OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT ASSISTANCE

Transcription

1 OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT ASSISTANCE NOTE: Applicants with Public Building Energy Efficiency project needs should apply for assistance through the separate Energy Efficiency Accelerator at Communities across Minnesota are looking to take action on clean energy projects, but sometimes knowing where to start, who to involve, and how to get from an idea to a completed project are steps that make the process seem daunting. Making those difficult steps easier, and getting through them faster, is the purpose of Clean Energy Accelerator. The Clean Energy Accelerator is an initiative of the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team (Metro CERT), one of Minnesota s seven regional teams working to connect individuals and their communities to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. Metro CERT is a program of the Great Plains Institute, a nonprofit organization that takes a pragmatic, non-partisan approach to solving our energy and climate change challenges working with diverse interests to transform the way we produce, distribute, and consume energy to be both environmentally and economically sustainable. Contents About the Accelerator... 2 Assistance Priorities for Eligibility and Preferred Applicants... 3 Application Timeline... 4 How to Apply... 5 Contact Metro CERT Version 1.0 January 15th, 2016

2 About the Accelerator Through this program, Metro CERT is offering the opportunity to apply for staff assistance with getting community-based clean energy projects off the ground in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright Counties. Direct financial assistance is not available through this program, though staff assistance may include help with identifying project funding sources and/or financing methods. Applicants Commitment to Projects: Our approach to working with communities involves meeting halfway we provide staff assistance to help projects succeed; meanwhile, we expect that project leaders will put forth whatever commitment and capacity they can offer to the project. Ultimately, these are community-driven projects and we want to ensure that each community has the capacity to take leadership where and when it s needed. Clarification on Assistance Being Offered: The Twin Cities Metro region is home to a vast landscape of programs, resources, and experts that assist communities with implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and practices. Metro CERT s role within this landscape is to help community members LEARN about energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and practices, CONNECT them to existing programs, resources, and experts, and help them ACT to reduce energy usage or offset it with community-scale renewable generation. The following list includes some examples of the assistance we can offer to communities pursuing clean energy projects: LEARN Assistance: presenting at community meetings or finding topical experts willing to give a presentation, organizing educational workshops for community members, designing factsheets and educational materials. CONNECT Assistance: helping communities and their members to understand and take advantage of the energy-related programs and resources available to them; identifying peers who can describe their experience with a similar project; convening stakeholders to develop community-based solutions; facilitating community meetings; building relationships between community groups, local units of government, and energy utilities. ACT Assistance: helping to think strategically about the best technologies and approaches to achieve a community s energy goals; helping to ask questions while finding a service provider that will meet the needs of the project; helping to think about what role community leaders and members can play in project implementation and management; assisting with project results measurement; sharing clean energy stories and lessons learned. If you still have questions about how Metro CERT could help with your project, please contact one of the Metro CERT Staff Members listed at the bottom of this RFP. Project Structure While every project is slightly different, most will go through three general phases: planning, implementation, and follow-up. Planning involves convening key stakeholders, identifying barriers and opportunities, establishing a baseline to measure progress, and making a plan for action. Implementation involves education, outreach, or project management work that will result in energy saved through efficiency or energy offset with renewable sources. Follow-up includes measuring project results and sharing the project story through a case study or at an event. 2 Version 1.0 January 15th, 2016

3 Rapid Assistance vs. Deep Assistance: Two levels of assistance are being offered Rapid Assistance and Deep Assistance. Rapid Assistance is for applicants seeking short-term help with their project, either with a single meeting or over a period of up to 6 months. Deep Assistance is for applicants seeking in-depth support with advancing a clean energy project over a longer period of time, likely between months. Peer Learning Cohorts: If possible, Metro CERT will seek to form one or more Peer Learning Cohorts groups of communities that receive assistance from Metro CERT and from each other while pursuing similar clean energy projects. Applicants that indicate a willingness to join a Peer Learning Cohort (indicated by a checkbox on the application) will have a higher chance of being selected for assistance. Assistance Priorities for 2016 While applicants may apply for assistance with any community-driven project that could ultimately lead to energy saved through efficiency or offset through renewable generation, priority will be given to projects that align with either an Audience Priority AND a Technology Priority OR a Specific Priority. Priorities are set annually by the Metro CERT Steering Committee, with input from attendees at the Metro CERT Annual Event. A. Audience Priorities: a. Projects located in suburban, exurban, and rural areas within the 11-county Metro CERT Region. b. Projects that will benefit under-served communities B. Technology Priorities: a. Projects that seek to increase the utilization of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs. b. Projects that will help communities to understand and utilize renewable energy, including solar energy, community solar gardens, and green pricing programs. C. Specific Priorities: a. Local governments seeking to electrify their fleets or install community charging infrastructure. b. Local governments seeking to subscribe to, host, or coordinate community solar gardens. NOTE: Public Building Energy Efficiency projects should apply for assistance through the separate Energy Efficiency Accelerator at Eligibility and Preferred Applicants Eligible applicants include community based institutions, organizations, or groups that are committed to achieving one or more goals around clean energy. Example applicants include local governments, schools, neighborhood associations, cooperative and municipal utilities, faith organizations and groups, civic groups, and business associations. 3 Version 1.0 January 15th, 2016

4 Eligibility Requirements Community must be located within the eleven-county Metro CERT region (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright Counties). Applicant must have the capacity and desire to work cooperatively with Metro CERT staff for the duration of the project (including planning, implementation, and follow-up phases). Applicant must be willing to assist Metro CERT staff with writing a case study or blog post about the project, which will be published and distributed through the CERTs statewide network. Applicant must be willing to actively help collect data for evaluation purposes. Deep Assistance applicants must have a Project Team of at least 3 people who will work on the project. Project Team can be from the same or from different organizations. Preferred Applicants Preference will be given to applicants that exhibit the following qualities: A clear goal and set of outcomes to achieve. A commitment to achieve that goal and set of outcomes. A willingness to collaborate and explore new ideas. A willingness to join a Peer Learning Cohort of communities working on similar projects. A rough idea of what assistance is needed to add value to the project. Clear alignment with the Assistance Priorities, as described above. Likelihood of achieving measurable energy savings through energy efficiency, or offsets through renewable generation, as a result of the project. Application Timeline Deep Assistance Applications for Deep Assistance are due Thursday, March 24th, 2016 at 11:59pm. Selected participants will be announced in April 2016 and assistance will begin shortly thereafter. NOTE: If your application for Deep Assistance is declined, you are still eligible to apply for Rapid Assistance. Rapid Assistance Applications for Rapid Assistance are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted at any time until August 1 st, Selection Process Applications will be reviewed by a committee made up of Metro CERT Staff, Partners, and Steering Committee members. Selection will be based on the capacity of Metro CERT staff to provide effective assistance and alignment with the priorities listed above. We anticipate being able to provide Deep Assistance to 1-3 projects or Peer Learning Cohorts and Rapid Assistance to up to 10 projects. 4 Version 1.0 January 15th, 2016

5 How to Apply 1. Form your team Applicants seeking Deep Assistance must apply with a Project Team of at least 3 individuals. Team members can be from the same or from different organizations. Applicants seeking Rapid Assistance are encouraged, but not required, to form a project team. 2. Complete an application Applications for both Rapid and Deep Assistance are combined into one document, available to download at mncerts.org/accelerator. Applicants are encouraged to contact Metro CERT staff for feedback before submitting their final application. 3. Wait to hear back Metro CERT staff will confirm receipt of all applications within 1-2 business days. Rapid Assistance applicants will be notified whether Metro CERT has the capacity and ability to provide assistance as soon as possible. Deep Assistance applicants will be notified of selection outcomes in April Contact Metro CERT To get in touch with Metro CERT with questions about this program, please contact one of the staff members listed below. Trevor Drake Metro CERT Co-Director, Great Plains Institute Trevor@cleanenergyresourceteams.org (Office) Diana McKeown Metro CERT Director, Great Plains Institute Diana@cleanenergyresourceteams.org (Office) 5 Version 1.0 January 15th, 2016