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Public Power Weekly of retail electric costs annually, Kiss said. Including a 1990 energy efficiency bond issue of $11 million and direct investments by customers, about $30 million has been invested in energy efficiency efforts sponsored by BED over the last 19 years, he said. During 2008, the municipal utility spent a total of $1.5 million on energy efficiency programs and participating customers spent an additional $ l . l million to fund energy efficiency investments in their facilities, Kiss said. Burlington's energy efficiency efforts "have been matched by a commitment to renewable electricity generation," Kiss said. "Currently 67% of Burlington's electricity is generated through renewable energy sources." Last year, with approval of Burlington voters, BED installed a nitrous oxide reduction unit at its 50-MW wood-burning McNeil Generating Station, which has allowed the utility to sell renewable energy credits, he said. The sale of the credits is expected to pay for the costs of installation of the nitrous oxide reduction unit within about three years. Burlington is actively working toward establishing a Clean Energy Assessment District, which will allow homeowners to fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with 15- or 20-year loans, where repayment is connected to the property, not the owner, Kiss said. The program would significantly strengthen the incentive for homeowners to make energy improvements, which give a return on investment over a longer period of time than the typical five- or seven-year home improvement loan, he said. Burlington received a grant of $34,250 from APPA's DEED program for the effort to form the Clean Energy Assessment District. If the home is sold, both the benefit and the obligation to repay go with the property. The city also is proposing to establish the Burlington District Energy Service, which would capture waste heat from the McNeil wood-fired plant to provide heating, hot water (and potentially cooling) to residences, institutions and businesses, Kiss said. A Senate climate change bill "should provide for direct funding of municipalities, including full funding of the [Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant] program, to ensure continued and sustained funding for local energy efficiency and conservation efforts," Kiss said. -ROBERT VA_R.ELA DQE announces more stimulus fundin opportunities The Energy Department has issued two more funding opportunity announcements for stimulus funds that may be of interest to public power communities. One is for $22 million for utility-scale community renewable energy projects in up to four communities, and the other offers $10.5 million http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/printFriendly.asp?projlD=3214 (9 of 21)7/28/2009 3:37:08 AM