Arizona
International Motor Challenge Teleconference
The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office, in conjunction with Arizona Public Service (APS), will host the 1998 International Motor Challenge Teleconference titled Efficient Motor Systems: Your Path to Profits, on May 19, 1998. The teleconference will focus on strategies for improving motor driven system performance. Topics will include assessing your motor drive system, "real world" case studies featuring strategies for improving reliability, process control, productivity, margins, and profitability. The wrap-around session will include Motor Master +2 Software Training where attendees will receive a copy of the software and a training guide. APS engineers will also discuss the subject of dealing with Power Factoring. This teleconference is a follow-up to the successful Motor Challenge Teleconference, Efficient Motor Systems: Strategies for Success, which was held in May 1995.

Contact: Gary Graham, (602) 280-1419

California
Energy Commission Offers $162 Million to Encourage Renewable Power
To help develop a new, competitive source of "green" power for California's newly competitive electricity industry, the California Energy Commission is offering $162 million worth of incentives to companies that construct and operate renewable power plants. Funds will be allocated through an auction that operates much like the request for proposal process. Bids must be submitted in the form of a simple cents-per-kilowatt-hour incentive, and may not exceed 1.5 cents-per-kilowatt-hour. Beginning with the lowest cents-per-kilowatt-hour bids, requests will be accepted until funds are depleted or all bids have been accepted. Request or "bids," are due at the Energy Commission by May 26, 1998. Details are included in a Notice of Auction that was released March 31.

To qualify for funding, projects must be located in California and produce renewable electricity for sale, not just for on-site use, and meet other eligibility criteria. Projects must have come on-line after September 26, 1996, and prior to January 1, 2002. Companies whose bids are accepted will receive incentives for electricity generated and sold during the first five applicable years of operation after the project is developed. The Notice of Auction 500-97-506 contains specific criteria that must be met for the project to be considered eligible for incentive payments. (The Notice of Auction is available from the Energy Commission, or may be downloaded from the Commission's Web site at: Energy Commission.)

Contact: Claudia Chandler, (916) 654-4989

Iowa
Webster City Named National Rebuild Partner of the Year
Webster City has been named Partnership of the Year by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Rebuild America Program, based on its participation in the Department of Natural Resource's Rebuild Iowa Program. With more than 160 partnerships nationally, Webster City became the first community in the country to receive this national award. DOE plans to provide this award annually to one outstanding community partnership that demonstrates the greatest national commitment, innovation, and dedication to community and economic sustainability efforts. Webster City was honored at a national Rebuild conference in San Antonio, Texas, on March 10.

Their program is innovative and successful because Webster City:

• developed relationships with local installers of equipment who now offer consumers a slightly discounted cost for Rebuild projects.
  
• created a system to sustain the program. Local contractors give a 2% "fee" of the total cost of Rebuild projects back to the program.
  
• maintained "off season" employment in the community.
  
• used local resources.
  
• arranged for projects to be financed "on the bill" through the municipal utility.
  
• enrolled 36 facilities owners in Rebuild Webster City.

To date, Rebuild Webster City has retrofitted 20 buildings, including several schools, municipal buildings, private businesses, and churches. Program improvements include new heating and cooling equipment, improved lighting, water heater blankets, and other similar projects.

Contact: Kelly Needles, (515) 271-5070

Kentucky
Web Site Address Correction
The Web address listed in the February issue of Update was incorrect. Please visit the Division of Energy's Web site at:

http://www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

On the home page you can learn about the state's flex fuel fleet; renewable energy projects around Kentucky; the energy efficiency program for state government buildings; energy education for K-12; grant opportunities; and more.

Contact: Greg Filburn, (502) 564-7192

Michigan
Electric Restructuring Seminar Grants Awarded
Michigan Business Association will receive grants from the Energy Division to conduct workshops to inform and educate their membership about the impact of electric utility restructuring and how energy efficiency strategies can be used to achieve cost savings. The five associations receiving grants are: Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce ($1,100), Michigan Retailers Association ($5,000), Michigan Manufacturers Association ($3,900), Michigan Society of Association Executives ($5,000), and Health Care Association of Michigan ($5,000).

Contact: John Sarver, (517) 334-7234.

Ohio
Celebrate Earth Festival
The state's Celebrate Earth Festival will be May 15, 1998. The Festival, which was formerly known as the Earth Day Fair, will feature a combination of businesses, non-profit organizations, and state agencies showcasing their efforts to protect the environment and use energy efficiently. The Festival will offer hands-on displays, demonstrations, and literature highlighting environmentally friendly practices, products, and services for the home and office. Additionally, there will be activities for children and live entertainment. The theme is "Celebrate Earth, Plan-It for the Future." The event is sponsored by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Departments of Development, Administrative Services, and Natural Resources, the Ohio Energy Project, and the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. During the event, the winners of the statewide energy efficiency student bookmark design contest will be honored. The contest, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency, was open to all Ohio students in 4th through 12th grades. This year's theme was "Invent an Energy Wise Ohio." All winning bookmarks will be reproduced and distributed to participating schools.

Contact: Amy Strauss or Gail Crawley, (614) 466-2609

Oregon
Energy Office is Lead State Energy for Hanford Cleanup
One of the largest environmental cleanup projects in the world is underway at the Hanford Nuclear Site in southeastern Washington state. Enormous amounts of radioactive and chemically hazardous wastes threaten the Columbia River. More than $1 billion a year is being spent at Hanford, and yet the most serious problems are far from being resolved. Hanford is--and will continue to be for some time to come--a major story here in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The Oregon Office of Energy is the lead state agency for Hanford issues. The Office's Nuclear Safety Division has been integrally involved with Hanford issues for well over a decade. In addition, the Office provides staff to the Oregon Hanford Waste Board--a 20-member board that provides advice to the governor, the legislature, and this agency on Hanford issues. A Web site that further explains work on Hanford issues is available at:

http://www.energy.state.or.us/nucsafe/nucsafe.htm

Contact: Mary Lou Blazek, (503) 378-4040

South Carolina
College of Charleston Realizing Value of Energy Bank Partnership
The College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina, is an example of an Energy Bank Partnership success story, primarily because of the proactive efforts of the College's energy coordinator Dave Tomayko. Much has been done in the last few years in the area of energy efficiency, and the work continues.

In April 1996, the College completed two major projects: installation of an energy management and control system, and installation of an energy-efficient electric chiller at the Central Energy Facility. These projects produced a total annual energy cost savings of $662,095. Additional improvements at the Central Plant are under study. The college began buying natural gas in July 1996 under a new competitive fuel rate (Gas-to-Gas) contract with the South Carolina Electric & Gas. Cost savings the first year were $117,341. Also, extension of the college's energy management control system to the Sottile Theatre in December 1996 yielded an actual 1997 savings of $35,900, a 41 percent savings in utilities. An in-house lighting efficiency upgrade is currently underway on four buildings. The audited savings are in excess of $50,000 per year. The Sottile Theatre project and lighting upgrade were both initiated as a result of energy audits commissioned by the South Carolina Energy Office.

The South Carolina Energy Office has certified a total of $815,349 in energy savings from these four completed projects to the Commission on Higher Education. In 1996, the commission adopted procedures to adjust annual funding so that institutions could preserve savings from energy projects in their budgets. The College of Charleston's funding for FY97-98 was increased by $149,727 due to certification of the energy management system and chiller project savings. Funding will be increased for FY98-99 to account for savings from all four projects. The Energy Bank Partnership helps public agencies make energy efficiency improvements to their facilities by offering energy audits, project financing assistance, project planning, coordination, and monitoring of results to verify savings.

Contact: Reneé Daggerhart, (803) 737-8035

Tennessee
State Building Energy Management Program Paper Selected for Inclusion in ACEEE 1998 Summer Study
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy will present the report "The Role of Existing Building Commissioning in the State of Tennessee's Energy Management Program" at its 1998 Summer Study Program to be held in Monterey, California, August 23–28. Tennessee State Building Energy Management Program manager David Edmunds co-authored the report with Tudi Haasl of Portland Energy Conservation, Inc.

The 15-page document describes the evolution of existing systems commissioning for the state of Tennessee, starting with the actions generated through the commissioning of two state office buildings and concluding with the energy manager's vision for commissioning 135 state buildings. Findings from the commissioning demonstration project are reported including costs, energy savings, and non-energy benefits. Also discussed is how commissioning, performance contracting, and utility partnering might work together in an atmosphere of deregulation. Copies of the report will be available September 1.

Contact: Mary Charlotte Hall, (615) 741-9358

Utah
Solar Power Will Light "Little Angel" Tree
Salt Lake City and the Utah Office of Energy Services will install a photovoltaic (solar) panel in a tree lighting demonstration in conjunction with Arbor Day on Friday, April 24 in the City Cemetery. A tree will be planted at the "Little Angel" monument near Center Street and 340 North in City Cemetery. The angel is an important symbol in Richard Paul Evans's "The Christmas Box." The "Little Angel" tree is in recognition of Arbor Day and is dedicated to children. The 50-watt photovoltaic array will power Christmas tree lights and may demonstrate an alternative power source for lighting trees in downtown Salt Lake City. Funding for this unique solar application is from the Utah Office of Energy Services and Salt Lake City. Engineers from the Bureau of Land Management and the Utah Office of Energy and Resource Planning will assist with the installation.

Contact: Linda Neilson, (801) 538-8659

Energy and Environmental Project Funding Available to Utah Industry
Utah industries may apply for up to $400,000 in grants from a federal energy efficiency and industrial waste prevention program. Grants are issued through the National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, and Economics program (NICE³) to fund new technologies that provide significant energy savings, reduce industrial waste, or use waste productively to improve industrial cost competitiveness. Successful projects can receive as much as 45 percent of project costs, up to a total of $400,000. Targeted industries include those producing pulp and paper, chemicals, petroleum and coal products, and primary metals. Other industries are also eligible.

Two previous recipients of this award are Covol Technologies, Inc. of Lehi and Process Innovators of Salt Lake City. Covol is developing a technology to use coal fines and other waste products in the steel-making process, and Process Innovators of Salt Lake City is developing an innovative petroleum refining technology that is more productive and efficient. A two-page preliminary proposal should be submitted by May 12 to the Utah Office of Energy Services for initial screening. Qualifying proposals are sent to the U.S. Department of Energy. Final proposal will be due October 1, 1998. Projects are judged on innovation, cost efficiency, applicant capability, waste savings, competitiveness, and job savings or growth. Make preliminary proposals to the Utah Office of Energy Services, 324 South State Street, Room 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111. For additional information about this program and other grant programs, call James Palmer, (801) 538-8615, or 1-800-662-3533.

Contact: Linda Neilson, (801) 538-8690

CONSERVATION UPDATE is a free monthly publication prepared by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Division of Energy, with funding from the United States Department of Energy, to facilitate the transfer of current State Energy Program (SEP) and technical information among the states and territories. Please submit short articles that describe successful programs, solicit ideas, share reports, studies or evaluations, or announce new publications, personnel changes, office address changes, conferences, seminars and workshops. Submittals are due by the seventh of each month. Please send submittals, address corrections, or name changes to: CONSERVATION UPDATE, Division of Energy, 663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone (502) 564-7192, facsimile (502) 564-7484, email: landry@nrepc.nr.state.ky.us. Past issues are available upon request. For more information, contact Karen W. Landry, Editor, or John M. Stapleton, Director.

Visit the Division's Web site at www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

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