Smart Grid: Kansas Stimulus Toolkit - Smart Grid News - Grid Modernization and the Smart Grid

· Efficiency Kansas - Revolving Loan Program for Energy Efficiency ($34.2 million): This program will establish a revolving loan fund to provide a sustainable source of financing for cost-effective energy efficiency improvements in Kansas homes and small businesses. To ensure improvements will be cost-effective, Efficiency Kansas requires all funded projects to be based on an audit and a customized energy conservation proposal from an approved energy auditor. Participants can access Efficiency Kansas either through (1) Partner Banks or (2) Partner Utilities. Pending DOE approval, the SEO will begin operating Efficiency Kansas on July 15, 2009.

· Loan Fee Rebate Program ($481,000): The SEO will provide $250 rebates to banks to offset origination fees for Efficiency Kansas loans.

· Energy Audit Rebate Program ($350,000): This program will provide a $350 rebate to offset the costs of the energy audit for the first 1,000 participants who elect to implement Efficiency Kansas approved projects.

· Energy Auditor Training/Scholarship Program ($250,000): To meet the greater demand for energy auditors, the SEO will provide support to qualified energy auditor training institutions for initiatives to "Train the Trainers" and enhancements to facilities, such as expanded labs for furnace testing. SEO will also provide approximately 100 full scholarships to those attending the energy auditor training at one of the approved institutions.

· Equipment for New Auditors ($250,000): To minimize the significant startup costs for energy auditors, particularly for those that may have been previously unemployed, SEO will make available energy auditor equipment packages. The Energy Office will purchase approximately 50 equipment packages (blower door, duct blaster, CO test/Combustion analyzer) and provide them to the approved training institutions. The training institutions will make these packages available to approved auditors (the training institutions may charge rent to cover administrative costs associated with keeping and maintaining the equipment).

· Utility Rate Design – Planning for Comprehensive Changes: The Kansas Corporation Commission will employ the services of a consultant to assist in developing and guiding a comprehensive, collaborative planning process to redesign utility rate structures to achieve new goals of energy efficiency and environmental protection.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive more than $19 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $38 million.

Energy Auditor Job Training Partnerships

The State Energy Office is anticipating an increased demand for energy auditors as it prepares to launch a new revolving loan program to improve the energy efficiency of Kansas homes and small businesses. All projects financed through the Efficiency Kansas loan program must be based on energy audits conducted by qualified auditors.

The Kansas Building Science Institute in Manhattan, Metropolitan Energy Center in Kansas City, and Neosho County Community College in Chanute will provide training for energy auditors qualified to work in the new program, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

For more information about auditor training or to apply for a scholarship visit: http://kcc.ks.gov/energy/arra.htm or call 785-271-3185.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants

State allocation: $9,593,500

These funds will be used for cities and counties that did not receive direct EECBG allocations from the federal government. Pending DOE approval, the State Energy Office proposes to use these funds as outlined below.

· Renewable Energy Grants ($3.8 million): This program will provide grants to public entities—local units of government, including school districts, community colleges, vocational schools, universities—which did not receive direct block grant allocations. The grants will be for renewable electrical generation projects. Projects may include wind, solar, biomass, or fuel cells. Grants will be for 25% of approved project costs (up to $250,000).

· Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP) Rebates ($1 million): This rebate program will offset start-up costs for local units of government that use FCIP to upgrade public buildings. For approved FCIP projects, the State Energy Office will issue rebates (up to a maximum of $40,000) to cover costs of investment grade audits performed by the energy service company or other start-up fees.

· FCIP Energy Savings Project Grants ($2.2 million): This grant program has two parts.

o The first part will enhance the existing Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP) by funding energy saving projects that don't meet the statutory 30-year payback period but are still likely to have significant, long-term benefits. Individual grants would be capped at $150,000.

o The second part of this program will provide assistance to local units of governments that propose projects that are considered too small by energy service companies (ESCO's) and are thus not eligible for the current FCIP. Energy Office FCIP staff will provide assistance and oversight to ensure the success of these smaller projects. Individual grants would be capped at $150,000.

· Hybrid Vehicle Grants ($2.5 million): These transportation grants would go to the 95 Kansas counties that did not receive direct block grant allocations to purchase one new hybrid vehicle for their county fleet. Maximum grant will not exceed $28,000.

KANSAS UTILITIES

Regulatory Authority:

Kansas Municipal Utilities

Private Companies:

Aquila Inc

Empire District Electric Co

Kansas City Power & Light Co

Kansas Gas & Electric Co

Southwestern Public Service Co

Municipals:

Cooperatives:

Pioneer Electric Coop Inc

Wheatland Electric Coop, Inc

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