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MMUA members in national spotlight with RECs purchase
MMUA associate member Terex Utilities has taken a significant step towards sustainability. In partnership with fellow MMUA members Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) and Watertown Municipal Utilities, Terex recently purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs), and now 100 percent of the electricity that powers their facilities in South Dakota comes from renewable resources. These RECs, created for every megawatt-hour of renewable energy generated, are tracked by the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System.
Terex is one of the top ten energy consumers for Watertown Municipal Utilities. Watertown boasts an impressive 79% carbon-free energy supply, primarily sourced from Missouri River hydropower. “MRES is happy to offer RECs as a way for Watertown customers to offset the portion of their electricity that comes from fossil fuels, making the electric usage, in effect, net-zero carbon,” said MRES Vice President of Member Services and Communications Tim Blodgett.
The move towards RECs supports the journey to net-zero carbon electricity consumption for Watertown customers. To read more, please click here.
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Preston bids farewell to employee retiring after 28 years of service
Deb Ebner retired last week after 28 years at Preston Public Utilities (PPU). Serving for much of that time as the Utility Office Manager, Deb will be missed by colleagues and customers as the friendly face of the utility. “Deb has always been the one who is willing to do what needs to be done,” said PPU general manager Jim Bakken.
Deb had originally planned to retire a year earlier, but leadership changes at the utility required a steady hand to bridge the gap. Indicative of Deb’s character, she agreed to stay an extra year to ensure that the transition happened smoothly. “She did so much more than billing,” said Jim. “From meter readings to locate tickets to work scheduling, Deb found every opportunity to be helpful.”
“I loved coming to work everyday,” said Deb, reflecting on her time at PPU. “There was always a sense that everyone’s got your back. We weren’t just coworkers; we were friends and family.” She said she will always remember when her office flooded and all the utility employees helped clear and dry out her belongings. Deb will remain in her hometown Preston in retirement. MMUA salutes Deb for her commitment to hometown utilities and wishes her good health and happiness in her next stage of life!
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New workforce development programs in MN pave way for more skilled utility professionals
In Minnesota, a wave of new workforce development programs is addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in emerging fields like electrification. Thermo King, known for diesel-powered refrigeration units, is embracing electrification. In partnership with the University of Minnesota, they've pioneered a unique 12-credit engineering electrification graduate certificate, possibly the nation's first. This initiative aligns with Minnesota's broader effort to train workers in electrification and hybrid systems, addressing the skills gap in this evolving field. The certificate program covers the breadth of technologies used to convert traditional mechanical systems into hybrid or electric platforms.
Toro, a key player, sees this university-led training as a valuable pathway for employees to stay current. The program offers credits and aligns with a future master's degree. Industry experts stress the importance of tailored education in an industry undergoing transformative changes. The certificate program includes hands-on experiences, industry insights, and field trips to help employees adapt to electrification's fast-paced evolution.
The Minnesota Center for Electrification Opportunity, hosting an "Electroposium" event, aims to quicken the pace of electrification, stimulate employment growth, and prepare the workforce for opportunities in utilities and renewable energy. To read more about these workforce development initiatives and more, please click here.
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DOE announces cybersecurity competition for municipal utilities
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced an opportunity for electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities to compete for nearly $9 million in cash prizes and cybersecurity technical assistance through the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program’s Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) 1 Prize Competition found at https://www.herox.com/ACT1Prize. The ACT 1 Prize is the first in what will be a series of prizes from the RMUC Program.
There will be three increasingly competitive phases in the ACT 1 Prize that will challenge eligible utilities to identify risks, implement solutions to harden their systems against threats, and improve their overall cybersecurity posture. There will be up to 55 winners in Phase 1 that will receive $50,000 in cash and up to 60 or 120 hours of technical assistance.
All ACT 1 Prize competitors will be required to complete two webinars scheduled for September 27 and October 11, 2023. During the webinars the RMUC Program will provide detailed information on how to apply. Both webinars will be recorded, so if you can’t attend, you will still be able to participate.
Phase 1 submission packages are due November 29, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. ET. For more information, join RMUC's email list by sending a request to CESER.RMUC@hq.doe.gov.
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MN Department of Commerce announces revamped website for funding opportunities
Information on funding for energy related projects is now being shared online by the Division of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce (MNDOC).
The New Energy Programs page joins with the existing Federal Funding opportunities page to provide additional insight for Minnesotans on new state funding for energy opportunities and programs. Details on the new rebates, grants, and other programs will be added to the site as the programs are developed by MNDOC to make those funds accessible to all Minnesotans.
You are encouraged to bookmark this new page for future reference: New Energy Programs / Minnesota Department of Commerce - Energy (mn.gov); updates are currently included for the EV Rebate Program and Heat Pump Rebate Program. Please plan to check back frequently for future updates; you can also stay current by signing up for MNDOC's newsletter at this link.
2023 Energy Future Grants (EFG) Creating a Community-Led Energy Future
- DE-FOA-0002870
- Deadline: Full Application due 9.30.2023.
DOE's State and Community Energy Program issued a funding opportunity with $27 million in financial and technical assistance to support local, state, and tribal government-led partnership efforts advancing clean energy program innovation. Community-led EFG projects foster integrated clean energy solutions in and across the power, transportation, and building sectors. Approximately 50 multi-jurisdictional teams, with ideally 3-4 (or more) state, local, and tribal government partners on the team, are expected to receive awards of $500,000. Teams will also partner with community benefit organizations to turn innovative, novel or early action ideas into solutions that address barriers to clean energy deployment and provide measurable benefits to disadvantaged communities.
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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Developing a Highly Effective Safety Culture—Following the popularity of the summer sessions, MMUA is going back on the road with more regional workshops. You can learn more and register by clicking on the links below.
September 18—New Ulm
Act now: the deadline to register is September 7.
Interacting on the Issues—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.
September 18—New Ulm
September 27—Grand Rapids
October 3—Detroit Lakes
October 4—Marshall
Stepping Into Leadership—Designed for those who are new to a supervisory role or current supervisors and leaders who wish to improve their leadership skills. Participants will have 56 hours of instruction delivered in a mix of in-person and virtual settings over a 14-month period. The new cohort will begin on October 4. You can learn more and register by visiting the program's webpage.
Cross Training School—Learn how to safely assist in electrical work. Register by September 15 for the best rate. The school will be held at the MMUA Training Center in Marshall from October 10-12. Please click here to learn more. Register by September 15 for the best rate.
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." | | | | |
