ARRA-funded Initiatives at the KCC 

The State Energy Office, a division of the Kansas Corporation Commission, is currently working on launching a number of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) programs and grants.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the State Energy Office will receive approximately $47.7 million in additional funding over the next three years from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The funding comes through two different federal programs:

• $38,284,000 through the State Energy Program (SEP)
• $9,593,500 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

The following programs and initiatives have been approved by the Department of Energy and are in various stages of implementation.

if you'd like to receive email updates about our ARRA-funded initiatives.

New Initiatives Using State Energy Program Funding ($38 million)

1. Efficiency Kansas Loan Program ($34 million)

   The Efficiency Kansas loan program facilitates cost-effective energy-efficiency improvements in existing Kansas homes and small businesses. Improvements are based on the findings of a comprehensive energy audit, performed by Efficiency Kansas qualified auditors. As a public-private partnership, Efficiency Kansas relies on the expertise of local businesses and entrepreneurs to deliver the program throughout Kansas. To learn more, visit www.efficiencykansas.com. The following auxiliary programs and initiatives support and promote Efficiency Kansas.

• Rebates for Efficiency Kansas Energy Audits ($350,000): The State Energy Office will provide a $350 rebate to offset the costs of the energy audit for the first 1,000 participants who elect to implement projects approved through the Efficiency Kansas program. To learn more, visit www.efficiencykansas.com.
• Rebates to Banks for Loan Fees ($481,000): The State Energy Office will provide a $250 rebate to banks to help defray upfront administrative costs for lenders and thus reduce costs for borrowers who chose to finance improvements through local banks.
• Energy Auditor Training ($100,000): In order to increase the number of qualified energy auditors working statewide, the State Energy Office identified three training institutions as qualified to provide effective training. Grants totally $100,000 were awarded to "train the trainers" and enhance facilities.

  Approved Training Institutions:

  • Kansas Building Science Institute
    200 Zeandale Road, Manhattan, KS 66505
    www.kansasbuildingscience.com
  • Metropolitan Energy Center
    3808 Paseo, Kansas City, MO 64109
    www.kcenergy.org
  • Neosho County Community College
    800 West 14th Street, Chanute, KS 66720
    www.neosho.edu
• Energy Auditor Scholarships ($150,000): In order to assist Kansans with the cost of attending a training institution, the State Energy Office is offering 100 scholarships covering the full cost of training at one of the approved training institutions (see list above). Click here for more information about applying for scholarships.
• Equipment for New Energy Auditors ($250,000): To minimize startup costs for energy auditors, particularly for those that may have been previously unemployed, SEO has purchased 50 "packages" of equipment that energy auditors can borrow or rent (at a nominal fee). The packets will be provided to the three qualified energy auditor training institutions and other public agencies.
• Marketing ($500,000): To ensure that all Kansans are made aware of the Efficiency Kansas loan program, the State Energy Office contracted with Trozzolo Communications Group for professional marketing and promotional assistance.
2. Utility Rate Design – Planning for Comprehensive Changes

   The Kansas Corporation Commission is in the process of hiring a consultant to develop a comprehensive, collaborative planning process to assist with the redesign of utility rate structures. The objective of this initiative is to increase energy conservation by delivering more accurate price signals, which allows consumers to make better decisions on how and when they consume energy.

if you'd like to receive email updates about our ARRA-funded initiatives.

New Initiatives Using Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Funds ($9.5 million)

The State Energy Office has received DOE approval and will be implementing the following programs in the coming weeks.

1. Renewable Energy Grants ($3.8 million): This program will provide grants to local units of government, including school districts, community colleges, vocational schools, universities which did not receive direct block grant allocations. The grants will be for renewable electrical generation projects in the first round, with solar water heat, methane capture and other projects allowed in succeeding rounds. Projects may include wind, solar, biomass, or other renewable projects. Grants will be for 25% of approved project costs (up to $250,000).
2. Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP) Rebates ($1 million): This rebate program will offset start-up costs for local units of government that use FCIP to upgrade public buildings; this funding is restricted to cities and counties; school districts may have cities or counties apply on their behalf. For approved FCIP projects, the State Energy Office will issue rebates (up to a maximum of $40,000) to cover costs of investment grade audits performed by the energy service company or other start-up fees.
3. FCIP Energy Savings Project Grants ($2.2 million): This grant program has two parts; this funding is restricted to cities and counties; school districts may have cities or counties apply on their behalf.
   1. The first part will enhance the existing Facility Conservation Improvement Program (FCIP) by funding energy saving projects in public buildings that don't meet the statutory 30-year payback period but are still likely to have significant, long-term benefits. Individual grants would be capped at $150,000.
   2. The second part of this program will provide assistance to local units of governments (excluding schools) that propose projects that are considered too small by energy service companies (ESCO's) and are thus not eligible for the current FCIP. Energy Office FCIP staff will provide assistance and oversight to ensure the success of these smaller projects. Individual grants would be capped at $150,000.
4. Energy Managers for Local Units of Government ($2.5 million): This program will provide a stipend to local units of government (cities, counties, or coalitions of the aforementioned entities) to enable them to hire energy managers for up to two years. Funding will be awarded through a competitive process. During the first year, the energy manager will be expected to develop a strategic plan that includes setting benchmarks to determine energy usage and developing a short-term and long-term energy savings strategies. Funding for the second and third years will be contingent on successful completion of the strategic plan and progress towards strategic reduction in energy consumption.

Energy Efficiency Building Codes Working Group

As a requirement for receiving Department of Energy funding, authorized through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Kansas and other states provided assurances that the State would make progress on several initiatives, including adoption of energy efficiency building codes. To ensure timely progress towards the development of building codes, the State Energy Office established the Energy Efficiency Building Codes Working Group in May 2009.

if you'd like to receive email updates from the State Energy Office.