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Hello CELC members and partners,
Summer’s here, and with those Texas heat waves rolling in, my family took a trip to Niagara Falls. We checked out the Power Museum and learned some cool stuff about hydroelectric energy and Nikola Tesla’s role in making it happen. Turns out, hydro power is just a tiny slice of Texas’s energy mix — only about 0.1% from 26 plants — but it’s still pretty interesting.
With energy use climbing this summer, it’s a good time for local governments to look at ways to save. There’s a webinar coming up this month from SECO about their LoanStar Loan program, offering low-interest loans to help fund energy efficiency projects. Worth checking out!
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In this newsletter:
- Mark Your Calendar: Exciting CELC Opportunities Ahead
- SPEER Industry + Policy Workshop 2025: Agenda is Live!
- Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates
- Texas Energy Advocates – University Program (TEA-UP)
- What We're Reading: Insights and Toolkits
- Grant Resources to Accelerate Your Energy Improvements
- Career Moves: Hot Opportunities and Job Openings You Should Know
| | Mark Your Calendar: Exciting CELC Opportunities Ahead | | |
June 11th @ 9:30 am
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Join SPEER’s Senior Manager of Government and Community Engagement as she leads monthly open discussions with members of the local government and higher education community focused on sharing insights and exploring ways to expand exciting energy efficiency in our communities.
The next Community Efficiency Leadership Coalition (CELC) virtual coffee hour is the
morning of June 11th at 9:30 AM CST. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and contribute to the shared goal of creating sustainable and energy-efficient environments. Learn more on our event page and see our current CELC members.
Registration: Sign up as a CELC member to receive the invitation.
**CELC members: Email cities@eepartnership.org if you do not have the reoccurring meeting invitation.
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Webinar: Energy Efficiency Made Easy - SECO Resources for Texas | |
June 26 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Looking to boost energy efficiency while saving money for your public facility? Join us for an informative and engaging webinar featuring the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), where you’ll discover valuable funding opportunities and expert resources designed to support energy-smart decisions in Texas communities.
This session will take a deep dive into SECO’s flagship Texas LoanSTAR (Saving Taxes and Resources) Revolving Loan Program, which offers financing for energy-related retrofit projects across public school districts, colleges, universities, and local governments. You’ll learn how to access this funding and make meaningful upgrades to your facilities.
Whether you’re a city official, school administrator, or facilities manager, this webinar will equip you with the tools and contacts to take the next step in your energy efficiency journey. This webinar is eligible for ICC Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the Texas LoanSTAR Revolving Loan Program and its funding opportunities for public entities.
- Identify SECO’s available technical assistance and energy education resources.
- Explore upcoming SECO programs that support energy efficiency and cost savings across Texas.
Register here.
| | SPEER 2025 Industry + Policy Workshop: Agenda is Live! | | |
Registration is open and the agenda is live – save your spot now and join us at SPEER’s 2025 Industry + Policy Workshop, September 18-19 at the AT&T Hotel & Conference Center in Austin.
We have a lot of exciting things to offer our local government and community affiliates! We’ll kick off the conference by touring the Carl J. Eckhardt Combined Heating and Power Complex on Thursday, September 18th from 9:30 am - 11:30 am. Did you know UT has one of the largest campus microgrids in the country and generates 100% of the university’s electricity, heating, and cooling? This tour will offer participants hands-on exposure to real energy systems and is only open to CELC and TEA-UP members. You have the option to sign up for this when you register; please note spots are limited to the first 25 registrants. The group will walk from the AT&T Conference Center and we’ll share more information as the date approaches.
We will also have a panel session focused on Energy Efficiency is No Longer Just Inside the Building – Innovative Action is Driving Change Across the Country. This session will discuss how energy efficiency is no longer confined to what happens inside the building envelope. Discover how solutions like cool roofs, impervious cover management, on-site renewables, advanced window coverings, and climate-responsive landscaping contribute to a more energy-efficient built environment. Explore how integrating these exterior mechanisms can significantly enhance sustainability, resilience, and long-term cost savings.
Our current speakers include:
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Bill Updike, Program Manager, Sustainable Surfaces Coalition
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David Webber, CEO & Founder, Webber + Studio Architecture
2024 Recap:
If you need a refresher on last year's fantastic event, check out our video recap from the 2024 Industry + Policy Workshop. While last year was a huge success, we are excited to set the bar even higher this year in a bigger venue.
Register today:
**We’re offering discounted non-member pricing for local governments and non-profit organizations. Early bird pricing closes July 31st. Take advantage of our discounted hotel block and register today!
| | Share Your Expertise: Call for Webinar Presenters | | Unleash your knowledge! We're seeking passionate experts to lead our upcoming webinars. If you're an industry leader with insights to share, we want to hear from you. Join us in inspiring and educating our community. Submit your proposal now! | | Texas Energy Advocates – University Program (TEA-UP) | | Thermal Energy Networks: A Scalable Path to Smarter Energy | | Discover how Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) are helping campuses, cities, and industrial sites cut costs, reduce emissions, and boost resilience. Catch highlights from their April 30 webinar in Houston Advanced Research Center's recent blog and learn how DOE’s Onsite Energy TAP can support your next energy project. Check it out here. | | Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates | | |
New Buildings Institute Webinar: Solar Energy in Schools
Wednesday, June 11, 10:00 am PT
A growing number of schools are installing rooftop solar photovoltaics to clean up their energy supply and save on energy costs. This informative webinar will cover best practices and lessons learned from the field. Our panelists will share what they have learned as successful solar photovoltaics owners and answer your questions. Whether you are in the planning stages of your first onsite solar array or have multiple systems already operating, this session is sure to provide valuable insight that will bring value to your facility’s operations.
Register here.
| | Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Battery Awareness Training | | |
June 26, 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
Location: In-Person at 2700 NE Loop 410 Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78217
To help communities effectively address the challenges of lithium-ion batteries, the Alamo Area Council of Governments and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service are hosting a free Electric Vehicle Lithium-Ion Battery Awareness Training.
This course will cover how lithium-ion batteries function, the dangers of thermal runaway, and why lithium fires are challenging to extinguish. Learn about the emergency response resources available and discuss how communities can improve planning and awareness around battery safety.
Individuals must register here to attend. TCOLE continuing education credits are available for this course.
Registration: TEEX Registration Required
| | Grant Resources to Accelerate Your Energy Improvements | |
American Made Program: Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2
The American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize Round 2 is a multimillion-dollar prize competition designed to support energy innovation, entrepreneurship, capacity building, and economic development in communities working toward affordable, reliable, and secure energy resources.
The Community Energy Innovation Prize is made up of three tracks: the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track, the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track, and the Vehicles Ecosystem Track, each of which has distinct goals and submission requirements over three phases: CONCEPT, PROGRESS, and IMPACT.
- Competitors in the Clean Energy Ecosystem Track may focus on any range of clean energy technologies or initiatives.
- Competitors in the Manufacturing Ecosystem Track must have an explicit connection to sustainable manufacturing.
- Competitors in the Vehicles Ecosystem Track must focus their efforts on sustainable transportation technologies or initiatives.
Through the three phases, teams have the chance to win part of $8.42 million in prizes to help them advance in the competition and accelerate local solutions in clean energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, materials, and transportation. Successful competitors will demonstrate a strong track record of building trust and strengthening relationships and partnerships within their communities.
Deadline: June 20, 2025
Eligibility: Private entities (for-profits and nonprofits); nonfederal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities; academic institutions; and individuals.
Learn more here.
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Texas LoanSTAR Revolving Loan Program
The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) has opened a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Texas LoanSTAR (Saving Taxes and Resources) Revolving Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to assist public sector institutions finance energy-related, cost-reduced retrofits of facilities. Recipients receive the loans and then repay them with the energy cost savings realized by the projects.
The maximum loan size per application is $6 million for State Energy Program (SEP) funds at a 2.5% interest rate and $8 million for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds at a 1.5% interest rate.
Deadline: August 31, 2025
Eligibility: State and local governmental entities, political subdivisions, public school districts, and higher education institutions.
Learn more here.
| | Job Opportunities and Professional Growth | | What We're Reading: Insights and Inspiration | | | | |
