HomeMy WebLinkAbout09072022 PACAB Laydown - Ad Hoc Committee ReportHeat Loop Presentation to PACAB, September 7, 2022
History of the Seward Heat Loop Project: U
• Initiated in 2015 Y
• AEA Grant of $725,000 received by City of Seward on 11/26/2018, Council
Resoluton 2018-089.
• As of this date, 9/7/22, 725k AEA grant continuance is conditional on renewals
every 3 months requiring forward progress on the Heat Loop Project to be
demonstrated. We still have it as of today.
Creation of Ad Hoc Heat Loop Project Committee:
• With the Heat Loop Project stalled due to cost increases, PACAB requested
Council form an Ad Hoc committee of interested citizens to help identify
funding sources/grants to move the project forward. Resolution passed
unanimously on 2/16/22.
• Seward City Council passed Resolution 2022-038 unanimously on 3/14/22
which directed PACAB to create a seven member Ad Hoc committee to
identify and recommend available sources of funds for the Heat Loop project.
• Five Ad Hoc committee members were appointed by PACAB at their 4/20/22
meeting. Two more were appointed shortly thereafter.
Who are the members of the Ad Hoc Heat Loop Project Committee:
• Bruce Jaffa (chair), Griffin Plush (vice -chair), Mary Tougas (recorder), Darryl
Schaeffermeyer, Joevahnta Weddington, Mike Brown, Bob Linville
Work of the Committee to date:
• First organizational meeting: 5/5/22 at the Fire Hall. We selected a Chair, Vice
Chair, and Recorder. All meetings follow Roberts Rules, City of Seward rules
for posting and recording. All meetings have an agenda, printed documents,
and minutes.
• The Ad Hoc committee has had 10 meetings at an average of 1-1/2 hours,
that's over 100 hours of volunteer time. In addition to attending the meetings,
members have added another 50 hours (estimated) and our recorder has
probably added more time than all, likely doubling the effort.
• Most meetings have had full 7 member attendance in person or by virtual
connection.
• Attendance has included the City Mayor, Manager, Assistant Manager and
local interested citizens
• We have created a website: heatloopseward.weebly.com and will continue to
improve it. For now, use the address bar, not a search engine.
e We have utilized ZOOM and Google meets effectively to allow participation by
the members, guests and presenters.
• We have had presentations for R&M, YCE, NREL and more
* We have investigated and supported the r.oritraUual arrangements by the City
with R&M to write grant applications and YCE for technical advice and HMS to
update the project estimate for input the into grant applications
We have reviewed concepts and potential long-range application of the
technology as it would support this 4 building grant.
• We have attended including an Infrastructure and a separate Energy
Symposiums sponsored in part by Senator Murkowski.
• We have gathered letters of support from advocates, industry, institutions as
needed to qualify for certain grant provisions.
e We have registered with Grant Sources and continue to look at opportunities
as they open.
• We are developing a social media outreach to provide information and gather
support from a larger group of supporters.
• We have supported the grant application process currently being pursued by
the City of Seward (DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE), funding opportunity DE-FOA-0002632).
® Many DOE grant opportunities require very similar information to be
presented. Work on the current application will be applicable and can go into
future grant opportunities.
e We continue to research new grant opportunities going forward.
Going forward:
• Both the Infrastructure Act and the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress
so far in 2022 heavily support new energy efficiency projects on every level.
More grants for projects such as Seward's Heat Loop are in the pipeline.
• Progress needs to be demonstrated every three months in order for the City
of Seward to keep the 2018 $725,000 grant intact. We are intent on helping
make that progress.