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More Sample Grant Proposals |
Sample Grant Proposal: Low-Income Wind Energy Project
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In this case, the developer will be the Last Mile Electric Co-op (LMEC), a project partner (see
Memorandum of Understanding attached in Appendix J). LMEC’s principal members are 15
rural electric co-ops and municipal utilities. Thus, key parts of the development process,
establishing a power purchase agreement and linking to the transmission grid, are ensured.
LMEC has played a key role in bringing together potential partners to develop smaller scale,
renewable energy power plants. For example, LMEC co-sponsored the 2001 Director-Manager
Conference for rural utility leaders in Pasco, Washington. Approximately 100 rural utility
officials attended the conference. In the same year, LMEC co-sponsored a conference on
“Harvesting Clean Energy for Rural Development.” This conference was attended by 30 rural
utility officials and 170 other participants, including potential funders, landowners, and CAA
representatives.
LMEC will perform most of the activities described in Intervention 1 (site assessment and
acquisition etc.). As in Intervention 1 above, Western S.U.N. will help the cooperative purchase
turbines and related equipment at a discount. However, the CBOs will have a role in developing
financing to secure their place in the cooperative. Funding mechanisms can include
discretionary money controlled by the CBOs themselves, such as Community Services Block
Grant funds, as well as external resources such as grants, bonds, and loans. For a full list of
financing mechanisms, see Section II (c) Holistic Program Strategies.
The CBOs and Northwest SEED will also have a key role in shaping the power purchase
agreement developed under the cooperative model. As in Intevention 1, CBOs will urge that such
agreements be written to provide low-income credits numerated in kWh rather than dollars. As
noted above, this will insulate low-income families who receive the credits from price shocks in
the energy market.
Key Immediate Outcomes for Intervention 3
CBOs attend Western S.U.N. trainings on cooperative model of power plant ownership
CBOs become comfortable with cooperative model
Key Intermediate Outcomes for Intervention 3
CBOs join LMEC cooperative
Performance Goals for Intervention 3
LMEC cooperative builds wind farm and connect to grid, with 3 Mw of power dedicated to
low-income families and managed by LIHEAP/DOE WAP/CSBG CBOs.
Lower by 20% the energy burden of 3,000 LIHEAP-eligible, electric-heated households by
use of low-income credits, enumerated in kWh.
Intervention 4: Process Participation
This intervention builds on expertise developed in Washington’s prior REACh project, which
developed over $12 million in low-income energy assistance by participating in the ratemaking
process before the Washington Transportation and Utilities Commission (WUTC). By
continuing to participate in procedures such as ratemaking and mergers before the WUTC,
