Grimes Named to National Steering Committee

Grimes Named to National Steering Committee
Barbara Grimes, general manager of Burlington Electric Department, has accepted an invitation from the Washington-based Alliance for Climate Action to serve on the steering committee of ACA's new Municipal Clean Energy Project (MCEP).
The MCEP is a 3-year, nationwide initiative of ASE, in close collaboration with the American Public Power Association (APPA), the Large Public Power Council (LPPC) and other partners to promote efficiency and renewable energy as the way to meet this country's energy needs.
"I was very pleased to be asked to join many luminaries in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy from around the country on this steering committee," said Grimes. "With our great work in the field of efficiency and our goal to achieve 100 percent renewable power BED, despite its small size, has a national reputation."
A $200,000 seed funding grant has been secured from Sea Change Foundation to launch the program in April, 2009. Additional funds are being sought from a number of foundation sources and the Environmental Protection Agency to support the overall project budget of $3.1 million.
The primary objective of the MCEP is to achieve widespread implementation of energy efficiency programs within publicly owned utilities by undertaking three initial tasks: develop targeted "tool kit" resources compiled from existing "best practice" and case study materials; provide workshop support featuring a Clean Energy Action Plan framework; and expand web support for sharing best practices and tracking progress. It is the hope that the MCEP will grow to promote other areas of clean energy, including renewable technologies, transportation and urban planning.
The Steering Committee is intended to be the driving force of the MCEP initiative and will be comprised of CEO-level leaders from publicly owned utilities and related associations. The Steering Committee will provide strategic guidance to the MCEP, and its members will serve as advocates and ambassadors both for the project and for the cause of clean energy. In addition, the Steering Committee will guide the MCEP staff director in the development of an overall work plan, project resources, and in convening an annual Municipal Clean Energy Summit in Washington, D.C.
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