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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADDENDUM VEEP  STARTSz BOROUGH of YAKUTAT ro.Bx160 Yakutat, Alaska 99689 Phon 4907) 784.3323 F (907, 784,3281 ADDENDUM re: Integration of other project funds - VEEP and START Yakutat District Heat Loop Project RFA AEA 2014-006 September 22, 2013 The CBY Renewable Energy Self -Sufficiency Program is focused on several elements including utilization of local biomass resources and demand -side management. While pursuing this centralized biomass boiler project, we recognize the value of concurrently improving the efficiency of buildings we are targeting in this grant application. Two pending programs are relevant and partially related. First, the CBY has received notification on Monday, September 16, of preliminary award of an AEA Village Energy Efficiency Program Grant in the amount of $300,000. This award includes a local cash match of $187,500 and further in -kind contributions of $16,950. The total project amounts to $504,450, of which $204,450 is local contribution. The VEEP award will not be official until September 26 because of a 10-day appeals period that must be completed before awards are finalized. The VEEP program calls for development of a work plan by October, 2014. It is CBY intent to develop this plan much sooner, in light of the need to quickly realize savings to the school budget through this program. The VEEP grant involves two of the three buildings identified in the Yakutat Biomass District Heat Loop Project: the City Hall and Court House buildings. The efficiency project outlined in the VEEP grant involves level two audits that must be completed before efficiency improvements are installed. Because we have not initiated the work plan as part of the VEEP process, we do not have a developed estimate of energy efficiency improvements that will be made to these buildings. However, for the purposes of this REGF Round VII application, we want to disclose our intent to mate the VEEP program to this biomass project. We will also find additional funds locally to ensure that we can conduct a level 2 audit on Building 3, the Community Center at the same time as VEEP -funded level two audits are conducted on Buildings 1 and 2. Second, the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe (YTT) is one of five Alaska Native Tribal entities included in the 2013 START program. This will result in the award of $250,000 to YTT for expenditure on immediately available renewable energy and efficiency projects. Because the YTT is hosting the DoE START team September 24-26 to analyze options and develop project plans, along with technical assistance plans with DoE, the direction of START funds is not final at this time. It would not be appropriate for CBY to assume how those funds will be directed, but YTT has a history of interest in energy efficiency and biomass projects, and we mention the availability of START funds here to make AEA aware of the possibility that such funds will complement our Biomass District Heating Loop project, either directly or indirectly. YTTs letter of support for this project is attached, but YTT has not committed any funds from START at the time this application is due. Regards, Ian Fisk Renewable Energy Coordinator City and Borough of Yakutat