Got news recently about a new permit requirement and have questions? Felt like you never really had a good grasp on what regulations apply to you? Want to reduce emissions from your shop but don’t know where to begin?

Bob Mottyge of Bob’s Body Business in Leroy, MN recently found  that even though he uses a relatively small amount of paint every year, he needed help sorting through his records to understand his regulatory obligations. He needed someone to walk him through the somewhat complicated application process. So he contacted the MPCA Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) to get help. After helping Bob review his operating records and assist him with estimating air emissions, SBEAP helped Bob work through the forms for an air permit and NESHAP coverage for his shop. 

These are the types of services offered by SBEAP every day. In a world full of myriad regulations coming in from all sides for the small business owner, we understand that sometimes environmental rules can be complex and hard to understand. It’s what we do to help Minnesota businesses comply with environmental rules as well as reduce regulatory obligations whenever possible. Our assistance is available at no additional cost and is confidential to businesses with less than 100 employees that are not major sources of waste or emissions. We offer:

• Individual phone assistance at 651-282-6143 or 800-657-3938
• Site visits on request
• Online tools and printed materials available
• Ideas to help your business go beyond compliance

Visit us at www.pca.state.mn.us/sbeap. 

Follow SBEAP on Twitter @smallbizMPCA

Oscar’s Auto Body received funding from an MPCA grant and a City of Minneapolis Green Business Matching Grant Program in part of a state-wide effort to reduce Volatile Organic Compound emissions (VOCs) at small businesses.

Owner Ramin Hakimi knew he needed a new waterborne paint system to increase production as well as benefit the neighborhood. So he got the Environmental Initiative and the MN Technical Assistance Program to help him figure out the best paint booth-mixing room placement for his shop and calculate potential VOC reductions for two grant applications. He soon secured $101,000 toward a $150,000 paint booth.

Benefits

Cars now spend about half the time in the paint department. It also improves workflow being nearer to his new mixing room. VOC emissions have been reduced around 73 percent in the first eight months, eliminating  about 736 lbs. of VOCs per year.

Business has increased too after receiving both the Minneapolis Green Business Award and the Whittier Alliance Good Business Award. “We got a bunch of phone calls saying, ‘I heard about you guys through this and I want to come in,” office assistant Joni Ballweber adds. “We had one guy who just dropped his car off and called us later. It’s amazing the trust people place in a business from an award.”

The shop had a record year in revenue for 2015, with sights set even higher in 2016. “Now I can hire more techs, which means I’ll be able to get more cars ready and double my production,” Hakimi says.

Don’t miss! A short video about VOCs and the Oscar’s Auto Body story. This could be you! Watch for Small business VOC grant funding from the MPCA available in the coming weeks for similar VOC reducing projects.

For more information on Oscar’s Auto Body and benefits gained from the new paint booth, check out this article in FenderBender magazine or this Environmental Initiative blog on the larger project.

A “bad air day” is one where air pollution can potentially make people sick whether they are aware of sensitivity or not. Certain groups of people are more susceptible than others. One of the best ways to know about bad air days is to check the Air Quality Index (AQI), which has real-time air quality information.  

Businesses can help spread the word by becoming “Air Aware Employers.”  This program helps employers actively inform employees about the AQI, sharing steps they and their staff can take to reduce the severity of bad air days, such as action-oriented newsletter wellness articles and alert messaging on bad air days. Employers pledge to notify employees when AQI levels are “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse.  They prompt employees to take personal actions to improve air quality, like using mass transit regularly, reducing use of gas-powered lawn equipment, or burning wood during air alerts.  

Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) was the first healthcare organization in the Air Aware Employer program. They have committed to sending out AQI alerts to employees and will encourage them to take simple steps for personal health and to reduce the number and duration of bad air days. HCMC offers commuter benefits to its employees like Metropass transit pass subsidy, payroll deduction for transit passes, bicycle storage, showers and lockers, and ZAP Twin Cities.

Poor air quality is bad for all residents and businesses in the region.  According to a new report published by MDH and MPCA, air pollution contributed to 2000 deaths, 400 hospitalizations and 600 emergency room visits in the Twin Cities in 2008. Unhealthy air may also impact businesses with higher absenteeism, reduced work productivity, and more extensive and expensive regulations.

The Air Aware Employer program now has pledges from seventeen other local employers.  This represents more than 30,000 people getting information about the connection between air quality and health, and what to do about it. 

Take the Air Aware Pledge and become an Air Aware Employer at BeAirAwareMN.org. 

The City of Minneapolis, through its Green Business Cost Sharing Program, is offering cost shares, up to $50,000 each, to help fund innovative green business practices that focus on air and water quality improvements in Minneapolis by reducing:

• VOC emissions - Top priority
• Particulate matter emissions - Top Priority
• Hazardous Air Pollutants
• NOx emissions
• Waste
• Water consumption
• Energy Use

Eligible applicants: Any business in the City of Minneapolis that pays a Pollution Control Annual Registration willing to cost share and able to demonstrate that the project has measurable pollution reduction.

Proposals are due April 22, 2016 at 4:00 p.m.

Click here for grant information and application

Applications are being accepted through Feb. 28, 2016 for  the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program. The 10-year program helps fund new solar electric and solar thermal systems for Minnesota residents, businesses and communities. It is administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and applicants are selected by lottery. Owners of solar electric (or photovoltaic [PV]) systems who are selected for the program receive an annual incentive payment for 10 years based on the system’s electricity production. For owners of solar thermal systems, the program offers a one-time rebate up to 25 percent of the installed cost.

In its first two years, the Made in Minnesota program has provided incentives for 692 solar PV projects and 32 solar thermal installations. The PV projects equal about 10.4 megawatts (MW) of electric capacity, providing a significant boost to the state’s current solar capacity of 28 MW. More information on the Made in Minnesota program, including the incentive and rebate amounts, is available on the Commerce website.

(Photo courtesy of Silicon Energy)

Degreasing webinar offers tips on safer products that really work

On February 24, at 9:00 AM CST, MnTAP is hosting a webinar titled Cleaners and Degreasers for Industrial Maintenance and Auto Repair - Safer Products That Work. Learn about low-VOC, low-HAP degreasing solvents proven to work and that reduce exposure to workers and the community. Hear from small businesses that have made the switch to “greener” products and how MnTAP’s degreasing project has resulted in over 2,000 pounds in annual VOC reductions. Register here. 

Want to host an intern this summer? Apply today!

MnTAP anticipates supporting up to 15 intern projects in water conservation, paint efficiency, waste reduction, pollution prevention, and energy efficiency in manufacturing and wastewater treatment plants. Proposed projects are evaluated for impact potential, project scope, and company interest and commitment. Interns are chosen for their educational backgrounds and leadership capabilities. Apply soon to ensure a spot.

Thirteen projects in 2015 focused on water, energy, and waste reduction, resulting in the potential to save their host companies over $1 million annually as well as 1.7 million pounds of waste, over 45 million gallons of water, 870,000 million kWh and 152,000 therms of energy per year. See their stories in the 2015 MnTAP Solutions magazine.

MnTAP Launches E3 in painting: economy, energy & environment project

A limited number of companies will be selected for no-cost lean, energy and waste assessments based on potential waste and energy savings, and demonstrated commitment to implementing recommendations. Apply here or contact Paul Pagel: ppagel@umn.edu / 612-624-4638