Re: Green Communities News and Updates
Chinloo Lama
Hi Margaret,
Sorry to get to this so late. I was out of town last week and had no access to email. Anyhow, after seeing Martha's reply on the progress of the PV on Sawyer, and the fact that we have the $ from the greenup program set for it, would it make more sense to look at other projects that might need this grant money more? When it says shovel ready, does it mean ready at the time of the application submission or is there a grace period? If we are affected by the shovel-readiness of the projects, perhaps we can allocate the green-up money to another project and use the sawyer PV as a project to apply with. Anyhow, all to be discussed.
I like your suggestions for improvements on Haughton. A few other projects that might be viable:
- Solar hot water system for the new Public Safety Center
- Solar arrays at the transfer station
- Improvements on the Town Hall Building
I know all our time is tight especially trying to catchup at work after the holiday break and another coming so soon. If we can all pitch in a little perhaps we can get this out in time. I have included Shelly and Laura in the email as well as posted this on our googlegroup site so Ted can take a read. Let's try to hesh out the projects that we want to focus on and divide the sections to an appropriate owner and pull the report back together to review mid week, then we can iron out the details for the final submission for the 7th. What do you all think about that?
Thanks,
Chinloo
----- Original Message -----
From: "Margaret Campbell" <mcam...@easyenergyma.com>
To: "Chinloo Lama" <chi...@comcast.net>, "Martha Broad" <br...@masstech.org>, "Michael Gorr" <mg...@comcast.net>, "Paul Vasington" <paulva...@hotmail.com>, "Jennifer Atwood Burney" <pla...@townofbolton.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 11:34:55 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: RE: Green Communities News and Updates
I would think that we could come up with an application. We should have discussed at our last meeting. How can we proceed? I think that we can get money thru these PONs for the solar installation at Sawyer. I have quickly reviewed PON-ENE-2010-009 the guidance is below.
PON-ENE-2010-009
To qualify for funding, approved projects must benefit municipal buildings (including schools), be shovel ready, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Possible candidates for funding include solar photovoltaic installations; other clean energy technologies such as combined heat and power, biomass thermal, solar thermal, and geothermal; thermal efficiency measures in oil- or propane-heated buildings such as new high efficiency boilers and furnaces or improved efficiency in existing ones, replacement or improvement of heat delivery systems, and increased insulation or window replacement; and reduction (“buy-down”) of the total cost of efficiency measures identified by energy performance contractors.
We could apply for funds to do upgrades to the boilers at Houghton and/or replace the windows and/or increase insulation there. I suspect that there are improvements that we can make at Emerson that would qualify. There is a lot of paperwork and tracking that is a part of the grant. Making implementation labor intensive. The $ limit is $150,000 for any municipality for any and all projects combined.
Given $ limits I think windows at Houghton might be easiest implementation and be with/in the total budget.
I did not see on first review if there are matching $ required from municipality. This would likely kill any grant. Anyone know?
PON-ENE-2010-008
This is to hire a “Owner Agent” to manage the installation of a clean tech project. We could apply for this service for the Sawyer Solar installation. Dollars limited to $50,000. See more below.
FUNDING
Funding for Owner’s Agents Technical Assistance is made possible through ARRA and will be managed by Green Communities under a separate contract with accompanying ARRA terms and conditions.
To qualify for Owner’s Agents Technical Assistance, approved projects must benefit municipal buildings (including schools) and be shovel ready. Possible candidates for assistance include solar photovoltaic installations and solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA); other clean energy technologies such as combined heat and power, biomass thermal, solar thermal, and geothermal; and reduction (“buy-down”) of the total cost of efficiency measures identified by energy performance contractors. Owner’s Agents Technical Assistance awards will be made based on project readiness, projected reduction in consumption of fossil fuel energy, need, and diversity. Preference may be given to proposals that have been approved at the community level and are ready to be enacted in the immediate future. Cities and towns can receive up to a maximum of $50,000 worth of Technical Assistance services. The total amount of available funds for Owner’s Agents Technical Assistance is $825,000.
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
DOER will assign Owner’s Agents to awarded municipalities for the Technical Assistance services. Owner’s Agents will help manage the project and will ensure that energy projects are designed and installed properly and that performance and results are effectively monitored and measured.
Martha – what do you think? I think we can apply for both for the solar project at Sawyer. I also think that we need to get a grip on that project and get it moving. This would be a good focus for the committee.
Jennifer – to what extent can you help us with the application for one or both of these PONS?
Margaret
Providing low cost electricity to homes, businesses and municipalities.
Margaret Campbell, CEO
P.O. Box 866
Bolton, MA 01740
From: Jennifer Atwood Burney [mailto:pla...@townofbolton.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 11:30 AM
To: 'Beth McGilvray'; 'Chinloo Lama'; 'Dennis Mahoney'; 'Kevin Lord'; 'Laura Kischitz'; 'Margaret Campbell'; 'Martha Broad'; 'Michael Gorr'; 'Paula Berg'; 'William Darden'
Subject: FW: Green Communities News and Updates
Is the committee interesting in applying for this grant?
Jennifer
REMINDER – Applications for funding under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program due DECEMBER 7th , 5:00 PM
The deadline for submitting the applications for funding from the EECBG program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is quickly approaching!
The first application available is the competitive sub-grant program for communities with populations less than 35,000 (PON-ENE-2010-009). This program will fund solar PV projects, other clean technology projects, thermal efficiency measures in oil or propane heated buildings, and buy-down of performance contracts. The maximum grant award for these grants is $150,000. The second is a competitive application to receive technical assistance in the form of Owner’s Agents, for which all 351 municipalities can apply (PON-ENE-2010-008). The Owner’s Agents can be used for clean technology project engineering, clean technology third-party power purchase agreements, or for performance contracts. The maximum assistance available would be valued at $50,000.
The applications and all information about these opportunities can be accessed through the Commonwealth’s procurement website, COMM-PASS, www.comm-pass.com, by searching for a solicitation and doing a keyword search on the PON numbers above (PON-ENE-2010-009 or PON-ENE-2010-008). You can also review all questions that have been asked and answered by searching under the Bidder’s Forum and doing a “referenced solicitation search” on the PON numbers.
The contact for these opportunities is Diane Gray, diane...@state.ma.us.
$25K/project (estimated max. grant – 1-4/region): Environmental Justice Small Grants Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking proposals for the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. This program supports projects that address a local environmental and public health issue within an affected community. This year the program will emphasize the disproportionate impacts of climate change in communities with environmental justice concerns. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Energy efficiency, renewables, water efficiency, Green jobs and green economy capacity building, and smart growth. $1 million expected to be available, up to 40 awards anticipated. Responses are due 1/8/10. For more info, including Regional contacts go to: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html.
GREEN COMMUNITIES WANTS TO SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES!
Many of you have done great things regarding Energy Efficiency policies, Zoning By-Laws, or RFPs so we are asking you to SHARE them with cities and towns across Massachusetts.
Send us your:
· Municipal or Regional Energy Plan
· Energy policies (energy conservation, efficient vehicles, etc…)
· Zoning Bylaws (renewable energy as-of-right, etc)
· Energy Committee mission, committee make-up
· Energy Efficiency or Renewable Energy procurement documents (RFPs, RFQs, etc..)
Green Communities will post them on our website for all to share. This new “online” sharing opportunity will be a resource for cities and towns to learn more about how their fellow communities are meeting their energy goals.
Contact Jim Barry for further information, or just bury him with your good ideas !
Jim....@State.MA.US or call him at 413 755 2232.
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs FY2011 Budget Forum:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 6-8 p.m.
Ware Senior Center
1 Robbins Road, Ware, MA 01082
These Budget Forums provide an opportunity for everyone to participate in an open conversation about the Commonwealth’s budget. While each host will tailor their presentation to their respective secretariat, the conversations are generally less technical, encourage greater dialogue and will address the budget as a whole.
Please call 617-626-1110 if you have any questions regarding this forum.
Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Green Communities!
Meg Lusardi, Deputy Director
Green Communities Division
Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1020, Boston, MA 02114
Ph: 617.626.7364 Fax: 617.727.0030
http://www.mass.gov/doer/
Creating a Greener Energy Future for the Commonwealth