Cleveland Sustainability Chief, Andrew Watterson, filled the group in on the Solar Improvement Districts (SID) project. The City will be approaching large commercial and industrial organizations with 5,000-7,000 square feet of roof space for ~40kW solar installations (“sweet spot” for state incentives). Once the City’s Economic Director finalizes a feasible financial model for the property tax/bond issues that will be sustainable and attractive. The AEG group’s involvement can be getting the word out and assisting in finding organizations to be assessed, and that involvement should be requested by the City in the coming months (notification will be emailed). Since Cleveland plans on expanding the SID into the suburbs, there is no need for the AEG to replicate what the City is doing. Municipalities that adopt the Solar SID must be contiguous, but individual properties do not need to be.

Watterson also noted that legislation passed this month to enable energy efficiency, geothermal, wind, biomass, and some other technologies to eventually be a part of the “SID” concept, although he’s not sure about fuel cells. Energy efficiency maybe added as a financing mechanism.

Stacey Polk added that we should remember to include energy storage technologies as we push to expand policies and for project concepts – AGREED by group, including smart-grid technologies and distributed generation.

Cuyahoga County Sustainability Director, Joyce Burke-Jones, commented that although the County doesn’t have the structure to implement a SID, they can help promote them. Also, the county has been working on renewable power concepts for its offices.

Stefanie Spear and Andrew Watterson would like the AEG group to support the Lake Erie wind farm efforts (LEEDCo) by assisting in getting word out, gaining support. We need to get in touch with the 2019 Communication group. Also, a list needs to be compiled of “at-risk” and required legislation, along with action items. Some legislation mentioned during the meeting: the Climate bill now in the Senate, continuing the state Advanced Energy Fund, distributed generation, renewable portfolio standards, public funding for offshore wind – state and federal, (specifically from Andrew: ) US Treasury grants for manufacturing, production tax credits, bonus depreciation. Maybe Repower America might want to help with this? We will send another email with a strategy plan on this.

Stefanie Spear suggested that the AEG take on “energy policy” at the local, state, and federal level, as one of our main projects – AGREED by group. We need to promote policies at the regional, state, and federal level to advance and expedite energy efficiency and renewable power. We would stay on top of legislation, submit ideas, engage legislators, bring stakeholder and public support.

Linda Sekura has been approached by AEG members and other SC2019 group members to plan for a collaborative renewable power project that benefits multiple SC2019 groups and multiple regional stakeholders, including several specific projects that are being discussed and researched outside of the meetings. As information and interest are gathered, anyone who has ideas or would like to get involved, please contact Linda.

AEG co-leads will meet with the City’s consultants (ETG) soon, to discuss our activities, since other groups already have. (Linda note: The consultants are hired to develop a framework, themes, and the structure of a plan and recommendations - very broadbased. Goals re groups: What would catalyze action – policies, partners, knowledge, resources; and how do specific initiatives fit into the framework. A prioritization methodology will come later.)

Andrew Watterson announced that there will be an “Energy and Conservation Fair” the last day of the Summit (September 24, 2010), and they’re looking for corporate sponsors and tables for the “outcome groups” such as ourselves. Please email ideas to be discussed at the next meeting/telecon.

NorTech has a “Cluster Directory” of over 400 NE Ohio advanced energy organizations on its website, categorized by sector, such as energy efficiency, solar, wind, energy storage, electric transportation, biomass/waste, fuel cells, and more: 

Dave Karpinski announced that on July 20, NorTech’s Advanced Energy Generation speaker series will feature LEEDCo and the developer chosen to implement the Lake Erie wind project. They have a MOU with GE, and GE may also be present. This is at the Great Lakes Science Center, starting at 5:30pm, and is being done in conjunction with the Freshwater Wind Conference, July 19-21, at the Wyndham Cleveland at Playhouse Square: .

Linda Sekura gave an update for the “NASA technical sessions” - Planning meetings continue, hoping to send invitations soon for an August one-day event.

Names of AEG members who wanted to be nominated to attend the 2010 SC2019 Summit were going to be emailed to the AEG after the meeting, so members could discuss which 2 to nominate. Due to lack of time, I submitted all names of those who requested nomination, and gave justification for each. Many of the submitted names were folks who should be invited regardless of being AEG members. This left only 4 active AEG-only members, and justifying nomination was easy. I’ll be following up to make sure all went well. If you’d like to discuss this, please contact me.

Updated AEG Project Listing:

The AEG project list has been updated and “sorted” from the results of this meeting – ideas, projects, and priorities. We are now better entrenched in implementation mode rather than in research and organization mode. New projects can be added, and we can still find ways to assist in others’ projects; but we now have an established focus, and a better feel for the niches we fill without reinventing someone else’s work. We can promote projects and recruit volunteers at upcoming events. See the “Action items/Get involved” column on the report. If there is an area you’d like to be involved with please email me or the POC (first column) for that project. The list is not necessarily in priority order, and your feedback is requested for that.