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July 2010

In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Recent Events
Funding Opportunity
NYSERDA Funding
Transportation Funding
DEC Env Remediation Report
NYS Climate Action Plan
Consumer Campaign
Upcoming Events
 
Save the Date!
September 27-28, 2010
Syracuse, NY
The 10th Annual Syracuse Center of Excellence
Symposium on Environmental & Energy Systems
"Restoring Sustainable, Healthy Communities"
More information to come soon.


Smart Management for Small Communities:
Practical Resources for Governance
October 6-7, 2010
Ellicottville, NY

For several years the EFC has hosted a three-day conference retreat in the Adirondacks for municipal leaders and technical assistants. Now, we are bringing the same great programming to South Western New York. Topics will include co-funding updates, training and seminars on water, wastewater and stormwater management, Smart Growth, succession planning, solid waste management, community engagement, agriculture and water quality.
Program details are coming soon! Register here today!
 
Farms, Folks, and Funding: Cultivating Leadership Through Research and Practice
December 2, 2010
Inn on the Lake, Geneva NY
This one-day conference will be focused on local agricultural best management practices, especially concerning water quality as it pertains to agriculture and municipal systems. Ranging from everyday human actions to long-term infrastructure issues, workshops and research sessions will be informative of how changing behavior and technology aids local agricultural processes; in particular addressing water quality for food sources, drinking, waste management, and the water cycle. Workshop and presentation topics will include:
  • Municipal water system implications
  • On-site wastewater management
  • Composting
  • Organic farming
  • Agricultural BMPs
  • Nutrient Management
  • Innovative Farm Practices/Technologies (methane digesters, etc.)
  • Local food distribution
  • Software involving Agriculture/ Water Quality
  • Organizing around waterbodies
  • Biomass Crops
  • Downstream innovations
  • Agricultural water reuse
For more information on presentations, or other aspects of the conference, please contact Khris Dodson at 315-443-8818. Registration and agenda details coming soon!
Recent Events

Asset Management Tools Training
July 15th 8:30am - 1:30pm
Center for Regional Excellence
4039 Route 219, Salamanca, NY
This event was a continuation of the June 15th Asset Management 101 training. It provided an in-depth exploration of computer-based tools including EPA's CUPSS as well as EFC's Financial Dashboard and other tools and resources.
NYSERDA Funding Opportunity
 
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is seeking proposals to conduct a Curriculum Inventory, Contractor Needs Assessment and Curriculum Updates. The Green Jobs Green New York (GJGNY) Act of 2009 calls for the promotion of energy efficiency, energy conservation and the installation of clean energy technologies, to reduce energy consumption and costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support sustainable community development and to create green job opportunities. 
 
This RFP is seeking proposals to achieve three main tasks: 1) Conduct a comprehensive Training Curriculum Inventory of existing energy efficiency training available in New York State, 2) Conduct a Needs Assessment survey of businesses/contractors to identify current skills gaps in available energy efficiency training curricula, and 3) update existing residential auditing and other training curriculum to be administered through the Center for Energy Efficiency and Building Science (CEEBS) and other licensees of NYSERDA curriculum.
 
NYSERDA anticipates awarding up to $150,000 to conduct the Training Curriculum Inventory, $125,000 to conduct a Contractor Needs Assessment, and $200,000 to complete Curriculum Updates. NYSERDA prefers that Task 1 and Task 2 are awarded under a single contract to a selected proposer, whereas Task 3 may be bid separately. Preference will be given to contractors responding to two or more of the three tasks. However, NYSERDA may, upon its sole discretion, award up to three (3) contracts.
 
This announcement is not a solicitation for proposals (or "applications" if open enrollment).  Submit your request to Roseanne Viscusi by fax at (518) 862-1091 or by e-mail at rdv@nyserda.org.

NYSERDA logo

NYSERDA Funding for Technical Consutants 

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is looking for a technical consultant to help the State of New York prepare for the upcoming Energy Assurance Plan. The plan has goals to improve the understanding of New York State's energy sources/infrastructure, i.e. data resources to help predict disruptions and their potential effects, increase awareness of the opportunities/challenges posed by alternative energy sources and smart grid technology, analyze New York's energy vulnerability and improve strategies/protocols to enhance response and recovery from disruptions in the State's energy supply.

Proposals are due by August 23rd at 5pm ET.  For more information visit http://www.nyserda.org/funding/2062rfp.asp.  For technical questions contact Andrew Kasius: (518) 862-1090 Ext. 3327.
NYSERDA and NYSDOT Announce Transportation Funding
 
The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced funding of $1.6 million for seven cost-shared research projects that reduce congestion and petroleum fuel use and increase the efficiency of New York's existing transportation systems.
 
The projects include:
  • Real-Time Traffic Monitoring on I-87 Northway (Albany to Clinton Counties) $790,736. 
  • Smart Roadside Inspection System (Rensselaer County) $373,490.
  • Community-Wide Ride Sharing Program (Tompkins) $179,000.
  • Advanced Traffic Control Signals (Nassau County) $325,818.  
  • Traffic Management Study of I-87 Major Deegan Expressway (Bronx County) $143,722. 
Each of the projects were selected competitively through NYSERDA's Program Opportunity Notice process and are funded with federal and state DOT funding and NYSERDA Transportation R&D Funds.  More information is available at http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1554pon.pdf
DEC's Environmental Remediation Annual Report
 
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) tackled 15,000 spills across the state, completed major cleanups of 39 large-scale contaminated sites and collected nearly $21 million in fines and reimbursements related to cleanups in the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to a report recently released.

DEC's "Environmental Remediation Annual Report" also documents more than 5,000 petroleum and chemical storage facilities that were registered and licensed, expanded cleanups of former manufactured gas plants, and an initiative launched to clean up abandoned underground fuel storage tanks using federal stimulus money. The report covers sites under the agency's Superfund, brownfield, spill, vapor intrusion, manufactured gas plant, and other remedial programs.

Report highlights include:
  • Superfund Sites: Not only were cleanup actions completed at 27 sites, but also remediation progressed at another 123 sites in fiscal 2009-10. To date, New York has completed 1,490 Superfund cleanups, with 878 sites underway.
  • Brownfield Sites: Under this program, which works to encourage private developers to remediate and rehabilitate abandoned industrial sites, 12 major cleanup actions were completed. Another 50+ sites made significant progress, from conducting initial investigations to carrying out interim remedial measures.
  • More than 15,000 spills were addressed, with DEC compelling polluters to pay costs in 97 percent of the cases. To see a regional breakdown of the Spill Resource Program, visit the DEC website.
  • More than 5,000 petroleum and chemical storage facilities were registered and more than 6,000 inspected. Registrations and inspections are akin to preventive maintenance measures that help DEC stay on top of storage facilities to limit the damage from leaks and spills. To view the Bulk Storage Programs 2009/2010 Progress and Statistics please visit the DEC website. 
  • Stimulus Funds for Cleanups: DEC began to utilize $9.2 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to remediate dozens of leaking underground petroleum storage tanks across the state.
  • DEC collected more than $16 million in reimbursements from parties responsible for contamination at Superfund sites, in addition to oversight costs collected for the administration of other remedial programs.

    NYDEC logo

NYS Climate Action Plan Enters Public Input Phase
 
The New York State Climate Action Council outlined the process for the development of the State Climate Action Plan at meetings this month at the NYS Public Service Commission.  Governor David A. Paterson signed an Executive Order setting a goal of reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent of their 1990 levels by 2050. The executive order created the Climate Action Council and directed it to prepare a draft climate action plan that will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, and identify the extent to which such actions support New York's goals for meeting energy demands.

The draft climate action plan is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 1. Release of the draft plan will be followed by a three-month public comment period.

More information is available at The NYS Climate Action Council webpage which includes a climate action plan list server to be notified of future meetings and other events.
New EPA Consumer Campaign
 
The EPA's WaterSenseŽ program will kick off the new multi-year We're for Water campaign July 14, 2010 to educate consumers about water-saving behaviors and WaterSense labeled products.
 
We're for Water shows consumers that saving water can be as easy as check, twist, replace.
  • Check toilets for silent leaks, which can waste enough water each year to fill a backyard swimming pool.
  • Twist on a WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerator to save water and energy at the tap without noticing a difference in flow.
  • Replace old, inefficient showerheads with WaterSense labeled models that use less water and energy, but provide a shower with power.
 Consumers are encouraged to adopt one or all of these water-saving behaviors and take the "I'm for Water" pledge on the WaterSense website.
 
Follow Flo, the We're for Water "spokesgallon," as she takes a road trip across the country to launch the campaign and educate people about water efficiency at www.epa.gov/watersense/wereforwater or www.facebook.com/epawatersense
EFC logo
Sara Pesek
Director

Khristopher Dodson
Communications and Program Manager

Evan Newell
Program Manager

Melissa Young
Program Manager

Kathy Forrest
Administrative Assistant
  
Interns: Jon Davis  Chris Duncombe  Jes Eckerlin  Paul Goldner
   Joe Palumbo  Lisa Ruggero   Mandy Westerdahl



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