Our Agency

State of Iowa
Iowa Energy Center Board
Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2020
Virtual Meeting Only

Call to order 1:00 p.m.

Board Members Present
Timothy Whipple, Board Chairperson* Stuart Anderson* Jennifer Johnson* Dan Nickey* Joel Schmidt* Geri Huser* Gul Kremer* Rick Olesen* Nathan Young* Jenae Jenison* Debi Durham*

Board Members Absent
Valerie Newhouse

Iowa Economic Development Authority Staff Present
Brian Selinger* Amber Buckingham* Stephanie Weisenbach* Ryan Young* MK Anderson* Kanan Kappelman* Terry Roberson* Lisa Connell* Derek Folden* Betty Hessing* Vicky Clinkscales*

Others Present Brenda Biddle, Iowa Utilities Board Staff*

*Participated virtually

Welcome & Introductions by Board Chairperson Timothy Whipple
Timothy Whipple thanked everyone for participating in this virtual IEC Board meeting. Mr. Whipple explained some changes that have been made from the MidAmerican side and Iowa Municipal Utilities (IAMU) side. Timothy Whipple was appointed statutorily by the Iowa Municipal Utilities to hold a seat on the Board. He resigned his position at IAMU and accepted a position at MidAmerican to replace Rob Berntsen, who resigned his seat on this Board. Timothy Whipple would like to move over to Rob Berntsen’s seat on this Board and he has been appointed by the Iowa Utility Association to fill that seat. Also, we are optimistic that Troy DeJoode will officially be appointed soon to represent IAMU. We will have a new board member to introduce at our next quarterly Board meeting.

Roll Call by Betty Hessing, Administrative Assistant
A quorum was established. All Board Members were present except Valerie Newhouse.

Consideration of May 21, 2020, Meeting Minutes
Motion by Motion Second Voice Vote Stuart Anderson I move approval of the May 21, 2020, minutes. Dan Nickey All ayes in favor. Motion approved.

Public Comment Period – No comments.

Fiscal Update (Attachment A)
Presentation provided by Terry Roberson. Report is through June 30, 2020. We have just under $11.5M available for grants and just over $12.3M for loans. In the past week, about a $1,375,000 of loans were sent out. Those are our first disbursements under the new program.

Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program (AERLP) Loan Program Update -
Stephanie Weisenbach stated we do not have any loan projects on the agenda today. We did receive one application in the most recent cycle, but they decided to withdraw and pay with their own money upfront. We decided with the special board meeting next month, we would be able to accommodate an additional cycle for application submittals. Therefore, we have two upcoming deadlines we have publicized for applications—which is August 20th and October 1st—that precede the remaining scheduled IEC Board meetings for 2020.

Termination of AERLP Loan Agreement - Loree and David Miles – 51.5 kW Solar Project (Attachment B)
Motion by Rick Olesen Motion Motion to approve IEDA’s Execution of a Termination Agreement with Loree and David Miles. Second Gul Kremer Roll Call Yes: 11 No: 0 Motion approved.

Proposed Program Revisions to IEC Loan Program (Attachment C)
Stephanie Weisenbach stated the IEC Board appointed a subcommittee to evaluate the statutory basis of the Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program and produce a set of recommendations. IEDA staff has met with the subcommittee and created a proposal for revisions to the program. The proposed revisions to the Iowa Energy Center Loan Program document is attached. Brian Selinger stated the subcommittee was comprised of Debi Durham, Timothy Whipple and Rick Olesen, who helped staff get it to this point.

Timothy Whipple asked if a bill draft would be available for the next quarterly meeting, which is October 29. Debi Durham stated that anything we bring forward must go through the Governor’s Office for approval, so Debi doubted that we would have a bill draft by October. We may have approval by October of whether we get to revise the IEC Loan Program. Stephanie Weisenbach stated we will provide the Board with pertinent updates at the October meeting and she thanked the Board members who helped with this.

Grant Program
Grant Program Update — Presentation provided (Attachment D)
Amber Buckingham gave an update on the Grant Program and an overview of the grant pre-application process. A special Board meeting will be held on September 17, 2020, to approve Grant Committee recommendations for awards. There were no questions for Amber Buckingham.

Grant Modification – Smart Peak Power Avoidance for Reducing Grid Demand in Poultry Facilities (20-IEC-006) (Attachment E)
Amber Buckingham stated our grant modification is from Iowa State University. One of their Co-Investigator’s has taken a new position with Millersville University of Pennsylvania. Iowa State University is requesting a budget modification that would allow them to create a subaward for the Co-Investigator who has moved institutions so we would move $12,292 from salaries and wages to subrecipients. It is over the $10,000 threshold, and therefore is considered a substantial change. We are requesting Board approval for this request and our staff recommendation would be to approve this grant modification and allow the funds to move from the salaries and wages category to subrecipient.

Motion by Stuart Anderson Motion I move to approve the amendment to 20-IEC-006. Second Dan Nickey Discussion Dan Nickey asked Amber for clarification on whether this was not an increase of the award but is just a matter of moving funds from one line item to another. Amber replied that was correct—the total award stays the same. Roll Call Yes: 11 No: 0 Motion approved.

Legal Update
Lisa Connell stated she wanted to preview something that she expects will be on the agenda for the next meeting. The Administrative Rules say that Committee appointments and election of officers are to occur annually. That has not been done in the last year so want to do that, even if we are not making changes. Anyone who is on a committee and wants off or anyone who is not on a committee and wants on, let Lisa Connell or Brian Selinger know so they can prepare that for the next meeting.

Energy Office Updates
Brian Selinger reported we have a consulting firm producing the Economic Assessment of Energy Storage Potential in Iowa. We just received a draft copy of that document; Brian Selinger and staff will review it. We are also sending a draft copy to the Energy Storage Committee, which most of the organizations on our Energy Center Board have a member on that Committee. They will also get to review and weigh-in on the draft. It will be released publicly in September. We will also have the consulting firm give a high-level presentation to the Board either at the September or October Board meeting. We are excited to get this report reviewed, released and try to see what action items can come from that.

Brian Selinger stated we recently released the Utility Bill Assistance Program. We will be accepting applications through Friday, August 21. We are monitoring what the various utility bill needs look like currently—we are looking at small businesses, non-profits, residential and water and wastewater sides. We are factoring and information gathering currently. We will then present to Debi Durham for her consideration and Debi taking it on to the Governor’s Office. We will keep that program going and see if there needs to be revisions to it in the near term. The IEC Board discussed this program.

Special IEC Board Meeting 4th Quarterly Board Meeting for 2020 September 17, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. via Virtual only. October 29, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. via Virtual only.

Chairperson Whipple asked for a motion to adjourn. Motion by Rick Olesen Motion I move to adjourn. Second Dan Nickey Adjourn 1:35 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted, Betty Hessing, Administrative Assistant