This workshop is hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). OCED Principal Deputy Director Kelly Cummins recording this video which does a great job of explaining the role of the office and these workshops.

The DOE is interested in hearing about how demonstration projects will improve the resilience, safety, reliability, availability, and environmental performance of rural and remote energy systems throughout the country. These workshops are an opportunity to hear from people like you about energy challenges you are facing and the types of projects that can improve your energy systems.

These workshops will:

• Provide a detailed overview of the ERA program to interested stakeholders
• Collect feedback from stakeholders on drivers, challenges, and potential impacts of demonstrations
• Offer a forum for stakeholder networking in preparation for the funding opportunity announcement

Before sharing this opportunity with your rural and remote stakeholders, please watch the video linked in the first paragraph. It really does a great job of explaining the new DOE Office and the role of the workshops. If your coalition represents rural communities and is interested in attending, we also encourage you to register and share your feedback. Let me know if you have any questions.

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $1 billion to improve energy systems in rural or remote areas of the country with fewer than 10,000 people, and OCED is seeking input as it shapes this new ERA program in preparation for a future funding opportunity announcement.

There are three upcoming ERA workshops (list below) and your stakeholders may interested in joining one at the locations below.

• Workshop focusing on the Western U.S. is set for October 12-13, 2022 in Golden, CO. Register here.
• Workshop focusing on the Eastern U.S. is set for October 25-26, 2022 in Little Rock, AR. Register here.
• Virtual workshop is set for November 1-2, 2022. Register here.

The Inflation Reduction Act included a host of energy-related tax provisions estimated to be worth $270 billion over the next decade. Get an overview of provisions of particular interest to public power, including the extension and expansion of the current investment and production tax credits, new “clean energy” tax credits, enhancements to the credits for carbon capture and power, a new nuclear power credit, and various credits for customers. It will also discuss the “direct pay” mechanism by which public power utilities will be able to claim these credits for projects and facilities they own.

Speakers include:
Mark Warren, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Washington, D.C.
John Godfrey, Senior Government Relations Director, APPA

When?
This webinar will be on September 27_th, 1 – 2:00 PM, CST

This webinar is free, but you must be an APPA member to attend this webinar, and be logged into the APPA website. To Register visit this link and click Register Now:

https://www.publicpower.org/event/public-power-and-energy-tax-provisions-inflation-reduction-act

Effective January 1_st, 2023, a new DOE rule will effectively prohibit the manufacture, distribution, and sale of most incandescent and halogen lamps in the US. This rule applies a minimum efficiency of 45 lumens per watt to general service lamps which is understood to be unachievable by incandescent and halogen style lamps. This rule, therefore, will accelerate the full market transition to LED bulbs.

The rule is being applied to retailers along with manufacturers, distributors, and importers. Penalties will start being applied in the first quarter of 2023 and then increase later in the year. Because these penalties are being applied to retailers, we expect to only see LED style bulbs on shelves come January.

How does this affect IAMU Members? First, the full transition to more energy efficient bulbs should reduce your wholesale power consumption. Second, for those members still offering an efficiency rebate for purchasing efficient bulbs, you may want to consider repurposing that budget for other efficiency or load-growth incentive programs.

There is still plenty of time to enroll in MunEEBuck$, and have your rebate program fully launched by July 1st. Please contact Jeff Gorrie (309-678-5579) soon if you would like to move your current rebate program onto our shared platform or if you would like to consider launching a new program.