The document summarizes a Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) grant awarded to the Red River Valley Community Action (RRVCA) agency. The $30,000 grant will fund cost-effective renewable energy projects like geothermal, solar thermal water heaters, and solar powered furnaces to benefit low-income homeowners in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. RRVCA will focus projects on the Mayor's Urban Neighborhood Initiative in Grand Forks and conduct trainings on solar technologies for contractors.

1. Sustainable Energy
Resources for
Consumers (SERC)

2. Summary
Created for weatherization agencies to install
technologies that have promise for energy
savings but cannot currently be installed under
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
U.S. Department of Energy Program
Recovery Act Funds

3. Priorities of SERC
Cost-effectiveness to low-and moderate-income
families
Potential for replication of successful results
Impact on health and safety and energy costs
Extent of partnerships, including financial
partnerships

4. Only 45 SERC Grants
Awarded
RRVCA is the only grant recipient in the Dakotas
Total of 101 Local Agencies in 27 States
participating in SERC

6. RRVCA Award
Funds must be spent by March 30, 2012
Can spend up to $30,000 on a project
Average cost of all projects must be <$12,000

7. Geographic Areas to
be Served
RRVC service area: GF, Nelson, Pembina &
Walsh
Particular focus on the Mayor’s Urban
Neighborhood Initiative (MUNI)

8. Overview of MUNI
MUNI aims to rehabilitate low-moderate income
homes in Grand Forks
Includes older neighborhoods (Near North-Side,
Near South-Side)
Important affordable housing resource
HomeCents is also focused on the MUNI

9. Eligibility
HUD’s low-moderate income guidelines
Same criteria used for HomeCents

10. Income Limits
Household Grand
Nelson Pembina Walsh
size Forks
1 $35,750 $31,300 $35,800 $32,850
2 $40,850 $35,800 $40,900 $37,550
3 $45,950 $40,250 $46,000 $42,250
4 $51,050 $44,700 $51,100 $46,900
5 $55,150 $48,300 $55,200 $50,700

11. RRVC’s SERC Strategy
Cold-weather tested technologies
Focus on reducing heating bills
Renewable electricity technologies not worth
focusing on since they don’t perform as well
on a residential scale and our rates are already
low
Sustain Clean Energy beyond lifetime of this grant

12. RRVC’s SERC Projects
Shelter (variety of approaches)
Geothermal Energy
Solar Powered Furnaces
Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters
Solar Thermal Water Heaters
Solar Powered Furnace Installation Training
Solar Hot Water Training

13. Geothermal Energy
High initial cost, but good in cold climates
Can reduce energy bills significantly
Meets multiple needs
heating
cooling
hot water

14. Solar Powered Furnaces
Can supplement 20-30% of heating needs
Fairly low cost (~$5,000 including installation)
Will include data loggers to monitor performance
Otter Tail-Wadena CAP has experience
Manufactured in Minnesota
Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (non-profit)

16. Hybrid Electric Heat
Pump Water Heaters
For homes currently using electric hot
water heaters
Use 60% less energy than standard
water heaters
New to market

17. Solar Thermal
Water Heaters
For homes using electric water heaters
Solar Skies, a company in Alexandria, MN
manufactures solar hot water systems
Roof-top or ground mount (on a frame)
Generally supplement 50% of hot water needs
in northern climates

19. Trainings
Solar Powered Furnace Training with Rural
Renewable Energy Alliance in Grand Forks
Spring 2011
We will work with City of Grand Forks to invite local
contractors to join our staff for this training
Solar Hot Water Training with Solar Skies
Completed January 13, 2011 in Alexandria, MN

20. Contact
Jason Schaefer
Clean Energy Coordinator
701.746.5431
<jschaefer@rrvca.com>
www.rrvca.com