The County Government Initiative (CGI)

Promoting Energy Efficiency: Saving money and the environment

A new initiative aimed at reducing energy costs for county governments and championed by the Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition (MEPC), formerly called the Metropolitan Counties Energy Task Force (MCETF) was approved by the Minnesota Department of Commerce on May 25th, 2007. The effort, entitled the County Government Initiative, will be funded through Xcel Energy’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) and administered by the Center for Energy and Environment.

The goal of the project is to help county governments quantify, prioritize, and implement energy saving measures. To help counties move forward and fully capture energy savings, the program includes increased incentives for implementation, verification assistance, and training resources. The program is expected to reduce county government energy bills by $5 million.

Xcel Energy's Electric Service Territory

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The effort is approved for 2½ years and begins July 1, 2007. All county government buildings within Xcel Energy’s service territory (electric and/or natural gas) are eligible to participate. In addition to individualized services and assistance, the program has nearly $700,000 in available rebates to encourage implementation. These rebates are higher than Xcel Energy’s standard rebates.

The program is a collaborative effort among the County Commissioners on the Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition (MEPC) , Xcel Energy, the State of Minnesota’s Buildings, Benchmarking, and Beyond (B3) project, and the Center for Energy and Environment. Participation is voluntary but please keep in mind that funds are limited and therefore the increased rebates will be dispersed on a “first come, first served” basis.

Contact Erik Ennen at 612-819-7245 for more information.