Energy Grant Roundup

First of all we would like to take a moment to congratulate our client, the Mancelona Area Water & Sewer Authority, on once again being named "Best Tasting Water in the Region" by the American Water Works Assn (MI) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources & Environment! This is a third-time win for MAWSA, with top honors in 2010, 2007 and 2006. This project first broke ground in the fall of 2001, and included over 17 miles of new watermain.

On to the energy grants available!

Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing grants and loans will provide $20 million to assist small manufacturing companies, currently located in Michigan, to diversify into high-growth clean energy sectors and invest in advanced manufacturing of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems and components. Any business physically located in Michigan with 500 or fewer full-time or equivalent employees, or a business that relocates to Michigan by the time of the award is eligible to apply.
Energy Efficiency - due May 21: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/CEAM_Energy_Efficiency_RFP_318749_7.pdf
Renewable Energy - due May 14: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/CEAM_Renewable_Energy_RFP_318752_7.pdf

USDA Energy Grant program options:

REAP Renewal Energy Program
(Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as the "§9006" program) offers grants and/or loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of renewable energy generating systems. Assistance is limited to small businesses and farmers & ranchers. Projects must be located in a rural area. REAP grants and guarantees may be used individually or in combination. Together they may finance up to 75% of a project's cost. Grants can never finance more than 25% of the project or $500,000 -- whichever is less. (The REAP program also supports energy efficiency projects.)

Authorized uses include:

• Renewable energy machinery & equipment – purchase & installation (including reimbursement for these costs only if the costs were incurred after submitting your application).


• Renewable energy real estate improvements – materials & construction (including reimbursement for these costs only if the costs were incurred after


• Feasibility studies, technical/engineering reports, permits, professional fees, & business plans (including reimbursement for such costs whether incurred submitting your application).before or afterapplication date).

REAP Energy Efficiency Program

(Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as the "§9006" program) offers grants and/or loan guarantees for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency improvements. Assistance is limited to small businesses and farmers & ranchers. Projects must be located in a rural area. REAP grants and guarantees may be used individually or in combination. Together they may finance up to 75% of a project's cost. Grants can never finance more than 25% of the project or $250,000 -- whichever is less. (The REAP program also supports renewable energy projects.)

REAP applications are now being accepted for FY2010; the application deadline is June 30, 2010. Awards are likely to be announced in summer 2010.Note: Applicants seeking REAP grants of $20,000 or less are greatly favored in the 2010 selection process.

Contact us for more information!

Funding Under the Green Project Reserve

The current issue of OnTap magazine has an article on the Green Reserve portion of the recovery act allocation in the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. There are four categories:

1. Green stormwater infrastructure
2. Energy efficiency
3. Water efficiency
4. Innovative environmental projects

There are some exclusions, standard SRF and recovery act regulations apply.

You can access the entire article below:

Green Project Reserve, On Tap Magazine

Related information:

EPA Stormwater PPT

EPA Green Reserve Webcast

ARRA Presentation

Build it Green PPT

Energy Efficiency Block Grant Webinar July 28

In our blog post of July 13 we highlighted an energy efficiency grant program - next week there is a webinar to review potential uses.

For those non-entitlement communities that cannot attend on dates listed above, the state will hold a one-time webcast with the same agenda as the regional workshops.

Webcast:
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
9:00 am - 12:00 am

*Non-entitlement communities are any incorporated city, township or county government that did not receive a federal EECBG allocation under the funding opportunity announcement-DE-FOA-0000013 and is listed in the U.S. Census report of estimated population of MI Cities & Townships by County, 2000-2007.

Register on DLEG's website at:
http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-25676-217150--,00.html

Energy Efficiency Block Grant Apps Due Aug 10

Congratulations to the City of Charlevoix for taking the Green Community Challenge!

Michigan Green Communities Challenge is part of the an energy efficiency and renewable energy block grant program created through the federal recovery act. The deadline to apply for these funds has been extended to August 10. Funds may be used community-wide for energy efficiency and energy conservation, projects and programs. These can include: building energy audits, codes and enforcement (development and promotion of zoning changes to promote energy efficient development), material conservation programs (recycling), transportation improvements (including bike paths and walkways), renewable energy for municipal buildings, signals and street lighting, and more.

More information on the program's basics is available online:

http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/EECBG_FAQ_4.15.09_275244_7.pdf

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/EECBG_Grant_Program_-_Baily_Zetterberg_281242_7.pdf

While larger urban areas have allocations setaside, smaller communities can also apply under the competitive grant allocation category. Michigan has been designated to receive $19,599,600, with an additional $57M+ allocated for the larger urban areas.

MML also has created a challenge on their website:
All Michigan communities are eligible to complete the Basic Challenge, a program designed to reflect the governing body’s commitment to adopt policies and programs of energy efficiency and conservation. If a community decides to accept the Basic Challenge, its governing board must pass a resolution indicating its desire to participate, and complete Steps 1–6 as outlined in the attached materials.

Details are available on MML's website, a quick summary of the six steps includes:
1. Obtain Organizational Support (Resolution)
2. Assign Responsibility
3. Collect all Energy Data for Governmental Operations
4. Assess Situation and Identify Gaps
5. Develop Goals and Activities: Planning for the Future
6. Measure Performance and Quantify Results

You can apply for these funds whether you are a member of MML or not, however, your community needs to be prepared to complete the steps required by the grant program.

Contact us for more information on making your community more energy efficient!

Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings

According to a post in the Environmental Leader yesterday, Energy Star-qualified commercial building designs have increased by 60%, as 75 new commercial building design projects became Energy Star qualified.

One of the projects, the Lenox Hotel in Boston implemented multiple measures to achieve qualification, including:

• 610+ low energy windows
• Super-efficient boilers and heat pumps
• ENERGY STAR office equipment, and televisions
• Motion sensors for lighting in intermittent or low-traffic areas
• An ozone laundry system, avoiding the use of hot water and cleaning chemicals
• Thousands of Compact and Fluorescent bulbs (saves 58,000 kilowatts each year)
• Motion sensors on vending machines (saves an additional 21,000 kilowatts per year).
  
  Note: the last two initiatives alone remove 52 tons of CO2 from of the atmosphere each year!

Saunders Hotel Group is now evaluating solar hot water technology for their Comfort Inn & Suites property - if it is feasible and effective.

How the ROI of the Upgrades

Motion sensors in storage areas/closets, Approx. $500, Payback 1 year, In Engineering budget
Compact Fluorescent Chandelier Bulbs, $5,000, Payback 8 months, In Engineering budget
Separate meter for cooling tower, N/A, Payback 1-3 years, Financed in combination of water utility and Engineering budget

A tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available to owners or designers of new or existing commercial buildings that save at least 50% of the heating and cooling energy of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. Partial deductions of up to $.60 per square foot can be taken for measures affecting any one of three building systems: the building envelope, lighting, or heating and cooling systems. These tax deductions are available for systems “placed in service” from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2013.
Take the ENERGY STAR Challenge to find the best opportunities for energy savings, set goals for improvement, and achieve superior energy efficiency.

IRS Notice 2006-52 (6/2/2006) provides guidance on deduction for energy efficient commercial buildings.
IRS Notice 2008-40 (4/7/2008) - Amplification of Notice 2006-52
Qualified Software for Calculating Energy Savings
Commercial Building Tax Deduction Coalition
For More Information:
Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP)
Energy Policy Act of 2005
IRS Guidance on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (June 2006)
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 ("the Bailout Bill")
Signed October 3, 2008 by President Bush
Relevant sections are in DIVISION B, Sections 106 (25D) and 302 (25C)
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus Bill")
Signed February 17, 2009 by President Obama
Relevant Sections are: DIVISION B, Sections 1103, 1121 (25C) and 1122 (25D)
Department of Energy Web site on Tax Incentives

Commercial Building Design Goals
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_bldg_design.new_bldg_design

Developing a Green Building Policy
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=green_buildings.green_buildings_index