CIP News | September 2013
Welcome to CIP News, where you will find the latest news and information on a wide range of Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) topics. Use the links at the bottom of this newsletter to update your existing subscription profile or to sign up as a new subscriber. If you have comments or questions, please reply to the email address at the bottom of this newsletter.
The purpose of the Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) grant is to identify new technologies, strategies and program approaches that utilities can implement to help achieve the annual state energy conservation goal of 1.5 percent as established by the Next Generation Energy Act of 2007.
FVB Energy receives CARD grant to study combined heat and power
FVB Energy, Inc. of Minneapolis has been awarded the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) CARD grant. The $199,976 grant, administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources, calls for FVB Energy to (1) develop a CHP white paper that will evaluate regulatory issues and policies specific to Minnesota, and (2) perform a Minnesota CHP potential study. Read more.
The Minnesota Project has been working on a CARD grant that is examining the energy savings, performance, and durability of LED lighting technologies specifically designed for poultry facilities. On Oct. 11, The Minnesota Project and Clean Energy Resource Teams will host a Field Day at the University of Minnesota Extension’s Mid-Central Research & Outreach Center in Willmar, Minn. The event is free and will include an overview of energy efficiency opportunities at poultry facilities, a review of the components and performance of the LED systems to date, and insights from farmers closely involved with the project. The event is from 10 a.m. to noon and includes a free lunch. To register…
ASHRAE Journal publishes feature on automatic daylighting controls
“Best Practices for Commissioning Automatic Daylighting Controls,” an article based on a recent CARD grant project, was published in the September 2013 issue of the ASHRAE Journal. The article highlights the effective energy-saving strategy of automatic daylighting controls. It was written by Scott Hackel and Scott Schuetter, senior engineers at the Energy Center of Wisconsin. The final report on the CARD project (“Commissioning for Optimal Savings from Daylight Controls”) and a webinar are available at the Energy Center website.
Minnesota Energy Code Compliance Survey is published
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) recently completed a survey of energy code compliance in Minnesota. The survey helped determine how close the state is to a goal set by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and identified procedural changes in code enforcement and training needed to improve energy code compliance rates. Commercial buildings met the ARRA standard, while residential buildings fell short. Read more.
Energy Efficiency in Healthcare Facilities
A CARD grant was awarded to CLASS 5 Energy to pilot a comprehensive behavioral and operational energy efficiency program for the healthcare market, with a goal of creating a program that could reduce energy use and costs without a significant financial investment and without affecting patient care. The program was successfully implemented by Ridgeview Medical Center of Waconia, which over a 15-month period saved $75,000 and reduced overall energy use by 6 percent. The final report of this project details key strategies used, energy and dollars saved, employee attitudes, and key findings for implementing the program in other health care facilities. Read more.
The 2013 Minnesota Legislature set several new policies intended to boost the state’s distributed generation, defined as the generation of electricity on-site or close to where it is needed in small facilities designed to meet local needs. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources was charged with developing policy in several areas. The following is a brief summary of progress toward those goals. Energy legislation information is available at the Commerce website. |
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Energy Savings Goal Study stakeholder meetings begin Oct. 17
Legislation passed in 2013 requires the Department of Commerce to conduct public meetings with stakeholders to address a series of issues related to Minnesota’s energy savings goal. Current Minnesota energy policy calls for the State to achieve annual energy savings of at least 1.5 percent of annual retail energy sales of electricity and natural gas, based on the Legislature’s finding that “energy savings are a resource, and that cost-effective energy savings are preferred over all other energy resources” (House File 729, 4th Engrossment, Article 12, Section 8). The stakeholder process will assess this policy and will include general meetings on the current energy savings goal and meetings on subtopics of special interest. The process will culminate with a report to the Legislature on findings and recommendations on the state’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) energy savings goal.
The first of two stakeholder meetings will be held Oct. 17 at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul. Energy Center of Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the wise use of energy resources, has contracted with Commerce to facilitate the meetings and report on the results of the stakeholder process. The first meeting will include presentations by industry experts and a panel discussion with representatives from different stakeholder groups. Technical workgroups will meet after the first meeting; the second public stakeholder meeting is scheduled for Nov. 4. A schedule of stakeholder meetings and technical workgroups is available. The final report to the Legislature is due Jan. 15, 2014.
First of four Value of Solar Tariff Methodology workshops is held
The Minnesota Department of Commerce held the first of a series of public stakeholder workshops on Sept. 17 at the Science Museum of Minnesota to establish a methodology to determine the value of electricity generated by distributed solar photovoltaic resources. The workshop, attended by 130 people, was the first of four workshops intended to update the state’s policies for distributed generation (Alternative tariff: MN Laws 2013, Chapter 85 HF 729, Article 9, Section 10). It offered an overview of Value of Solar concepts around the country and provided attendees with an understanding of the complexity of Value of Solar methods. Commerce must establish a Value of Solar Tariff Methodology by Jan. 31, 2014 and submit it to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Workshop 2 will be held Oct. 1 at the Science Museum. More information on the Value of Solar workshop series is available.
Integration & Transmission Study for Future Renewable Energy Standard
Legislation passed in 2013 requires an Integration and Transmission Study for Future Renewable Energy Standard. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has ordered all Minnesota electric utilities and transmission companies to participate in the study. A first stakeholder meeting was held Sept. 13. Commerce, in consultation with Minnesota utilities, is charged with finalizing a study scope. It will appoint a Technical Review Committee. The engineering study is intended to evaluate the impacts from increasing the state’s Renewable Energy Standard to 40 percent by 2030, and to higher proportions thereafter. The study will be conducted by utilities and transmission companies, in coordination with MISO.
Scoping for Renewable Energy Study
Legislation requires the Department of Commerce to develop the scope for a Minnesota energy future study on how the state can transition to a sustainable energy system that does not rely on fossil fuels (Scoping for Renewable Energy Study: MN Laws 2013, Chapter 85 HF 729, Article 12, Section 7). Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit organization with competency “to map and drive the transition from coal and oil to efficiency and renewables,” has contracted with Commerce to develop the scope. A National Expert/Landscape Workshop will be held Oct. 22 (time, place TBD). Commerce must report the results of the scoping process to the Legislative Energy Commission by Jan. 1, 2014.
Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program
The State passed legislation that established the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program for customers of investor-owned public utilities (Xcel Energy, Alliant Energy, Minnesota Power, and Otter Tail Power) who install solar PV and solar thermal systems using solar modules or collectors certified as manufactured in Minnesota. The incentive program will be administered by the Department of Commerce, with a budget of $15 million a year for 10 years, including $250,000 per year for solar thermal rebates. Commerce recently invited solar manufacturers in Minnesota to participate in the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program. To participate, manufacturers must fill out certification applications—one for solar PV posted on our website and another for solar thermal. Program design is in process.
The Department of Commerce is hiring two new staff persons to support the Made in Minnesota solar programs, including an administrative coordinator to lead the programs and a business advisor to facilitate communications and provide technical support.
Energy Platforms to scope Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Database
Energy Platforms LLC, the developers of ESP®, the cloud-based energy efficiency data management system originally created for Minnesota, has been awarded a contract with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to perform scope work on the Massachusetts Statewide Energy Efficiency Database. Read more.
Alliant Energy sells its Minnesota electric, natural gas businesses
Alliant Energy announced on Sept. 3 agreements to sell its Minnesota electric and natural gas distribution businesses. The electric distribution business in the state will be sold to Southern Minnesota Energy Cooperative, a combine group of 12 neighboring electric cooperatives. Alliant Energy’s Minnesota natural gas business will be sold to Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation. Read more.
Wright-Hennepin Cooperative launches state's first solar community
 Nearly 300 people were part of history on Sept. 10 when the state’s first solar community was launched at the Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association in Rockford, Minn. Member owners, utility reps, renewable energy advocates, policymakers and more celebrated the grand opening for the 32.49 kW, 117-panel solar array. Read more.
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Minneapolis ranks 8th in ACEEE City Energy Efficiency Scorecard
Minneapolis ranked 8th in the first City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a rating of policies and programs to save energy for the nation’s largest 34 cities compiled by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Boston ranked No. 1 followed by Portland, Ore.; New York City; San Francisco, and Seattle. Read more.
Alexandria’s Discovery Middle School achieves big energy savings
Alexandria’s “Go Green Initiative” focused on its Discovery Middle School and achieved big time energy savings, thanks to major upgrades to its lighting and HVAC control systems. Minnesota B3 Benchmarking provided documentation of the energy savings. An Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the Minnesota Department of Commerce and rebates from the school’s electric and natural gas suppliers helped pay for the energy upgrades. Read a case study about Alexandria’s energy success.
Estimated 250,000 visit Home Energy exhibit at 2013 State Fair
An estimated 250,000 people visited the Eco Experience at this year’s Minnesota State Fair, and it’s fair to say that most of those fairgoers took in the Home Energy exhibit, the centerpiece of the Eco Experience that was coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources (DER). This year’s Home Energy exhibit was a huge success, thanks to 11 new educational displays that showcased energy efficiency and renewable energy. Read more.
MN Energy Tip: Have furnaces, boilers inspected each year
The heating season is right around the corner, so it’s time to make sure your heating system is working properly. Furnaces and boilers, the two most common ways to heat homes, should be inspected and adjusted on an annual basis to maintain efficiency and safety. Read more.
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