Archive for category: General Information

On June 28th, EMP participants cities gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park for the annual Joint EMP meeting. The event provided valuable insights into various aspects of energy management, funding opportunities, and market updates. Below you can see the topics discussed.

Presentations and Speakers

1. Targeting Funding Opportunities: How to Prepare Your Utility for a Grant Application

Speaker: Brett Waggoner, Governmental Assistance Services

Brett Waggoner, an expert in securing grants for utilities, emphasized the importance of strategic planning and preparation when applying for funding. He discussed best practices for identifying suitable grant opportunities, crafting compelling proposals, and maximizing the chances of success.

2. Understanding Renewable Tax Credits

Speakers: Mitch Walter and Alan Woolever, Gilmore & Bell

Mitch Walter and Alan Woolever from Gilmore & Bell delved into the intricacies of renewable tax credits. They covered topics such as federal and state incentives, eligibility criteria, and the impact of tax credits on renewable energy projects.

3. Distributed Generation Toolkit

Speakers: Greg DuMars and Jill McFarland, KMU (Kansas Municipal Utilities)

Greg DuMars and Jill McFarland presented the Distributed Generation Toolkit, a comprehensive resource for utilities considering distributed energy resources (DERs). They discussed practical implementation, regulatory considerations, and case studies. Attendees gained practical guidance on integrating DERs into their energy portfolios.

4. Energy Market Outlook

Speaker: Abhishek Deshpande, PhD, NextEra Energy Resources

Abhishek Deshpande provided an insightful overview of the energy market landscape. His presentation covered trends, challenges, and opportunities in the evolving energy sector.

5. KMEA Project and Opportunities

Speaker: Neal Daney, KMEA (Kansas Municipal Energy Agency)

Neal Daney highlighted KMEA’s ongoing projects and collaborative opportunities. His presentation emphasized the collective strength of municipal utilities working together to enhance energy reliability and sustainability.

 

We appreciate all the EMP participant cities that were able to attend this meeting! It was great seeing everyone!

 

 

The city of Oberlin officially made electricity May 21st with the two new C175 Cat Generators.  The city staff along with KMEA/Mid-States and Foley Equipment made final adjustments to “light up” the new generation this May.   

This project was first approved by the Oberlin governing body on December 15, 2022.   This is the first generation project utilizing the KMEA financing structure.  This structure allows the city to utilize KMEA to bond the capital for the construction cost.  The city will see that debt obligation as a capacity charge on the monthly bill from KMEA.     

“Oberlin is set for the future with new, user-friendly, and reliable power generation. With partnerships from KMEA, KMEA-Mid States, CAT, “The Bank” and many others, Oberlin will no longer be subjected to lengthy power outages and now has the opportunity to claim 6 MW of inhouse generation as well as retaining $60,000 per year in savings from utilities needed to keep the old plant “run ready”. This strategic move not only ensures uninterrupted power supply but also signifies a significant step towards financial efficiency and sustainability for Oberlin”. Says Oberlin Co-Administrator David Sporn.  KMEA would like to congratulate the city of Oberlin on the investment into the electric utility that will benefit the community for generations to come.

    

The Biden-Harris Administration opened applications today for a historic $1.3 billion funding opportunity for electric vehicle (EV) charging and alternative-fueling infrastructure in urban and rural communities and along designated highways, interstates, and major roadways. This is the largest single grant funding opportunity for EV charging in the nation’s history and it will accelerate public and private investment in clean transportation in the places where people live, work, and play.

This funding opportunity is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s signature EV charging investments: the $2.5 billion Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program and funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program that are set aside for strategic grants to states and local governments to deploy EV chargers. Supported by unifying guidance and technical assistance from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office), the CFI program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is open to state, regional, Tribal, and local government entities.

For more information follow the link: Biden-Harris Administration Opens Applications for $1.3 Billion in Funding to Continue Expanding National Electric Vehicle Charging Network · Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (driveelectric.gov)

 

After four decades of service to the energy industry, Neil retired on May 3rd.

Neil graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from Oklahoma State University. His first job right out of college was in 1985 with the then Missouri Public Service as a load dispatcher. Subsequently, he held many titles, including transmission operator, technical services engineer, energy trader, day-ahead energy trader, and finally manager of wholesale operations. He began his employment with KMEA in 2007 to take the position of Director of Operations. Neil then took the position of Director of Transmission and Security, a title he held until retirement.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is set to open the 2024 notice of funding opportunity for the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastrucute Safety and Moderniztion Grant.  This opportunity will be announced through the www.grants.gov website.  PHMSA held a webinar on May 6^th to review changes and announce the details of the grant.  According to APGA the timeline to apply will be six weeks from the time of formal announcement.  Communities interested in the opportunity and would like to review the slides from the webinar are encouraged to visit the NGDISM website linked above.  If you should have any questions, please contact Kansas Municipal Gas Agency.