Illinois Green Economy Network Funding and Program Update Rob Hilgenbrink and Wynne Coplea ICCCFO Spring Conference April 17, 2013
Phase I: Establish Network Funding History April 2008: 4 College Sustainability Centers $490,000 Illinois DCEO start-up grant Early 2009: 6 College Sustainability Centers $245,000 Illinois DCEO grant November 2009: 12 College Sustainability Centers $1,700,000 two Illinois DCEO grants $250,000 US Dept. of Energy $600,000 US Dept. of Education July 2011: 20 College Sustainability Centers $2,000,000 Illinois DCEO grant
Funding History Phase II: Leverage Grants and Centers August 2011 $2,500,000 Illinois DCEO grant (EEPS) October 2011: 17 College Consortium Partners $19,366,375 US Dept. of Labor (TAACCCT) Phase III: Legislative Appropriation September 2012 $3,700,000 Illinois DCEO grant (RERP) $500,000 Illinois DCEO grant (EEPS BITE)
Renewable Energy Funding Update FY13 Renewable Energy Grant Legislative appropriation in state budget $3.7M from DCEO Sept 1, 2012 to Aug 31, 2014 GOAL work together with community college network to engage in projects to advance renewable energy deployment at your colleges and throughout the state of Illinois
RE Installations TASK 3: Grantee shall disburse funds to Illinois community colleges for installation of renewable energy projects on their campuses or at partnering public or private facilities. The size and scope of each project will be determined based on each colleges needs and financial resources. 8 solar installations and 15 demonstration projects Any Community College interested in funding for projects or initiatives specifically related to clean energy, especially those that involve actual installations of equipment or community collaboration for renewable energy development in Illinois should contact IGEN.
Comprehensive Energy Analysis TASK 4: Grantee shall conduct a comprehensive analysis of Illinois community colleges energy commodity purchasing, energy consumption/use management and the potential for renewable energy asset development. Hope to complete by end of 2013 Recently conducted interviews with the vendors who submitted proposals to work with IGEN on the analysis. Need to connect our contractor with colleges CFOs and Facility Directors. Goal: To identify potential savings from aggregation of energy procurement, use and production potential for Illinois Community Colleges.
Collaborative Partnerships TASK 5: Grantee shall convene stakeholders in the smart grid and renewable energy sector and form partnerships with multiple organizations to promote and advance development and use of smart grid and distributed energy generation by residents and businesses in Illinois.
Collaborative Partnerships Two day renewable energy conference in Chicago region Planned for sometime January March 2014 Day 1: Solar Powering Your Community Day 2: Energy-Food-Water Nexus Smart Grid Summits At least four across state before August 2014 Regular meetings with environmental groups to partner on RE development initiatives
Collaborative Partnerships: IGEN Purchasing Consortium IGEN is creating a team of sustainability professionals from Illinois Community Colleges to develop and implement the IGEN Purchasing Consortium (IGENPC). Committed to developing and providing access to professional procurement contracts that support sustainable purchasing for Illinois Community Colleges.
Collaborative Partnerships: IGEN Purchasing Consortium Key Goals: energy efficiency energy demand reduction renewable energy products and services (not energy supply) other sustainability-related goods and services. Purpose: To improve regional environmental quality and stewardship, grow our local green economies, and increase ease at which Illinois Community Colleges can meet and exceed long term sustainability goals. IGENPC will offer discounted pricing on fully-vetted products to participating colleges and to community college partner organizations.
Illinois Power Pack TASK 6: IGEN will partner with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to form an Illinois Power Pack in three regions (northern, central, southern) of Illinois to develop the solar marketplace and advance residential, commercial, and municipal photovoltaic (PV) installations advance demand for installations.
IL Power Pack Deliverables 3 Illinois-based product manufacturers 6 Illinois-based PV installation contractors 2 Illinois-based electrical supply houses/product distributors 3 Illinois-based credit unions or community banks 15 Power Hour Seminars (3-5 in each community college region) 200 participants in the Power Hour seminars 10 contracted installations on residential, small commercial, or municipal buildings 5 solar success stories MREA Heartland Kankakee 2 additional community colleges
Solar for Schools TASK 7: IGEN will partner with the Illinois State University Center for Renewable Energy to develop a Solar for Schools program for Illinois middle and high school teachers. Deliverables Solar for Schools curriculum developed by ISU CRE. Four (4) colleges become Solar for Schools partners and offer teacher trainings. Six (6) middle or high schools participate in the trainings, offer solar curriculum at their schools, and explore potential photovoltaic installations at their facilities.
Anaerobic Digester Project Association of IL Electric Cooperatives University of IL Chicago Energy Resource Center IL EPA Heartlands Conservancy Goal: Conduct a feasibility study to determine options for development of an Anaerobic Digester in Clinton County, IL
Green Job Training TASK 8: Grantee shall work closely with businesses to develop green job training programs at multiple colleges to increase the skills and competency of incumbent or potential employees in manufacturing, assembly, installation, sales, maintenance and inspection of renewable energy equipment.
Green Job Training Some of the deliverables Provide customized training to 10 Illinois companies that manufacture renewable energy technology components and renewable energy supply chain components IGEN will provide customized training to 12 existing employees at 3 Illinois-based electrical supply companies in three regions (northern, central, southern) to build their capacity to conduct solar site assessments, solar equipment sales, and solar installations IGEN will partner with the Illinois regional offices of Home Depot and other construction warehouses (e.g., Menards, Lowes, etc) to provide customized training to 30 existing workers (i.e., managers and lead sales associates) and build their capacity to sell solar equipment and support solar installers
Smart Grid Classrooms TASK 9: Grantee shall identify colleges that will upgrade equipment and create smart grid and clean energy instruction laboratories to provide real-world grid distributed generation simulation environments enabling faculty and students to test curricula, knowledge and skills on practical power system models. Five (5) smart grid training classrooms will be developed. Summary of progress made by participating colleges toward development of economically viable smart grid training programs to meet industry needs technicians.
Funding for Your College IGEN is accepting funding request proposals from all eligible Illinois Community Colleges seeking financial assistance to create or advance sustainability-related capacity building, energy-efficiency training, or renewable energy development projects or initiatives. Interested colleges should review funding request guidelines and complete the appropriate funding request form. All Illinois community colleges that have signed the IGEN Intergovernmental Agreement are eligible to submit IGEN Funding Request proposals.
For additional information or to apply for funding please contact the IGEN Administrative Team. igen.administrative.team@igencc.org Thank you!