20080428IEEP Response to Order No 30529.pdf

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IN TH MATTR OF TH APPROPRIATE
DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS FOR TH
SALE OF IDAHO POWER COMPANY'S S02
EMISSION ALLOWANCES IN CY 2007
BEFORE TH IDAHO PUBLIC UTITIS COMMSSION
V'A
IEEP Response to f~
ORDER NO. 30529
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On behalf of the Idaho Energy Education Project, I would like to th the Idaho
Public Utilities Commsion for thi opportty to provide this proposal that seeks to
designate $500,000 of the S02 sales money into enrgy education.
The idea of investing money in energy education is very consistent with the
following goals of the 2007 Idaho Energy Plan:
4. In order to protect and enhance Idaho's qualit of life, it is incumbent on all
citizens to use Idaho's precious natural resources, including energ, in a wise and
responsible manner.
5. When acquiring resources, Idaho and Idaho utiites should gie priri to: (1)
Conservation, energ efciency and demand response; and (2) Renewable
resources; recognizing that these alone may notfulfill Idaho's growing energy
requirements.
7. It is Idaho polic to encourage the deelopment of customer-owned and community
owned renewable energ and combined heat and power facilites.
How else but through education can the citizns ofIdao be expected to use our precious
energy resources in a wise and responsible maer, to know the options avaiable to them
on both the consumtion and production side of the equation. There is no better pla to
begin thi education tha with the youn in our schools.
The Idao Energy Education Project is not new to this concept; it has on a small
scale been involved in the schools for a number of years. (See attached inormtion
about IEEP). The opportuny presented with this proposa ha the potential to advance
these goals to a new and more inlusive leveL. To that end, the IEEP invited other entities
to parner in this process so that the benefits of energy education could be spread over a
larger area.
IEEP invited the Idao Offce of Energy Resources, the Idao State Deparment
of Education and Idao Power to paricipate in this effort. The e-mail inviting the
parnerig and the responses are included in this proposal. The roles of the parners are
outlined in the body of ths response.
Afer discussion wih those involved in education, it mae no sens to tr and add
energy education on to the existin system, but to include energy education in the state
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stdads. Energy education stdads are comig an thi project would help to put
Idao education ahead of the cure. Some excellent curculum is aleay available and
with perhaps some tweaing to Idao's paricular could be readily adopted afer traig
the teachers in tht curculum So the fist step of th project is to tr and excite the
teachers on the importce of energy consrvation, effciency and the possibility of
renewables, and to get them to look at the possibility of multi-disipline education so tht
math, science, economic and even English teachers could parner in teachig this
curculum. Some wind and sola for schools projects aleady exist, or are in the works
and could be dovetailed with thi project.
The second step and the pri goal of ths project is to teach the stdents and
excite them about usin energy wiely and respnsibly. Par of the fuds from ths
project would purcha educational aids such as electrc meters or other measing
devices so that the stdents can lear about the energy us of diferent tys of light
bulbs, or other appliances, light meters and thermometers so they can measure
candlepower and heat loss. The second par of this project would fud student drven
energy consrvation, effciency and possibly some renewable projects, agai where
possible dovetailing with existin efforts. Th portion of the project would involve the
expertise of other parners in energy audits and solutions strategies, but the students
would be the drvers. Assessing a problem, comig up with a solution and then
implementin that solution an assessin its effectiveness will be a power exprience
th can benefit the students the school and from the stdents into their homes and
communty. Ths experience ca fuer economic development in energy effciency and
renewables and prepare the students for th increed demad for jobs in these areas as
well as be par of our state's energy solution.
The Framework for thi Project
Structure: A paership ofIEEP, Idao Power, Idao Offce of Energy Resources,
Idaho State Deparment of Education, National Energy Foundation, school disicts,
individua schools an teachers.
Parters roles:
Idaho Energ Education Projec wil fuction as project coordintor dur th star-up
phase, provide broad outline, faciltating meetings as necessar, workig with other
parers to develop their roles, coorditin the fuctions of the parers, paricipate in
the evaluation of education component and grants an provide some classroom
inction RS well help in the development process of student diected projects.
Idaho State Department of Education: wil help evaluate curculum in term of
educational standards, assess requirg consation and effciency components be added
to various disciplines such as math, Englih, ecnomics, act as point of recrument of
schools and teachers to paicipate, wi als pacipate in grt application evaluation.
After st-up Deparent of Education wil become the prim mager ofthis
program..
Idaho Offce of Energ Resources wil provide additional experise on renewables,
energy consrvation and effciency opportities, help wih curiculu development an
grant evaluation.
National Energ Foundation: Provide of award wimg energy educational curcula
and materials and teacher traig.
Idaho Power wil provide inormation about their system, how much energy is used,
where it comes from, what conservation and effciency programs they have in effect and
what the impacts are. IP wi also paricipate in energy audits, curculum development
and grant application assesment.
School districts, individual schools and or individual teachers: wil apply to
paricipate in the energy education project beyond the stadads, be provided curiculum
and traig. Wil provide leaership in multi-discipline paricipation where feasible and
provide guidace in the development of stdent drven projects. The schools wil benefit
from a more energy aware stand student body. Schools wil be fushed with devices
such as electric meters, light meters and temperature sensors as aids in assessing energy
use.
Students: will be inired by the potential of renewables, enegy conseration and
effciency and wil develop and propose projects where they can see their ideas reach
frition.
Monies: Thre are two compnents of th project. The educational portion an the
project portion, $500,000 total $250,000 for education and $250,00 for projects.
Education Monies: One possibilty would be that a thid of the educationa money go
into curculum development and admistration. One thid of the money would go into
actuay teachig the teachers via in sevice and other educational opprtunies for
extened credits and the remaing thid would go into various classroom aids such as
light meters, electrc meters which could be hooked to various devices that would show
energy usage, etc. Project parners wil be reimbursed for their time basd on an ageed
to hourly rate plus mileage and pe diem where applicable..
Project Monies: $250,000 wil be available for grts to faciltate student developed
conservation and energy effciency projects in either the paricipating schools or in some
project in the local community in need of such a project. Caps on thse grants would be
$12,500, which would facilitate 20 such projects at full grt levels or more at lesser
levels of fuding. Project parners wil be reimbursed for their time on an hourly rate
plus mileage and per diem where applicable.
All monies not spnt would remain in an interest bearin acunt, wih the interest going
toward projec expenses or fuher grants.
Currculum: The National Energy Foundation has award wig curiculum that mets
National Science Education Standads. The Idao State Deparent of Education would
review that curculum and adopt them as standads. Those curculum would need to be
supplemented with Idao specific curiculum. Whle the bulk of ths project wil focus
on the energy used in the homes, businesses an indus ofIdao, some focus should
also be made on other uses of energy such as trportion.
Teacher Recruitment: The Idao State Deparment of Education will use its contacts
with the school disricts to recruit teachers to paricipate in th important project.
Offering both economic incentives, advance curculum train and the clasroom
support ofIEEP or other parners.
Teachers: For the effciency projects to be a success, a teacher needs to believe in and
be a chapion of energy education. It will then be up to the lead teacher in each school to
defie in coordintion with the project parers how th project wil be hadled. As there
are may opportunies at al levels of educaion from elementa school through high
school, and via a number of disciplines, recrument should be broad. The goal being
knowledge ofthe electrcal system and the importt role of conservation and energy
effciency in reducing demad and thus the nee for new production and trmision
economic an envionmental costs. Paricipatin schools and teachers wil agee as par
of their paricipation to evaluate both the curculum and the effectiveness oftheir
projects.
Students: They are the key, they are the purse of th project and it is essntial that
they be full and rescted parers. It is essential that they buy into the project,
understand the economic and environmental benefits to themslves, their failes, their
schools, their communties and their futue. They wil be given knowledge of (energy
systems) the electrca system, whe the enegy comes from, what the options are, how it
is being used, how it could be consed or usd more effciently, how to assess that and
what kinds of tools are available to accomplish the economic and envionmental benefits
of doing so. The students then wil be ofted the opportunty to develop projects of their
own either for their school or for their commun, an then apply for grts to
implement their project, assess its effectiveness.
The Effectiveness of the Project: The impact of ths project can be measured in KWs
saved or perhaps generated. The projects wil be fuded by grts which wil have to
address the amoun of energy in use before and the savigs th project would failitte.
There could be spin-off chalenges for savis in th school and in the stdents homes
which could be measured thrugh the comparison of the energy usae the curent month
thi year versus the sae month las year. Of cour the longer measure wil be in the
stdents, the teahers and the rest of the citizns using energy wisely and respnsibly and
lowering the load, paricularly at peak demad.
Fiscal Management: It is proposed tht the Idaho State Deparment of Education be the
fiscal maner of this project and that quaerly reports of what the money is being spent
on be submied to the IPUC for its oversight. As the projects st to come on lie and
their impacts measued tht inormtion will also be pulled together and forwarded to the
IPUC.
In Concluion: Given the short time lie the Idao Energy Education Project ha in
formg the structe for this project, there is stil work to be done. The project is
worthy, it is a matter now of bringing together the will to get it done. In an era of
upward spirling energy costs and a downward trending economy, investing $500,000 of
the S02 cred saes money maes sense, it is in the "public interest".
As the proposed parners have not all ageed as to how this should happen, they have all
expressed interest and spoken to the possibilties. I would therefore ask the Idaho Public
Utilities Commssion to continue its tentative approval of th project continent on th
proposed parner comig to some ageement by June i, 2008. Th wil give the
parners time to better defie there roles and also gîve the project time to pull together the
curculum and begin teacher traig so that the energy education portion of the project
could begin in the Fall of2008.
Submitted thi 25th day' of ApriL, 2008
by~ iJlme , or
Idao Energy Education Project
About th Ido Energy Education Project
by Bil Chisholm project coordintor
The Idao Energy Education Project (IEEP) was born out of Sempra Coal Plant
issue. As a long time energy activist I thought it important to move beyond the focus on
thi one plat and to expand the debate to energy in broader ter from both the
production and consption side of the equation.
The IEEP is a small project, it ha been fuded through small grants via the Fund
for Idaho, with the Idao Rural Council acting as its fiscl agent. Though the project is
small, its impacts have ben fairly large including the energy educaion proposa before
the PUC in the matter of the Idao Power S02 credits sale.
The IEEP put an Idaho Energy Plan on the table and on the Legislative Energy
Interi Commttee's web site even before the commttee met for the fist time. The IEEP
has also facilitted numerous public discussions on energy aroun the ste from
Pocatello, to the Magic Valley, Bois and Couer d Alene. In addition IEEP taught a class
at Casleford High School in which students were taught how to assess the energy needs
ofthe school's greenhous and then faciltated the students mag a plan to help address
those nee. In an unelated water right settlement with a CAPO, myself an another
activist garered an $18,000 donation to the school to miigate the CAPO's impact on the
schooL. The CAPO owner and myself signed a letter to the school board requiing that
the second half of those monies be invested in energy solutions, not merely spent on
general expnses. Th money was thn avaiable to implement th students
recommendations.
Acting on behalf of the Idao Rural Council, as its energy coorditor, I helpe to
facilitate the fist Sola for Schools project in Idaho at Castleford. That project was
fued via Idao Power's Green Power Prgram though a grant from the Bonneville
Envionmenta Foundation. The Idao Rur Council Idao Power, the Casleford
schools, Balanced Rock Electric and Windpower Unlimited LLC worked together to
bring tht project about. The project included lKW of net metered sola, 3.5KW of
energy effciency upgres and includes us of inverer generted inormaion in school
curculu.
In the fall of 2007,. IEEP held two 3 par semis of energy and clite chage
for the Magic Valley Alterntive High School in Twi Falls. The fit clas dealt with
problem assessment, the send class focus on decisions and th thid class had
stdents come up wih plans for solutions in their homes and in their communy with
discussion of those plans.
IEEP is an acive paricipant in Idao Power's Maic Valley Electrical Plang
Commitee, bringing forth ideas and emphaizing the importance of energy conservation
and effciency as par of that plang process.
IEEP recntly acted as the Ida corditor for gaering support from a broad
coalition urgin Senators Crag and Crapo to support federal tax incentives for energy
effciency and renewable energy. Both Senators supported that legislation.
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Invitation to Superitendent Lun and Respons from his Offce
Mr. Lun
Pasted below is a portion of a recent Idaho Public Utilities Commssion order stemmg
from an Ida Power cas tht involves the disbusement of monies the company
received :fom the sale of S02 credits. The order references a proposa frQm the Idao
Energy Education Project of which I am the coordintor. I have been doing this work on
a small scale, but as you can tell from my proposa an the PUC order thigs wil step up
several notches. What I am proposing is a paership between my project, Idao Power,
the Idao Offce of Energy Resources and the Deparment of Education. I have been
doing this work and wil coordite the effort, but would like the parnership of your
deparment to help evaluate the curculum and be a source of contact with the schools. I
don't se this as tag a lot of time, but cery some and would be proposing some
modest fudin for any staff time. I am also lookig at some fuding incentives for the
teachers involvement. I see great opportunties for multi-discipline education as energy
issues involve science, math, economics and communication. Please let me know your
thoughts on thi. As you can see from the order I have a short time frame in which to put
thi together. I have ben doin the work, so it is not lie going from 0 to 60, more lie
45 to 60, but the devil is in the details.
Thas,
Bil Chiholm
Idao Energy Education Project, coordintor
BILL CHISHOLM
chisholm3 (fmindspring. com
EarhLin Revolves Around You.
Mr. Chisholm, Supt. luna is traveling this wek and asked me to work on this wih you.
I forwarded your email to our Direr of Content Are Peter Kavoras and our Sdenæ
Coordinator SCtt Smith. Both of them are very enthusiastic about finding out more about this
proposal. SCtt in particular was very excite; his baground indude working with Idaho
Power, BSU and the Idaho National Lab on Alternate Energ Eduction, so he understands the
pontial of your proram.
I note in your reponse to Paul Kjellander that you were hoping this meeting could take p1aæ as
early as Monday, April 21. Supt. luna's April calendar is nerly full, but he would be happy to
have you include SCtt in th initial meeng so as not to delay proress. Sctt can brief Tom for
future meetings. Otherwise, his first open dates are Monday, May 5 after 10:30am and
Wedneay, May 7 after 1:00pm.
I'm taking th libert of sending your emails on to Sctt Smith so he c;n be kept in the loop.
Please copy him on future emails as well.
Thanks!!
Brend Mattn
Exec. Ast. to Supt. luna
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Idao Power Invite to Kal Bokenp an Respnse
Kal,
I reckon you've seen the PUC order on the S02 monies. I have twelve days to put
together my proposa. I'm not having to go from 0 to 60, more lie from 45 to 60 to flesh
thi thi out. I have been doin ths, but obviously this is a much bigger project. Wht I
am proposing is a parnership between my project, the Idao Energy Education Project,
Idaho Power, Idaho Offce of Energy Resources, Idao State Deparent of Education
an of course the schools an teaher. Wh I se in ter of ne for th parership is
someone from Ida Power that ca provide informtion on thir system and their
progrs, help evaluate the curculum and when it comes to it, help evaluate the project
proposa from the schooL. Since I only have twelve days to put somethg before the
PUC, I woul ne to know if Ida Power woul be wiing to paer. I would then
propose some amunt of th budget to help pay staf time. I don't see thi as a major time
consumer as I would coordinate the project. I serve on Idaho PQwer's Magic Valley
electrical plang committee and a lot of system informtion, which I thi would be
usfu in the classroom. I se this fist as a claoom exercise, then involvig the
stdents in developinR project proposals.
Th for your time,
Bil Chiholm
Idao Energ Education Projet, corditor
Bil - Idaho Power is interested in exploring the opportunities to work with you, and other
members of the proposed partnership - the Ofce of Energy Resources and Supt. Luna's offce,
to develop IEEP's energy education program proposal as outlined in your email yesterday. This
effort may fit nicely with an ongoing internal effort to refresh some of our educational materials for
use in classrooms.
Idaho Power's involvement wil most likely involve folks from our Customer Relations and Energy
Effciency group. Patti Best is our Program Specialist in charge of the Green Power Program
(including Solar 4R Schools) and she wil be your contact for this project. Please go ahead and
contact her directly - her number is [phone].
Bil, thanks again for thinking of Idaho Power as a partner on the project - we look forward to
working with you. Karl
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Invite and First Response of Paul Kjellander, Idaho Ofic of Energy Resources
Mr. Kjellander,
Pased at the end ofthis e-maiUs a portion of a recent order from the Idao Public
Utilties Commssion regarding the disburement of monies from the sale of S02 credits
by Ida Power. I am the coorditor of the Idao Energy Education Project that is
referenced in the order. I have been doin this work on a small scale, but thi opportty
is much lager and could use the exprtise of your staf Wht I pla to propose to the
PUC is a parnership between the Idaho Energy Education Project, Idao Power, the
Idao Depament of Education and your offce, to assemble some of the curculu
material and develop an car out some ofthe assessment. I wi coQrdinte the effort
and in my proposal wil allocate some fuding for all the parners to help pay for staf
time. I don't see thi as takg a lot of time, but it does need some quaty attention and
having worked with your st over th yeas, I know that qua is thre. Becus I
know Sue Seifert well, I have sent her the followig and asked for her wise counel.
Please let me know your thoughts on this and how I might proceed.Ths,
Bil Chisholm
Idao Energy Education Project, corditor
BILL CHISHOLM
chishoim3~mindspring.com
EarhLin Revolves Around You.
Bil:
Thank you for contacting me in reference to the recent PUC order. Perhaps it would be wise to
meet and discuss an overview of your project. Then it might be worthwhile to bring the potential
partners in this effort together to identify opportunities and barriers. From this, a clear path
forward is likely to present itself. From the material provided in your e-mail, I think we could play
a direct role related to the grants component of your project.
Again, thank you for contacting me and i look forward to learning more about this opportunity.
Paul