2016 Minnesota
State Energy Conference — Thank you!
Photo
by Doug Oellien
Thank
you to the Minnesota Energy Conference Committee, presenters, and attendees for
making this year’s conference a great success.
Another
huge thank you goes out to AEOA and KOOTASCA’s staff for their hard work on
putting together materials and props for the hands-on mobile home training.
Most presentations have been posted on the WAP
training section of the Commerce
website. A few remaining presentations will be added soon. In addition, the
MHEA Floor Repair Modeling Tool has been posted under Appendix C of the WAP
Policy Manual.
All WAP staff is encouraged to review the online
materials and connect with other agencies about the hands-on mobile home
training as well as policy discussions and program updates provided.
Staff changes in the Minnesota Department of Commerce State Energy Office
Michelle
Gransee and Jessica Burdette have been named co-managers of the Minnesota
Department of Commerce State Energy Office (SEO), replacing SEO Manager Janet
Streff, who retired in March. In her new role, Michelle Gransee oversees
the Weatherization Assistance Program, Clean Energy Technologies, and Program
Connections. Jessica Burdette oversees the Conservation Improvement Program,
Energy Efficiency & Assurance, and the State Energy Office Operations.
Jake
McAlpine (pictured at right) has been named State Weatherization Assistance Program coordinator and
takes over the day-to-day responsibilities for WAP duties previously performed
by Michelle Gransee.
Jake
has been working in the Weatherization Assistance Program since 2009 as an
energy auditor, Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) project
manager, and local WAP program coordinator. In 2015, he took a position at
Commerce as the WAP technical and training administrator. He has a Bachelor of
Science degree from the University of Minnesota in Residential Building Science
and Technology. Jake can be reached at weatherization.commerce@state.mn.us or 651-539-1866.
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Year-end fiscal reminders
DOE: Service Providers are
expected to spend their PY15 DOE allocations by June 30, 2016. Any concerns
around spending down funds should be directed to: weatherization.commerce@state.mn.us. Any DOE funds remaining
at the end of the program year will be redistributed in PY16.
EAPWX CO/A2106: Service Providers are
limited to carrying forward 25% of EAPWX CO/A2106 into PY16. Funds must be 75% expended
by June 30, 2016. Obligated funds are
not factored into the 75%. EAPWX CO/A2106 funds expire on September 30,
2016. If an agency will exceed the 25% cap
at the end of PY15, Commerce should be contacted immediately so funds may be redistributed.
Budget Revisions: Per policy 6.8.1,
Service Providers may request to move funds from the Admin and TTA categories
into Program. Budget revisions between these categories require an updated NFA
and eHeat allocation. Service Providers must allow at least one week for
revision requests to be reviewed and processed, although revisions should be
submitted at least two weeks prior to the end of PY15 to ensure processing. Budget
revisions cannot be processed after June 30, 2016.
PY15 Financial Closeout: Final FSRs and cash
requests for all PY15 WAP funds, including EAPWX CO/A2106 funds that can carry
over into PY16, must be submitted in eHeat by Monday, August 1. Refer to policy
6.6 for additional closeout instructions.
Program Year 2016 WAP contracts
PY16
WAP contracts will be emailed to Service Provider executive directors and WAP coordinators
in early June, to review and execute.
Service
Providers that have a PY15 assignment agreement in place will be provided with
instructions for executing PY16 agreements. Information on establishing a new assignment
agreement can be found in the “Looking Ahead” (pdf) presentation from the
2016 Minnesota State Energy Conference or by contacting weatherization.commerce@state.mn.us.
Save
the date — Wisconsin WAP Technical Exchange Fair
The
Minnesota WAP network has been invited to join our neighbors to the east at
their annual WAP technical training conference, scheduled for September 12-15 in
Wausau, Wis. The conference details are in the process of being finalized and
more information will be sent to coordinators shortly.
Grant
program to bring solar energy to low-income Minnesotans
Three
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Service Providers will receive funding
from the Renewable Energy Equipment Grant Program (REEGP) to install solar
energy systems in homes of low-income households. REEGP seeks to make renewable
energy more accessible to low-income Minnesota families. Households that qualify
for WAP are eligible. Two of the three grant contracts are in place, and a
third is close to being finalized. Contracted grant recipients include:
- Sustainable
Resources Center, Inc. in Minneapolis; awarded $97,900 to install solar
PV; and
- Western
Community Action, Inc. in Marshall, Minn.; awarded $115,500 to install solar PV
and solar thermal systems.
The
Minnesota Department of Commerce administers REEGP through its WAP providers
and contractors. The grant program has previously funded energy-efficient home
heating with EPA-certified outdoor wood boilers and wood stoves, solar air
furnaces, and wood-fired furnaces. Through this grant, solar PV panels and
solar PV thermal systems will be piloted.
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