Photo credit: KXAN/Dylan McKim |
New Year, New Beginnings!
Winter weather has officially arrived! I’ve caught myself checking the ERCOT Dashboard on Grid Status daily. After the holidays, I’ve been eager to get back into the routine of work—though my inbox seems to have other plans!
We’re kicking off the year with exciting news: Shaniaya Griffin has joined the SPEER team as our new Community Engagement Associate! Shaniaya will bring fresh energy to advancing energy efficiency in rural regions across Texas, and we’re thrilled to have her on board.

This month is packed with workshops focused on the required SECO Annual Energy Reporting, so there’s plenty happening to keep us all busy. Here’s to a productive and engaging start to the year!
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In this newsletter:
- New SPEER Team Member!
- Mark Your Calendar: Exciting CELC Opportunities Ahead
- Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates
- Texas Energy Advocates - University Program
- Secure the Funds: Latest Grant Opportunities Available
- Insights and Inspiration
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Help us give a warm welcome to Shaniaya Griffin, our newly-hired Community Engagement Associate. Shaniaya is an educator, nonprofit founder, and proud multitasker. A Lake Charles native with a knack for bold ideas, she has dedicated her career to mentoring students, tackling food insecurity, and driving change in marginalized communities. She currently wears the crown as Miss All World Beauties Plus U.S., and is chasing her dream of becoming an attorney to push for systemic reform. Welcome Shaniaya! | |
Mark Your Calendar: Exciting CELC Opportunities Ahead | |
NCTCOG and SPEER Local Government Energy Reporting Workshop
January 16, 2025 @ 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and SPEER are hosting a FREE in-person workshop to help local governments understand the state mandate to report and reduce electricity consumption. Attendees will receive valuable guidance and tips for successfully reporting energy usage in early 2025, and learn how to comply with this important requirement while lowering operational costs.
Agenda:
10:00 – 11:45 AM: Workshop for local governments to cover energy reporting requirements and best practices
12:00 – 1:00 PM: Networking Lunch
Audience:
This workshop is for all political subdivisions in local government, state agencies, and institutions of higher education in affected counties. Suggested attendees include local government staff responsible for submitting or gathering energy data for the report.
Speakers:
Shaun Marie Auckland, M.S.I.S., LEED Green Associate, Senior Manager, Government and Community Engagement – SPEER

Location:
Transportation Council Room – 1st Floor, 616 Six Flags Drive, Centerpoint II, Arlington, TX 76011
Register here.
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Advancing Campus Sustainability: Initiatives, Efficiency, and Funding

January 16 @ 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Join NCTCOG and SPEER for an in-person workshop on how universities are advancing sustainability through energy efficiency and funding opportunities. Network with peers and learn about sustainability initiatives, building recommissioning, and funding resources for your campus projects.
Agenda:
– Showcase of sustainability initiatives at local universities
– Recommissioning university buildings with real-world examples
– Funding opportunities for sustainability projects
– Wrap-up with insights from NCTCOG and SPEER
Networking Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 PM (Free; separate registration required)
Register here.
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AACOG and SPEER Energy Reporting Workshop
Thursday, January 23, 2025 @ 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST
Join the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) and SPEER for an in-depth workshop on the state-required energy reporting process. You’ll walk through the reporting form, learn about the requirement, and hear from local government staff about their experiences reporting their energy use.
Details:
10:00am – 12:00pm: Presentations
12:00pm – 1:00pm: Networking and Lunch
Location:
– AACOG Office, 2700 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78217
– Remote participation option available
Who should attend?
Local governments in non-attainment counties are required by state law to commit to an annual 5% reduction in energy use and report their energy use to the Comptroller. This workshop is designed to assist you in navigating the reporting requirements and connecting with other local governments for support.

Register now to reserve your spot!
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Virtual Workshop: Navigating SECO Energy Reporting
January 30 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Join us for a comprehensive virtual workshop designed to demystify energy reporting regulations in Texas. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the intricacies of energy reporting with confidence.
The workshop will cover a range of topics, including:
– Understanding Texas energy reporting requirements
– Best practices for accurate data collection and reporting
– Strategies and tips for avoiding common pitfalls
Speaker: Shaun Auckland, Senior Manager, Government and Community Engagement – SPEER

Register here.
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CELC Webinar: Conquering Deferred Maintenance - A Conversation with Local Government Facilities Officials
February 6 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Deferred maintenance in facilities is an albatross, varying from several million dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars of backlog per local government organization. Join us as we discuss strategies with experienced facility directors across Texas to conquer deferred maintenance, including best practices for capital planning, budgeting, procurement, and more.
Objectives:
– Understand the impact of deferred maintenance.
– Explore the challenges and financial implications of deferred maintenance on local government facilities.
– Discover strategies for effective capital planning and budgeting.
– Learn best practices for prioritizing projects, securing funding, and streamlining procurement processes.
– Gain insights from experienced facilities directors.
– Hear real-world success stories and actionable advice to address maintenance backlogs effectively.
Speaker: Umair Surani, Senior Account Executive, McKinstry
Register here.
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11th Annual TRACS Summit- The Power of Sustainability: Energy Transitions, Conservation, and Education on your Campus

April 6-8, 2025
The Texas Regional Association Campus Sustainability (TRACS) summit focuses on continued education for sustainability practices, and participants will have the opportunity to engage and converse about overcoming the emerging issues arising in today’s society.
Register here.
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Share Your Expertise: Call for Webinar Presenters | |
Unleash your knowledge! We're seeking passionate experts to lead our upcoming webinars. If you're an industry leader with insights to share, we want to hear from you. Join us in inspiring and educating our community. Submit your proposal now! | |
Texas Energy Advocates – University Program (TEA-UP) | |
Join TEA-UP!
Membership is now open for SPEER's new initiative, TEA-UP, a dynamic new network for higher education institutions across Texas! By joining, you’ll receive the same benefits as our CELC members, plus exclusive opportunities to connect within a higher education-focused community.
As a TEA-UP member, you’ll have the chance to influence the upcoming conference agenda and ensure that the topics and issues most important to your campus are addressed. Additionally, you'll contribute to the development of essential training materials, shaping workforce development pathways that empower the next generation of energy professionals. Another plus: membership is free!
Apply here.
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Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates | |
Moving Sustainability Forward in Schools

The City of Austin’s Office of Sustainability has announced that 50 schools will receive funds to create student-centered projects advancing climate action. A total of $146,000 in funding will be awarded to 54 projects through the Bright Green Future Grants Program, with each project receiving up to $3,000. Over half of the schools receiving grants qualify for Title 1 funding, which means they serve a higher percentage of students from families with low income. The projects provide hands-on learning opportunities, create community benefits, and contribute to a cleaner, safer climate for Austin. See the press release.
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Building your Green Investment: Financing Sustainable Development in Texas
January 23rd, 1 – 8 p.m. (CT)
Today's growing climate economy has created new opportunities to secure capital funds and magnify the financial benefits of building green. Join the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and USGBC Texas for a Building Transformation Forum designed to help you plug into these opportunities. They'll discuss sustainable finance options and USGBC tools like LEED that can help you achieve your climate goals, improve your ESG standing, grow the market value of your assets and ultimately increase revenue.
Where: 1550 on the Green | Houston, TX
Cost: $75 members | $95 non-members | $35 students and emerging professionals
*48-hour Flash Sale! Any registrations on Tuesday and Wednesday until Jan 15 will get 25% off using this code: BTF25SR

Register here.
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Department of Energy Schools & Nonprofits Program Webinar - The Power of Partnerships
February 19th, 2:00 PM (CT)
Join this webinar to learn how innovative partnerships can drive successful energy infrastructure projects in K-12 schools. Webinar speakers will share insights on available funding opportunities, highlight successful school-partner projects, and provide resources for schools interested in forming new partnerships.
Register here.
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Secure the Funds: Latest Grant Opportunities Available | |
Renew America's Schools
Build a team and apply for the 2025 Renew America's Schools Prize. The U.S. DOE is now accepting submissions for the 2025 Renew America’s Schools Prize, a $90 million investment in K-12 public schools and school facilities across the country. This three-phase opportunity will help districts build capacity, perform energy audits, and plan/implement energy improvement projects across a portfolio of school facilities.
More info here.
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Energy Savings and Impacts Scenario Tool (ESIST) Version 1.2 Released
ESIST is a planning tool for analyzing the energy savings and costs from customer-funded energy efficiency programs and their impacts on emissions, public health, and equity. This week, EPA released version 1.2 of ESIST, which includes new data reflecting the most recently available information on historical sales, utility revenue, energy efficiency, and electricity demand projections. This version also includes updates to historical emission rates, energy burden analysis data, and demographic data. Lastly, the new version extends future scenario analysis from 2040 to 2045.
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EPA Updates Benefits-per-Kilowatt-Hour (BPK) Values
The EPA has released updated BPK values using 2023 data. These values estimate the monetized health benefits, expressed in cents per kilowatt-hour, from energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy storage investments by reducing PM2.5, O3, and other pollutants. The updates now include BPK values for energy storage projects. These updates provide more comprehensive insights into the health benefits of clean energy investments.
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Massive Reserves of Rare Earth Elements in Coal Ash Waste Could Transform U.S. Supply Chain, Study Finds
Researchers at UT Austin have discovered that coal ash waste contains a vast reserve of the rare earth elements required for batteries, solar panels, and other clean energy technologies, offering a significant opportunity to enhance the U.S. supply without new mining.
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