GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JULY 2011 VOLUME IV TABLE OF CONTENTS Water Supply & Conservation 1 New Developents for Water Resources Division 2 Energy Conservation Gain Momentum 2 GLCP Conserves Georgia's Land Resources 3 GEFA Board Member Updates 3 McLemore Cove, Walker County, Georgia WATER SUPPLY AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVES ARE TOP PRIORITIES Georgia communities can now take advantage of lower interest rates for environmental infrastructure projects that conserve water. The GEFA board of directors recently approved a 1 percent interest rate reduction on all water conservation loans made from the Georgia Fund, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Depending on the fund source, interest rates for qualifying projects could be as low as 1 percent for WaterFirst communities. The 1 percent interest rate reduction applies to all eligible stand-alone water conservation projects. GEFA loan programs can be used by local government water utilities to finance a broad range of water conservation projects in the areas of utility-water loss and end-use water efficiency. Utility-water loss consists of "real" losses in the form of leaks, and "apparent" losses such as metering inaccuracies and water theft. End-use water efficiency projects include upgrading water fixtures (e.g., toilets, faucets, irrigation systems, etc.) and encouraging water conservation by utility customers. During the last five years, GEFA has provided more than $34 million in low-interest financing for waterefficiency and conservation projects. For more information, visit www.gefa.org. The Water Supply Task Force, which was formed in January 2011 when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed GEFA to lead the initiative to explore solutions to Georgia's Hickory Log Creek Reservoir in Canton, Georgia water supply issues, has met four times over the past several months. The governor attended the first meeting held on March 21, which laid out the program's structure and process, allowed the governor to address the task force, attendees and the media, and provided information on the task force charter and communication strategy. Subsequent meetings, held on April 29, May 26 and June 23, were Technology and Finance Subcommittee meetings that included a review of current draft regional water plans, feedback from local government officials on the water supply challenges facing cities and counties, finance and technology options for future water supply projects, and a review of previous state water supply planning efforts. The public was allowed to come and speak at each meeting. The Task Force also developed a website that provides information on its members, the subcommittees and meeting schedules and related materials. For more information, visit www.georgiawatersupply.org. WWW.GEFA.ORG GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JULY 2011 VOLUME IV 2 NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE WATER RESOURCES DIVISION GEFA Executive Director Kevin Clark announced in April that Kevin Kelly was selected as director of the Water Resources Division. He replaced Beverly McElroy, who retired in May after more than 20 years of dedicated service to the state of Georgia. Kelly previously served as senior program manager for the Water Resources Division. In this role, he managed GEFA's water supply program, coordinated funding for the implementation of Georgia's Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Plan and directed the federal State Revolving Fund (SRF) infrastructure loan programs. Kelly also facilitated GEFA's leadership role with the Governor's Water Supply Program. He also previously served as deputy director for GEFA's Energy Resources Division, where he facilitated state energy planning, energy procurement and management in state facilitates and energy data analysis. Before coming to GEFA, Kelly worked for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division where he served as a policy and planning advisor on energy issues. Prior to this position, he was program director and program officer for energy and transportation with the Turner Foundation. Originally from New York, Kelly earned his bachelor's degree from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind. He and his wife Jessica reside in Decatur with their two children. Water Reclamation Facility, Lula, Georgia The GEFA board of directors and executive committee recently approved several large environmental infrastructure projects. Cobb County obtained a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $35,000,000 to finance phase five of a multiphase project at the South Cobb Water Reclamation Facility. GEFA previously approved $130,000,000 for the first four phases of the project. Valdosta obtained a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $18,500,000 to finance phase two of the Mud Creek Water Pollution Control Plant project, which includes increasing capacity from 3.2 million gallons per day (GPD) to 5.7 million GPD, and additional improvements and modifications to the facility. Valdosta will also design a new solids treatment system. Bainbridge was approved for a Georgia Fund loan of $3,000,000 to finance phase two of constructing sewer extensions and pump stations, upgrading the aeration system at the city's wastewater treatment plant, and converting 5,000 residential water meters to an automated meter reading system. GEFA previously approved $8,302,836 for the first phase of the project. Forsyth was approved for a Georgia Fund loan of $2,310,000 to finance rehabilitating and upgrading the city's Box Ankle Water Treatment Plant. ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS GAIN MOMENTUM GEFA's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) announced that Community Action for Improvement Inc. (CAFI) will perform weatherization services for Muscogee County. CAFI, which started its work in June, was chosen following a competitive RFP process and will be responsible for weatherizing 285 homes in Muscogee County by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) mandated deadline of March State Building Energy Competition Participant: The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Headquarters Building, Atlanta, Georgia 31, 2012. Enrichment Services Program Inc. (ESP), which previously provided weatherization services for Muscogee County, announced in February that it would no longer participate in GEFA's WAP program. As of May 31, Georgia's WAP program has weatherized 9,241 homes. GEFA is proud to announce the top three contenders, along with their trainers, at the midpoint of Georgia's First Annual State Building Energy Competition. The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Headquarters Building and its trainer, Griffith Engineering; the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) Academic Complex and its trainer, Honeywell; and the University of Georgia's (UGA) Boyd Graduate Studies and Science Library building and its trainer, UGA's Engineering Outreach Service, are neck-in-neck to take the top prize. 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 top three energy-saving agencies will receive full WWW.GEFA.ORG GEFA NEWS QUARTERLY JULY 2011 VOLUME IV 3 ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAMS GAIN, MOMENTUM CONTINUED... tuition (valued at $1,375) to submit one person for the Building Operator Certification Program at Gwinnett Technical College. The rankings measure energy savings from January 2011 to March 2011 as a percentage based on energy use intensity. During this time, DCA reduced its energy use by 11.3 percent, GPSTC reduced its energy use by 8.9 percent, and UGA reduced its energy use by 8.3 percent. These agencies implemented a variety of initiatives to achieve energy efficiency, including simple actions such as turning off lights and computer monitors when leaving their offices and implemented a variety of system upgrades including lighting retrofits. GLCP CONTINUES TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE GEORGIA'S LAND RESOURCES The Georgia Land Conservation Program's (GLCP) Georgia Land Conservation Council met for its second quarterly meeting in Jesup, Ga., May 26 through May 27. During the meeting, the council discussed potential revisions to the process of assessing potential stateheld easements, considered possible fees for accepting state-held easements and reviewed a draft of the FY 2012-2013 operating plan for the GLCP. The Council also adopted minutes from the last quarterly meeting held in March 2011, and officially thanked the sponsors of HB 346, Rep. David Knight and Sen. Tommie Williams. HB 346 allows recipients of the Georgia Land Conservation Tax Credit, which is administered jointly by the GLCP and DNR, to sell their unused credits, thereby increasing the program's attractiveness to out-of-state and lowincome landowners. A tour was facilitated for the Council members at Fort Stewart by Tim Beaty, Fort Stewart's environmental division director, who presented the base's extensive conservation initiatives. Another presenter at the quarterly meeting was Hans Neuhauser, Georgia Land Conservation Center director, who discussed the potential impact of recommendations to address HB 346. The Department of Natural Resources real estate chief Steve Friedman and Reggie Lanier, with the Georgia Forestry Commission, also discussed pending easement acquisitions with the Council. GEFA BOARD MEMBER GARY MCCULLOUGH RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) inducted Dahlonega Mayor Gary McCullough into its Hall of Fame at the association's annual convention recently held in Savannah, Ga. The Hall of Fame honors municipal officials who exemplify the best in public service, and who, throughout their careers, have made extraordinary contributions to their communities and Georgia's cities. McCullough was elected to the council in 1990 and was elected mayor in 2004. As mayor, he facilitated constructing Dahlonega's new $27 million water treatment plant, a major accomplishment that will leave a positive legacy on the community. McCullough has served on the GEFA board of directors since February 2010. GEFA BOARD MEMBER BOYD AUSTIN APPOINTED TO NEW LEADERSHIP ROLE The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District's governing board recently elected Dallas Mayor Boyd Austin for a three year term as its new chairman. He joined the Metro Water District governing board in 2003, was elected vice-chairman in 2010 and chaired its legislative affairs committee. Prior to these roles, he served on the state's first Statewide Water Study Committee in 2001-2002, and chaired its InterBasin Transfer Study Committee. A lifelong resident of Dallas, Austin is the longest-serving mayor in the city's history. Austin has served on the GEFA board of directors since September 2010. Georgia Environmental Finance Authority 233 Peachtree Street NE Harris Tower, Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404.584.1000 (Main) 404.584.1069 (Fax) www.gefa.org If you wish to add or remove yourself from this newsletter distribution, please email publicaffairs@gefa.ga.gov The Etowah River, Euharlee, Georgia WWW.GEFA.ORG