GEFA news quarterly, Vol. 2, 1st Qtr. 2009

GEFA News

Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority

QUARTERLY

233 Peachtree Street, NE Harris Tower - Suite 900

WATER ENERGY LAND FUEL VOLUME 2, FIRST QUARTER FY 2009

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1506

Tel: 404.584.1000

www.gefa.org

Letter From The Executive Director





















































is past August, I had the opportunity to travel to Jinan in China's Shandong Province with Governor Perdue and Dr. Rhonda Medows, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health, to attend the Regional Leaders Summit. Formed in 2002, the alliance is a coalition of regional leaders from around the world who come together to develop strong relationships and exchange best practices on topics of mutual interest. Participants included representatives from the states and provinces of six other countries: Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany and South Africa. Energy and healthcare were the focus of this year's conference.
Throughout the conference we made presentations, listened to speeches, participated in numerous diplomatic sessions, attended several formal banquets and enjoyed more toasts that I can count. e main highlight of the conference was a daylong discussion

on future cooperation between the member countries on healthcare and energy. One evening, during dinner, I had the opportunity to sit with the vice governor of China's Shandong Province, a province with a population of 94 million. e vice governor does not speak English but he was extremely gracious and hospitable, frequently placing food on my plate for me to try. I remember thinking about what my mother taught me when I was a young boy to eat it and say thank you but I must admit, as much as I enjoyed dinner with the vice governor, the pickled jellyfish was a little chewy.
After Governor Perdue departed, Dr. Medows and I remained in China and continued to represent the state of Georgia. We traveled to another city in Shandong Province Qufu the birthplace of Confucius, and then continued to our final destination, Qingdao, a major seaport and industrial center on the Yellow Sea and host of the Olympic sailing competition. Sitting three rows behind the athletes, Dr. Medows and I were able to participate in the opening ceremonies of the sailing competition. e ceremony was a oncein-a-lifetime experience with more than 500 dancers and acrobats performing on a massive stage framed by the clear, blue water of the Yellow Sea.
e trip was a success, and we learned a great deal from our conference partners.

Highlights include: Georgia, with the exception of
Brazil, is ahead of the other countries in biofuel research and development.
Georgia's energy industry is world class and the industry's investment, partnership and reliability are unmatched.
Each country is promoting conservation and efficiency, and even though Conserve Georgia is only six months old, we are further along than most.
Other outcomes and plans include: Research and knowledge exchange between Georgia and South Africa on wind (Georgia) and tidal (South Africa) energy. Georgia invited the Regional Leaders to attend the 2009 BIO International Convention next May in Atlanta. Georgia will share data and ideas with Canada's Quebec Province on carbon sequestration. e states' and provinces' energy directors will meet over the next year to discuss the impact of climate regulations on economic development. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Georgia. By working together not just on an international level but on a local level with the people and companies that we interact with everyday, Georgia can continue working toward energy independence.

GEFA News Quarterly
Division Reports

WATER RESOURCES
During the first quarter of FY2009, the GEFA board of directors approved $68,749,344 in loans and grants to 14 communities. e largest commitment was a $35 million Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (CWSRF) loan to Cobb County for phase two of the South Cobb Water Reclamation Facility project. e smallest loan approved was an emergency grant of $48,000 to the town of Nunez for repairs to their water treatment pumps.
With the downturn in the nation's economy and the resulting shortfall in state revenues, Governor Perdue suspended the new $40 million Water Supply Competitive Grant Program. However, by using GEFA's Georgia Fund and the $30 million in bond proceeds approved in the FY2009 budget, GEFA will continue to fund reservoir and water supply loans for communities interested in seeking low-interest loans for their water supply projects.
In July the GEFA board of directors approved a one percent closing fee for Georgia Fund loans.

fuel costs in FY10. is figure could change significantly, depending on strong energy management practices and highly variable energy prices.
FST
Approximately 53 underground storage tanks were removed from locations in 23 different counties during the first quarter of FY2009.
EPA, with the assistance of FST personnel, is currently developing an underground storage tank video toolkit. e video is currently in post-production and should be released within the next couple of months. EPA created the video toolkit to assist local government officials and tank owners and operators with the management of underground storage tanks and to help them identify and correct common problems that may arise during tank and equipment operation. e toolkit will also be used to enhance and supplement Georgia's operator training program.
LAND CONSERVATION
In July, the Land Conservation Council

met on Jekyll Island for its bi-annual strategic planning retreat and for its quarterly meeting. Council members discussed the program's progress to date and outlined a course of action for the next two years. e Council also approved four projects: McLemore Cove (see photo below) and Camp Adahi in Walker County, the Middle Oconee River Greenway in Athens-Clarke County and the Way Forest in Pulaski County.
Following the July Council meeting, funds allocated for the Land Conservation grant program were suspended due to state budget cuts. Land Conservation staff have since focused on soliciting donations by holding landowner outreach meetings throughout the state and marketing the tax credit program. Staff has also been working closely with GEFA's finance team to develop the capacity to issue loans to non-profit organizations a first for the state of Georgia.

ENERGY
By the end of the first quarter of FY2009, nearly 100 Energy Challenge Champions had taken the Governor's Energy Challenge and pledged to reduce their energy consumption 15 percent by 2020. Participants include private citizens, businesses and local governments.
e city of Savannah, which pledged to reduce the city government's energy consumption by 15 percent, took the pledge in August and is the largest energy consumer Champion to date.
In addition to continuing natural gas procurement for state agencies and analyzing state facility utility bills for potential saving opportunities, the State Utility Program (SUP) also completed its annual energy budget forecast for FY2010 for the state Office of Planning and Budget. Based on this analysis, SUP estimates that the state should expect an overall increase of 16.5 percent in

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GEFA News Quarterly
Event Highlights Tips and Facts

2008 Southeast Bioenergy Conference

Winter and Holiday Energy Saving Facts and Tips

Continuing their committment to developing alternative energy, two of Georgia's Centers of Innovation, Energy and Agriculture, sponsored the 2008 Southeast Bioenergy Conference in Tifton, Georgia this past August 12 through 14. e three-day conference, targeted to growers, entrepreneurs, investors, business developers, researchers, educators, elected officials and the general public, featured more than 60 national and international experts addressing the changing face of the bioenergy industry. " e development and large scale commercialization of alternative energy is one of the hottest topics in the nation and the world," said Energy Center of Innovation Director Jill Stuckey. "Our center is forging the path for bioenergy development in Georgia."
Speakers included Governor Sonny Perdue and Ron Fagen, President and CEO of Fagen Inc. Fagen is currently building the First United Ethanol facility in Mitchell County.
Conference participants learned about the latest innovations and developments related to renewable energy businesses and government. Topics included:
Insights from renewable fuels financial experts; Ways to incorporate energy conservation and renewable energy production into everyday life; How to use innovative tools to make the business of bioenergy more efficient; Common misperceptions of ethanol; Methods used to turn wood chips into fuel; Information from federal legislators regarding programs designed to help development companies. To learn more about the Energy Center of Innovation, go to http://energy.georgiainnovation.org; to learn more about the Agriculture Center of Innovation go to http://agriculture.georgiainnovation.org.

Opening the oven door while the oven is in use lowers the oven temperature by as much as 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
LED holiday lights are available in green, gold, orange, red, white and blue and in many styles. ey're shatterproof, shock resistant, cool to the touch and are long lasting. An entire string of 70 LED bulbs uses less than 4 watts of electricity.
To maximize holiday lighting savings, use timers to limit light displays to no more than six evening hours a day. Leaving lights on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs and create four times the pollution.
Be safe -- untended lights can cause fires, so always unplug your interior holiday lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
While using a fireplace, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or opening the nearest window slightly (about an inch), closing the door to that room, and turning down the thermostat to 50 to 55 degrees. And don't forget to close the flue when you're done enjoying the fire.
Seal larger gaps that cannot be covered with caulk with expanding foam.
Add weather stripping around windows and doors to reduce drafts.
Use caulking to seal around ducts, plumbing and any other openings in walls, floors and ceilings to reduce air leakage. Begin in the attic, a common place for warm air to escape.
New Employee
Mia Brown recently joined GEFA
as our front office receptionist. Mia
brings more than 15 plus years of front
office experience to the GEFA team.
Prior to coming to GEFA, Mia was
the receptionist at the Atlanta YMCA.
Mia enjoys helping others, doing com-
munity work and writing plays. She
currently lives in Clayton County with
her 15-year old daughter Micah.

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GEFA News Quarterly
Program Profile

The Land Conservation Program
Georgia's natural resources are one of the state's most important assets. Farms and forests provide economic stability to Georgia's rural communities, while wetlands, mountains and other natural landscapes offer wildlife habitats and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy. In 2005, Governor Sonny Perdue and the General Assembly recognized the importance of preserving Georgia's valuable resources by passing the Georgia Land Conservation Act.
e Act established the Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP) and the Land Conservation Council. GLCP's mission is to preserve a statewide network of land and water resources; prime agricultural and forestlands; and natural, historic and recreational areas for current and future generations to use and enjoy. e Council is made up of five state agency commissioners and four gubernatorial appointees and governs the program's activities, endorses land conservation projects, and develops policy recommendations.
GLCP uses grants, low interest loans, and tax incentives to help finance conservation easements and direct land purchases. Eligible land conservation projects must demonstrate one or more of the following conservation goals:
Water quality protection for rivers, streams, and lakes;
Flood protection; Wetlands protection; Reduction of erosion through protection of steep slopes, areas with erodible soils, and stream banks; Protection of riparian buffers and other areas that serve as natural habitat and corridors for native plant and animal species; Protection of prime agricultural and forestry lands; Protection of cultural sites, heritage corridors, and archaeological and historic resources; Scenic protection;

Provision of recreation in the form of boating, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, running, jogging, biking, walking and similar outdoor activities; and
Connection of existing or planned areas contributing to the above mentioned goals.
GLCP also works to engage government agencies, non-government organizations and private citizens through various outreach efforts aimed at promoting conservation issues and strengthening partnerships. From 2005 to 2008, GLCP completed 127 projects in 64 counties resulting in the permanent

protection of 88,341 acres of Georgia's land.
Recent Projects
GLCP also awards grants to Georgia city and county governments for the protection of locally important properties, such as the Wiley Farm in Walton County (see first photo below). e program also provides grants to state agencies for the preservation of lands of statewide significance, such as the Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area (see second photo below).
Land Conservation Financing
GLCP uses money from the federal

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GEFA News Quarterly

Success Stories/Awards and Recognitions

Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) to issue low-interest (two to three percent) loans for land conservation. CWSRF funds must be spent on projects that promote water quality and this innovative use of CWSRF funds for land conservation underscores the connection between land and water quality. e passage of HB 1176 during the 2008 legislative session further strengthened GLCP ability to finance land conservation by making non-profit organizations eligible to receive CWSRF loans.
In partnership with the departments of Natural Resources and Revenue, GLCP also coordinates the Georgia Conservation Tax Credit Program (GCTCP).
e GCTCP incentivizes donations and "bargain sales" of conservation land and easements by using income tax credits.
ese tax credits complement similar federal incentives by allowing donors to apply a credit worth 25 percent of their donated land value to their state income taxes over ten years. Under the tax credit program, 73

projects and nearly 28,000 acres have been preserved in Georgia.
Tax Credit Program
In 2009, GLCP plans to expand its role in protecting Georgia's natural resources. GLCP will continue awarding competitive grants for land conservation projects; however, GLCP will focus on promoting and facilitating low- and no-cost land conservation options, such as loans and donated conservation easements. To encourage these low-cost options, GLCP will hold workshops throughout the state that bring together conservation organizations, state agencies, local governments, and landowners to foster new partnerships. Program staff is also developing a Conservation Toolkit to educate local government leaders about land conservation and available funding opportunities.

GEFA Board of Directors
Commissioner J. C. Warren, Chairman
Screven County Board of Commissioners
Mayor Matt Beasley, Vice Chairman
City of Hartwell
Russell Hinton, Secretary
State Auditor
Mayor Jimmy Andrews
City of Sandersville
Mike Beatty
Commissioner, Department of Community Affairs
Commissioner Harold W. Carlisle
Monroe County Board of Commissioners
Commissioner Eugene Dyal
Bacon County Board of Commissioners
Dennis Love
At-Large Member
Doug Mitchell
At-Large Member
Ken Stewart
Commissioner, Department of Economic Development
Mayor Gerald Thompson
City of Fitzgerald

GEFA Senior Sta
Chris Clark
Executive Director
Greg Mason
Chief Operations Officer
Tom Steinmetz
Chief Financial Officer
Glendale Jones
Chief Administrative Officer
Shane Hix
Director, Public Affairs
Beverly McElroy
Director, Water Resources
Curt Soper
Director, Land Conservation
David Gipson
Director, Energy Resources
John Martin
Director, Information Technology
Jill Stuckey
Director, Energy Center of Innovation
Bob Wiggins
Director, Fuel Storage Tank Division

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