As part of the call for proposals for the fall 2018 Clean Energy Fund Forum, the members of the SRI Advisory Council (SRIAC) received 13 proposals (compared to 11 proposals in spring 2018) and invited 7of these proposals to present at the Clean Energy Fund Forum on October 22. Two proposals were vetted by the Infrastructure Committee (see the Organizational Chart (PDF) for more details) and five proposals came directly from community members under the ‘Academics and Co-curricular Education’ heading. Evaluation of the proposals occurs using metrics developed by the SRI Advisory Council, including alignment with CEF goals, potential for impact, and the quality of the overall proposal.
The SRIAC voted to fund $62,750 of the $274,162 requested by proposers at the CEF Forum in October. The group recommends funding one proposal at full funding (Solar Garden Shed) two proposals at close to full funding requests (Covered Bike Parking, Energy Action Seminar), not funding three of the proposals at this time (EcoPower Fitness, Sustainable Transportation Initiative, Energy Competition in Resident Halls), and requesting more information to move forward on one final proposal (Green Labs) – to be decided upon in 2019.
Other issues discussed during the review of CEF proposals include adding more information to the Clean Energy Fund website, specifically the Active Transportation Plan, the STARS Technical Manual and the Climate Action Plan, to encourage proposers to align their ideas with existing initiatives on campus. Overall, the SRIAC was pleased to see thirteen proposals brought forward from an initial call for ideas and has also discussed ways to strengthen the proposals brought forward, including workshops with proposers to further develop concepts before moving to a formal proposal and directing people to the website for more information on the goals of the CEF.

Proposal summary: Funding is requested to buy materials and build a demonstration garden shed with solar panels on campus. The solar panels would charge electrical lawn and garden equipment and be located near the greenhouse near Jeffords Hall. Mark has already gained the support of the UVM Landscape Advisory Committee and asked for input on the exact location and impacts of the shed. The proposal includes the purchasing of the rechargeable tools. Student interns would help care for the shed, already part of the educational garden and could be used by other courses on campus. Campus Planning had not been consulted, but Mark emphasized a thorough stakeholder engagement process to generate support and build collaboration.

Alignment to existing University initiative: None

Recommendation: Members passed a unanimous motion to fund the shed fully.

Proposal summary: This concept of covered bike parking at several strategic locations on campus was originally proposed Spring 2018 by Richard Watts. The CEF Infrastructure Committee asked Abby to move this forward and present a more comprehensive plan. Abby and Jim presented a two-phase plan 1) commissioning a firm to investigate feasibility and 2) construction of parking facilities. The proposal emphasized an inclusive and thoughtful process, involving stakeholder groups across campus (especially students) to determine the best locations.

Alignment to existing University initiative: Active Transportation Plan (PDF)

Recommendation: Members expressed strong support for the project, but decided to fund only Phase 1. They recommend that Abby and Jim move forward and return to the group after conducting the initial feasibility study. Recommendation for full funding of Phase 1 of the project at $18,700.

Proposal summary: This proposal is very similar to the Energy Action Seminar funded twice in the past (and proposed by Richard Watts). This new proposal extends responsibility for the seminar across seven new departments at the university and extends the reach to eight faculty members. The proposal requests the funding to host 10 speakers on energy issues each year with one “high impact” speaker per year, who would be higher profile and more expensive.

Alignment to existing University initiative: None

Recommendation: After raising questions for Mark regarding the person responsible for the seminar and encouraging the hiring of graduate interns, the group moved to fund the seminar at $30,000 and voted and passed the motion unanimously.