Manufacturing in TN, Launches New Institute
Composites manufacturer Magnum Venus Products (MVP) announced on December 19 that it will expand its operations and build a new $12 million facility that will create approximately 70 jobs in Knox County over the next five years. The company is a member of the U.S. DOE-supported Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), a Tennessee-based public-private partnership under the Manufacturing USA network that aims to increase domestic production capacity, grow manufacturing and create jobs across the U.S. composite industry. For more information, click here. On January 4, U.S. DOE announced the launch of its new Reducing Embodied-energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE) Institute, which will also fall within the Manufacturing USA network. The Institute, which will focus on driving down the cost of technologies needed to reuse, recycle and remanufacture materials, will leverage up to $70 million in federal funding, subject to appropriations, and will be matched by $70 million in private cost-share commitments from over 100 partners. For more information, click here.
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| Vanderbilt Participates in U.S. DOE's Race to Zero Student Design Competition
The U.S. DOE Race to Zero Student Design Competition inspires collegiate students to become the next generation of building science professionals through a design challenge for zero energy ready homes. The competition is based upon a real-world scenario where a builder is developing a new high performance home product line or needs to update an existing product line (house plan) to a high-performance house design. College teams are posed with a design problem and are asked to either create a new house design that satisfies the project requirements or to redesign an existing floor plan. The mandatory performance target is the U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home specification. Through this competition, future architects, engineers, construction managers, and entrepreneurs will gain the skills and experience to start careers in clean energy and generate creative solutions to real-world problems. Nashville-based Vanderbilt University is participating as one of 44 collegiate institutions partaking in the 2017 competition. 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 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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| Energy Management Leadership Awards
The U.S. DOE is taking part in a global awards program to recognize companies or organizations that use an ISO 50001 energy management system (EnMS) to save energy and reduce costs. The Energy Management Leadership Awards showcase global use of these proven systems and help attain national and global climate goals. Any organization that holds a current, third-party-verified ISO 50001, including Superior Energy Performance® (SEP™), certificate is eligible to enter the competition. More information regarding the award program and eligibility can be found here. Entries are due by January 24, 2017.
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| U.S. DOE Announces $35 Million to Support Breakthrough Technologies for Advanced Manufacturing On December 22, U.S. DOE announced up to $35 million in available funding to support early-stage innovative technologies and solutions in advanced manufacturing that are not significantly represented in EERE’s current portfolio. Successful projects will reduce the technical uncertainty and develop new knowledge associated with potential breakthrough materials, processes and tools for U.S. manufacturers that could improve their competitiveness and enhance their energy efficiency. To view the full funding opportunity announcement, click here. Concept papers are due by January 31 and full applications are due by March 30.
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| Regional Energy Technology Innovation Ecosystems Characterization Assessments The U.S. DOE announced a Funding Opportunity (FOA) for awards of up to $200,000 for analytical studies that characterize and examine multi-state Regional Energy Technology Innovation Ecosystems. For purposes of these studies, a region must comprise a minimum of three contiguous states. The studies and supporting analysis should provide new insights as to how an integrated regional strategy could promote affordable, reliable innovative energy technology; create jobs; increase entrepreneurial activity and new venture financing; and promote economic growth and prosperity. The studies should provide data-driven insights and analysis, relying, in part, on inputs from current and potential energy innovation ecosystem participants within the proposed region. Studies should analytically support components of an integrated regional strategy that could provide benefits that a “business as usual” approach would not. In addition to identifying how an integrated regional strategy might enhance and accelerate energy technology and deployment, the results should help DOE identify the possible benefits such regional innovation strategies might have to help meet key national objectives of energy security, economic competitiveness and environmental responsibility. For more information, and to view the FOA, click here. Applications are due by February 28, 2017.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Better Buildings Webinar: How Cities, Manufacturers and Retailers are Unlocking Energy Savings in Warehouses and Distribution Centers
Online shopping is changing the way we use energy. As more retail shopping moves online, warehouses and distribution centers have become an increasing share of building portfolios and energy use. Tune into this webinar on January 10, from 2-3 pm Central to find out how retailers are looking for energy savings by addressing storage facilities long overlooked by traditional energy efficiency efforts. During the webinar, REI will give a virtual tour of its new zero-energy distribution center in Arizona and Staples will discuss strategies for dramatic energy reductions in existing facilities. To register, click here.
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| Pathway Women's Business Center Financial University
On January 28, Pathway Lending will host its first Financial University, offering attendees the chance to learn the ins and outs of finance for your business, including: - Understanding Financial Terminology
- How to project sales volumes
- Pricing and revenue generation strategies
- How to determine your sales breakeven point
- Comparing sources and uses for required capital
- Estimating your working capital needs during start-up
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door, and include breakfast, lunch, and a full agenda. For more information and to enroll, click here.
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| LBNL EM&V Webinar: Consistency and Coordination of Energy Efficiency EM&V and Reporting
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with support from the U.S. DOE and in collaboration with NASEO, NARUC, and the U.S. EPA, is offering a series of webinars on energy efficiency program and project evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V). The next webinar in the series will be: "Consistency and Coordination of Energy Efficiency EM&V and Reporting." The webinar will be held on January 31, from 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM ET. For more information on this webinar and to register, please visit https://emp.lbl.gov/emv-webinar-series.
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| NASEO Energy Policy Outlook Conference
NASEO's Energy Policy Outlook Conference is the national forum to connect with and learn from state energy officials working on innovative energy policies and programs, and to engage with federal officials on priority energy issues. On February 7-10, NASEO will convene the 2017 Energy Policy Outlook Conference as a new Administration and Congress take the national stage. Join NASEO, the 56 State and Territory Energy Offices, and thought leaders from the public and private sectors to learn about what new federal leadership may mean for energy policy, markets, states, and the future of energy infrastructure across the electricity, fuels, natural gas, manufacturing, efficiency, renewables, transportation, and building sectors. For more information, and to register, click here.
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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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| Built2Last IACMI Workshop at Vanderbilt
On February 23-24, IACMI will host a workshop on composite fabrication at Vanderbilt University’s Laboratory for Systems Integrity & Reliability (LASIR). Production workers, supervisors, repair and finishing departments, materials managers, engineers, designers, management, and anyone interested in understanding composite processes and materials will all find value at this not to miss industry event. For more information and to register, click here.
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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. The partnership between the HPC and WAP will help bring the entire industry together through a single national gathering where training, education, research and policy on building retrofits dominate an exciting agenda. Coming together under one roof, as one industry, to discuss best practices and opportunities for growth, is a step in the right direction toward our common goal of ensuring that all American homes are provided with the highest levels of energy efficiency retrofits possible. Register to attend this dynamic conference today!
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| Environmental Show of the South
The Environmental Show of the South is the largest and most comprehensive environmental conference and tradeshow in the region. Over 1200 people, including 150+ exhibitors, are expected at this year’s event. Over 13 hours of technical sessions will touch on topics including solid waste management, coal combustion residuals, underground storage tanks, air quality, clean fuels, and environmental law. Join us to hear speakers from leading environmental agencies, industry partners, law firms, and service providers as they share up-to-the-minute information. Learn about compliance from regulators and the regulated community alike. Visit our exhibit hall to meet vendors offering a full spectrum of environmental goods and services. The 46th Annual Environmental Show of the South will be held May 17-19 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. For more information and to register, click here.
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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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| NREL Renewable Energy Data Book
In December, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its 2015 Renewable Energy Data Book. This annual publication illustrates the rapid progress that the U.S. has seen on a variety of energy metrics over the past year -- including electricity generation, investments, and technology-specific data. To view the report, click here.
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| Better Buildings Financing Navigator
The Better Buildings Financing Navigator is a trusted tool for building owners, facility and energy managers, and other decision-makers exploring a wide array of financing choices. The Navigator helps users identify relevant financing options for their energy efficiency projects. Through the Navigator, users can also connect to the larger Better Buildings Challenge Financial Ally community, which includes banks and lenders that are committed to making bold financial investments in energy efficiency and are actively pursuing new opportunities to finance projects. Additionally, the Navigator provides information about the marketplace in general through white papers, technical research and advice collected from the industry. For more information, click here.
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