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Background Information
The U.S. Green Building Council has developed a program known as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. This is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. When making design decisions about the new Meridian City Hall, the Mayor and City Council decided to build to LEED standards, and in 2010 the U.S. Green Building Council certified the building at the silver level.
Idaho Power recognizes that designing and building efficiently saves significant amounts of electricity. To encourage such efficient design, Idaho Power launched an incentive program in April 2005 by providing rebates to customers that invest in efficient building construction. Idaho Power recognized the City’s commitment to energy efficiency and granted a $100,000 rebate to the City.
The City of Meridian Mayor and City Council have developed this grant program to reinvest those funds back into the community with two goals in mind: the first goal is to encourage job development and the second goal is to recognize the importance of energy efficiency and conservation.
Grant Information
The City of Meridian is using funds from the Idaho Power rebate to invest $20,000 for the grant program. The grants will be awarded in three categories: new green jobs, new jobs located in a high-performance building, and new jobs in a business working to make their existing building more energy efficient. As noted previously, one of the goals of the program is to develop new jobs. Therefore the applicant must demonstrate that they are creating a new job within the City of Meridian. The grant applications will be accepted from March 1, 2010 to April 30, 2010. Grants will be awarded to those applicants that best meet the specified criteria; all applicants will be notified by or before May 15, 2010. The grant program will end April 30, 2010 or upon depletion of the $20,000 funding, whichever comes first. Applicants may apply in more than one category, with a maximum grant of $2,000 from the City of Meridian per applicant. All decisions by the grant administrator shall be final.
The guiding criteria for awarding grants shall be as follows: 1) new jobs created within the City of Meridian, 2) jobs located solely within the City of Meridian, 3) the type of job, location of job, and/or building construction have a meaningful impact on energy efficiency and/or conservation, 4) professional quality application, and 5) likelihood of business to succeed.
Green Job
Applicants seeking a grant for up to $2,000 under this category must demonstrate that they are developing a new job within the City of Meridian and that it meets the definition of a green job. Green job: any job in an organization that provides a product or service that allows consumers to either consume less, either because of the lower price or greater efficiency, or produce more due to the utilization of this product or service, both of which actions reduce total energy use. A business that supports the development and/or provides services to green jobs may also be considered for the grant. For example, a website developer that caters to “green” jobs and “green” services could apply.
Monies will be issued upon award of the grant.
Job in a High-performance Building
Applicants seeking a grant for up to $2,000 under this category must demonstrate that they have or will have a job within the City of Meridian in 1) a LEED certified building or 2) a building that has received an Idaho Power rebate and that demonstrates a commitment to developing a high-performance, sustainable building. For businesses that propose one or two new employees in the City of Meridian, the grant amount shall be up to $1,000. For businesses that propose three or more new employees in the City of Meridian, the grant amount shall be up to $2,000.The applicant must submit proof that they meet one or more of the aforementioned criteria.
Once selected as a grant recipient, the grantee will need to provide lease receipts or mortgage payments for up to $2,000. The applicant may only submit for one payment from the City of Meridian grant administrator, and the receipts must be submitted by September 1, 2010.
Energy Efficiency Retrofits
Applicants seeking a grant for up to $2,000 under this category must submit proposed energy efficiency improvements and the anticipated costs with the application. The improvements must be associated with a place of employment. Improvements should have a demonstrated impact on energy efficiency and shall include but not be limited to the items detailed in the Idaho Power Easy Upgrades Program. You can find the details at www.idahopower.com/EnergyEfficiency/Business/Programs/EasyUpgrades.
Once selected as a grant recipient, the grantee will need to provide purchase receipts dated after the grant award. The applicant may only submit for one payment from the City of Meridian grant administrator, and the receipts must be submitted by September 1, 2010.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW APPLICATION FORM
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