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In this issue:
- A
year has flowed by—are you monitoring?
- Helping truckers save money
and clean up the air
- Energy efficiency at a metal fabricator
- Minnesota
Business First Stop
- New
SBEAP regulatory tools
- Resourceful Waste Management Guide updates
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All industrial stormwater permittees are
required to start collecting quarterly stormwater samples within one year after
they receive permit coverage. As of February 27, 29 percent of all required samples
have not been submitted. If you have an industrial stormwater permit, be
sure that you are in compliance with this important requirement.
The University of Minnesota will also be
holding a sampling training workshop on Tuesday June 5, 2012. The
workshop will focus on information about sampling requirements, including
providing a demonstration on how to collect a sample. To register, or to
forward registration information to your members/clients, view and download the
registration
form.
Another class, called “I’ve exceeded my
benchmark values, now what do I do?” is planned for early this summer. Visit www.erosion.umn.edu for more information.
Some facilities may consider certifying and
complying with the “no exposure” exclusion as a way to avoid the industrial
stormwater requirements. When applying, remember to consider all potential
sources of exposure, such as uncovered storage bins, garbage compactors, fueling activities, loading/unloading of
materials/waste, deteriorating or open dumpsters, and outdoor metal storage piles
of aggregate. The “No- Exposure” option saves $2000 in fees over the 5-year life
of the permit and saves on monitoring and administrative costs. For more
information, visit the MPCA Industrial
Stormwater No-Exposure web page.
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With
diesel fuel prices climbing to $4 per gallon, there's now a loan program that
can help Minnesota long-haul truckers save money, stay cool this summer, and
reduce pollution on overnight rest stops.
The
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency offers low, 4 percent loans to
owner-operated long-haul truckers and small trucking companies to purchase
idle-reduction devices. These auxiliary power units, or APUs, are either small,
15-horsepower diesel engines or battery pack systems that can run air
conditioning, heaters and electricity to power laptops while the truck’s main
engine is shut off.
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“Best
decision I ever made,” said Paul Ahles, long-haul truck owner-operator. “I
would absolutely recommend getting an APU. The MPCA has been great to work
with.”
Ahles has
used his new APU on an older truck for nine months and estimates he’s saving
$500 per month in fuel idling costs even after deducting a loan payment and
fuel and maintenance costs. Ahles averages about 266 hours of idling per month.
He estimates that he'll recoup his purchase costs for the unit after only about
a year.
Long-haul
trucks consume about one gallon of fuel per hour while idling. But a diesel APU
will use only one-fifth as much. A 10-hour overnight rest can cost a trucker
$40 with diesel fuel at $4 per gallon, compared to just $8 when operating a
diesel APU. In addition, APUs help provide lower-cost temperature control that
helps many truckers get a better night’s sleep.
Request an application
For those
who fear an APU couldn't take the heat, Ahles recounted how he was sleeping
over in Texas one night with the temperature well above 100 degrees. He
accidentally set the thermostat too low and awoke shivering to a 58-degree cab
temperature.
“Even if
the truck driver idles just 150 hours per month, that’s $600 in fuel,” said
Mike Nelson, who runs the loan program for the MPCA. “A trucker would save more
than $200 per month even with the loan payment, routine maintenance, and fuel.
And reducing truck engine idling will also extend the life of their truck
engine.”
Small
trucking companies and owner-operated fleets are encouraged to request APU loan
applications from the MPCA. More
information is available on the MPCA website. Questions? Call Mike Nelson at
651-757-2121 or 800-985-4247.
Metal fabrication company Wyoming Machine of Stacy, MN is finding that a
successful energy audit is leading to a whole host of energy savings
opportunities. Last summer, Energy Smart offered Wyoming Machine an
on-site energy consultation, and in the process made several energy-saving recommendations.
Building maintenance manager Tom LeTourneau has been methodically evaluating
and implementing these ideas. “We’ve already upgraded our lights, and we’re
told that we’ll save more than $7,500 a year in energy costs,” says LeTourneau.
“We also got a rebate check from Xcel Energy for $14,306 – that really got my
bosses’ attention.”
Since the lighting upgrade, LeTourneau has arranged for the installation of
Xcel Energy’s free Saver’s
Switch, which will save the business money on air-conditioning costs all
summer. The company has also installed sensors to turn off lighting and
restroom fans when not in use, qualifying for a $250 Xcel Energy rebate. Soon, they plan to install
a white roof to further reduce cooling costs during the summer.
Currently,
the company uses a compressed air system, which can generate high energy costs if
the system isn’t running properly or has leaks. Energy Smart determined that
the company’s system had never been tested for leaks, and recommended that a
compressed air study be conducted. LeTourneau says the company is now aware
that air leakage could be wasting energy, and is looking into having this study
done in the near future.
Energy Smart finds that many organizations benefit from an assessment of the
whole energy picture for their facilities, and that step by step, energy
efficiency upgrades add up to big savings.
Would you like to identify energy saving opportunities at your
business? Contact Sam Friesen at sfriesen@mnchamber.com
or (651)292-4652.
-Reprinted
from March 2012 e-newsletter from EnergySmart
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Minnesota Business First Stop, a multi-agency
workgroup, has been launched as part of Gov. Mark Dayton’s Jobs Plan to get
Minnesota working again. This workgroup will make it easier to do business in
Minnesota, by connecting businesses with resources they need in various state
agencies.
The Minnesota Business First Stop brings
together commissioners from Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board;
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; and the Departments of Agriculture,
Commerce, Transportation, and Natural Resources, in addition to DEED — all
working toward a united goal of promoting business growth in Minnesota.
“With the Minnesota Business First Stop, any
business looking to locate or expand in Minnesota will have one place to call
to get the assistance they need,” said Gov. Dayton.
The Minnesota Business First Stop provides
coordinated leadership and resources to develop or expand technology, renewable
energy, or clean technology businesses in the state. By aligning these efforts,
businesses with multiple needs will benefit from a more efficient delivery of
services.
Kari Howe has been named executive director of Minnesota
Business First Stop. “It’s an exciting time, working in collaboration to
support business development and jobs in Minnesota,” Howe says. Howe will be
the first point of contact for businesses, determining resources to meet each
need and begin coordinating assistance. Howe expects DEED’s business
development representatives to be heavily involved, helping businesses grow in
their area.
To contact Minnesota Business First Stop, call
(toll free) 855-893-2099 or 651-259-7463, or email firststop@state.mn.us.
‘What
permits apply to me?’ video
What environmental regulations apply to your small
business and what can be done to reduce obligations? A new SBEAP video offers a
brief overview of what permits might apply to you. Consider reducing regulatory
obligations through pollution prevention, which can save money through lower
fees and be better for the environment. Find it on our home page at www.pca.state.mn.us/sbeap.
New SBEAP sand and
gravel operations resource page
The
SBEAP Industry Sector web page for sand and gravel
operations has been updated and upgraded. The new page
separates the regulations affecting aggregate operations into easy-to-navigate
tabs and provides step-by-step instructions on how to determine if a permit is
required. The calculator for determining emissions for
this sector has also been updated to work in concert with the new webpage.
The
Resourceful Waste Management Guide helps local businesses
make smart recycling and disposal decisions. This recently updated guide
contains disposal information on everything from paper and plastics to
electronics and food waste. You can search for facilities by location,
materials accepted, or services provided. Go to www.rethinkrecycling.com/businesses/waste-management-guide
to get started.
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