10/6 – Penn State Commits to 20% Energy Reduction

Monday, October 6th 2014

From Penn State’s official blog:

steidle1Penn State has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge and pledged to reduce its building portfolio’s energy use by 20 percent over the next decade. With a commitment of 28 million square feet, Penn State becomes the largest university in the program, topping Michigan State (20 million square feet) and the University of Virginia (15 million).

Penn State is joining more than 200 Better Buildings Challenge partners from local governments, school districts and universities, multifamily housing to commercial real estate, health care and manufacturing companies. Partners have committed more than 3 billion square feet and 600 manufacturing plants and facilities to energy-efficiency upgrades.

“As a longstanding leader in sustainable energy practices, I’m pleased that Penn State has joined the federal government, businesses and academic partners in this ambitious challenge,” said Penn State President Eric Barron. “Penn Staters have been very supportive of our sustainability efforts, and I look forward to a united effort to achieve this important goal that will benefit generations to come.”

Read more by clicking here.

10/3 – Job Alert: Multifamily Technical Analyst at Magrann Associates

Friday, October 3rd 2014

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

Job Description: Technical Analyst (Multifamily)

CaptureThe Technical Analyst (Multifamily) is responsible for completing performance audits for existing multifamily buildings, including field assessments, utility bill analysis, energy modeling, cost estimating, financial analysis, and report preparation. Performs visual verification of installed measures following audits. Acts as a technical contact for clients and as an interface to program agencies. Trains and coordinates administrative and field staff in the execution of appropriate audit tasks.

Principal Duties: (detailed list of duties ranked by importance or frequency)
• Coordinate aspects of completion of audits on multifamily buildings and apartment complexes;
• Perform on-site assessments, including detailed data collection and performance testing;
• Obtain utility usage data from clients and analyze to isolate high usage components/units;
• Coordinate or complete energy modeling using appropriate program-approved software;
• Coordinate or complete estimation of savings and implementation cost for potential upgrade measures;
• Compose audit reports summarizing findings, financial analysis, and recommendations;
• Perform site visits to verify appropriate installation of recommended measures;
• Obtain post-implementation utility usage information and report actual savings;
▪ Monitor new products and energy industry related developments pertinent to audits;
• Monitor incentive program opportunities and assist in development of appropriate product offerings;
• Assist in development of operation tools to improve quality and reduce time to complete audits;
• Train and direct administrative and field staff to allow them to cost-effectively perform appropriate audit
tasks;
• Conduct peer reviews of audits completed by coworkers;
• Responsible for maintenance of company equipment and vehicle (if provided);
• Other duties as assigned by MaGrann Associates.

Supplemental Information:
Salaried, exempt position;
Annual Performance and Merit Review;
Normal business hours 8:30am – 5:00pm with flexibility to accommodate company, client and event schedules as
needed;
Based at the Mt. Laurel, NJ office of MaGrann Associates with some related travel to client locations;
Requires suitable and reliable transportation, valid driver’s license and insurance.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree (B.S. in engineering preferred), Certified Energy Manager, or equivalent experience, with at least 1 year of experience in multifamily energy analysis, single family home performance audits, or commercial/industrial energy analysis. Must have a strong understanding of building envelope, mechanical and control systems, lighting, and ventilation. Computer skills must include Microsoft Office; DOE2-based building modeling applications experience preferred. Must have excellent written, verbal, presentation and organizational skills. Must have or be capable of attaining BPI Multifamily Building Analyst certification within 6 months of hire. Must be self directed with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal resources and external clients, customers and stakeholders.

Interested candidates should email resumes directly to Pat Bunn, Operations Manager at patbunn@magrann.com.

 

10/1 – SEI Staff Tours Marcellus Shale Country

Wednesday, October 1st 2014

Check out some photos from yesterday’s tour of Marcellus Shale drilling in Susquehanna County, hosted by Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation and the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry.

9/24 – Job Alert: Associate, Communications & Programs at KEEA

Wednesday, September 24th 2014

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

Title: Energy Lending Specialist at the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance

Job Description
Screen shot 2012-04-19 at 11.12.01 PMThe Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA) is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(6) corporation dedicated to promoting the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries in Pennsylvania. KEEA advocates on behalf of energy efficiency and renewable energy professionals on the local, state, and federal levels. By representing the interests of the clean energy industry in Pennsylvania, KEEA is growing the market for energy efficiency and helping the Keystone State secure a prosperous, sustainable tomorrow.

KEEA works along with its 501(c)(3) sister organization, the KEEA Energy Education Fund with the mission to increase the energy efficiency of Pennsylvania’s buildings through advocacy, education, and training.

KEEA & KEEF have an ambitious energy policy agenda to modernize utilities and energy markets in Pennsylvania. We have shown tremendous entrepreneurial growth over the last several years and now seek additional team members to help us take the next steps.

Position Summary: The Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA) and KEEA Energy Education Fund are soliciting applications for a full-time Associate, Communications & Programs.

Responsibilities: The Associate will be the ‘chief creative officer’ and ‘chief communications officer’ in the organization to design and market programs and membership to achieve KEEA/KEEF program objectives.

Reports to
Executive Director, Senior Policy Associate.

Oversees
Consultants, interns, and volunteers.

Project Focus
This role has two major communications-based functions: programs and membership. Both of these involve constant outreach and project coordination, leveraging web, phone, in person and other communication platforms. In other respects, these two major functions are quite different. In terms of the first capacity, the Associate drives KEEA/KEEF’s program initiatives to advance energy efficiency in buildings in Pennsylvania. This involves managing initiatives that are communication-focused, reaching business, policy and other leaders across Pennsylvania to support energy efficiency, particularly among electric utility programs. These initiatives include hosting an annual energy policy conference and schools award program, as well as, other initiatives.

In the second capacity, the Associate will design marketing programs to convey the value proposition of membership and maintain regular communications with energy efficiency business members including developing and sharing creative e-mail and newsletter updates on KEEA/KEEF activities across the organization and Pennsylvania-specific policy and market developments. The Associate is responsible for facilitating member acquisition, retention, and development.

Other Responsibilities
Event management, coordination of webinars, website content creation, CRM management, technology strategy.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree. 2-5 years of professional experience and/or degree in education, marketing, journalism, public relations, business, energy or other relevant field.

The ideal candidate will have many of the following personal and professional skills to be successful in this role:
• Creative problem solving abilities, including in the development and execution of marketing programs.
• Strong narrative and persuasive writing skills.
• Strong ability to communicate technical, as well as, non-technical information clearly.
• Strong technical research, analytical and quantitative skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as, on teams.
• Familiarity with economics, public policy, energy efficiency utility programs and technology, and climate change policy.
• Interest in energy efficiency and other advanced energy.
• Ability to foster and grow relationships with key partners.
• Vision and a tireless work ethic.
• Flexibility to wear many hats in an entrepreneurial organization.
• Proficiency in Drupal web design, Vertical Response web newsletters, Sales Force customer relationship management and Google applications.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Powerpoint, Excel.
• Demonstrated ability in writing funding proposals and reports.
• Successful training and management of volunteers, interns, & consultants.
• Experience in media platform development.

Workplace Policy: KEEA is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion and hires on merit.

Compensation
$40,000 – $50,000 commensurate with experience. Competitive benefit package. Successful candidate is expected to remain in and grow in the organization for at least two years, pending funding.

To Apply
Please send your complete application (resume, cover letter, two relevant professional writing samples or other work products) to Brian Kauffman, Executive Director at bkauffman@keealliance.org. No phone calls please. Please reference where you learned of this opportunity. Thank you.

9/21 – Urban Outfitters to Install PA’s Largest Rooftop Solar Array

Sunday, September 21st 2014


urban-outfitters-logo
Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters is constructing a 1 million square foot e-commerce fulfillment center in Lancaster County, and thanks to a large Economic Growth Initiative grant from the commonwealth, will be adding what will be Pennsylvania’s largest rooftop Solar 53d15110d63f7.imagePV array.

From Keystone Edge:

“Solar will provide up to half of the company’s energy needs at the site.

URBN, as the corporate entity of the Philadelphia-based retail giant is known, is eagerly anticipating the 970,000-square-foot, $110 million center. The project is on schedule and on budget, according to several press reports. When fully operational next year, it will employ 500, even more at peak times.

URBN purchased the 52-acre tract last year in a newly created Keystone Opportunity Zone. The site is adjacent to the company’s much smaller distribution center that opened it 1996; that facility employs 117. This summer, the state announced that it had awarded a $3 million Economic Growth Initiative grant to the company for the solar array.”

Read more at KeystoneEdge.com

9/15 – Poll: Who Is Willing to Pay for Renewable Energy?

Monday September 15th, 2014

From The Atlantic’s Citylab:

lead_largeIt’s easy for people to say they support renewable energy. But if their eagerness to be green meant spending more money, would they really?

More than 1,600 Americans were asked just that in the Atlantic Media/Siemens State of the City Poll—as well as a few other questions about energy use—and their responses show that there’s a significant divide when it comes to a willingness to pay higher costs for a more sustainable power supply. It turns out the most die-hard fans of kicking fossil fuels can be found, perhaps in no great surprise, among the youngest Americans, the most educated, and those who identify as Democrats.

Read more at The Atlantic.

9/6 – 9MW Coatesville Solar Initiative Approved

Saturday, September 6th 2014

CSI_logo-web-225We are thrilled to share the news that the Coatesville Solar Initiative has received final approval from the Coatesville School District, meaning our friends at Keare’s Electrical Contracting will begin construction on this 9.1MW solar PV project soon!

From the Daily Local News:

“Years of negotiations and anxious anticipation for a final decision, Coatesville Area School Board members approved the remaining agreements with Coatesville Solar Initiative, Inc. for the development of a solar field.

“I can’t express how happy I am to come to this point,” school board president Neil Campbell said before the board approved three items related to the solar project. “It is my hope that in the next few months you are going to see a major construction project that will run through this main campus to that build, which will benefit this community.”

School board members unanimously approved a 25-year power purchase agreement at a fixed rate of about $.0765 per kilowatt hour for the first three years of the agreement. The remaining 22 years, the school district would pay “a discounted market price subject to specified floor and ceiling prices thereafter,” according to the school board agenda.

The school district will never pay more than the ceiling price and if those rates fall between the floor and ceiling, the school district will receive a 10 percent discount on energy.

Projected costs over the next 25 years show in 2039 the school district could pay about 3 cents less per kilowatt hours using solar verses “grid” energy – projected to reach $.16 per kilowatt hour.

The CSI solar project is a 9.1 megawatt solar farm that will be installed on 46 acres of property just south of Dogwood Lane and Scott Drive and north of Coatesville Area High School in Caln Township. The school district was expected to purchase about 6 megawatts of power for the high school.

The board also approved granting CSI an easement through the high school campus to gain access to the construction site and an agreement for CSI to provide the school district with “added benefits” – installing outdoor lighting, providing the school district with an electric car and three charging stations for district use, solar education kiosks and an education center – at no cost to the school district.

CASD is receiving a onetime payment of $125,000 as a part of the easement agreement.

School district’s special legal counsel from Rhoads & Sinon, said the installation of lighting at the high school and Friendship Elementary must be done within 6 months of the “commercial operation date of the solar facility.” The education center, charging kiosks and electric vehicle must be provided to the school district in 36 months of the operation date.

According to Coatesville Solar Initiative (CSI) representatives working on the project, $15 million will be spent locally, and a local jobs program was developed to hire two or three residents who live in the nearby Carver Court development.

CSI representatives said not much has changed from the original agreement presented last year. They said the per kilowatt hour price and the additional benefits for the school district remain the same.”

Read more on the Coatesville Solar Initiative website.

8/22 – Pennsylvania Gas Production Continues to Break Records

Friday, August 22nd 2014

From StateImpact PA:

IMG_4654-620x348“Drillers in Pennsylvania continue to produce record-breaking amounts of natural gas, according to new numbers released this week from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Companies operating in Pennsylvania produced nearly 2 trillion cubic feet of gas in the first half of 2014.

If they continue at this pace, Pennsylvania is on track to produce 4 trillion cubic feet this year– or about 16 percent of what the entire United States consumes annually.”

Read more at StateImpact PA:

8/15 – Job Alert: Energy Lending Specialist at AFC First

Wednesday, August 15th 2014

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

temp_file_afc_logo_color1Title: Energy Lending Specialist

EnergyLoan® Consumer Lender – Download Job Description

AFC First Financial Corporation, a Lehigh Valley, PA based private financial institution which specializes in consumer lending and program management for residential energy efficiency projects nationwide is looking for a talented, detail-oriented and upbeat person for the position of Energy Lending Specialist (Consumer Lending).

The ideal candidate has solid experience in process, production and customer service and who has demonstrated success in working in a team environment processing and closing consumer loans and/or residential mortgage loans.

The primary goal is to deliver an exceptional service experience to contractors and consumers in a consistent and timely fashion.

AFC First, founded in 1947, is the administrator of state and utility energy efficiency programs nationwide, in partnership with over 6,000 contractors. Programs include Pennsylvania’s Keystone Home Energy Loan Program, Efficiency Maine, Illinois Energy Loan, Connecticut Solar Lease Program and the national EnergyLoan and HUD PowerSaver programs. It is a team-oriented, collaborative company environment with direct access to executive management.

Job Description:

This position is a key part of AFC First’s EnergyLoan operations team and reports to the Vice President of Production. The primary goal is to effectively process and underwrite unsecured consumer loans for energy efficiency home improvements, providing accurate decisions and an exceptional level of service to consumers and contractors.

Principal Duties Include:

  • Responsible for origination, processing and closing of unsecured consumer loans in an automated environment. Works as part of a team handling contractor, sponsor and customer relationships.
  • Ability to work as part of a team, to build and maintain a culture of exceptional customer service, handle production flow within established deadlines and work to error-free quality standards.
  • Responsible for meeting established loan processing timelines and quality targets. Maintain high volume and quality in loan production. Review and analyze the effectiveness of the programs, recommend change as needed and works as part of the implementation team.
  • Work with the Senior Credit Officer to ensure that loan decisions are within established credit matrices appropriate to the loan type.
  • Effectively communicate lending status and decisions with consumers and contractors, providing friendly, knowledgeable and extraordinary service to all parties. Accurately maintain all records in loan processing database in a timely fashion, efficiently process applications and produce accurate and correct documents.
  • Ensure compliance for all lending procedures including bank and/or regulatory procedures, policies, requirements, laws, rules, and/or regulations. Ensures compliance with company policies and procedures, and makes suggestions for improvements to procedures.
  • Ensure that all interactions with customers, sponsors and contractors meet world class customer service standards.
  • Other duties as assigned as part of a dynamic and growing company with a reputation for integrity and excellence since 1947.

This position is a key part of the AFC team. You will work closely with senior management and be involved in the product planning and implementation processes. The position is based at AFC First’s headquarters in the AFC First Energy Center on Brookside Road in West Allentown/Lower Macungie Township.

Technical Skills and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
  • Minimum three-five years experience in consumer lending, with knowledge of consumer lending laws and regulations
  • Exceptional commitment to world-class customer service
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Exceptional interpersonal, organizational and teamwork skills
  • Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines
  • Ability to use standard Microsoft Office applications and an ability to quickly learn new IT platforms and technology
  • Available to work regular hours Monday through Friday, plus additional hours as necessary

Full-time, salaried position. Compensation DOE.

Please forward resume to William Walsh, Vice President of Production at wwalsh@afcfirst.com.

8/11 – PPL Proposes New Pennsylvania Transmission Line

Monday, August 11th 2014

From StateImpactPA:

131776-e1407264527926‘PPL Electric Utilities is looking to build a new multi-billion dollar transmission line to keep up with natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale and the changing landscape of power generation.

If approved by regulators, the high-voltage power line is still a decade away but PPL has started planning.

The transmission line would start in Western Pennsylvania and run 725 miles through the state’s Northern Tier, into New Jersey and New York, as well as southward into Maryland.

The project would cost between $4 and 6 billion, according to PPL spokesman Paul Wirth.

“The gas industry is one of the impetuses behind it,” he says. “The other is that by starting in Western Pennsylvania we can bring existing supplies of lower-cost power—fueled by renewables and other sources—into this region.”’

Read the full article at StateImpactPA.