$37 Million for Small Business Research and Technology

Source: Wider Opportunities for Women http://www.wowonline.org/

The funding will emphasize investment in clean energy technologies and job creation. The funding is available through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs departments of DOE.

DOE’s SBIR/STTR programs will target U.S. companies with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering are encouraged to apply.

Applications are currently being accepted for topic areas related to improving energy efficiency including:

• Advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs
• Water usage in electric power generation and industrial processes
• Power plant cooling
• Advanced gas turbines and materials
• Sensors, controls, and wireless networks
• Advanced water power technology development
• Smart controllers for smart grid applications
• Advanced solar technologies
• Advanced industrial technologies development
• Advanced manufacturing processes

The deadline for submission of applications is September 4, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST. Approximately $8.5 million is expected to be available for new Phase I awards. Successful applicants may receive up to $150,000 for a Phase I grant for a period of six months to demonstrate the feasibility of the ideas that appear to have commercial potential.

Read more information about DOE’s SBIR and STTR programs.
For more information read the press release at: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7824.htm.

Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (48C)

CCIA members and friends: If you are or will be manufacturing, you might be interested in this announcement.

Christine (Chris) Shapard
Executive Director
Colorado Cleantech Industry Association
www.ColoradoCleantech.com

"The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (ARRA) authorizes the Department of Treasury to award $2.3 billion in tax credits for qualified investments in advanced energy projects, to support new, expanded, or re-equipped domestic manufacturing facilities. The Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) was authorized in Section 1302 of ARRA and requires the Secretary of Treasury to work in consultation with the Secretary of Energy. The MTC is also referred to as Section 48C of the Internal Revenue Code.

The goal of the MTC is to grow the domestic manufacturing industry for clean energy, thereby supporting the larger goals of ARRA to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In short, the MTC will help secure American leadership in the clean energy sector. The MTCprovides a 30% credit for investments in new, expanded, or re-equipped advanced energy manufacturing projects. Up to $2.3 billion in MTCs will be allocated for advanced energy projects, which will support total capital investments of almost $7.7 billion in new renewable and advanced energy manufacturing projects.

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will review and make determinations on the eligibility and merit of MTC applications. Applicants will receive tax credits based on the expected commercial viability of their project and the ranking of their project relative to other projects.

Rankings based on: expected job creation, reduction of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, technological innovation, and ability to have the project up and running quickly. Technology, geographic & project size diversity, and regional economic development will also be considered when rating projects.

The application period opens August 14, 2009. Preliminary applications are due to DOE September 16, 2009, followed by final applications being due to DOE and IRS on October 16, 2009. By January 15, 2010, IRS will certify or reject applications, and notify the certified projects with the approved amount of their tax credit. Awardees will receive acceptance agreements from the IRS by April 16, 2010.

Credits will be allocated until the program funding ($2.3 billion) is exhausted. Subsequent allocation periods will depend on remaining funds. Projects must be completed within 4 years of their tax credit acceptance. Eligible investment credits cover future expenditures and do not award past investment. All other applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code are in force. Section 1302 of the ARRA describes the following advanced energy facilities, for which manufacturing projects would be eligible:

• Technologies that create energy from renewable resources (sun, wind, geothermal and other renewable resources)
• Energy storage technologies (fuel cells, microturbines or other energy storage systems used in electric vehicles)
• Advanced transmission technologies that support renewable generation (including storage)
  Renewable fuel refining or blending technologies
• Energy conservation technologies (advanced lighting, smart grid)
  Plug-in electric vehicles & vehicle components (motors, generators)
• Property to capture and sequester carbon dioxide
• Other property designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

It should be noted this tax credit does not support energy generation projects, but rather the manufacturing facilities that support generation and conservation.

Additional Information
ARRA Statute - Section 48C <http://www.energy.gov/recovery/documents/ARRA_Statute-Section48C.pdf> (pdf) Federal Notice 48C <http://www.energy.gov/recovery/documents/Federal_Notice_48C.pdf> (pdf) IRS Application Form SF3468 <http://www.energy.gov/recovery/documents/IRS_application_form_sf3468.pdf> (pdf)

Applications

48C Preliminary Application <http://www.energy.gov/recovery/documents/48C_Preliminary_Application.doc> (MS Word) Applicant Data Input Spreadsheet <http://www.energy.gov/recovery/documents/Applicant_Data_Input_Spreadsheet.xls> (MS Excel) Submit questions to <mailto:48Cquestions@hq.doe.gov> Submit applications to <mailto:48capplications@hq.doe.gov>"

As with any tax credit, rebate or other financial information contained in this blog, be sure to check with your financial advisor about any implications specific to your business.

REpowerUSA Corp. moves corporate headquarters

"REpower USA Corp., the wholly-owned subsidiary of German wind energy manufacturer REpower Systems AG (WKN 617703), will have a new US headquarters location beginning in early September. The US office for all administrative, sales and project management functions, previously located in Portland, Oregon, will move to Denver, Colorado. The company will make the official announcement at a press conference in Denver today which will be attended by the CEO of REpower USA, Steve Dayney, by the Governor of Colorado, Bill Ritter, and by the Mayor of the City and County of Denver, John Hickenlooper... REpower is also one of the first companies to take advantage of Colorado's new Job Growth Incentive Fund (House Bill 09-1001), demonstrating that even in these tough times, Colorado is an attractive place for companies to do business and for employees and their families to live, work and play..." [source: MDEDC]

Weatherization Program

The Colorado Governor's Energy Offices provides free energy efficiency services based on income. How does this program apply to businesses? One way is if your business has employees that are income-eligible for this program, you can help them reduce their utility costs--akin to giving them a raise without sacrificing your bottom line--and help improve the health and welfare of those employees. In addition, any efficiency-related building costs that are not covered under this program may be eligible for grants.

For employees who don't qualify under the income guidelines of this program, they may eligible for tax credits. More information about these credits are available on GEO's website.

Business Retention Surveys

Staff of the Denver Office of Economic Development are currently conducting business expansion and retention surveys in Denver. These surveys are intended not only to assess Denver's business climate but also to examine the compiled results to determine how we can better meet the needs of the business community.

Surveys can be conducted one-on-one (please contact me for an appointment), over the phone (720.913.1657), via email (please place "BRE" in subject line) or online. All Denver businesses are highly encouraged to participate in this survey and provide their much needed input.

Xcel Energy Launches Incentives for IT Managers to Go Green

Source: GreenerComputing, Published July 13, 2009

"MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Xcel Energy is hoping to lighten the load on its grid by encouraging IT managers to implement energy efficiency programs.

The company's new Data Center Efficiency program, currently available in Minnesota and Colorado, will offer significant incentives to cutting the energy drawn by servers, storage and cooling.

Xcel will pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of a company's data center energy efficiency study, and will refund up to $400 per kilowatt saved by the data center energy efficiency projects implemented by a firm..." [link to remainder of this article]

For more green-IT related information, visit my Delicious green-IT bookmarks.

Denver intends to solicit proposals

NOFA DESCRIPTION: The City and County of Denver intends to solicit proposals for the following program areas:

• Housing Development and Housing Services
• Neighborhood Development and Neighborhood Services
• Economic/Business Development and Services
  

For more information on this Notice of Funding Availability, please visit milehigh.com.

For other procurement opportunities, please see my read my other related posts.

Army Venture Capital Fund

(Source: CleanTech.org)

"Clearly modeled after the CIA's In-Q-Tel fund (http://www.in-q-tel.com/), the U.S. Army issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) to solicit proposals for the operation and management of a not-for-profit, Venture Capital Corporation (VCC). The objective is to improve the business relationships between the entrepreneurial community of high technology innovators and the U.S. Army. This is expected to accelerate the transition of innovative technology into the Army by creating greater awareness on the Army's part concerning commercial technology development and in the entrepreneurial community concerning the Army's potential as a technology customer willing to accept innovative solutions to its requirements. The focus initially will be on companies and programs developing power and energy technology applicable to the requirements of the individual soldier.

The BAA was issued Aug 29, and the deadline for proposals was just extended from Sept 30 to Oct 15. UFTO will follow this story with great interest. (I am advising a local VC firm who plans to submit a proposal.) "

Rocky Mountain Clean Tech Open (RMCTO)

"The Rocky Mountain Clean Tech Open (RMCTO)is both a business plan competition for early stage clean tech startups, and a thriving community of clean tech entrepreneurship. The competition enables entrepreneurs to turn clean technology ideas into thriving businesses. Events and workshops build a vibrant network of clean tech companies and supporters in the Rocky Mountain region which is comprised of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Montana."

Stimulus Funding

In an effort to learn about various ARRA funding opportunities available, here's a list of the various sites to monitor:

• Recovery.org
• Recovery.gov
• City of Denver
• State of Colorado
• Governor's Energy Office
• StimulusColorado.org
• ACEEE Energy Stimulus Jobs Impact Calculator (.xls)

DOE Issues New Loan Guarantee Solicitations For Innovative Energy Projects And New Transmission

E-bulletin from Hogan & Hartson's Focus On Climate and Clean Energy, Hogan & Hartson LLP, 07.31.2009

On July 29, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued two solicitations for roughly $30 billion in loan guarantees: one for innovative technologies and a second, smaller solicitation for transmission projects. The solicitations are generally similar to those issued by DOE in 2008 under the Title XVII loan guarantee program, but there are some important differences designed to enable both DOE and the applicants to understand more quickly the likelihood a guarantee will be granted. Reportedly, in the fall, DOE will offer a further loan guarantee opportunity to projects employing established renewable energy technologies that have bank financing in hand...[link to article]

Discarded E-Waste Could Be Put to Work in Medicine

Interesting article by GreenerComputing Staff, published July 14, 2009:

YORK, UK -- An announcement from the University of York's Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence offers a highly innovative potential use for e-waste, one that also brings a cradle-to-cradle mindset to disposing of technology...[link to remainder of this article]

Carbon Calculators

Ok, ok I'll admit, I'm a carbon calculator collector. There could be worse hobbies. To be honest, I'm not sure why there are so many and have yet to compare them. But for those of you who are searching, here's a list of a few I've come across (so far). Happy calculating!

Denver's 'green' affordable housing standard effective 1/1/10

Effective January 1, 2010 the Denver Office of Economic Development will require developers (who seek its funds to help build affordable housing in Denver) to meet the Enterprise Communities (EC), Green Communities (GC) criteria.

These criteria are intended to "significantly reduce the impact on water quality, air pollution, global warming and the depletion of natural resources – while simultaneously lowering operating costs and maintenance needs", as well as contribute to the physical health and well-being of people.

Information about grants and loans for green building can also be found on EC's site.

Efforts are underway to provide developer applicants with informational resources to help them meet GC criteria, such as information about green vendors, suppliers, and products. The State of Colorado's green vendor product list (in development), and EPA's Energy Service & Product Providers list are potential sources to procure products for building green. As a vendor of these products, you may want to look into how to get on these lists.

More information about general green building practices, companies, and products can be found on my Delicious green-building list of websites.