Working in the energy efficiency industry doesn't always mean our homes are the most efficient. Recently, we bought a house built in 2001 in the unincorporated region of Del Valle, just outside of Austin. This fixer-upper still has its original infrastructure, including the roof, windows, and hot water heater—all of which need replacing. As we started meeting with service providers, one showcased a heat map of our home, highlighting significant energy loss through the windows. It was eye-opening to see that heat gain and loss through windows can account for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use. We're leaning heavily on resources from SPEER and the Department of Energy as we begin the process of upgrading our windows and making our home more energy-efficient. It’s a challenging journey, but one that aligns perfectly with our mission in this industry. |  | |
In this newsletter:
- Calling All Local Governments to SPEER's Industry + Policy Workshop 2024!
- Mark Your Calendar: Exciting CELC Events Ahead
- Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates
- Secure the Funds: Latest Grant Opportunities Available
- What We're Reading: Insights and Inspiration
- Career Moves: Hot Opportunities and Job Openings You Should Know
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Calling All Local Governments to SPEER's
Industry + Policy Workshop 2024!
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Join us in Austin at the Archer Hotel on September 19-20 for this year's SPEER Industry + Policy Workshop! This event is packed with insightful discussions, presentations, and networking opportunities aimed at advancing energy efficiency and sustainability across the region.
A few highlights:
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CELC Member Breakfast: Friday morning from 8:00-8:45 in Salon D & E.
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Local Government Panel: “Funding Secured: Next Steps for Utilities and Local Government Agencies Post-IIJA and IRA Grants” on Friday afternoon.
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Special Announcement: The Clean Energy Fund of Texas will unveil its new University Program for Minority Serving Institutions, aimed at financially supporting the creation of microgrids. This is an incredible opportunity to support these institutions in advancing their energy independence and sustainability efforts.
The registration fee is $95 for SPEER members and $165 for local government/non-profits. If your local government isn’t a SPEER member yet, it’s just $250 to join. This is a great way to apply those end-of-the-fiscal-year training or professional development funds! If you need a little assistance convincing your supervisor to let you attend, we have a template email that might help.
Make sure to check out the full agenda, and register today!
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Mark Your Calendar: Exciting CELC Events Ahead | |
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CELC Webinar: The Future of Hydrogen in Texas: Navigating New Policies and Opportunities
August 22nd, 10 AM CST
Join us for an insightful webinar on the evolving landscape of hydrogen energy in Texas. As the state positions itself at the forefront of clean energy innovation, recent hydrogen policies are shaping the future of this promising sector. This session will explore how new regulations and initiatives impact the development, infrastructure, and economic prospects of hydrogen in Texas. Whether you're an industry professional, policy-maker, or energy enthusiast, this webinar will provide valuable insights into the intersection of hydrogen policy and its future in Texas.
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CELC Virtual Coffee Hour: Brewing Energy Efficiency in Texas Communities | |
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Come engage with other CELC members, share insights, and explore the possibilities of enhancing energy efficiency in your community. This Virtual Coffee Hour is not just an event – it’s an opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to the collective efforts of creating sustainable and energy-efficient environments. Let’s brew ideas together over a virtual cup of coffee!
Date: August 28, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Interested in attending? Join with this link and then we will send you the meeting invite series! *This event is for local government agencies only.
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Share Your Expertise: Call for Webinar Presenters | |
Unleash your knowledge! We're seeking passionate experts to lead our upcoming webinars. If you're an industry leader with insights to share, we want to hear from you. Join us in inspiring and educating our community. Submit your proposal now! | |
Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates | |
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Webinar Recording: Empowering Building Operators: Unlocking Savings Through Efficiency Training
Miss our recent webinar? Head over to SPEER's YouTube channel to get caught up. Learn more about the Building Operator Certification (BOC) training, a program addressing the need for maintenance staff training as new technologies enter the market. The field of building operations and facility management are evolving rapidly due to factors such as benchmarking, grid enhancing technologies (GETs) and a swiftly retiring workforce. Renowned for its comprehensive curriculum, BOC is an ideal choice for meeting various federal government grant training requirements in energy efficiency.
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Clean Cities Quarterly Stakeholder Meeting
Join us on Tuesday, August 20th from 2:00 - 3:30pm for our quarterly Alamo Area Clean Cities and Communities (AACCC) stakeholder meeting. The meeting will be a hybrid event, with in-person attendees meeting at the AACOG Board Room (2700 SE Loop 410, Suite 101, San Antonio, Texas) in conjunction with those joining on Microsoft Teams. These meetings are intended to give stakeholders the opportunity to share their opinions and ideas with the Coalition. We will also discuss previous and upcoming events, initiatives, and goals of AACCC. We encourage all with an interest in clean transportation to attend!
Date: August 20th
Time: 2:00-3:30 PM
Register here
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Tarrant County TX-PACE Financing Workshop, Hosted by the City of Fort Worth
Struggling with high capital costs or unfavorable debt ratios for your commercial, industrial, or multifamily development? Discover how the Tarrant County PACE Program can transform your financing strategy. Join us for an informative workshop to learn how to access long-term, fixed-rate capital that’s more affordable than equity while making cash flow-positive investments in energy and water-saving improvements.
Date: September 10th
Time: 9:00-10:30 AM
Register here
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AACOG Weatherization Roundtable: Challenges & Opportunities for Weatherization Assistance
Weatherization can significantly reduce energy bills for households, leading to higher energy savings, and less vulnerability against harsh weather conditions. AACOG’s Weatherization Assistance Program assists low-income households in making energy-efficient upgrades, however, residents who do not meet the financial or structural requirements still require support.
The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) invites you to a discussion on the barriers preventing weatherization assistance. This roundtable will explore how local governments can bridge the gap and connect their residents to the weatherization resources they need. Attendees will leave with helpful information and resources on the financial opportunities currently available to help weatherize your home.
Date: August 22nd
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Register here
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Secure the Funds: Latest Grant Opportunities Available | |
Call for Partners - EECBG Deadline Extended to 8/16
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is offering reimbursable grants to eligible local governments for implementing strategies to reduce energy use, decrease fossil fuel emissions, and enhance energy efficiency. We are excited to announce an extension for the EECBG application deadline to August 16.
SPEER has developed a tailored proposal to help local governments access non-competitive funds totaling $250,000 under this grant. These funds can be specifically used to train local government staff through the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program—a nationally recognized initiative designed to advance the skills of engineers, maintenance supervisors, and technicians in the energy-efficient operation of commercial buildings.
For more information and to explore how your local government can benefit from this opportunity, please reach out to us at ejohn@eepartnership.org . Don’t miss out on this chance to enhance your team’s expertise and drive significant energy savings in your community.
More information on the grant.
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Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) Assistance for the Adoption of the Latest and Zero Building Energy Codes
This opportunity assists eligible entities in further decarbonizing their buildings through the adoption of the latest national model building energy codes, zero energy codes, and other codes that deliver equivalent or greater energy savings, including innovative approaches to decarbonize existing buildings through certain measurable and enforceable requirements. More info here.
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Community Change Grants Program
The Community Change Grants Program is still accepting applications through November 21, 2024, and EPA encourages applicants to submit applications as soon as they completely meet the NOFO requirements. EPA will be making additional selections on a rolling basis for the remainder of 2024. EPA also encourages interested applicants to apply for technical assistance as soon as possible, as the last day to request new technical assistance is August 16, 2024.
To see Modification No. 3 and to learn more about the Community Change Grants and Technical Assistance, visit EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program webpage.
To provide eligible applicants with the most effective technical assistance (TA) possible, and in light of the of the fast-approaching November 21, 2024 Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) application deadline, EnDyna, EPA’s TA contractor, will stop accepting new requests for TA after August 16, 2024. Eligible entities that are interested in receiving TA for CCGP application preparation must submit a complete TA intake form by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on August 16, 2024.
Please note that requesting TA by this deadline does not guarantee an entity will receive TA for their application or receive the full extent of the TA requested.
To maximize the benefit of TA requested, EPA encourages TA requestors to come prepared with key elements of a potential grant application when requesting TA and completing the intake form. Key elements include:
- The environmental and climate justice challenges that the requestor seeks to address
- Prospective partners
- Potential climate action and pollution reduction strategies
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Other important aspects outlined in the CCGP notice of funding opportunity
In addition to providing individualized TA, EnDyna has posted many helpful resources on their website including recordings of past webinars, a resource library, fact sheets, workbooks, informational videos, frequently asked questions, and more to help eligible entities with a CCGP application. These online resources will continue to be available through November.
Applications for the CCGP grants can be submitted until November 21, 2024, and applicants do not need to receive EnDyna TA to apply. Because EPA will review and select applications on a rolling basis until funds are committed, EPA encourages applicants to submit applications as soon as possible. Learn more here.
EPA is committed to supporting the ability of eligible entities to submit proposals to benefit disadvantaged communities through the CCGP. For more information, please contact: CCGP@epa.gov
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Seeking Federal Funding: A Guide for Local Governments
The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), in partnership with Climate Mayors and C40 Cities, developed a resource titled, “Seeking Federal Funding: A Guide for Local Governments.” This resource offers a collection of insights, lessons learned, best practices, and common challenges and pitfalls faced by local applicants in seeking federal funding. It is intended to support local governments with their process of conceiving, partnering, and applying for such funding.
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Technical Expert Assistance to Support Planning for Bus Electrification
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation are working together to provide The Clean Bus Planning Awards (CBPA) Program. The CBPA is not an incentive program, and fleets do not receive direct funding —rather, selected applicants will be allocated technical assistance resources by NREL.
Applications for assistance are open on a rolling basis through Sept. 30, 2024, giving fleets an opportunity to fully understand their needs before applying for support. This new program will reduce the burden of electrification by helping fleet managers create a step-by-step plan to transition their bus fleet. Click here to apply.
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What We're Reading: Insights and Inspiration | |
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Career Moves:
Hot Opportunities and Job Openings You Should Know
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