Current GEO ARRA Funding Opportunities
All solicitations for contracts, grants, and documented quotes that use ARRA funding will be competitive, will be posted on the GEO Web site and will be sent to this newsletter list as they are announced.
Please note that once posted, GEO staff cannot discuss solicitations with any organization or individual that intends to bid on the work. Questions must be submitted through the relevant question and answer process per the solicitation guidelines.
The GEO's current open solicitations include the following:
Learn more about these solicitations on the GEO Web site.
|
 |
Small Business Innovation Grants Available
Several Small Business Innovation Grants have been announced by the Federal government:
- U.S. Department of Energy: Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer. This opportunity is to help increase private sector commercialization of green technology by funding research performed by small, innovative businesses. More info.
- Department of Transportation: Small Business Innovation Research Program. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to engage small, innovative businesses in research and development that has the potential for commercialization. Suggested topic areas include safer, greener, user-friendly bus and rail transit, and expert system traffic signal analysis tools. More info.
- National Science Foundation: Small Business Innovation Research Program. This opportunity is for small firms to undertake cutting-edge, high risk, high quality scientific, engineering, or science and engineering education research that would have a high potential economic payoff if the research is successful. More info.
For more information about these opportunities, clock on the links above or contact Wendy Mallari Allspaugh at wendy.mallari@state.co.us. |
|
|
GEO Selects Energy Outreach Colorado for Weatherization Work
The GEO has selected
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) in a competitive solicitation for a
third-party administrator to provide weatherization services for large,
multi-family buildings in Colorado. The project is designed to improve comfort,
save energy and reduce utility bills for low-income families.
EOC's work will help lower the energy costs associated with heating and cooling
large apartment buildings by conducting energy audits, upgrading insulation,
sealing air leaks and taking other steps to reduce energy consumption. EOC will
focus its effort solely on larger multi-family apartment buildings (5 units or
more and centrally heated), where as many as 30 percent of the state's lower
income individuals reside.
The GEO, administering U.S. Department of Energy funds, now
partners with 11 agencies and non-profits that provide free weatherization
services to income-qualified households across Colorado. As part
of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 the GEO has received
increased funding to provide weatherization services for more than 10,000
income-qualified residents.
Learn more about the Weatherization Program on the GEO Web site.
|
|
|
Colorado Welcomes Solar Inverter Manufacturer & 300 Jobs
Gov. Bill Ritter and Mayor John Hickenlooper joined officials from SMA Solar Technology to announce that the Germany-based company will open its first North American manufacturing site in Denver. This will be the largest solar inverter production facility in the United States and SMA's first manufacturing plant outside of Germany.
Production is expected to start in 2010 with 300 employees and a capacity to expand to 700. The plant is located at Enterprise Park at Stapleton at Havana Street and Smith Road with easy access to Interstate 70 and a rail line.
"Together with Mayor Hickenlooper, we welcome SMA to Denver and to Colorado's New Energy Economy," Gov. Ritter said. "SMA is a globally recognized leader in solar inverter manufacturing. The company's decision to invest over $20 million in this site and to locate in Colorado emphasizes our growing clean-energy industry, the growing market for photovoltaics, and Colorado's success at transforming our energy future."
"The decision by SMA to build a production facility in Denver is excellent news for our region and will provide a welcome boost to our local economy" Mayor Hickenlooper said. "This move helps solidify Colorado's place as a global leader in renewable energy under Gov. Ritter."
"In the medium term, we expect the U.S. market to become the largest solar market globally," said Günther Cramer, CEO of SMA Solar Technology. "With our new production facility in Denver, we will be able to reduce transportation and interim storage costs as well as currency exchange risks."
SMA will produce the Sunny Boy, Sunny Central and Sunny Island solar inverters for the North American market. The inverters convert the direct current (DC) generated by residential solar panels into grid-acceptable alternating current (AC).
In addition to the state and city, other project partners include Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., Forest City Stapleton and Etkin Johnson Group. |
|
|
Governor Ritter Applauds Xcel Energy's New Solar Plan
Gov. Bill Ritter applauded Xcel Energy's announcement that it is adding nearly 260 megawatts of on-site solar power generation to its renewable energy compliance plan, which was filed this month with the Public Utilities Commission.
The expanded solar photovoltaic goals are part of Xcel's plan for meeting Colorado's Renewable Portfolio Standard over the next decade. The plan includes previously announced targets of 700 megawatts of new wind power and 350 megawatts of utility-scale solar power plants.
"We commend Xcel Energy for filing a forward-thinking renewable energy plan with a significant solar component, one that will create jobs and again demonstrates the utility's leadership in our New Energy Economy," Gov. Ritter said. "We applaud the company for adding more than three times the solar photovoltaic resources than the law requires."
Under state renewable energy requirements, Xcel Energy could have complied with Colorado's RPS with just 85 megawatts. But the company has agreed to move beyond that target as part of its Solar*Rewards program.
Xcel Energy, the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association and the Governor's Energy Office have worked closely to develop solar photovoltaic targets that build the state's growing solar industry, create jobs, cut energy costs for residents and businesses and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"We look forward to continuing our work with Xcel and CoSEIA as we diversify our energy supplies, improve our energy security and expand our New Energy Economy," Gov. Ritter said. |
|
|
|
Colorado Companies & Utilities Awarded Energy Grants
Two Colorado utilities have received $38.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy Recovery Act-funded grant funding. Foro Energy, Inc., and ITN Energy Systems, Inc., were awarded funding to advance clean energy technology. The City of Fort Collins Utilities and Black Hills Energy in Pueblo were awarded funding for "smart grid" investments to strengthen and improve our electricity grid.
"Colorado's New Energy Economy continues to lead us forward, through job creation and by changing the way we use and consume energy to be clean, affordable and reliable," said Gov. Ritter. "Colorado is a leader in smart grid technology and new energy innovation and these Department of Energy grants are recognition of the gains that we've made."
Foro Energy, Inc., and ITN Energy Systems, Inc., received more than $14 million - part of $151 million awarded through the DOE's recently-formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). ARPA-E's mission is to develop nimble, creative and inventive approaches to transform the global energy landscape while advancing America's technology leadership.
The City of Fort Collins Utilities and Black Hills Energy in Pueblo received a total of $24.2 million to install tens of thousands of "smart meters" and other devices that help homeowners better control energy use and improve communication between the electricity user and the provider. These awards came as part of a DOE Smart Grid Investment Grant program.
Department of Energy Recovery Act-funded grants:
- Foro Energy, Inc.: Received $9.1 million for a new hybrid thermal/mechanical drilling technology that will result in improved drilling. The new technology has the potential to open up cost effective access to the geothermal energy in deep, hard basement rock, which is a huge new source of domestically available, carbon-free baseload power.
- ITN Energy Systems, Inc. (MAG Industrial Automation Systems, EPRI, and Colorado School of Mines): Received $4.98 million for research on solid-state electrochromic film. The project could substantially reduce the cost of electrically controlled smart windows for net-zero energy buildings. These windows reduce heating and cooling loads and minimize overhead lighting use.
- The City of Fort Collins Utilities: Received $18.1 million to install 79,000 smart meters and in-home demand response systems, including in-home displays, smart thermostats and air conditioning and water heater control switches. The money will also help automate transmission and distribution systems and enhance grid security.
- Black Hills Energy in Pueblo: Received $6.1 million to install 42,000 smart meters and communications infrastructure that will help meter reading and provide a pilot for a dynamic pricing program.
For more information on these awards, visit http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/daily.cfm/hp_news_id=214 and http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8216.htm. |
|
|
Colorado School Districts Aiming for ENERGY STAR
In a move to help improve school districts' bottom line while also reducing their carbon footprint, members of the Colorado Association of School District Energy Managers (CASDEM) have pledged to improve energy efficiency in their buildings by 10 percent and earn ENERGY STAR certification. CASDEM is working with GEO to comply with the EPA's ENERGY STAR program and receive the certification.
The effort is tied to the ENERGY STAR Challenge, launched by the EPA in 2005. It calls for an energy efficiency improvement of 10 percent or more for the more than 5 million commercial and industrial buildings in the United States. The potential savings are staggering. EPA estimates that if the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings in the U.S. improved 10 percent, Americans would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from about 30 million vehicles while saving about $20 billion
"Many of us are taking steps to improve energy efficiency at home but may not realize that there are opportunities to save where we work, shop, play, and learn, as well," said Eric J. Anderson, CASDEM chairman. "By making energy-efficient choices, we can reduce our energy use and save money while protecting the environment."
CASDEM in an important partner with the GEO. Joel Asrael, the GEO's commercial building manager, works to keep CASDEM up to date on opportunities in the New Energy Economy and relies on the organization as technical experts in K-12 energy use and management.
To learn about the school districts pursuit of the ENERGY STAR Challenge, visit www.casdem.org. |
|
Look for the Colorado Carbon Fund at These Upcoming Events
11/3/2009 Southern Colorado Sustainability Conference
Colorado Springs, Colorado
11/12/2009 Advanced Facilities Management and Engineering Conference
Denver, Colorado
11/13/2009 Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Denver, Colorado
11/13/2009 Climate Change & Faith Conference
Arvada, Colorado
11/14/2009 "How the West Was Warmed" Booksigning
Denver, Colorado
12/15/2009 Colorado Avalanche vs. Washington Capitals
Denver, Colorado
Learn more at www.ColoradoCarbonFund.org. |
|
|
Upcoming Events
For more information about these events, visit the GEO website.
11/04 - 11/14/2009 RESNET Home Energy Rater Training with EnergyLogic
Berthoud, Colorado
11/04/2009 Green Build Roadshow
Denver, Colorado
11/09 - 11/14 RESNET Home Energy Rater Training with EnergyLogic
Berthoud, Colorado
11/12 - 11/13/2009 Grant Management Classes
Denver, Colorado
11/14 - 11/16/2009 BPI Building Analyst Training for Raters
Berthoud, Colorado
11/30 - 12/05/2009 RESNET Home Energy Rater Training with EnergyLogic
Berthoud, Colorado
12/04 - 12/05/2009 DU LEED workshop
Denver, Colorado
12/09/2009 Colorado ENERGY STAR Summit
Denver, Colorado
12/14 - 12/16/2009 BPI Building Training Analysts Training for Raters
Berthoud, Colorado
5/22 - 5/23/2010 Earth Works Expo
Denver, Colorado | |
