Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council
November 17, 2009, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center – Memphis TN
Student Alumni Center, Dining Hall 800 Madison Avenue

The Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council (TREEDC) will hold its first meeting in West Tennessee. University of Tennessee President Emeritus Dr. Joe Johnson is the Chairman of the Advisory Board and will be providing the keynote address about leadership in renewable energy.
The Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), TREEDC and StrataG (www.stratag.org) have partnered to develop an informative session highlighting recent and future activities in biofuels, and biomass related sustainable development. West Tennessee is abundant with renewable feedstocks to help Tennessee to become more energy independent and self reliant. Your input to the advisory board will assist the Council in creating a regional network of local communities that actively provide assistance, share ideas, resources and information about biofuels, solar and wind energy.
Please contact Warren Nevad, MTAS Municipal Management Consultant at (865) 974-9839 or warren.nevad@tennessee.edu if you are interested in attending the meeting. We will provide you with an informational packet, agenda and directions to UTHSC. The registration fee is $20 and includes refreshments and lunch. Payment can be made on-site the day of the meeting. Please RSVP to warren.nevad@tennessee.edu.

We have also attached a link to an article about our first meeting held in East Tennessee. http://www.mtas.tennessee.edu/TREEDC/newsletter_article.pdf

From– Shannon Crawford, Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs, SWANA

On September 30, 2009, Senators Boxer and Kerry introduced their climate change legislation, S. 1733, The American Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. This bill includes a program devoted to state recycling programs, Section 154. This section requires EPA to establish a state recycling program and develop analyses and methodologies to optimize reductions of greenhouse gas emissions through recycling. This program provides that funds distributed by States under the Act to carry out recycling programs be allocated in minimum proportions among county and municipal programs, eligible recycling facilities, and eligible manufacturing facilities.

…The localities that qualify under the eligibility requirements set forth by the draft would receive grant monies to improve their programs.

Because of amount of funding potentially available, the program requirements are fairly strict, with the intent of making the biggest impact on the national recycling rate. To be eligible, the programs must have a solid waste management plan that includes education and outreach efforts. Localities also must collect at least five recyclable materials (designated within the program rules) and within three years of receiving the funding have a collection rate either higher than thirty percent OR a ten percent increase from where they started. Localities also must have a curbside collection program, a drop-off program and a materials recycling facility and these operations must show compliance with a quality, environmental, health and safety management system.

The money allocated to county or municipal programs is intended for:
• recycling related technology that
o reduces or avoids GHG emissions
o increases collection efficiency
o improves the quality of the material collected
• energy efficiency projects for transportation fleets and equipment used to collect and sort recyclables
• recycling program related expenses including
o education and job training
o approaches for assuring compliance with recycling requirements
o development or implementation of best practices for MSW reduction programs
• to ensure that materials intended for recycling are not disposed of during fluctuating markets

The funding for this program would come from the “State Programs for Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Climate Adaptation” outlined in Section 211 of Title II - Program Allocations. This program is set up to distribute proceeds of emission allowances for implementation of projects, programs, or measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Ten percent of these funds are allocated towards funding coastal state economic protection programs. Fifty percent of the funding is reserved for transit grant programs.

State Recycling Programs would be one of six programs receiving the remaining forty percent of the funds. These other programs include: grants to fund water systems mitigation and adaptation partnerships; flood control and response; adverse impacts on agriculture and ranching activities; and programs addressing air pollution and air quality. States that receive this funding source are required to submit Climate Change Response Plan reports biannually.

The total amount of money available has not yet been established.

Attached are copies of the sections referenced.

Sincerely,
Shannon

Shannon Crawford
Manager of Legislative and Regulatory Programs
240-494-2241 - direct

SWANA - Solid Waste Association of North America
1100 Wayne Ave., Suite 700
Silver Spring, MD 20910
1-800-GO SWANA

kerry_boxer_sect_154

kerry_boxer_sect_211-2

–From The Leaf-Chronicle • August 30, 2009–

Bi-County Solid Waste made the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle this weekend.  A detailed article highlights the successes of the self-supporting solid waste authority. Recycling efforts produce around $500,000 a year in revenue and adds life to the authority’s landfill.  Director Reed is interviewed and cites cost savings and revenue generation.  Additionally, Reed says “estimated energy savings of 241,586 million BTUs and greenhouse gas reduction of 7,283 metric tons can be linked to Montgomery County’s recycling effort.”

This is equivalent to saving 6,070,941 gallons of gasoline or 124,383 barrels of oil, an amount equal to 9,795 fewer cars driven during the year.

See the full article here:
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20090830/NEWS01/908300324&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

–From EPA, Region 4 (Atlanta, Ga. - August 21, 2009)

In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for the people of East Tennessee, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $581,849 to the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition to reduce emissions from truck stop engine idling. This clean diesel project will create jobs while protecting East Tennessee’s air quality.
“This grant is a great investment in environmental protection and will provide long-term economic benefits for East Tennessee,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator in Atlanta. “This funding will go a very long way in helping to bolster the economy and protect public health and the environment by creating green jobs that improve air quality.”
The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA Region 4 alone received 98 grant applications requesting over $140 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects. The award announced today was chosen to both maximize economic impact and emissions reductions.

The project involves the installation of 50 truck electrified parking spaces to reduce nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter emissions caused by truck drivers who idle the heavy-duty long haul trucks while resting. The result will be an estimated reduction of 270 tons of nitrogen oxides and 7.8 tons of fine particulate matter over a 10-year period. The project is expected to create or retain 40 jobs.
In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects would reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.
The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation. The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program grants.
In addition, under the Act’s State Clean Diesel Grant program, a total of $88.2 million has been provided to States for clean diesel projects through a noncompetitive allocation process.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in East Tennessee, visit: http://www.epa.gov/recovery

For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

According to the MRM web site ( http://www.mrmrecycling.com/ ) the following locations in TN are open for electronics recycling collection.  MRM’s is a company seeking to provide convenient recycling opportunities to consumers. Their long-term goal is sustainable electronic product recycling.

27 Southeast Recycling Technologies, Inc.
108 Kwick Way
Gray, TN 37615
423-282-2022

28 U-Haul Hillwood Place
3741 Annex Ave
Nashville, TN 37209
615-356-2550
You must have a voucher to recycle at this site.
Click here for voucher.

29 Nashville / Davidson Metro PW
740 S. Fifth St.
Nashville, TN 37206
615-880-1000

30 Robertson County Solid Waste
2916 W. County Farm Road
Springfield, TN 37172
615-384-0683

31 White County Solid Waste
1 E. Bockman Way, Sparta, TN 38583
931-836-3552

–From the Herald-Citizen–

PUTNAM COUNTY — Putnam County is hoping to find money in the recent economic stimulus to help upgrade several county buildings to make them more energy efficient.  County Executive Kim Blaylock told the land and facilities committee recently, “There is grant money available through the stimulus for energy projects. I think we need to move forward if at all possible.”

Putnam County spends $458,000 per year in utilities. An energy audit by Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. estimates changes in the lighting systems and possible upgrades to mechanical systems could save the county $81,901 each year.  See the full article in the Citizen Herald here.

–From the Greeneville Sun–

The Greene County Commission voted Monday to enter into an agreement with a national energy company to explore the possibility of generating power with a water wheel at the dam. The dam is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority.  See the full story here.

–From NACO, Green Governments–

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, State governments and Local jurisdictions will receive substantial funding to implement energy efficiency initiatives. By financing cost-effective energy efficiency projects, organizations can do even more! Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR team for this practical session that will provide you with the knowledge you need to understand the benefits and nuances of performance contracting and how to leverage ENERGY STAR tools in your contract to get the most out of stimulus funding. An interactive Webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 24 from 1:00-2:30 PM ET where you will learn:
1) What performance contracting is, how it works, and how it can help you maximize your stimulus funding over the long term.
2) How to leverage ENERGY STAR tools and resources, including EPA’s no-cost Portfolio Manager energy use tracking software, in a performance contract using real-world examples.
3) How the energy services industry uses ENERGY STAR to help organizations meet the opportunities provided with stimulus funds.

Speakers for this session will include:
•Mike Zatz, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Market Sectors Group, U.S. EPA, will provide an overview of the tools and resources available through ENERGY STAR.
• Betty Younis, Facilities Manager, Louisville Metro Government, KY, will describe how the City is using Portfolio Manager in its performance contracts to identify energy efficiency projects and report results over time (invited).
• Don Gilligan, President, National Association of Energy Service Companies, will explain how using Portfolio Manager before, during, and after an energy efficiency project is helpful for both building owners and energy services companies.
Neil Zobler, Catalyst Financial Group, Inc., will detail financing opportunities available through performance contracting.

Participants will need to register for this Webinar. To register, please complete the following steps:
•Visit https://energystar.webex.com/energystar and click on the session titled “Maximize Stimulus Funding with Performance Contracting and ENERGY STAR” under “Training Center.”
•Click on the link for “Registration.”
• Complete the contact information on the next page.
•Save the confirmation e-mail (sent by messenger@webex.com ) with the information needed to participate in the presentation, which will be sent to the e-mail address you have specified. Please check your spam e-mail filter if the message does not appear in your inbox.
•Click on the link provided in this e-mail and join us at least 15-minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

–EPA News Release–

PHILADELPHIA (January 29, 2009) – With the issue of climate change on everyone’s mind these days, people are looking for ways to cut down on energy use. Many people are turning to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

But there is also a concern because CFLs contain a small amount of mercury. One Pennsylvania resident recently emailed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region to ask what she should do:

“The problem with CFLs,” she wrote, “is that these bulbs contain mercury and they need to be disposed of properly but the box does not give any instructions. Should we be more concerned with energy saving or mercury hazards?

EPA’s electronics recycling specialist Dan Gallo, who responded to the question, says the benefits of lower energy consumption outweigh the disadvantages but “EPA promotes and encourages the safe disposal of old CFLs to prevent the release of mercury into the environment,”

“Although CFCs do contain mercury, it is present in trace amounts — five milligrams — an amount that would cover the tip of a ballpoint pen,” said Gallo. “It would take 100 CFLs to equal the amount of mercury contained in older thermometers, which is about 500 milligrams.”

The good news is that old CFC bulbs can be taken to Home Depot, IKEA and Ace Hardware for recycling. And Wal-mart is piloting a CFL recycling program at its stores in the Richmond, Va. area.

Since CFLs use 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs, if every American switched one incandescent bulb to a CFL, it would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 800,000 cars.

“Using CFLs is a quick and easy way for Americans to save energy and money everyday, while they also protect the environment,” Gallo said.

But if a bulb accidentally breaks, proper clean-up is necessary.

“The first thing you want to do is to get everyone out of room, including pets,” Gallo said. “Open a window to air out the room for at least 15 minutes. If you broke the bulb on a hard surface, take a piece of stiff paper or cardboard and scoop up as much of the debris and residue as you can.”

Gallo advises to use an old glove or sock to protect hands and then wipe up any remaining residue with a moist paper towel. “If you broke the bulb on a carpeted surface, you’ll want to use sticky tape to blot up any residue. Put everything in a plastic bag or a jar that can be sealed with a lid and dispose of it with the regular household trash.”

For more information on CFLs go to:

http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/index.htm

http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/wastetypes/universal/lamps/faqs.htm

Contact Info: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

The Landfill Methane Outreach Program identifies over 400 sites nationwide as potential sources for Methane-to-Energy projects. Read about a new Jersey success story here. The article also notes the possibility for co-locating wind turbines on landfill footprints.

Nearby Haywood County in Western North Carolina has also implemented a Methane-to-Energy Program. See this link for information on the Haywood County Site.

More information on Clean Energy Strategies for Local Governments found here.
http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/documents/7.4_landfill_methane_utilization.pdf