GEFA news quarterly, Mar. 2011

GEFA News Quarterly

Gov. Deal Tasks GEFA to Lead Water
Supply Development Program
The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) came away from the annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast, hosted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in January, with an important new responsibility. Gov. Nathan Deal announced during his speech at the event that GEFA would work with several state agencies across Georgia to create a water supply development program designed to "align and mobilize state resources to help local governments develop new water supplies." The potential solutions include finding ways to expand existing water reservoirs and explore ways to build new ones.

Gov. Deal stated that it was important for the state of Georgia to show good faith with

Alabama and Florida as the three states work together to negotiate a solution to their
decades-old battle over water supply. In July 2009, Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Table of Contents

Magnuson ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers exceeded its authority in allowing water withdrawals and releases from Lake Lanier to meet the water supply needs of Governor's Water Supply Program 1

metro Atlanta's 3.5 million residents. In his order, Judge Magnuson declared that the Land Resources Highlights

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Army Corps of Engineers may not operate Lake Lanier to meet the water supply needs of Water Resources Highlights

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the metro area without explicit Congressional authorization. The judge stayed the State Building Energy Competition

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enforcement of his ruling until 2012 to give Georgia time to seek that authorization. In the

meantime, the state of Georgia is working to proactively address the issue.

"Georgia can't wait on Washington," as it aims to resolve the water issue through negotiation, Gov. Deal said.

Volume III

March 2011

Gov. Nathan Deal

The Hickory Log Creek Reservoir in Canton

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GLCP and the Fuel Storage Tank Program Note Key Accomplishments
The Georgia Land Conservation Program (GLCP) officially announced its participation in the Checkoff Georgia program. Conservation-minded Georgians that want to help preserve the state's natural resources have the opportunity to donate to the GLCP through their 2010 state income tax forms. Since 2005, the GLCP has used donated funds to help protect 31,414 acres of natural, agricultural and historical lands throughout the state. For more information, visit www.checkoffgeorgia.org.

Amicalola River, Dawson Forest

The GLCP also completed and distributed its FY2010 Annual Report. For more information and detail on the issues and initiatives that drove its mission over the past year, visit www.glcp.georgia.gov. Click "About GLCP" and "Annual Report."

The Fuel Storage Tank (FST) Program finalized its almost two-year work with Jekyll Island, and the community now has a Flash Foods gas station with an adjacent Dairy Queen. In October 2009, the last 6 gallons of gas were pumped from the station's 40 year old underground tanks. The only gas station within 12 miles, the tanks deteriorated and caused an underground leak, which had to be cleaned and repaired. January 2011 was the first time residents and visitors were able to treat themselves to soft serve and gas on the island.

Water Resources Continues to Protect Georgia's Most Precious Resource
Since January 2011, GEFA has approved $21.6 million in environmental infrastructure projects throughout the state. Initiatives that create and improve water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure encourage economic growth and the stewardship of our environment. In addition to the new responsibilities directed by Gov. Deal, the Water Resources Division continues to act as a steward for water protection and infrastructure improvement and development in Georgia. Key projects include:
The city of Martin received a loan and subsidy of $1,920,000 to finance improvements to the city's water distribution system, including a new well and water tanks.
The city of Pine Lake was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) green-project loan of $1,625,000 to finance storm water capture and treatment infrastructure and stream bank restoration to reduce the amount of pollutants in Snapfinger Creek and the Ocmulgee Watershed Basin in DeKalb County.
Forsyth County was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $7,800,000 and a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) green project loan of $130,000. The CWSRF loan will finance construction of a wastewater lift station. The DWSRF loan will finance efficiency improvements at the county's water treatment plant.

"The water, sewer and solid waste programs administered by GEFA assist local governments with improving their environmental infrastructure," said GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark. "Financing water, sewer and solid waste projects encourages economic growth and the stewardship of our environment."
The Hickory Log Creek Reservoir in Canton

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Innovative Energy Resources Programs Promote Energy Conservation
GEFA is hosting Georgia's First Annual State Building Energy Competition. Open to state agencies only, the agency building that reduces its energy use intensity (EUI) (Btu per square foot) the most on a percentage basis wins the competition. The goal of the competition is to move more state buildings toward higher performance standards and earn an ENERGY STAR label. An ENERGY STAR-qualified facility meets strict energy-performance standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is less expensive to operate and has fewer greenhouse gas emissions than its peers.
Agencies were invited in fall 2010 to submit one or more of its buildings to the competition using baseline energy consumption information from July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010. GEFA selected the competitors and matched "trainers" with each facility to assist and help work off its "wasteline." The competition officially began January 1, 2011. Georgia Power also worked with each competitor (all are customers) to ensure they received interval energy data free-of-charge during the competition via www.EnergyDirect.com. Here are the competitors, listed with their trainers:
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Headquarters Building; Trainer: Servidyne (Decatur) The Georgia Building Authority #2 Peachtree Complex; Trainer: Working Buildings (Atlanta) The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Headquarters Building; Trainer: Griffith Engineering (Atlanta) The Georgia Music Hall of Fame; Trainer: Energy Ace (Macon) Savannah Technical College's Automotive Building and Industrial Technology Center; Trainer: GreenSweep (Savannah) The University of Georgia's Boyd Graduate Studies and Science Library building; Trainer: UGA's Engineering Outreach Service
(Athens) The Georgia Public Safety Training Center Administrative/Academic Complex; Trainer: Honeywell (Forsyth) The Georgia Student Finance Commission Headquarters; Trainer: Southface Energy Institute (Tucker)
The performance period during which the competitors will be judged will be July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011. The top three energysaving agencies will receive full tuition (valued at $1,375) to submit one person for the Building Operator Certification Program at Gwinnett Technical College. The grand prize winner will receive additional consulting services to apply for an ENERGY STAR label (if eligible), free of charge from Georgia Power (valued at up to $1,500). The winner will be announced in August 2011.
Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
233 Peachtree Street NE Harris Tower Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Phone: 404-584-1000 Fax: 404-584-1030
Providing energy, land, and water resources resulting in an improved quality of life for today and future generations.
Find us on the Web: www.gefa.org

If you wish to add or remove yourself from this newsletter distribution, please contact Nicole V. Linton at nicole@gefa.ga.gov.

The Georgia Building Authority #2 Peachtree Complex