Federal

NEEC was announced as a recipient of a US DOE ARRA grant award on June 17th focused on curriculum development for the training of building technicians and operators. NEEC applied for the grant to support enhancements to its nationally recognized Building Operator Certification program. The BOC® project will focus in two areas -- to develop new curriculum to address energy efficiency knowledge gaps, and to create a blended learning approach to course delivery using classroom, online and on-site training.

Last week, the US Department of Energy (on Earth Day) announced the award of 25 grants through a competitive solicitation of ARRA stimulus funding and both Seattle and Portland were given $20M. In Oregon, the City of Portland with the State of Oregon won a grant to support the further development of Clean Energy Works Oregon which provides opportunity for building owners and homeowners to pay back loans for energy efficiency improvements through their property tax payment or on their utility bill. This approach has been piloted over the last year by the City of Portland.

NEEC, in collaboration with the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, was named a recipient of a US Department of Labor grant for job training and placement in the building energy efficiency sector. NEEC will utilize this funding for the Sound Energy Efficiency Development (SEED) project to be implemented by a regional partnership of employers, labor organizations, Workforce Development Councils, One Stop Career Centers, and community and technical colleges across a five county area in the Puget Sound region.

NEEC, in collaboration with the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, was named a recipient of a US Department of Labor grant for job training and placement in the building energy efficiency sector. NEEC will utilize this funding for the Sound Energy Efficiency Development (SEED) project to be implemented by a regional partnership of employers, labor organizations, Workforce Development Councils, One Stop Career Centers, and community and technical colleges across a five county area in the Puget Sound region.

As some had predicted, the application of prevailing wage requirements for low income weatherization activities supported by ARRA funding (and presumably for yet to be implemented community based moderate income projects) has generated controversy in Washington State. Community Action Agencies and home energy performance contractors are reporting a series of preliminary decisions by Washington Department of Labor & Industries that require specific wage rate classifications for weatherization related activities.

The slides for the National SAVE Energy Coalition webinar on the Senate Climate and Energy Bill: Key Elements of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy can be found at www.nationalsaveenergycoalition.org. 

The US DOE has issued a Request for Information (not yet a solicitation for proposals) on the nationally competitive round of ARRA funding through the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant program. Preliminary guidance indicates that DOE intends to make $333M available through two separate paths.
Per the RFI, the funds have been split into two pots with different eligibility requirements called Topic 1 and Topic 2 as follows: