Pathways to Recovery & Resiliency Funding

• FUNDING AND PROGRAMS FROM THE ENERGY OFFICE -

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March 20th, 2024

11:00 a.m.

Overview of CEO Energy-Related Funding

Christine Berg

Sr. Local Government Advisor

Colorado Energy Office

Christine.Berg@state.co.us

Pathways to Recovery & Resiliency Funding

• $2M Local Government Funding through CEO
• At least 60% must be allocated to local government or Tribal units that are ineligible for direct formula grants from the Department of Energy (DOE)
• This portion will be used for staff capacity and the remaining 40% will be used for regional collaboration
• Of the total amount, at least 40% must be allocated to Justice 40 communities
• Program details and application coming soon!

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EECBG - Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant

• Funding for planning phase energy audits: 50% of total energy audit cost, up to $8,000
• Disproportionately impacted, low-income, and just transition applicants: 75% of the total energy audit cost, up to $12,000
• Funding for Implementation Phase: 75% of total project costs to install high efficiency electric equipment or make electrical or other upgrades necessary to support the installation of high efficiency electric equipment.
• Disproportionately impacted, low-income, and just transition applicants: additional cost coverage for up to 40 hours of administrative time

All grantees are eligible for a reduced match requirement after completion of an electrification training program hosted by the Colorado Energy Office. Available training dates will be shared directly with grantees.

(This Round Closes April 5th)

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Public Building Electrification Grant

EV Grant Programs

Charge Ahead Colorado

• Grants for L2 and DCFC Stations
• Covers equipment, permits, construction material & labor, utility upgrades, signage, networking/subscription
• Additional assistance for DI and other qualifying entities

Fleet - ZERO

• $3M first round grants for fleet electrification
• 20% Match requirement/10% if “Qualifying Entity”. $50K max per applicant
• Rolling applications open for Qualifying Entities - Standard application opens in April through May

DCFC Plazas Program

• Must install a minimum of 4x 150kW DCFCs.
• $17M first round grants for large banks of DCFCs
• Great geographic spread statewide
• More funding will be announced in 2024

Applications for CAMP Phase 1 Funding Now Open for Technical Readiness Grants

• Funding to support LG mobility needs including:
• Electric Carshare
• Electric Vanpool
• Community E-Bike Share

CAMP Funding (Community Accelerated Mobility Project)

• Tax-exempt and governmental entities for the first time will be able to receive payment equal to the full value of tax credits for building qualifying clean energy projects

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• Applicable entities: tax exempt organizations (501a and 501c and 501d), local government, tribal governments, colleges/universities, rural electric coops, political subdivisions

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• With elective pay, an eligible entity (such as a local government) that qualifies for a clean-energy investment tax credit can notify the IRS of their intent to claim the credit and file an annual tax return to claim elective pay for the full value of the credit

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• Tax Credits of 30% (or more) on Energy Storage Facilities, Wind, Geothermal, Rooftop and Off-site Solar, EV Infrastructure and Vehicles

Federal Direct/Elective Pay

Businesses and tax-exempt organizations that buy a qualified commercial clean vehicle may qualify for a clean vehicle tax credit of up to $40,000 under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 45W. The credit equals the lesser of:

• 15% of your basis in the vehicle (30% if the vehicle is not powered by gas or diesel)
• The incremental cost of the vehicle

The maximum credit is $7,500 for qualified vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) of under 14,000 pounds and $40,000 for all other vehicles.

IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credit

Resources for Advanced Energy Codes

Adam Berry, Sr. Program Manager - Building Codes

Shannon Bauman, Climate & Buildings Associate

Colorado Energy Office

Pathways to Recovery & Resiliency Funding

What are Energy Codes?

• Energy codes are regulations that govern energy efficient design and construction of new buildings and major renovations of or additions to existing buildings.
• Energy codes cover the following components of buildings:
• Building Envelope - windows, doors, insulation, air sealing, etc.
• Mechanical and plumbing systems - HVAC, water heating, ducting, ventilation, appliances, etc.
• Electrical power and lighting
• Maintenance and commissioning of equipment and systems
• Energy codes are beginning to include requirements for on-site renewable energy, electrification, and EV charging.

Energy Code Adoption Requirements

• Colorado House Bill 22-1362 requires all municipalities and counties, when adopting or updating any building code:
• Between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2026, to adopt and enforce an energy code that is equivalent to or stronger than the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code and the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code.
• After July 1, 2026, to adopt and enforce an energy code that is equivalent to or stronger than the Colorado Model Low Energy and Carbon Code.

Energy Code Adoption & Enforcement Grants

The Colorado Energy Office operates a grant program that provides funding to local governments to assist with adoption, implementation, and enforcement of the latest energy codes or stretch energy codes.

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Funding is available for:

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• Consultants or other technical assistance for energy code adoption and public engagement
• Staff time dedicated to energy code adoption and implementation
• Training or other workforce development activities that support energy codes
• Improvements in enforcement processes, including training or contracting third-party services
• Pilots or demonstrations of new enforcement strategies, tools, or softwares

Energy Code Adoption & Enforcement Grants

Eligibility:

• Local Governments; or
• COGs or nonprofits working on behalf of local governments

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Funding Rounds: quarterly, next application deadline is May 31, 2024

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Grant Amounts:

• Up to $125,000 for eligible entities applying individually
• Up to $250,000 for eligible entities applying together as a partnership

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Access application guidelines and template documents.

Energy Code Grants Funded

CEO has currently funded 5 energy code grants that are supporting 7 jurisdictions across the state:

• Garfield Clean Energy (supporting Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, and New Castle)
• Gunnison Valley Building Code Collaborative (supporting Gunnison County, Gunnison, Crested Butte, and Mt. Crested Butte)
• Crested Butte
• Mt. Crested Butte
• Gunnison County

Applying as a partnership or collaborative has many benefits:

• Shared administrative burden and resources
• Consistency in adopted energy codes across a region
• Broader applicability of training and technical resources
• Shared best practices for enforcement and compliance verification

SME Training and Technical Assistance

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The Colorado Energy Office works with a number of industry partners to provide FREE technical assistance and training on the latest energy codes and stretch codes to local governments and the building industry. Trainings include:

Bi-weekly Webinars

On-Demand Training

Role-Based Training

Blower Door Training

Interested in training or technical assistance? Go to energyoffice.colorado.gov/buildings/building-energy-codes to request training or technical assistance

Colorado Code Helpline

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The Colorado Building Code Helpline provides opportunities for building departments, design teams, builders, or members of the public to submit questions on building code related topics, which are answered by a SME within 2 business days. Common questions include:

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• Specific requirements of any of the I-Codes
• Specific requirements of any stretch code
• How to review or inspect for a measure
• How different provisions of the I-Codes interact
• Whether or not a certain design or material would comply with adopted code (we don’t provide design advice)

Thank you!

Questions or Comments?

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Adam Berry, Sr. Program Manager - Building Codes

adam.berry@state.co.us

energyoffice.colorado.gov/buildings/building-energy-codes

IRA Home Energy �Efficiency and Electrification

Rebates

Annie Beall (she/her)

Climate-Ready Buildings Lead

Colorado Energy Office

Pathways to Recovery & Resiliency Funding

IRA Home Energy Rebates Goals

• Kickstart and accelerate the adoption of home energy efficiency and electrification investments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) consumption and emissions. Create a sustainable framework that supports longer term market transformation.�
• Document the value and benefit of home energy and electrification investments. Recognize replicable, innovative best practices and leadership. �
• Reduce energy, health, and economic burdens for Disproportionately Impacted (DI) & Low-Moderate-Income (LMI) households (historically only 13% of home efficiency funding has gone to LMI households). �
• Grow a healthy, diverse and sustainable building decarbonization workforce.

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IRA Home Energy Rebates Overview

IRA Section 50121: Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES)

• Approximately $56 million dollars statewide
• For existing large multifamily buildings, over 50,000 sq ft
• Also for mobile home owners and renters
• Energy savings must be modeled or measured, and achieve between a 20-34% savings, or 35%+ savings for highest rebate

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IRA Section 50122: Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR)

• Approximately $56 million dollars statewide
• For income-qualified renters, homeowners, building owners
• Rebates may include heat pumps for space heating and cooling, heat pump water heater, heat pump clothes dryer, electric stove/cooktop/range/oven and can include enabling upgrades of an electric panel, electric wiring, insulation, air sealing and mechanical ventilation

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Funding ends September 30, 2031. We anticipate a 7 year funding period.

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IRA Home Energy Rebates Strategic Planning

Image from Residential Retrofits �for Energy Equity (R2E2)

IRA Home Energy Rebates Additional Information

While local governments won’t be directly applying for rebates (unless you or your housing authority owns income-qualified residential property), we do envision local government participation: �

• ENGAGE YOUR LOCAL CONTRACTOR COMMUNITIES: All projects receiving rebates must be conducted by a registered contractor. HVAC, Electricians, Plumbers, Insulators, Home Energy Auditors. Let’s get them on board now. �
• SUPPORT YOUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY SERVICE PROVIDER: Existing energy efficiency service providers throughout the State are getting ready to utilize rebates with existing projects (WAP, CARE). Connect low-income households. �
• ENGAGE YOUR LOCAL UTILITY: are they offering existing rebates? �
• CONTRIBUTE TO MESSAGING WITH HOUSING PRESERVATION, CLIMATE ACTION AND HEALTH EQUITY: incorporate rebates into your local discussions and planning in affordable housing and climate action.

Thank you!

Questions or Comments? ���

���Annie Beall (she/her)�Climate-Ready Building Lead �Building Decarbonization Team �Colorado Energy Office �annie.beall@state.co.us

https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/federal-funding-incentives/inflation-reduction-act-tax-credits-incentives

Automated Permit Processing for Solar (APPS) Grant

Ari Moledina (she/her)

Renewable Energy Program Manager

Colorado Energy Office

Pathways to Recovery & Resiliency Funding

APPS Program Overview

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APPS aims to help jurisdictions reduce permitting barriers for residential solar and storage projects by offering financial assistance for the implementation of an automated online solar permitting platform, such as SolarAPP+ or Symbium.

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Benefits of automated solar permitting

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Saves staff time by instantly processing 80-90% of standard solar permits that government staff typically review manually.

Provides installers with real-time feedback on permit applications, ensuring code compliance, reducing errors, and enabling businesses to install systems more efficiently.

Allows consumers to get their solar systems installed much faster, enabling Coloradans to start benefiting from them as quickly as possible.

Eligibility and Funding

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Eligible applicants: Local and Tribal governments

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Eligible project costs:

• In-house staff time or training
• Training for installers or developers
• Installation, integration or licensing fees
• IT or consultant time
• Maintenance or subscription costs for up to three years

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Funding available: award maximums will range from $40,000 - $100,000 based on the population of the jurisdiction.

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Application deadline: Applications open on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, and close Tuesday, June 4, 2024. CEO will award grants on a first-come, first-serve basis until funding is expended.

Case Study: City & County of Denver

Prior to the City of Denver adopting an automated solar permitting system, the average review time for a permit was 30 days. With automated permitting, permits for eligible projects are issued instantly.

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“Adopting SolarAPP+ will save our customers a significant amount of time in the permitting process and help safely bring these important projects to the market quicker. We are always looking for ways to innovate and create more efficiency for our customers, without sacrificing the quality of what’s being built or installed in Denver.”

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• Laura E. Aldrete, executive director of Denver Community Planning and Development

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Webinar & Resources

APPS is hosting an informational webinar on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MT.

This webinar will cover details about the APPS Program, the application process, and provide participants with an opportunity to ask questions.

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Register for the APPS informational webinar

Thank you!

Questions or Comments?

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Ari Moledina, Renewable Energy Program Manager

ari.moledina@state.co.us

https://energyoffice.colorado.gov/apps

Microgrids for Community Resilience

Julia Masters

julia.masters@state.co.us

Program Manager

Department of Local Affairs

Pathways to Recovery & Resiliency Funding

MCR Program Overview

Microgrid: a group of interconnected electric loads and distributed energy resources that can be connected to or disconnected from the electric grid to enable it to operate either in “grid-connected mode” or in “island mode.”

Program Purpose:​

Increase community-level climate resilience through:​

• Funding (1) Planning grants (2) Implementation Grants​
• Funding “multi-objective” plans and projects that integrate all three elements: mitigation, adaption, and advancing IDEA​

MCR Funding Overview - 2024

Planning:

• $467,000 available
• Eligible to rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities
• Max award: $36,000 grant request
• Match required: ⅓

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Construction (Generation):

• $540,000 available
• Eligible to rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities
• Max award: $94,000 grant request
• Match required: ⅓ �

Construction (Storage + Controller):

• $10,100,000 available
• Eligible to all utilities, local governments, and public or non-profit community-based anchor institutions
• Max award: $2M grant request
• Match required: ⅓ match for coops/munis, 100% match for local gov/anchor institutions or utilities who sell over 4M MWh per year

Total available: $11.1M

Eligible Projects

Planning:

• Establish community’s potential for microgrid projects, including scale, size, and cost
• Evaluate existing infrastructure vulnerability through resiliency criteria
• Develop recommendations to integrate resiliency criteria into forthcoming energy projects

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Construction (Generation):

• New microgrid-tied generation projects (such as solar panels) that increase the community’s resilience and adaptive capacity regarding interruptions to the electric grid that can be caused by severe weather or natural disaster events�

Construction (Storage + Controller):

• New microgrid facilities, including shovel-ready projects. Priority will be given to projects leveraging pre-existing assets. Projects are technology agnostic, and can include funding for:
• Energy storage (batteries, vehicle to grid battery storage, pumped hydro, geothermal)
• Microgrid controller
• Replacing old generation components with new components of the same type in order to ensure weatherization/resilience

Community Anchor Institution Definition

Community anchor institutions are schools; libraries; [public and non-profit] hospitals or other health-care facilities; law enforcement, emergency medical service providers, or other public safety agencies; government offices; community organizations that support marginalized communities; or other critical community service facilities (as defined by HB22-1013, pg 2-3).

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MCR Planning Grants Awarded (July 2023)

Communications Resilience

San Miguel Power Association

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Solar/storage microgrid dedicated to supporting the utility's critical communications equipment. Although this is NOT a community facility, the justification for community-serving communications offer strong resilience benefits.

Economic Resilience

Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association

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Solar/storage/backup generation microgrid dedicated to supporting a fire station, retail store, restaurant, elementary school, post office, CDOT facility, church, gas station, and several homes. System installed at Livermore Fire Station and supports a range of economic vitality within the area

Grid Resilience

City of Delta

Adding heat and Power (CHP) generation source to support community’s grid in event of shortfall or prolonged outage

See the full list of all 8 planning grants funded in Round 1

Existing Colorado Community Based Microgrids

Pitkin County

• Solar energy-based project is centered around the Aspen Business Center and includes the county, the Aspen airport, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and Holy Cross Energy

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Red Feather Lakes

• Resiliency and emergency response supported for remote community
• Developed through local, regional, and national partnership, and included funding from NREA, DOE, and others

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San Miguel Power Association

• Centered around mission-critical loads (building lighting, receptacles, communications and internet, control rooms, IT servers and radio rooms, and protective custody and lock systems)

Technical Assistance Available

Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnerships (Onsite Energy TAPS)

• DOE’s 10 regional Onsite Energy TAPs provide FREE technical assistance (up to 40 hours) to understand technology options for clean energy objectives (including modeling, stakeholder engagement, etc0

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Clean Energy to Communities

• The Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program provides communities with expertise and tools to achieve their clean energy goals. C2C is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by NREL. C2C offers three types of support to communities: in-depth partnerships, peer-learning cohorts, and expert match.

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Collective Energy

• Supports healthcare clinics and organizations through education on microgrid uses and energy resilience, as well as securing funding, conducting design and planning services, deploying, and management of microgrid assets.

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Learn more on the MCR technical assistance webpage