News of the week

New Ulm's The Journal features MMUA legislative meeting

Following the regional meeting hosted by New Ulm Public Utilities on September 18, The Journal (New Ulm) published an article recapping the discussion on the impact of the 2023 legislative session on Minnesota's municipal utilities.

The "Interacting on the Issues" regional meetings were led by CEO Karleen Kos and the MMUA government relations team, and they were hosted by hometown utilities across the state. The presentations covered the impact on municipal utilities of various bills from the 2023 legislative session, including energy policy, water quality, paid leave, salary caps, and more. The meetings also covered the important role that commissioners and city leadership perform in safeguarding municipal utilities from dissolution. Across the state, the sessions were well received by membership as an opportunity to interact with leaders from other cities and to share stories about how policy is affecting constituents.

A reporter from The Journal attended the New Ulm meeting and spoke with staff afterward. The article captures highlights from Government Relations Director Kent Sulem's presentation as well as reflections from CEO Karleen Kos on why MMUA is soliciting feedback from its membership on these complex legislative issues.

MMUA plans to host regional legislative recaps annually. If your community is interested in hosting in 2024, please contact Karleen Kos.

To read more, click here.

Minnesota's solar program adjusts focus to low-income customers amid legislative mandates

In response to legislative demands, Xcel Energy is reorienting its Minnesota Solar Rewards program to cater to lower-income customers. The recent state law requires a significant portion, 50%, of the program's budget to be allocated to income-qualified participants. This shift, while narrowing the scope of funded projects, enables eligible households to receive substantial upfront incentives for solar installations, helping to offset initial installation costs.

While some industry members express concerns about the practical implications of this adjustment, the move underlines the broader legislative push towards promoting equitable access to renewable energy resources for underserved communities. The evolving landscape presents both challenges and opportunities as stakeholders strive to navigate the changing dynamics of Minnesota's solar energy initiatives.

To read more, click here.

T&O trade show and early-bird rate deadlines on Friday, November 10

We want to see you at the Technical and Operations Conference, and this is the last opportunity to get the best rate! Join us from December 5-7 at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud to talk and learn about leadership, industry advancements, and more.

For the best rate, register by this Friday, November 10. The deadline for online registration is November 17. Associate members should consider becoming an exhibitor at the T&O trade show. Trade show online registration closes this Friday! Please reach out to Christian Glanville with any questions.

ASHRAE releases guide for decarbonizing building operations

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently unveiled the "Grid-Interactive Buildings for Decarbonization: Design and Operation Resource Guide," aimed at optimizing carbon reduction through enhanced building-grid interactions. ASHRAE emphasized the need for a dynamic, reciprocal relationship between buildings and the grid to facilitate greater adaptability to fluctuating grid conditions and varying carbon emission rates. With a focus on commercial and multifamily buildings, the guide presents best practices and operational guidelines for three key integration value streams: carbon emission reduction, energy optimization, and grid-resilience enhancement.

According to ASHRAE, the guide is inclusive of relevant insights for the industrial and residential sectors, offering operational recommendations for both existing and new buildings. Kent Peterson, Chair of ASHRAE's Task Force For Building Decarbonization, highlighted the pivotal role of grid-interactive buildings in mitigating overall demand and greenhouse gas emissions. The organization's comprehensive resources, including technical materials, videos, and publications, are readily accessible on the Task Force For Building Decarbonization webpage.

To read more, click here.

Funding opportunities

Apply now for state competitiveness fund matching grant program for energy-related IIJA and IRA federal funding programs

State funds are now available to assist qualifying local units of government by covering some or all the matching requirements needed to access federal discretionary grant funding for energy projects.

During the 2023 legislative session, the Legislature approved $100 million in general funds for the Minnesota Department of Commerce to award grants of up to $15 million to eligible entities, including cities, to enhance their chances of receiving federal funds under the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for energy-related projects.

The Department of Commerce will open two concurrent application periods. The quick response round is for applications that have already submitted a federal funding proposal but wish to seek assistance for covering the required matching funds. The standard response round is for applicants who have not yet submitted a federal funding proposal.

The deadline for the quick response round is November 27, 2023, and the deadline for the standard response round is January 15, 2024.

Learn more about the program and apply for funding through the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s webpage.

Looking ahead

Transformer School

Registration is open for Transformer School, which will be held from January 23-26. This school has been rescheduled from December due to instructor availability.

Transformer School will cover three-phase transformer connections. Click here for more information and registration. The Pre-Conference will cover basic single-phase transformer connections and theory. Please note: separate registration is required for the pre-conference. Register by December 21 for the best rate.

Meter School

Meter School registration is open. The school, held from February 6-9 at the MMUA Training Center in Marshall, is your once-a-year opportunity to obtain electric metering instruction and hands-on application, installation, and troubleshooting. Participants select from two course options, dependent upon skill/work experience: Basic/intermediate or Advanced.

• Basic/intermediate: ideal for those with little metering experience. This track builds on the concepts covered in the Pre-Conference.
• Advanced: intended for those who steadily work with meters and wiring meter installations.

This course will cover a wide range of topics including why we have electric meters and the core principles behind single and three-phase metering, mounting and wiring meter sockets on a variety of set ups, voltage transformers, testing procedures, metering hazards, safety procedures and precautions, and more.

A pre-conference is also held in conjunction with the school. The pre-conference is an ideal introductory course for those with little metering experience or as a "refresher" on basic metering. Separate registration is required for the pre-conference.

Register before January 5 for the best rate.

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

To download a copy of this email, click here.