Water Operations Foreperson Katy Olson and GIS/Mapping Technician Angela Hauge of Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) placed third at the 2023 American Water Works Association’s Hydrant Hysteria competition in Duluth! Teams of two were required to assemble a hydrant with approximately 40 pieces in less than five minutes, testing their strength, finesse, and speed. Katy and Angela, who go by the team name “ERMU Riveters,” were the first all-female team to compete in MN and have been invited to compete in the national competition. Way to go, ERMU Riveters! | |
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DOE and DOI release plan for integrating offshore wind projects
The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) have unveiled a plan to seamlessly integrate the first wave of Atlantic offshore wind projects into the national electric grid.
The "Action Plan for Offshore Wind Transmission Development in the U.S. Atlantic Region" is a collaborative effort aimed at streamlining processes, reducing costs, and reinforcing grid resilience. According to the plan, enhanced intra-regional cooperation, shared transmission infrastructure, and a network of high voltage direct current interconnections will efficiently channel offshore energy ashore.
The plan also introduces the Tribal Nation Technical Assistance Program for Offshore Wind Transmission, providing vital resources for informed engagement in offshore wind planning. This initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the U.S. by 2030, paving the way for a potential 110 GW or more by 2050.
To read more, click here.
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MMUA appoints two new assistant directors for safety team
Following 2022's "Safety 2.0" restructuring of MMUA's most popular program, we are happy to announce the promotion of two MMUA staffers to Assistant Director positions within the safety team.
Dan Nath will be the new Assistant Director of Quality Assurance and On Demand Services. Dan joined MMUA in 2022 as Safety Coordinator for the southern region. He will continue to serve in that role as he transitions to his new duties. Dan fills the vacancy that occurred when Anthony Lenz accepted a new position in April.
Accompanying Dan will be Mike Sewell, who is taking the position of Assistant Director of Regional Safety Group Services. Mike has been the coordinator for regional safety groups (RSG) since 2015. RSGs are clusters of small Minnesota cities whom receive MMUA safety services through an agreement with the Minnesota League of Cities. Providing the guidance of an assistant director will aid in the planful growth of the program and potential for additional services to these Minnesota cities.
Join us in congratulating Mike and Dan on their promotions. We are eager for their work to begin as we continuously improve safety programs and services for all members.
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MN Department of Commerce requests letters of support for funding opportunity
The Minnesota Department of Commerce (MNDOC) has requested support from utilities in seeking a grant that will primarily help low-income individuals gain access to solar gardens and other efforts aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
MNDOC is applying for $100,000,000 in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s Solar of All program. They are asking utilities to provide a letter of support (LOS) for the Minnesota application. The EPA has specific guidelines for the LOS, instructing that they should support a specific area of the plan. MNDOC is asking for support in helping to execute the Distributed Solar Market Strategy, which includes plans to address barriers to low-income and disadvantaged community residential distributed solar deployment in Minnesota.
Click for details from MNDOC and a sample letter are if your utility would like to assist in this effort. The deadline for submitting a letter is Monday, October 9.
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Zoom meeting offered on Light Up Navajo project
APPA has been working with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) to extend service to Navajo homes without electricity. The initiative known as Light Up Navajo has brought public power utilities from around the country together to assist in this worthwhile humanitarian effort since 2019. In 2023, MMUA worked with APPA to develop and deliver training on infectious diseases to the NTUA. We are eager to rally our members to support the NTUA once again.
MMUA would like to share information on the Light Up Navajo project and determine whether there may be sufficient interest from the membership to participate in the effort at some point in the future.
Please join us for a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, October 3 at 1:00 pm.
Feel free to forward this invitation to others at your organization who may be interested/would like to join the meeting. The call will be recorded for those unable to make it. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Willetts.
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National League of Cities offers federal grant funding webinar
The National League of Cities (NLC) is offering a virtual meeting on navigating federal grant funding. Cities, towns and villages have a historic opportunity to apply for extensive grant funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), yet federal contract procurement is not always as straightforward as it should be. Many cities and towns have navigated the federal procurement process and learned a few things along the way, and they’re ready to share their experiences with other local leaders.
Join NLC virtually on Wednesday, September 27, 4:00 - 5:00 PM ET. Hear from local leaders who have managed federal grants and strategies for innovative procurement pathways, and tips on what to avoid with federal infrastructure grants and procurement. This webinar is recommended for city procurement leaders, budget officials, federal grant writers, city attorneys and city leaders.
The meeting will be recorded for those unable to attend. To access the recording, register for the event, and the recording will be emailed to you at a later date. Note: recordings are only available to NLC members.
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Register for the 2023 Technical and Operations Conference
Registration for the Technical & Operations Conference (T&O) is now open! The event will be held from December 5-7 at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud.
The T&O Conference is designed to offer useful information to superintendents, general managers, supervisors, and crew leads about industry trends, workforce challenges, and fostering a culture of safety. The conference theme is "Lead to Succeed," focusing on helping your utility develop leaders from the frontline through all levels of the organization.
For best rates, register by November 10. The deadline for online registration is November 17. Associate members should consider becoming an exhibitor at the T&O trade show as well as sponsoring an event at the conference. Please reach out to Christian Glanville with any questions. We hope to see you in St. Cloud!
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Commerce issues state competitiveness fund: Local Grant Development Assistance Program
The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources will be issuing a competitive grant funding opportunity for grant development assistance to support eligible entities in preparing grant applications for federal funds specified in statute 216C.391 Sec. 2, subdivision 2.
The goal of the program is to ensure the state’s economy is strong and growing by increasing the competitiveness across Minnesota in accessing federal funding by providing grant development assistance statewide. Awarded organizations will provide services to eligible entities, especially those designated as Disadvantaged Communities, with support to access and utilize federal funding opportunities.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) is available for download on the Department’s website through the deadline of November 13, 2023.
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Letters of Support from MN Department of Commerce
The Minnesota Department of Commerce will gladly consider supplying a letter of support for funding proposals. Please send any requests for Commerce letters of support via email to fedquestions.commerce@state.mn.us, allowing at least 3 weeks for processing, if at all possible. Please include information on what funding opportunity is being applied to, and a short recap of the proposal project being submitted, the total project cost, and how much federal funding is being sought. In the Subject line of the email, please include “Letter of Support request for XXXXX, due date YYYYY” (where XXXXX is the title or section number of the funding request, and YYYYY is when the proposal is due).
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Interacting on the Issues—Last chance to join the MMUA government relations team and peers from your region to discuss the implications of new laws, explore solution opportunities, and network with others committed to protecting, promoting, and strengthening hometown utilities.
There is no cost to attend, however registration is required for planning purposes. Encourage your whole commission to attend and learn about how commissioners can help champion hometown utilities. You can learn more and register by clicking on the links below.
October 3—Detroit Lakes
October 4—Marshall
Cross Training School—Learn how to safely assist in electrical work. The school will be held at the MMUA Training Center in Marshall from October 10-12. Please click here to learn more. Online registration is now closed.
Tree Trimming Workshop—Registration is open. This workshop is intended for any municipal employee responsible for tree work; it’s not just for lineworkers. It will be held at Brainerd Public Utilities from October 17-19. Please click here to learn more and register.
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As always, thank you for your association with MMUA and your commitment to delivering excellent service through locally owned utility assets in your community. Have a great week!
Christian Glanville
Marketing and Member Relations Manager
Direct: 763.746.0727 / Cell: 612.655.0598
Fax: 763.551.0459
cglanville@mmua.org | www.mmua.org
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"To unify, support and serve as a common voice for municipal utilities." | | | | |
