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Hello CELC members,
Summer vacations have started with people utilizing planes, trains, and automobiles. I recently took a break to volunteer to restore a static steam engine in Chama, New Mexico, a program organized by the Friends of the Cumbre Toltec Scenic Railroad. Every year the Austin Steam Train Association has a crew working on the 483-steam train for the past ten years, bringing it back to its former luster. I met some great volunteers, including one from northern California, Robert Schoen, who has volunteered at this event annually for several years. Rob shared with me his experience driving an electric car across four states to Chama, NM. He worked out the logistics of where to stop for charges around every 420 miles before he started his trip. When I asked him if it was tiresome to “charge up,” he stated it was just like a regular 45-minute pit stops everyone takes while on a road trip. His home in California has solar panels and storage, so his car is entirely powered by the sun. Overall, it was a great experience meeting people passionate about preserving our transportation history and utilizing electric vehicles/hybrids.
All the best,
Shaun Auckland
sauckland@eepartnership.org
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In This Newsletter:
- CELC Events
- Local Government Policy
- SPEER News and Events
- Member and Partner News
- Podcasts and What we are Reading
- Toolkit Spotlight
- Job Opportunities
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City Efficiency Leadership Council Updates
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Swimming Pool Efficiency for Cities
City of San Antonio was able to save approximately $63,000 per year by installing variable speed drives in 22 municipal pools. Curious on how they did it? We have the answers! Find out here.
CELC and Alamo Council of Governments Roundtable
SPEER's CELC and the Alamo Council of Governments will be hosting this roundtable. The CELC is a collaborative of cities, school districts, and other public entities across the state, engaged in sharing opportunities for partnership and resource exchange to expand the adoption of energy management best practices.
In this meeting, we will discuss:
- Energy Star Program Overview and examples
- EPA's Partner of the Year presentation
- Ways to collaborate with other organizations
Presenters:
Anita Ledbetter Executive Director, Build San Antonio Green
Steven Ellison, Director, Residential and Commercial Programs at ICF
Date: Thursday, July 7th
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Oe4R7qCwT0u7vo82Kz3vdQ
*This meeting is closed to vendors or service providers. All registrations will be reviewed before providing the meeting link. Please feel free to reach out with any questions at cities@eepartnership.org.
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If you are aware of upcoming policy discussions or actions in your area and would like to share them in this newsletter, please send information to our Policy Manager, Noah, at noaks@eepartnership.org.
Texas Statewide: The Public Utility Commission of Texas is accepting public comment on proposed rule changes to the Chapter 25.101 Certification Criteria for transmission projects in accordance with Senate Bill 1281 enacted last year. The rules would require PUCT to consider historical load and forecasted load for future transmission projects and add the Consumer Benefits Test to the criteria for evaluating proposed projects. Public comment is due on July 8, 2022. For more information, please click Link for PUCT Project No. 53403.
El Paso: On June 27-29 the El Paso City Council will hold special meetings to review the FY 2022-2023 budget priorities and goals. For more information, visit El Paso City Council Agendas.
Fort Worth: On June 28, 2022 the Fort Worth City Council will vote on items 16 and 17 relating to federally funded grants for whole air monitoring operations and ambient air monitoring operations ordinances. For more information, visit Fort Worth City Council agendas.
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Webinar: ULI Net Zero Imperative - Accelerating Decarbonization
Urban Land Institute (ULI) recognized real estate’s responsibility and opportunity to address the climate crisis and work toward net zero. And thanks to a generous gift from 5 ULI members, the Net Zero Imperative offers technical assistance and ongoing support to a selection of cities around the world to help them reach net zero. This webinar will discuss the recommendations from the City of Austin’s technical assistance panel and the next steps the city should take to move forward on Austin’s Climate Equity Plan.
Presenters: Ashley Besic, Urban Land Institute and Phoebe Romero, Office of Sustainability at City of Austin
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm
Date: July 12th
Register here: https://usgbctexas.org/event-4867440
ODOT Seeks Input for State EV Charging Plan
The Oklahoma EV Charging Plan will identify how Oklahoma will build a network of charging stations along interstate routes, other designated corridors. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) will receive $66 million over the next 5 years, with the first year of funding being $9.8 million, after the plan approval. Parts of the plan include funding charging stations, which must be 50 miles apart along the interstate and within one mile of designated corridors.
To learn more about the Oklahoma EV Charging Plan, download here or tune in to the Virtual Meeting:
Oklahoma’s EV Plan Virtual Meeting
(Available June 20 through July 5)
http://tiny.cc/EVpublicmeeting
EPA Clean School Bus Program Rebates - $500 million
Applications Due: August 19, 2022
Eligible Entities: State governments, local governments, non-profits, for-profits, tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal schools
Authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years to replace school buses with low- and zero-emission school buses. EPA will be hosting a series of webinars from June 22 - August 10 on who is eligible, who is prioritized, and how to apply for the 2022 Clean School Bus Rebates.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
BIA Tribal Climate Resilience 2022 Annual Awards Program Request for Proposals
Applications Due: July 6, 2022
Eligible Entities: Federally recognized tribes
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Office of Trust Services, Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR, Branch) solicits proposals from federally recognized Tribes and authorized Tribal organizations to receive awards to support 1) Tribal climate resilience planning and strategy implementation and 2) ocean and coastal management planning. The Branch supports Tribes as they prepare for climate change impacts on Tribal Treaty and Trust resources, economies, regenerative agriculture and food sovereignty, conservation practices, infrastructure, and human health and safety. The Branch’s Annual Awards Program will provide funding for projects that support Tribal climate resilience as Tribes incorporate science, including Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK), Indigenous languages, and technical information.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
America the Beautiful Challenge
Applications Due: July 21, 2022
The America the Beautiful Challenge coordinates funding from multiple Federal agencies and private philanthropy into one competitive grant program. It is a public-private grant program for locally led ecosystem restoration projects that invest in watershed restoration, resilience, equitable access, workforce development, corridors and connectivity, and collaborative conservation, consistent with the America the Beautiful Initiative.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
DOE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program - $550 million
Applications Due: to be determined
Eligible Entities: States, local governments, tribes
This funding is meant to assist states, local governments, and Tribes to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. The estimated program opening date is 4th quarter 2022.
Contact stateandlocal@hq.doe.gov with any questions.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity.
DOI BOR WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year 2023
Applications Due: July 28, 2022
Eligible Entities: States, Indian Tribes, irrigation districts, and water districts; any state, regional, or local authority whose members include one or more organizations with water or power delivery authority; and other organizations with water or power delivery authority
This Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of renewable energy; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States.
For more information, visit the funding opportunity description.
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Podcasts and What we are Reading
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Federal Government Centralized Clearinghouse
Many of the opportunities do not require any matching funds, helping reduce barriers many communities face in accessing funding for projects. Users of this centralized database can easily sort, and filter opportunities based on funding type, program purpose, and eligibility.
Access the one-stop resource.
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What is the City Efficiency Leadership Council?
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The council is a cooperative of city leaders and officials throughout Texas and Oklahoma, furthering the adoption of energy management best practices in the public sector. Our peer-to-peer network is open to employees of any public entity, including city and county governments, public school districts, and other publicly funded entities. For more information, check out our website.
Questions or interested in getting involved with the City Efficiency Leadership Council? Get in touch!
512-279-0765 or cities@eepartnership.org |
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