WAP Wire | January 2016

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Minnesota Department of Commerce WAP Wire Header

January 2016


Request for Proposal--Renewable Energy Equipment Grant Program Pilot Project

On December 31, 2015, Commerce released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a pilot project under the Renewable Energy Equipment Grant Program (REEGP).  The purpose of the RFP is for Commerce to provide grants for pilot projects to install and demonstrate new solar technologies that will provide supplemental heat in income-eligible homes.  Eligible responders are limited to Minnesota WAP Service Providers with a current contract and who are not under a Corrective Action Plan.

In keeping with the original intent, REEGP was designed to provide supplemental heat through the installation of renewable energy technologies in eligible households under Minnesota’s WAP.  Initially, solar air heating and high efficiency wood boilers were approved by REEGP as a direct source of supplemental heat.

As solar photovoltaic and direct solar photovoltaic-thermal technology costs have decreased, however, it may be feasible, in some applications, to utilize those technologies in a cost-effective manner. This project will provide an opportunity for Service Providers to pilot any of these technologies in low-income housing and track costs and other impacts that could inform further program development.

This RFP includes a special request for information (RFI) to contractors: Entities interested in serving as a contractor or project partner with an eligible Service Provider responder are encouraged to submit their business name, contact information, and project interest to energy.contracts@state.mn.us by Monday, Jan. 18, 2016.  A list of interested project partners received by that date will be forwarded to all eligible Service Provider responders and posted on the Commerce website in an effort to facilitate communication among potential partners.

Visit the Commerce website to view and download the REEGP Pilot Project RFP, including instructions for submitting questions about the RFP.

Service Providers may still submit applications for individual projects under the existing Renewable Energy Equipment Grant Program (REEGP).  More information and current guidelines are found in Appendix F of the PY15 WAP Policy Manual.


Register for the Mid-year Weatherization Policy Update

Time to Update Fuel Cost Libraries

Service Providers must update their fuel cost libraries before the monthly WA database upload, due January 11, 2016, and use the updated fuel costs for all new audits. Correct fuel cost libraries are essential to accurate energy modeling in the WA software. Commerce will check each agency’s WA library to ensure that updated fuel costs are being used. Instructions for updating fuel costs libraries are below.

Updated unit costs to be entered in the WA Fuel Cost Table are as follows:

Natural Gas      9.931

Oil                     3.249

Electricity          0.117

Propane            1.906

Wood             184.400

Coal               126.000

Kerosene           2.960

Other                  6.250

Instructions for the Fuel Cost Library (.pdf)

Registration is open for the Mid-Year WAP Policy Update on January 20.  Attendees from each local organization are limited to three staff members. We ask that WAP Coordinators attend, along with a lead auditor or QCI and up to one additional staff member. Visit Eventbrite to register your staff by Friday, January 15.


Program Year 2016 DOE Allocation

DOE has released Weatherization Program Notice (WPN) 16-2, PY16 Grantee Allocations. Minnesota’s allocation will be $10,006,066, an increase from PY15 of $1,812,255. Anticipated individual Service Provider allocations will be made available at the Mid-Year Policy Update on January 20.


Commerce Website URL Change

The Commerce URL where consumers can find online information about EAP and WAP has changed to http://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/your-home/save-energy-money/low-income-assistance/wap/. Please make sure to update your local websites or outreach materials with the correct URL.