The Bureau of Energy Systems (BES) is soliciting grant proposals for Advanced Lighting Technology Demonstration Grants. This announcement seeks to obtain proposals from Michigan cities, villages, townships and counties to implement indoor and/or outdoor lighting projects that utilize the following technologies: Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), also known as Solid State Lighting; induction lighting; and plasma lighting -- also known as High Efficiency Plasma Lighting (HEP). There is approximately $1 million available to fund an estimated 15-20 grants ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant program. Proposals are due by 3 p.m. on May 26, 2011. BES estimates that grants will start on August 1, 2011, and run through June 30, 2012. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is available now and contains more details . A pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him at 734-669-6323 or lforrest@mml.org.

Local leaders and advocates interested in community energy efficiency and renewable energy projects have two opportunities this spring to gather with their peers in the Washington, DC area to network and share lessons learned.

The Department of Energy is hosting the State and Local Government Clean Energy Conference in Crystal City, Virginia May 18-20. This event, which is free of charge, is targeted at government staff and policymakers working directly with the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) and/or State Energy Program. Spring 2011 will mark the halfway point in the implementation of Recovery Act funding for those programs, so the goal of the conference is to "focus on the lessons learned to date and critical initiatives for the ensuing year and beyond". For more information, visit http://www.sentech.org/EECBG-SEP_Conference/index.html .

The following month, Climate Communities is hosting the Local Clean Energy Leadership Summit in Washington. This event, which takes place June 15-17, is more explicitly focused on local government action. Like in the May conference, EECBG will be a focal point, but this conference expands that focus to a broader range of federal programs and agencies. It also presents attendees with an opportunity to educate their elected representatives in Congress about the importance of those programs and the excellent local intiatives they have made possible. For more information, visit http://www.localenergysummit.org/ .

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him at lforrest@mml.org or 734-669-6323.

Federal agencies are offering two new grant opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. US EPA will fund feasibility studies for renewable energy developments on brownfields or other contaminated properties. Local governments are eligible grant recipients. Applications are due May 20. The Department of Agriculture is offering grants and loans to rural small business owners and agricultural producers for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects through its Rural Energy for America Program. Applications for the next round of grants are due June 15. 

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him at lforrest@mml.org or 734-669-6323.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its 2010 rankings of metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings. Detroit jumped six spots from the 2009 list into ninth place. Energy Star buildings must meet certain energy-efficiency criteria and be certified each year by an independent professional. The EPA estimates that the owners of metro Detroit's 151 Energy Star buildings are saving nearly 19 million dollars annually because of increased efficiencies.

EPA provides a searchable map that allows you to find Energy Star buildings in and around your community. Spread the word about this program to local school board members, business owners and other building owners and let's see if Michigan's metro areas can keep climbing the rankings in 2011.

Luke Forrest is Project Coordinator for the Center for 21st Century Communities. Contact him at 734-669-6323 or lforrest@mml.org.