State Agency Stimulus Funds Projects Selected
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
President Barack Obama signed into law the ARRA on February 17, 2009. The ARRA appropriates funding for DOE to issue formula-based grants under SEP.
In the energy arena, the ARRA requires states to work with utilities to implement a general policy that ensures utilities provide financial incentives to help customers use energy more efficiently; adopt residential and commercial building codes and exceed specified standards; give priority to projects that include an expansion of existing energy efficiency programs; expand existing support for renewable energy projects and deployment activities; and cooperate in joint activities among states to support energy efficiency priorities.
DOE is responsible for overseeing and managing the allocation and the use of ARRA funds distributed to the states through the SEO. The results achieved with SEP ARRA funds will be assessed according to the following performance metrics:
- Jobs created
- Energy (kwh/therms/gallons/BTUs/etc) saved
- Renewable energy installed capacity and generated
- GHG emissions reduced (CO2 equivalents)
- Energy cost savings
- Funds leveraged
A working group was created to assist GEFA in developing the best plan for the state to meet the criteria of ARRA. Participants are the State Property Office, Board of Regents of the University System and the Governor’s Office of Budget and Planning. This committee established project priorities for Georgia which promote economic recovery in the state that will create jobs, save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In order to ensure transparency and accountability for the disbursement of ARRA funds, information about the projects will be posted on the GEFA website at www.gefa.org.
Background
Historically, GEFA receives congressionally appropriated funding from the DOE for SEP. Funds are distributed according to a formula that depends on the state’s size, population, energy use, etc. States must submit an annual plan that describes energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy goals including proposed project activities while meeting both mandatory and optional activities set by DOE. The mission of SEP is to:
- Increase energy efficiency to reduce energy costs and consumption for consumers, businesses and government.
- Reduce reliance on imported energy.
- Improve the reliability of electricity and fuel supply and the delivery of energy services.
- Reduce the impacts of energy production and use on the environment.
Energy Efficiency Projects to Help State Meet
Governor's Energy Challenge
“Energy efficiency retrofits will save the state millions of dollars in energy costs year after year and will reduce our energy consumption,” said Governor Perdue. “Many of these projects may go unnoticed to the average Georgian, but the results will be substantial energy savings and a more efficient state government.”
Through the Governor’s Energy Challenge, an initiative of Conserve Georgia, Governor Perdue directed state agencies to reduce energy consumption 15 percent below 2007 levels. He also encouraged businesses, individuals, not-for-profits, schools and local governments to meet the same goal. The energy projects announced today will save the state approximately $15.1 million a year in avoided energy costs, resulting in a four year payback on the investment and an energy savings of 976,692 million BTUs (equivalent to the amount of energy consumed by approximately 4,544 housing units in one year).
A complete listing of the state facility projects is provided below, along with the estimated yearly energy cost savings and projected length of payback. Also, a chart is available that shows the portion of the overall amount that is being used in the different project categories.
State of Georgia ARRA Facility Projects
ARRA State Facilities Projects by Category
Related Links
Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority
GEFA is to ensure the transparency and accountability for the disbursement of ARRA funds. Information about the ARRA projects will be posted on the GEFA website.
State of Georgia Stimulus Accountability
For additional information regarding Georgia's funding, timelines, and processes regarding ARRA.
State Energy Program Guidelines
Guidelines for submitting project requests for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. (PDF)
All projects should expect to include some form of Measurement and Verification (M&V) of the energy savings. Please understand the point is not to chew up project money with M&V, but we do need to show the DOE that we have verified our energy savings, and this takes a plan and some resources. We expect at least some good engineering calculations, but project M&V could also include comparing your facility bills before and after the project (if the project has a significant impact at the facility level) and also measuring the energy consumption and/or other outputs of equipment.
Please see pages 21-22, 37-38 of the “IPMVP 2007 Vol1” (below) for a quick overview of M&V options. Refer also to the “Energy Savings Management Guide (IPMVP)” for an easier read on M&V with some good examples. Option A (Retrofit Isolation) and Option C (
International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (PMVP) 2007 Vol1