EECBG & SEP Northeast Regional Peer Exchange Meeting

At this meeting we look forward to providing you with:

• Discussions on EECBG & SEP best practices, featuring your peers;
• A forum to begin thinking and planning for the period beyond ARRA, by creating self-sustaining programs and filling funding gaps;
• Access to DOE and technical subject matter experts; and
• Networking opportunities with your fellow grantees.

At these meetings you can:

• Share your experiences with other EECBG & SEP grantees implementing similar projects – What has worked well?  What have the challenges been?  How did you overcome them?
• Make lasting connections with other energy practitioners in your region, to continue to share your knowledge and collaborate on future projects and programs.
• Return to your office with renewed energy and insight.

All EECBG and SEP grantees and sub-recipients in CT, ME, MA, NH, NY, RI and VT, as well as their project partners are invited. 

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Ed Londergan, NEEP, elondergan@NEEP.org (781) 860-9177 x 132

All attendees will assume the cost of dinner that is organized as a networking event at a cost of $10 per person plus gratuities.  Those who register by March 22nd will be included in the contact list of Workshop participants.

Draft Agenda – Subject to Change

March 29-30th, 2011
March 29: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm and March 30: 7:30 am – 1: 30 pm
Framingham, Massachusetts

DAY ONE: Tuesday, March 29, 2011

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Registration

Lunch: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Buffet Lunch and Networking
• Welcome from the Town of Framingham
• Review of meeting goals, objectives and agenda: 
     o Pam Mendelson, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. DOE 

12:30 PM – 1:00 PM: Luncheon Plenary Presentation
• Keys to Developing a Sustainable Energy Community
     o Heather Henriksen, Director of Sustainability, Harvard University
 
Session 1:
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Integrated Planning for Sustainable Communities
• State planning has significant impacts upon the creation of sustainable communities.  Examples of various state planning processes in the northeast will discuss this relationship. Panelists include:
     o Efficiency Maine Trust (Invited)
     o Mark Sylvia, Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
     o John Williams, Director of Energy Analysis, NYSERDA
     o Moderator:  Chuck Guinn, Northeast Regional Coordinator, NASEO

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Break and Networking
• Grantees also have the opportunity to tour some of the Framingham EECBG projects.

Session 2:
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM: Northeast Energy Initiatives: Varying Perspectives on Developing Energy Efficient and Sustainable Communities
• Three Grantees will briefly highlight the challenges and opportunities they face. 
     o Kate McCarthy, Windham Regional Commission:  Representing 27 small communities
     o Ian Houseal, Portland, ME:  Representing mid-sized communities 
     o Amanda LaValle, Ulster County, NY:  Representing larger communities 
     o Moderator:  Meg Lusardi, Deputy Director, Massachusetts Green Communities
Following the session, participants will break into working groups with panelists leading each group.  All will gather to share key discussion highlights.

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Tour the Wall of Fame (Blumer Room)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: Dinner at Eagles All American Grill function room, Cash Bar and Dinner
http://eaglesallamericangrill.com/

DAY TWO: Wednesday, March 30, 2011

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Office Hours with DOE and TAP staff

Session 3 (Please note:  Track 1 and Track 2 run concurrently. Grantees can select which track to attend.)
8:45 AM – 10:15 AM 
Track 1: Developing Financing Programs:  Strategies and Tools from the Field
• Attendees will hear from national experts as well as their peers who will share their success stories, strategies and specific tools used in implementing various financing programs.
     o Bob Barton, DOE Team 3 Finance TA, Catalyst Financial
     o Ralph Nigro, Delaware State Energy Program
     o Dustin Knutson, DOE Team 5, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 
     o Jeffrey Broadhead, Washington County, RI 
     o Moderator:  Courtney Welch, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Track 2: Choose Your Own Energy Efficiency Topic: Grantees may choose to participate in one of the round table discussions listed below.
• Working Session on MassEnergyInsight: Participate in an online demonstration of MassEnergyInsight, the free, web-based tool that is helping Massachusetts cities and towns to understand their energy use and reduce their carbon footprint by delivering customized, easy-to-use reports.  
• Working Session with EPA Portfolio Manager: Participate in an online demonstration of Portfolio Manager, a free tool developed by EPA that allows you to track buildings energy usage and energy reductions over time. Linda Darveau, EPA Region 1, will answer questions and help with data issues.
• Green Communities Round Table: Meet with a Massachusetts Green Communities Regional Coordinator and learn about becoming designated as a green community.
• Create your own round table based on your area of interest. This is an opportunity for municipalities to gather by state and/or to meet with DOE project officers.  

Session 4 (Please note: Session A and Session B run concurrently. Grantees can select which session to attend.)
10:30 AM - 12:15 PM 
Track 3: Methods for Monitoring and Tracking Energy Savings
• During this session, we will review some of the tools for measuring savings and discuss their importance in developing sustainable programs. 
     o Scott Durkee, New Bedford, MA
     o Aimee Powelka, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
     o Juliet Burdelski, Meriden, CT (Invited)
     o Linda Darveau, EPA Region 1 
     o Moderator: Marianne Graham, Northeast Regional Coordinator, ICF International

Track 4: Low-to-No Cost Strategies for Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings
•This forum will present low to no cost strategies to move existing public buildings on the path to becoming high performance buildings including reducing energy and water consumption, maintaining renewable energy systems, commissioning existing buildings, selecting environmentally-friendly materials and more.
     o Featured Speaker: Carolyn Sarno, NEEP High Performance Buildings 
     o Grantee Highlight: Karen Verrengia, Cranston, RI  
     o Moderator: Ed Londergan, NEEP
 
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch and Wrap Up
•Workshop Wrap Up
•Office Hours  with DOE and TAP staff