Arizona
Arizona State Building Projects
The Arizona State Buildings Program had two major projects this year. First, a lighting retrofit of the Arizona Mines & Minerals Museum was completed in February 1998. The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office provided $40,000 toward the project, and the museum staff and volunteers contributed 822 hours of work to install the measures. Savings are estimated at over $7,200 annually and the lighting has been greatly improved.

The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs completed the second project in September 1997. More than 1,000 light fixtures at armories used by the Arizona National Guard in Phoenix and Douglas were converted to T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts. The Arizona Department of Commerce provided $25,000 from the PVE fund and the department provided labor to install the improvements. This project has estimated savings of over $10,000 annually.

Contact: Jim Westberg, (602) 280-1434

Arizona Water/Waste Water Workshop Scheduled
The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy Seattle Regional Support Office Motor Challenge Program, has scheduled an Arizona Water/Waste Workshop for April 28-29, 1998. The one and a half-day workshop, being held at the City of Tempe's Papago Water Management Plant, will provide an overview of energy-efficient motors in water/waste water operations. Presentations include information on applications of energy-efficient motors and components, and developing maintenance plans for new technologies. Optimization of pumping systems will be covered along with presentations on Arizona case studies. The workshop will include tours of the City of Tempe's Papago Water Management SCADA Control Center and Sludge Processing Facility as well as the Kyrene Reclamation Plant.

Contact: Gary Graham, (602) 280-1419 

California
California and Department of Energy Sign Historic Agreement
At the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, D.C., on Monday, March 2, the Chairman of the California Energy Commission and the federal Under Secretary of Energy formally signed an historic agreement to promote energy-related research and development. Energy Commission Chairman William J. Keese and Under Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz signed the first-ever Memo of Understanding (MOU) between federal and state energy agencies to create a partnership in energy technology planning and information transfer. Involving research, development, and demonstration across a broad spectrum of energy-related activities, the MOU is expected to be the model for similar agreements to be signed between DOE and other states, as well as between other states and California.

"Since the 1970s, California has served as an 'energy laboratory' for the nation, developing new technologies like wind power and other renewable energy sources while creating new standards for energy efficiency," said Chairman Keese. "Now, as our state shifts to a competitive electricity generation industry-the largest electricity restructuring yet to take place in the world-this new partnership guarantees that the search for innovative energy ideas will continue."

The agreement focuses on energy-efficiency and renewable energy technologies from sources such as solar, wind, small hydroelectric, fuel cells, and biomass. It also encourages the development of advanced electricity generation systems and new transportation and fuels technologies. According to the agreement, enhancing energy RD&D will "increase United States competitiveness and economic prosperity, and preserve the environment through the efficient production, transmission, distribution, and use of energy."

"One of the goals of the Energy Commission is to promote public and private partnerships to bring new ideas to the marketplace," said Keese. "This MOU will enable us to pool federal and state research dollars. We recently signed a similar agreement with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to collaborate more closely. By all of us working together, we can share information, prevent duplication of efforts, leverage the available funds, and jointly fund projects. In the process, we remove government barriers and simplify the path for research projects to enter the market.

Under electricity restructuring, the California Energy Commission is administering two vital programs-the $248 million Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER) and a $540 million Renewables Program. The PIER funding continues programs previously undertaken by regulated utilities. The Renewables Program provides financial assistance to projects during the transition to a fully competitive market.

Contact: Claudia Chandler, (916) 654-4989 

Colorado
Transportation Partnerships Program Completes Final Round of Grants, and New Smart Growth Regional Partnerships Program Kicks Off
The Governor's Office of Energy Conservation (OEC) has announced more than $200,000 in grants to help Basalt, Denver, Fruita, Lakewood, Mesa County, and other communities throughout the state address transportation needs that consider land use and the environment. The grants will fund a variety of community efforts throughout the state ranging from a campus transportation network between Colorado's colleges and universities to a geographic information system in Basalt to show citizens what the landscape will look like when land use plans are "built out."

These grants are the final round in a series that have been offered as part of OEC's Transportation Partnerships program. The program was created to help communities throughout the state develop solutions to manage transportation demand, increase energy efficiency, and improve air quality. Transportation Partnerships began in October 1995, and has granted nearly $1.5 million to fund projects in half of Colorado's 63 counties.

Governor Romer also has announced a new grant program called Smart Growth Regional Partnerships. The program reflects the framework of Transportation Partnerships and will address a broader range of regional growth concerns by strengthening partnerships among government, the private sector, citizens, and nonprofit groups. An initial Smart Growth grant cycle will offer approximately $350,000. The application deadline for this funding cycle is May 15, 1998.

The final round of Transportation Partnerships grants will support the following projects:

• City of Fruita was granted $17,000 to analyze the city's existing growth development and traffic patterns and to develop a comprehensive action plan and implementation strategy that calms traffic while considering pedestrian and bicycle needs.
• The City of Lakewood obtained $40,000 so that the Center for Regional and Neighborhood Action can continue helping the Denver Regional Council of Governments and metro area municipalities with the implementation of "Metro Vision 2020." Metro Vision 2020 is a plan that identifies key elements of growth management for the Denver metro area such as an urban growth boundary, a regional open space network, and air and water quality considerations.
• Mesa County Metropolitan Planning Organization and Mesa Civic Forum received $39,000 to continue implementing a transit solution for the region's traffic and air quality problems, including determination of a new fixed transit route location.
• Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) was awarded $50,000 to invite Denver metro area residents to evaluate the extent to which they are willing to pursue various transportation and land use alternatives as part of the region's strategy for protecting air quality. Outcomes will be packaged as part of RAQC's "Blueprint for Clean Air," Denver's first long-range plan for air quality protection strategies.
• Town of Basalt will use $44,750 to build on the success of the Roaring Fork Valley's regional Transportation Partnerships project. The town will develop a geographic information system model that demonstrates the effects of various decisions to "build out" the region. The model will consider zoning, land use, and transportation solutions. The project will also analyze ways that transit development can address community issues of housing, economic development, and environmental preservation.
• University of Colorado Environment Center was awarded $26,000 to develop a statewide campus transportation network to build an understanding of transportation alternatives between administrators and students at colleges and universities across Colorado. Projects include a resource guide, slide show, and transportation conference.

Iowa
New chief for Iowa's Energy Bureau
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources proudly announces the appointment of Sharon Tahtinen as its new Energy Bureau Chief. Ms. Tahtinen will be responsible for providing leadership in energy policy and programming for the state of Iowa, with priorities in energy emergency preparedness, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. The Energy Bureau has developed key initiatives in the building energy management arena. These initiatives have been used as models nationally. In addition, the Energy Bureau is active in several renewable energy endeavors including wind, biomass, and methane.

Contact: Sharon Tahtinen, (515) 281-7066, or email at Sharon Tahtinen 

Kentucky
General Assembly Passes Legislation to Facilitate Performance Contracting Process
The 1998 Kentucky General Assembly enacted into law House Bill 639 dealing with guaranteed energy savings performance contracting. The new law will help to facilitate performance contracting by expanding legislation passed in 1996 implementing an energy efficiency program for state and local government buildings. The legislation outlines procedures for implementing contracts, including such matters as specifying project costs covered in the contract, listing responsibilities of a qualified provider, and requiring that an overview of the goals and objectives of a facility be included in the request for proposal.

Contact: John Stapleton, (502) 564-7192 

Ohio
Governor's Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency Entries Now Being Accepted
Governor George V. Voinovich today announced entries are now being accepted for the 1998 Governor's Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency. Created in 1994, the award was established as an initiative in the Ohio Energy Strategy to honor individuals, businesses, industries, and organizations that have used innovative approaches to improve energy efficiency, the environment, and Ohio's economic competitiveness. This year's entries will be selected from the following categories: innovative technology, innovative design, and educational programs. Examples of projects eligible for this award include energy-efficient building design, use of energy-efficient technology or process; new processes and/or equipment; innovations, which include new methods using an existing technology; use of alternative fuels; and use of renewable energy.

The Ohio Department of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency coordinates the Governor's Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency. All project entries must be postmarked by June 1, 1998. The winners will be honored at a ceremony this fall. To receive entry guidelines, contact Janly W. Wilkins in the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency by phone at (614) 466-6797 or (800) 848-1300; fax, (614) 466-1864; or email, Janly Wilkins.

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

South Carolina
Report Released on Energy Consumption in South Carolina Schools and Agencies
Public schools, state colleges and universities, and state agencies spent more than $138 million last year on energy for their buildings, according to Energy Use in South Carolina's Public Facilities, Fiscal Year 1997, recently released by the South Carolina Energy Office. The $138 million represents a two percent decrease from 1996. The report, sixth in an annual series, summarizes 1997 energy consumption and cost data for public school districts, state agencies, and state-owned higher education institutions South Carolina. It is required by the South Carolina Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 1992.

The document is a summary of information from 151 entities. Institution-specific information is used both by the institutions themselves and the South Carolina Energy Office in providing assistance to public entities in order to reduce their energy costs. An important result of the energy consumption reporting process is that it provides necessary information for institutions to use in helping themselves save energy and develop energy conservation plans and goals.

The report shows that electricity bills accounted for 85 percent of the public building costs. School districts spent $68.6 million on energy, while colleges and universities spent $40.3 million. Of the $29.2 million spent by state agencies, 56 percent was spent by only three agencies-Corrections, General Services, and Mental Health-which operate almost half of all building space in state government outside of higher education. The $138 million figure is not inclusive of all public entity energy costs. Because a number of agencies have utility costs included in their rent payments to private sector landlords, the actual building energy costs for all of state government are somewhat larger, but not known. This report does not include information on local government energy use. Additionally, energy costs for transportation are not provided.

State agencies and colleges and universities paid lower unit prices for energy in 1997 than did school districts. This lower unit cost is primarily because of large volume purchasing. School districts, despite their higher unit costs, used less energy per square foot and paid less in energy costs per square foot than did state agencies and colleges and universities. This is due in large part to the limited use of school facilities in summer months. The higher numbers for some state agencies and universities is partly attributable to the 24-hour use of many facilities, including prisons, hospitals, and dormitories.

Many other factors influence the high variability in energy use by public facilities, including age of buildings, energy conservation activities, energy efficiency of building design, hours of operation, building uses, outdoor lighting, high technology equipment, fuel types, fuel costs, and climatic differences. Copies of the report are available on the South Carolina's Energy Office home page at http://www.state.sc.us/energy.

Contact: Reneé Daggerhart 

Michigan
Five Star Home Grants Awarded
Five Star Home Grants have been awarded to five Michigan builders and architects: Dan Baker & Sons (Adrian), Jon Gilbert Builders (Okemos), Johnson Newhof Associates (Grand Rapids), Garfield Kindred Associates (Southfield), and Thomas L. Snyder (Dexter). Each grant is up to $8,000 per home. The five winners were selected from 20 applications based on energy efficiency, innovations, and marketing plans. The Five Star Home grantees have been invited to participate in a demonstration of photovoltaic shingles supported by a consortium composed of the Industrial Technology Institute, United Solar Systems, Energy Conversion Devices, University of Michigan, and Detroit Edison.

Contact: John Sarver, (517) 334-7234 

Tennessee
State Building Energy Management Program Reorganizes
The State Building Energy Management Program, previously in the Tennessee Department of General Services, Property Services Management Division, is now part of the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Division of Capital Projects and Real Property Management. This change will enable SBEMP staff to introduce energy-efficient measures during initial design and construction as new projects are approved. The SBEMP will continue to address the needs of existing buildings for energy retrofit projects and building recommissioning. SBEMP staff may now be reached at Tennessee Tower, 13th Floor, 312 Eighth Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee 37243.

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

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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