Sustainable DC Progress Reports

Author: DC DOEE Staff Published: 5/20/2022 DC DOEE

As a part of holding ourselves, our partner agencies, and our city accountable to the goals we have set, Sustainable DC conducts annual progress reports on all of the goals and actions of the plan. View photo credit information for the Sustainable DC progress reports.

2022

Cover of the 2017 Sustainable DC Progress Report

The Sustainable DC 2022 Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC 2.0. A detailed chart of each action’s progress can be found here.

2021

The Sustainable DC 2021 Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC 2.0. A detailed chart of each action’s progress can be found here.

The Climate Ready DC 2021 Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Climate Ready DC.

2020

2020 Progress Report covers for Sustainable DC, Clean Energy DC, and Climate Ready DC

The Sustainable DC 2020 Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC 2.0. A detailed chart of each action’s progress can be found here.

The Sustainable DC 2020 Progress Summary features one achievement for each topic in Sustainable DC 2.0.

The Clean Energy DC 2020 Progress Report provides updates on each section of Clean Energy DC, while the Clean Energy DC Summary features one achievement for each topic in Clean Energy DC. A detailed chart of each action’s progress can be found here.

The Climate Ready DC 2020 Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Climate Ready DC.

2018

Cover of the 2018 Sustainable DC Progress Report The Sustainable DC 2018 year Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC: Sustainable DC Progress Report 2018. This report is more condensed due to the development of Sustainable DC 2.0 occurring at the same time. The traditional chart showing the level of progress of each action is also available: Sustainable DC Progress Report Chart 2018.

The Detailed Fifth Year Progress Report provides detailed explanation of the progress on all 143 actions in Sustainable DC: Sustainable DC DETAILED 2018 Progress Report.

2017

Cover of the 2017 Sustainable DC Progress Report The Sustainable DC 2017 Year Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC: Sustainable DC Progress Report April 2017.

The Detailed Fourth Year Progress Report provides a detailed explanation of the progress on all 143 actions in the Sustainable DC Plan: Sustainable DC DETAILED 2017 Progress Report.

The Fourth Year Summary Card provides opportunities for how to get involved in making the District more sustainable: Sustainable DC 2017 Summary Card.

During Earth Week 2017, almost 200 District residents met to hear about progress on Sustainable DC and to launch the District’s update to the plan, Sustainable DC 2.0. A panel of technical experts spoke and the community provided their own expert advice on how the Sustainable DC Plan should be updated.

2016

Cover of the 2016 Sustainable DC Progress Report The Sustainable DC 2016 Year Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC: Sustainable DC Progress Report April 2016.

The Detailed Third Year Progress Report provides detailed explanation of the progress on all 143 actions in Sustainable DC: Sustainable DC DETAILED 2016 Progress Report.

The Third Year Progress Summary provides a graphic summary of progress and a checklist of 10 actions to be more sustainable: Sustainable DC 2016 Progress Report Summary & Tips.

During Earth Week 2016, the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) held a series of events focused on nature and climate, two of our major themes for this year. On Monday, DOEE and National Geographic held a viewing of six nature-based film shorts in partnership followed by a conversation on wildlife conservation, habitat protection, pollinators, and access to nature with some of the filmmakers. On Tuesday, DOEE and the NoMa Business Improvement District also held a panel discussion on climate change and what the District should do to be prepared for more severe weather in our future.

2015

Cover of the 2015 Sustainable DC Progress Report The Sustainable DC 2015 Year Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC: Sustainable DC Progress Report April 2015.

The Detailed Second Year Progress Report provides detailed explanation of the progress on all 143 actions in Sustainable DC: DETAILED SDC Progress Report 2015.

The Second Year Progress Summary provides a high-level snapshot of progress and eight tips to be more sustainable: Sustainable DC Progress Report 2015 Summary & Tips.

On Earth Day 2015, 200 residents, advocates, and stakeholders met to discuss waste management in the District. Speakers from Seattle, WA and Edmonton, AB joined local experts to imagine what the path to zero waste in the District might look like.

2014

Cover of the 2014 Sustainable DC Progress Report The Sustainable DC First Year Progress Report highlights key projects and initiatives that demonstrate progress on Sustainable DC: Sustainable_DC_First_Year_Progress_Report.

The Detailed First Year Progress Report provides detailed explanation of the progress on all 143 actions in Sustainable DC: SDC All Actions 2014 Progress Detailed.

On Earth Day 2014, 130 community members met to learn about Sustainable DC Plan progress and engage in partnerships and opportunities to take action. Partners presented in a lightning round focused on ways to get involved.

Attachment(s):

2020 Sustainable DC Progress Report

2020 Sustainable DC Report Summary

2020 Sustainable DC Detailed Status Report

2020 Clean Energy DC Progress Report

2020 Clean Energy DC Summary

Clean Energy DC 2020 detailed status report

2020 Climate Ready DC Progress Report

2018 Sustainable DC Progress Chart

2018 Sustainable DC Progress Report

2017 Sustainable DC Progress Report

2017 Sustainable DC Get Involved Card

2017 Sustainable DC Progress Chart

2016 Sustainable DC Progress Report

2016 Sustainable DC Take Ten Card

2016 Sustainable DC Progress Chart

2015 Sustainable DC Summary Card

2015 Sustainable DC Progress Chart

2015 Sustainable DC Progress Report

2014 Sustainable DC Progress Chart

2014 Sustainable DC Progress Report

DOEE_SDC_ProgressReport2021_Digital_Final.pdf

DOEE_ClimateReadyDC2021_Digital_Final.pdf

2018 Progress Report _5.21.2018.pdf

2021 Detailed Progress Report v.2b.pdf

SDC_ProgressReport2022_FINAL-1r.pdf

2022 Detailed Progress Report_FINAL.pdf

SDC Progress Report Photo Credits.pdf

Congratulation To GISMO POWER WINNER Of 2022 SETO $200,000 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer

Author: Gismo Power Staff Published: 5/19/2022 https://gismopower.com/

The Photovoltaic Deployment Technology for Drive

OUR TEAM

Antonia, President Elliot Vasquez , Marketing and Information Management

Achim, Vice President of Engineering Erika, Chief Operations Officer

Board of Advisors

Foster Swartz Crystal Rose, Ph Gary Kalmanovich, PhD

GismoPower™ is neither rooftop nor ground-mount solar

★ Portability

GismoPower™ is a transformative and enabling technology where rooftop and ground-mount solar do not fit. GismoPower integrates the functionality of a portable canopy on wheels, a high-power bifacial solar PV system and a powerful Class 2 EV-Charger. (US-Utility Patent App. 17326687, filed by Central Coast Patent Inc. Watsonville/CA).

Until now, residential solar system owners had to choose between two photovoltaic deployment methods: Ground mounted structures, which require large tracts of single-use real estate, and “Rooftop”, requiring costly, custom-engineered installations with onerous permitting procedures.

No dedicated single-use real estate area is needed for GismoPower. Fitting neither existing category, GismoPower can be wheeled into garages and barns during adverse weather conditions. This mobile racking system will open the solar PV market to renters and people on the move.

Solar installation companies can increase productivity by deploying several standardized GismoPower systems per day via flatbed trailer, instead of getting caught in unexpected complications during tricky customized rooftop installations which sometimes require dangerous, acrobatic efforts at elevated heights.

The secret sauce to GismoPower is its “Solar On Wheels™.” Heavy-duty caster wheels allow the individual racks to be elevated and wheeled around without major effort. The Inverter/EV-Charger can either be mounted to a close by wall or fixed to its own portable cart using an extension cord. Bad weather ahead? Simply lower the side panels and wheel it into the garage. The car still fits underneath.

The metal racks can optionally be anchored and bolted on asphalt or concrete surfaces. The solar panels pivot up when deployed, and are folded down when the unit is wheeled into a garage or shelter. Florida is notorious for its hurricanes, but look at what just happened with hurricanes in New York & Connecticut and other high wind events in the rest of the nation. GismoPower will give its owners a chance to “unplug and store” beforehand, instead of “install and pray” during storm events.

★ Plug & Play

GismoPower includes solar panel racks, solar panels and UL-1741 certified electronics which conform to the latest distributed generation rapid shutdown safety standards. Customers can choose to assemble the system components themselves, or employ an established solar installer company or a licensed electrician.

Unlike with roof-top solar systems or fixed solar carports, GismoPower allows convenient access to panels, module-based electronic components and wiring for trouble-shooting, maintenance and upgrades. A detailed assembly manual will be provided.

According to a new report from the HTW Berlin – University of Applied Sciences, and German consumer association Verbraucherzentrale NRW, more than 190,000 plug-in solar devices have been installed in Germany in recent years. In 2020 and 2021 alone, up to 128,000 of these photovoltaic systems, with a total output of up to 51MW, were added.
Der Markt für Steckersolargeräte, HTW Berlin, 2022
Quo Vadis Steckersolar, B. Preaetorius, R. Hoelger, 2021

Shows the average annual electricity consumption.

★ Power

The first GismoPower prototype system contains 24 bifacial 375W Solar Panels and can deliver about 14,410KWh per year in SW-Florida. This means that one GismoPower system is powerful enough to generate the entire yearly electricity consumption of an average household in the Southern United States

One of GismoPower’s primary design goals is to create technology which pays for itself quickly, so the team has avoided costly battery backup technology for now. The present electric system was intentionally designed to operate “grid-tied,” but it is of course possible to combine a GismoPower version with different electronic components to operate “off-grid,” and this concept can be pursued in the future, funds permitting. The team understands that a version equipped with battery backup and V2X technologies would be especially helpful for disaster response or in remote locations without reliable electric grid connection.

★ Permitting

On January 13th 2022, the Florida Solar Energy Center approved the FSEC 203-17 certification for the portable and unmounted 4.12KW GismoPower device.

For well over a decade, the Sarasota County Department of Planning & Development Services has continued to be embroiled in corruption and misconduct scandals, involving former Building Officials Kathy Croteau and Greg Yantorno as well as a former code enforcement officer.

Disregarding our state-wide FSEC 203-17 certification, the Sarasota County Building Official unreasonably withholds our photovoltaic permit application.

Pursuant to Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act (“FLUEDRA”) we filed a petition against unreasonably withholding Solar Photovoltaic Permit Application 21 177673 00 BI.

The Sarasota County Attorney responded to some of the issues raised in our FLUDRA petition.

A public hearing is scheduled for May 21st 2022 1:30PM in Conference Room 1, 1001 Sarasota Center Boulevard, Sarasota 34240 and we encourage everyone to attend.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Florida Statute 163.04

Energy devices based on renewable resources.
(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other provision of general or special law, the adoption of an ordinance by a governing body, as those terms are defined in this chapter, which prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the installation of solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources is expressly prohibited.

(2) A deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or similar binding agreement may not prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or binding agreement. A property owner may not be denied permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices by any entity granted the power or right in any deed restriction, covenant, declaration, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property with respect to residential dwellings and within the boundaries of a condominium unit. [..]

this is a picture of our postal carrier Henry giving the thumbs up in front of GismoPower.

DOE Awards Over $3 Million to Small Solar Businesses

Author: US DOE Published: 5/19/2022 SETO

Solar Energy Technologies Office

SBIR-STTR

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office awarded 16 small solar companies $200,000 each through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) 2022 Phase I Release 2 funding opportunity.

These companies submitted ideas for innovative solar technologies in integration of photovoltaic systems with agriculture and transportation systems, integration of solar with storage and electric vehicle charging, next-generation power electronics, solar forecasting, photovoltaics, and concentrating solar-thermal power hardware and software solutions. They will now prove the feasibility of their technologies for the chance to receive a follow-up award of up to $1 million. The awardees are:

Altitude Grid (Grapevine, TX)
CoolCAD Electronics (Takoma Park, MD)
CorePower Magnetics (Pittsburgh, PA)
Gismo Power (Sarasota, FL)
MARSCHARGE (Palo Alto, CA)
Mission Drives Corp. (Potsdam, NY)
NanoSpray (Brooklyn, NY)
Physical Sciences Inc. (Andover, MA)
Radiation Detection Technologies (Manhattan, KS)
Smartville (Carlsbad, CA)
SOL-GO (Menlo Park, CA)
Solar Dynamics (Bromfield, CO)
TelemeTrack (Oakland, CA)
Tietronix Software (Houston, TX)
Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (Seattle, WA)
VesprSolar (Somerville, MA)

The SBIR/STTR programs encourage U.S. small businesses to engage in high-risk, innovative research and technology development with the potential for future commercialization.

Learn more about SETO’s manufacturing and competitiveness research.

Electricity – Community Solar Energy Generating Systems – Net Energy Metering and Generating Capacity

Author: Luke Clippinger Published: 5/18/2022 MD General Assembly

Sponsored by: Delegate Clippinger
Status: In the House – Returned Passed
Analysis: Fiscal and Policy Note (Revised)

Synopsis

Altering the maximum generating capacity of a community solar energy generating system for purposes of net energy metering; increasing the maximum generating capacity of a community solar energy generating system from 2 megawatts to 5 megawatts; and specifying that a community solar energy generating system is not a generating station if the generating capacity of the community solar energy generating system does not exceed 2 megawatts.

Committees

Original:: Economic Matters Click to view Recorded Media

Opposite:: Finance

Committee Testimony

Witness List

Details

Cross-filed with: SB0110

Bill File Type: Regular

Effective Date(s): October 1, 2022

History

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File Code

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Subjects

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Statutes

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Green job delivery to be given a boost, what will this entail for you?

Author: Olivia Smith Published: 5/18/2022 Papernest.com

solar panels

Yesterday, the recently installed dedicated group for green jobs had their first meeting ever. Led by Energy minister Greg Hands, the Green Jobs Delivery Group had inaugural talks on how to develop the green industrial revolution. The goal of the group is to facilitate the creation of new green jobs in the coming years to not only provide new job opportunities to British Workers but also support the transition to green energy in the UK.

The main points discussed yesterday were the following.

Reaching 480,000 skilled well paid green jobs before 2030

Continuous support for green jobs to reduce UK´s contribution to climate change to 0 by 2050

Enable employers to increase the number of green apprenticeships opportunities

Free skills training for those unemployed or earning below the national minimum wage (£18,525) annually

Free training courses for green skills including fast track interview opportunities for local jobs

Increase in skilled green jobs to boost employment opportunities

The main objective of the job delivery group for the coming years will be to create extra green job opportunities to reach a total of 480,000 skilled green jobs by 2030. Currently there are around 430,000 jobs in low carbon industries that have been developed over the last 3 decades. The governments announcement to in the spring statement with a focus on the transition from fossil fuels such as coal to renewables will accelerate the creation of extra jobs. Ambitious goals for renewable energy include the following

A fifevold increase in wind energy up to 50GW in 2030

A fivefold increase in solar energy from current production of 14GW in 2035

8 more nuclear reactors to increase the energy production of nuclear plants

These developments all require manpower, from workers in the plants to skilled engineers and technicians. The government hopes that these ambitions can fuel new job opportunities.

Free skills training and training courses to help people with finding a new job in the green energy sector

The job delivery group also discussed the ambition of realising free skills and training courses aimed at unemployed people and people earning below the minimum wage threshold. They can use these skills to increase their chances of being hired for skilled green jobs with higher salaries than their previous job. Also for other workers there are free training courses and options to geta fast track job application process for green jobs in their area. These measures are aimed at smoothening the hiring process for both companies and also for the employees.

These measures should help in the creation of extra green jobs to reach the 2030 goal of 480,000 green jobs in the UK. The exact content of the training and skill courses is yet to be designed.

Paid apprenticeship opportunities for people looking to transition into a new career in the green energy industry a The UK government will also support companies to enable the companies to give more paid apprenticeship opportunities to allow people to transition into the green energy sector. These apprenticeships are especially interesting for those who want to leve their current job and transition into a new career in the green energy industry, but would have difficulties to pay their bills and sustain their living costs when quitting their current job. How much the government will set aside for these apprenticeship opportunities is undecided for now.

What will this entail for the british workforce

First of all, the transition to green energy will always produce new job opportunities. Especially the targeting plan of the UK government to increase production of clean energy will open up job opportunities in these sectors. The transition could be especially interesting for those who are unemployed or who are looking for a career switch. The opportunities given by the government for training courses and fast track interviews could really simplify the job search process.

Tell Biden to declare a national climate emergency

Author: Mike Tidwell Published: 5/17/2022 CNN

Dear Ronald,

Tell Biden to declare a national climate emergency, opening funds for renewable energy and more.Sign our Petition !

We have 33 weeks.

That’s what the United

Nations Secretary General said. We only have until the end of this year to begin drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions if we want a shot at avoiding a global climate catastrophe.

So what are we waiting for?

Ronald, add YOUR NAME to this petition calling on President Joe Biden to officially declare climate change an emergency under the National Emergencies Act.

This is a step that President Biden can take right now. By declaring climate change a national emergency, the Biden administration would have the ability to reinstate the crude oil export ban, redirect disaster relief funds toward renewable energy construction in frontline communities, and tell companies to fast-track renewable transportation and clean power generation.

And, in the process, we could create millions of high-quality union jobs in the clean-energy sector.

Biden can do this today. No more waiting around for Congress to get its act together (although we’re working on that, too).

Ronald, take thirty seconds to add your name: Tell Biden to declare climate change a national emergency – because that’s what it is!

Combating climate change benefits us all. By moving to alternative energy, we will create better jobs, cleaner water, healthier foods, fresher air, and better traffic safety.

But we’re fighting against powerful interests. Fossil fuel companies are spending millions lobbying Congress and shuffling blame for climate change from producers to consumers with deceptive advertising. They downplay their role to undermine climate litigation, regulation, and activism. Big Oil is determined to protect profits, even if they burn the planet down.

Don’t let Big Oil win. Urge Biden to declare climate change a national emergency NOW so we can immediately begin ramping up renewables and laying out the path to a sustainable future!

In solidarity,

Mike TidwellExecutive DirectorChesapeake Climate Action Network

Generations pass, seasons change, but the land remains. PROTECT YOUR LAND

Author: The Center for Heirs’ Property Staff Published: May 11, 2022 The Center for Heirs’ Property

www.heirsproperty.org

Who We Are

The Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that protects heirs’ property and promotes its sustainable use to provide increased economic benefit to historically under-served families.

Protect Your Land

We offer legal education and direct legal services to help families reach agreement, clear title to family land and probate estates.

Our clients receive all the legal services necessary to resolve heirs’ property issues including title searches, preparing documents, scheduling land surveys, requesting hearings, and providing full representation in court.

Because family agreement is the key to resolving heirs’ property issues, we offer personalized “Family Presentations” to help families decide what they want to do with their land. By bringing all of the family members to the table at the same time to be heard and learn about their heirs’ property situation, family agreement can often be reached.

Our three Buckets of Work include:

PREVENTION: Education and services to help prevent the growth of heirs’ property, including: Education Seminars, Probating Estates, One-hour of Free, Legal Consultation and Free Simple Wills Clinics.

RESOLUTION: Services to help resolve heirs’ property title issues including: Preparation of all legal documents, Title searches, Surveys, Court filings (Determination of Heirs, Quiet Title Action, Quit Claim Deeds, etc.) and Court Proceedings.

SUSTAINABLE LAND USE: Education and technical assistance to help historically under-served landowners acquire the knowledge and access to programs and forestry experts to manage their forestland for maximum income.

CLICK HERE FOR LEGAL FEE PAYMENTS

TO BECOME A CLIENT, YOU MUST:

Own heir’s property within our 22-county service area (Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Hampton, Horry, Georgetown, Jasper, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter and Williamsburg);
Want to keep your family land – not sell it;
Call us at (843) 745-7055 to make an appointment for one-hour of FREE legal consultation with a Center attorney to assess your situation and if/how we can be of help;
Meet our income guidelines, and;
Commit to creating an accurate family tree.

Lisa Cook Confirmed as First Black Woman on Federal Reserve Board

Author: Stacy M. Brown Published: May 11, 2022 WIN

Lisa Cook (Courtesy of NNPA Newswire)

Michigan State University economics professor Lisa Cook is the latest Biden administration nominee to break the glass ceiling, this time on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.

Cook, well-known for her work on racial and gender equality, won Senate confirmation as the first Black woman to serve on the Fed’s board in the agency’s 109-year history.

The history-making moment required a tie-breaking vote in the Senate from Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to hold her position.

Each of the Senate’s 50 GOP members voted against Cook, while all 50 Democrats and Harris cast ballots in favor of the nomination.

“The Fed Board needs governors who understand how the economy works for Americans across race, gender and class,” Michele Holder, president of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, said in a statement. “Dr. Cook’s deep expertise makes her exceptionally qualified to serve.”

An adviser on the Biden-Harris and Obama-Biden transition teams, Cook will help set fiscal policy on the Fed’s board.

“I was proud to cast my vote for Dr. Cook,” said Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. “Her decades of experience as an economist and her Georgian sense of fairness will help promote balance and innovation to strengthen our economy.”

2022 Robust Retail Citywide Grants

Author: DSLBD Staff Published: 5/11/2022 Department of Small and Local Business Development

The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) is excited to announce that we will be accepting applications for the 2022 Robust Retail Citywide Grants.

A robust retail sector is critical to maintaining the vibrancy of DC neighborhoods, but due to market realities of the past years, retail businesses are under threat of business decline and closure. The 2022 Robust Retail Citywide grant(s) support existing DC-based retail businesses in maintaining operations and viability during the current small business crisis. DSLBD intends to award up to $7,500 per business to approximately 78 businesses from the $588,000 in available funding for the Fiscal Year 2022.

This grant will be operated as a reimbursement grant, awarded via lottery, to DC retail businesses that have met all eligibility requirements by the final deadline. Businesses that received a Robust Retail Citywide award in FY2021 are not eligible to apply.

Who Can Apply?

Only for-profit consumer-facing, small and independent retail businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees (FTEs) with a licensed retail location in DC are eligible for Robust Retail Citywide Grants. Home-based, online-only, and non-profit businesses are not eligible for this grant opportunity. Applicants must be compliant with the Office of Tax & Revenue’s Clean Hands requirements, be licensed as a retail business in the District, and be actively operating during the Fiscal year 2022.

How Do I Apply?

All instructions are included in the formal “Request for Applications” (RFA) available for download on DSLBD’s website on or before April 25, 2022. Applicants are encouraged to read the full Request for Applications.

Questions?

We will hold online, virtual information sessions. Applicants are highly encouraged to attend a virtual information session. Details on information sessions can be found on the Eventbrite page using the following link: http://bit.ly/DSLBDeventbrite.

Final Deadline The absolute final deadline to apply online is June 8, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. eastern, no exceptions. Applications will only be accepted through the online application system listed in the Request for Applications (RFA) on DSLBD’s website.

Click here to view the NOFA.

Click here to view the RFA (Updated May 2, 2022)

USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities

Author: U.S. EDA Staff Published: 5/11/2022 EDA

EDA Generic Header

USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development just released a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America.

VIEW THE JOINT PLANNING RESOURCE GUIDE FOR RURAL AMERICA

This joint planning resource guide for rural America will better equip our communities with an easy to access and easy to use tools to maximize the work of providing greater and inclusive economic prosperity across our country.

WHAT’S INSIDE

The resource guide outlines programs and services that can be used to advance community and economic development in rural communities through four key focus areas:

Planning and technical assistance
Infrastructure and broadband expansion
Entrepreneurship and business assistance
Workforce development and livability

The guide also features information and links to USDA Rural Development and U.S. Economic Development Administration key priorities and resources.

STAY CONNECTED WITH THE U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

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Monopolistic Utility Companies Suppress the Use of Customer Data

Author: Maria McCoy Published: 4/27/2022 ILSR

Host John Farrell speaks with Michael Murray. Murray is president of the Mission Data Coalition.

Using an iPhone solely as an iPod would be a waste, but this failure to harness smart technology’s full potential is happening with electric meters across the United States. Customers have paid their utility for hardware and installation, but the utility won’t enable the meter’s “smart” functions.

For this episode of the Local Energy Rules Podcast, a rebroadcast from the Building Local Power Podcast, host John Farrell speaks with Michael Murray. Murray is president of the Mission Data Coalition. Farrell and Murray discuss how utilities are resisting data portability, even though customers have a right to their own data.

Listen to the full episode and explore more resources below — including a transcript and summary of the conversation.

Podcast (localenergyrules): Play in new window | Download | Embed

New Funding to Study Agriculture and Solar

Author: US SETO Staff Published: 5/9/2022 SETO

What’s Inside: Solar Snapshot, the newsletter of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), shares recent announcements; upcoming events; products and publications; and more.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, you can subscribe here.

Reach out to us at solar@ee.doe.gov with any inquiries or suggestions.

Estimated read time: 4 minutes, 13 seconds

Some Light 🌞 Reading

New Funding to Study Agriculture and Solar

The Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding opportunity will award $8 million in funding for projects that examine how the co-location of agriculture and solar energy can scale up to provide new economic opportunities to farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry. SETO is interested in projects that partner with farmers who are pursuing climate-smart and sustainable agriculture. Register for the FARMS webinar on May 12 and submit a mandatory letter of intent by June 1 at 5 p.m. ET.

Deadline Approaching: Community Resilience Funding Opportunity

There is $25 million in funding available for the development and application of solar technologies to improve the resilience of electric power systems and the communities they support. Mandatory concept papers are due May 26 at 5 p.m. ET.

Apply for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Funding by May 16

Applicants who submitted concept papers have until May 16 at 5 p.m. ET. to apply for $25 million in new funding for projects that advance solar-thermal technologies that can be used to decarbonize steel, cement, ammonia, and other industrial process and projects that advance particle-based systems for thermal energy storage.

Perovskite Perspective

SETO experts published a peer-reviewed article to advance the development of perovskite photovoltaic (PV) technologies in support of the Biden Administration’s goal to decarbonize the electricity grid by 2035. Under the strategy laid out, SETO aims to improve the durability, efficiency, and manufacturing of perovskite PV materials.

Making Community Solar Accessible to Low-Income Communities

The National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are partnering to develop and pilot a digital platform that connects project developers with Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program recipients.

Community-Focused Organizations Share Feedback on Community Solar

More than 75 community-based organizations provided input on the barriers and needs for more equitable deployment of community solar. NCSP released a report summarizing the feedback and discussing how it is being incorporated into NCSP’s pathway to success and other initiatives.

Share Your Input on Building Energy Codes

DOE’s Building Technologies Office seeks public responses to help drive the cost-effective implementation of building energy codes for improved efficiency and resilience. States, partnerships, alliances, and associations are encouraged to submit responses by May 20 at 5 p.m. ET.

Request for Information to Strengthen and Modernize the Grid

DOE seeks public input on the structure of a $2.5 billion formula grant program to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis. The new program will assist states and tribal nations with projects that create good-paying jobs to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Submit comments via email to 40101formulagrants@hq.doe.gov by June 2.

Pollinator and Solar

Case Study: Pollinator-Friendly Solar in Georgia

A solar farm on former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s land is one of five solar sites being used to study stormwater infiltration and runoff at solar farms through the Photovoltaic Stormwater Management Research and Testing project funded by SETO. This new case study from project partners, the Great Plains Institute, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Fresh Energy, and the University of Minnesota describes the site’s unique characteristics, which will help researchers develop best practices for solar projects and stormwater management.

Upcoming Events

Data Validation for Hosting Capacity Analyses

May 10 | 12 p.m. ETNREL and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council will present in-depth findings from a recent report to help communities ensure their data is accurate and trustworthy.

Tweetstorm: Shine On Awards for Inclusive Solar Outreach

May 12 | 1 p.m. ETThe Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy will host a tweetstorm to share information about the Shine On Awards, where solar communicators receive DOE recognition for best practices in inclusive solar communications campaigns.

Webinar: Circumvention 101

May 16 | 1 p.m. ETThe U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration’s Enforcement and Compliance unit will hold a virtual informational session open to the public to present an overview of the modified antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) regulations as they relate to circumvention inquiries. While not specifically about the solar AD/CVD investigation, this should provide a good overview of the process the Commerce Department is working through.

Workshop: Addressing Solar Data Challenges for Utilities and Power Systems

June 1-2 | 10:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. ETSETO and NREL are hosting a workshop to address challenges around the collection and integration of solar data from multiple sources. The two-day workshop will be held both online and in-person in Golden, Colorado.

Products & Publications

DOE Laboratory Support for DER and Inverter-based Resource Integration Standards (ACCEL II) – NREL
Addressing Regulatory Challenges to Tribal Solar Development – NRELThe draft guidebook for the Tribal Solar Initiative is now available. Comments, feedback, and successes related to this guidebook can be submitted directly to Laura Beshilas at NREL.

In Case You Missed It

Solar Innovators Advance in DOE Competitions

During the American-Made Challenges Earth Day Celebration, 20 finalists advanced in the Solar Prize Round 5 for their hardware and software innovations. DOE also announced six semifinalists advanced to the next stage of the Solar Desalination Prize to develop their concepts for solar-thermal technologies that produce clean water from salt water. In the Solar District Cup, Creighton University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Drexel University designed innovative distributed energy systems to win their respective divisions. A public audience selected Creighton as the Project Pitch Champion. DOE also announced that Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Arizona won the 20th annual Solar Decathlon—a competition challenging students to design and build sustainable buildings.

Learn more about SETO or DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Green building careers

Author: U.S. Green Building Council Staff Published: 5/9/2022 USGBC

Access resources to pursue a green building career

The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to supporting the green jobs market, to ensure that people who are passionate about sustainability can apply their skills and talents to a rapidly growing workforce. There are many possibilities when it comes to a career in green building. Take our quiz to explore your interests and get personalized recommendations for green building career pathways.

Explore green building career profiles

Acoustical engineers
Architect
Architectural lighting designer
Chief resilience officer

See more careers

News & insights

Report finds green job skills in demand

March 1, 2022
Free course of the week: Green jobs pathways from local governments

November 18, 2021
Get to know LEED users

October 13, 2021

9.8 million jobs require green tasks (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
The energy efficiency (EE) industry grew 1.7 times as fast as the national workforce 2016–2019 (source: USEER)
13% of current efficiency professionals are 55 and older (source: USEER)
Entry-level wages in all sectors of EE jobs exceed the national average (source: USEER)
70% of organizations have permanently placed sustainability on their management agendas (source: MIT Sloan Management Review + Boston Consulting Group)
65% of businesses value environmental and sustainability knowledge in job candidates (source: National Environmental Education Foundation)
78% of businesses said environmental and sustainability knowledge would grow in importance as a hiring factor in the next five years (source: National Environmental Education Foundation)
71% of hiring decision-makers maintain that being credentialed increases competitiveness, based on a survey of LEED professionals
85% of credentialed professionals believe that their credential gives them a competitive edge in the job market, based on a survey of LEED professionals

Commitment from the Biden Administration

Upgrade 4 million buildings, weatherize 2 million homes over 4 years

Spur the construction of 1.5 million sustainable homes and housing units

Create jobs in skilled trades that reduce climate pollution and accelerate clean energy

Deliver 40% of the benefits of federal investments to disadvantaged communities

Action from the Federal Government

Congress proposes to invest nearly $3.5 billion over five years to scale up apprenticeship opportunities

Agencies promote greater diversity in apprenticeships and boost women’s participation

Support apprenticeship programs in underrepresented sectors, including green jobs, via grants

“Demonstrate your passion and leadership in sustainability through your work, even if isn’t directly in your job description. I know several folks that have evolved their position to incorporate sustainability because of their hard work and dedication in the area.”

– Tim Trefzer, Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Atlanta, GA

Thrive Rural Open Field Session Stewardship + Equity: Rooting a New Rural Legacy

Author: ASPEN Staff Published: 5/6/2022 ASPEN

Stewardship + Equity: Rooting a New Rural Legacy

May 13 from 1 – 3 pm ET

Hosted by Aspen CSG, Thrive Rural Open Field sessions are relaxed, conversational gatherings where rural and tribal community and economic development professionals can meet, share stories, swap lessons, and build community.Bring a cup of coffee, tea (or other beverage of your choice), and a willingness to have fun and engage with others in a relaxed, low-stakes virtual environment.

What’s our discussion topic? Building on our just-published Stewardship + Equity brief and rural perspectives at Aspen Ideas: Climate, this session will emphasize the wider importance of natural landscapes within rural and tribal communities and economies. For this exchange, we’re asking folks to come ready to discuss this question:How are you (or your community) thinking and acting on the issue of rural stewardship, including balancing your region’s economic development with environmental sustainability? We want you to join the discussion. Whether you live and work in Western states with large swaths of publicly owned lands, Eastern states where much land is privately held, or a Native nation with distinct cultural practices connected to the land, we welcome all to join the discussion and share insights and lessons. Come to hear and learn from colleagues who may (or may not) be thinking of rural stewardship and economic development in similar ways. How will the session work? We’ll open with short remarks from Stewardship + Equity brief authors Mikki Sager and Chitra Kumar before an optional peer networking meet-and-greet. Then, the whole group will engage in a moderated conversation. You don’t have to share your voice to participate in the event; we encourage you to come just to listen if preferred. All are welcome.

This discussion is grounded in Aspen CSG’s Thrive Rural Framework. Based on research and best practices from the field, this framework shows what needs to be true within both a local-level and systems-level theory of change for equitable rural prosperity to occur.Read more about how the Thrive Rural Framework features stewardship as an important component of equitable rural prosperity.

Meet our moderator. Devin Deaton, Aspen CSG’s Action Learning Manager, will moderate this session. Devin recently wrote on Disaster Planning and Rural Resilience and serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Green Team.

CSG helps connect national and regional organizations as they learn from rural practitioners, conduct needed research, analyze systems, spark innovation, and create useful information and tools for policy, practice and systems change – change that will generate the Thrive Rural outcome of more widespread and equitable rural prosperity.The Thrive Rural Framework is a tool to organize learning, strengthen understanding, and catalyze and align action around what it will take for communities and Native nations across the rural United States to be healthy places where each and every person belongs, lives with dignity, and thrives.

Copyright © 2022 Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group, All rights reserved.You are receiving this email because you have partnered with the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (CSG), registered for or attended an event sponsored by Aspen CSG, or elected to receive alerts from networks managed by Aspen CSG. Our mailing address is:

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Suite 700

Washington, DC 20037

Funding Notice: Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS)

US SETO Staff Published: 5/6/2022 SETO

graphic for Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding opportunity

Office: Solar Energy Technologies Office
FOA number: DE-FOA-002697
Link to apply: Apply on EERE Exchange
FOA Amount: $8 million

On May 5, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the Foundational Agrivoltaic Research for Megawatt Scale (FARMS) funding opportunity, which will award $8 million in funding for projects that examine how agrivoltaics can scale up to provide new economic opportunities to farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry. Agrivoltaics is defined as agricultural production, such as crop production, livestock grazing, and pollinator habitat that exist underneath solar panels and/or in between rows of solar panels.

Projects will conduct a range of activities, including integrated agriculture-energy impact studies examining how agrivoltaic designs impact both agriculture production and energy production. Some projects will study how agrivoltaics can integrate into existing or enable new social and economic structures, while others will develop resources that will lower the barriers of entry to agrivoltaics, making it easier for agricultural producers and solar developers to benefit from these opportunities.

SETO’s goal is to reduce barriers to the deployment of utility- and community-scale solar energy necessary to meet the Biden administration’s goals for equitably decarbonizing the electricity sector by 2035. Scaling up the co-location of solar energy and agriculture has the potential to reduce land-use conflicts and provide additional benefits to farmers, rural communities, and the solar industry.

Areas of Interest

DOE expects to make between 4 and 6 awards under FARMS, each ranging from $1-2 million. SETO is interested in projects that partner with farmers who are pursuing climate-smart and sustainable agriculture and are considering agrivoltaics to enhance the economic efficiency and sustainability of these farms. Additionally, SETO is interested in projects that offer economic benefits to underserved communities in these farming areas.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) has three areas of interest:

Integrated agriculture-energy impact studies that investigate how agrivoltaic designs impact both agriculture production and energy production;
Socioeconomics of agrivoltaics research that studies how agrivoltaics can fit into existing agricultural communities and economies or enable new ones; and
Resources for replicable and scalable agrivoltaics that lower the barrier of entry to agrivoltaics, making it easier for interested agricultural producers and solar developers to benefit from the opportunities that agrivoltaics provides.

Teaming Partner List

To facilitate the formation of teams, SETO is providing a Teaming Partner List where interested parties who would like to apply to the FOA, but not as the prime applicant, may express interest to potential partners.

Download the Teaming Partner List (Excel file)

Any organization that would like to be included on this list should submit the following information in Excel format to agrivoltaics@ee.doe.gov with the subject line “Teaming Partner Information”: organization name, contact name, contact address, contact email, contact phone, organization type, area of technical expertise, brief description of capabilities, and topic area.

Disclaimer: By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By enabling and publishing the Teaming Partner List, EERE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are self-identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. EERE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Webinar

SETO will host an informational webinar on May 12 at 3 p.m. ET to discuss the funding program and the areas of focus. Register for the webinar.

Key Dates

FOA Issue Date:	5/5/2022
Informational Webinar:	5/12/2022 3 p.m. ET: Register
Submission Deadline for Letter of Intent:	6/1/2022 5 p.m. ET
Submission Deadline for Concept Papers:	6/22/2022 5 p.m. ET
Submission Deadline for Full Applications:	8/30/2022 5 p.m. ET
Expected Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments:	9/27/2022 5 p.m. ET
Expected Date for EERE Selection Notifications:	November 2022
Expected Timeframe for Award Negotiations:	November 2022 – January 2023

Additional Information

Download the full funding opportunity on the EERE Exchange website.
For FOA-specific support, contact agrivoltaics@ee.doe.gov.
Sign up for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) email list to get notified of new EERE funding opportunities. Also sign up for SETO’s newsletter to stay current with our latest news.

Making Connections: How to Get Transmission Built for an Advanced Energy Economy

Author: Jeff Dennis Published: 5/3/2022 Advance Energy Economy

An advanced energy economy requires a modern and efficient electricity delivery network that can access the best sources of clean energy and support electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry. Expanding electric transmission infrastructure — the long-distance high-voltage lines that deliver electricity in bulk from generation resources to local distribution networks — is central to that vision. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Congress, and the Department of Energy have devoted new attention and new funding to transmission expansion. But getting transmission built requires engagement at the state and local level, too, where siting and permitting decisions are made and local impacts are felt.

In this on-demand webinar, originally recorded on May 3, 2022, hear from FERC Chairman Richard Glick about the agency’s vision for transmission development to handle a changing resource mix and new threats to the reliability and resilience of the grid. Plus, a panel of experts from industry and the states discuss the policies and technologies that can move transmission from drawing board to reality. Download the slides here.

Keynote Speaker

Honorable Richard Glick | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Chairman

Panelists

Sarah Webster | Pattern Energy
Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Market Development
Mona Tierney-Lloyd | Enel North America
Head, U.S. State Public Policy
Hilary Pearson | LineVision, Inc.
Senior Director, Governmental and Regulatory Affairs
Macky McCleary | Guidehouse
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Jeff Dennis | Advanced Energy Economy (Moderator)
General Counsel and Managing Director

2022

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Solar On Wheels™

The Photovoltaic Deployment Technology for Drive

Antonia, President Elliot Vasquez , Marketing and Information Management

Board of Advisors

GismoPower™ is neither rooftop nor ground-mount solar

★ Portability

★ Plug & Play

★ Power

★ Permitting

Solar Energy Technologies Office

Who We Are

Protect Your Land

TO BECOME A CLIENT, YOU MUST:

USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities

WHAT’S INSIDE

Some Light 🌞 Reading

Upcoming Events

Products & Publications

In Case You Missed It

Solar Innovators Advance in DOE Competitions

Explore green building career profiles

Acoustical engineers

Architect

Architectural lighting designer

Chief resilience officer

News & insights

Report finds green job skills in demand

Free course of the week: Green jobs pathways from local governments

Get to know LEED users

Green careers at a glance

Commitment from the Biden Administration

Action from the Federal Government

Areas of Interest

Teaming Partner List

Webinar

Key Dates

Additional Information