As a follow up to the EcoCAT submittal for the Solar Farm, Jim Sims worked with Dr. Edward J. Heske and Torrey W. Rodgers, from the Illinois Natural History Survey, to arrange a field survey to check for Franklin's Ground Squirrel. None were found.
Within the RFP, we requested that any offer be valid for 120 days. However, this project will most likely go to the Board of Trustees in November, which would be beyond the 120 day period. Therefore, Kim Porter requested an extension from the Preferred Vendor, and they have agreed to hold the offer firm until the end of this calendar year (2012).
Specifically, the vendor said "Yes, we can honor our price through the end of the year. We’d be happy to become more engaged in the planning process with the University if appropriate. Please let me know if there is anything we could do."
Jack Dempsey and Morgan Johnston from F&S met with Marika Nell (chair) and Mckenzie Beverage (program advisor) from the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC). This meeting was to give an overview of the Solar Farm project, and the anticipated funding needs.
The RFP for the Solar Farm included various options on the pricing proposal form. Kent Reifsteck confirmed that we will move forward with getting approval from the Board of Trustees for the option that includes all costs in the price per kilowatt-hour. This includes the full ten year cost of the Solar Farm installation, operations, and maintenance, and the cost to connect the installation to the campus electrical grid.
The preferred vendor, as identified through the RFP evaluation process, was asked to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). This item was received and the campus will finalize exact funding plan.
Campus Bike Project Funding Agreement Spring 2012.pdf Campus Bicycle Shop Updated Agreement Letter September 2012.pdf
Campus Bike Project LTR_MB edits.docx Campus Bike Project March 2012 Funding Award Letter.docx
Campus Bike Project.jpg Campus Bike Project_Expansion of Service.pdf March 2012 Funding Award Letter.docx SSC-Campus Bike Project Letter Final.docx SSC-Campus Bike Project Letter.docx SSC-Campus Bike Project Letter.pdf TBPRevisionsofFacilityUseAgreement.pdf Updated Funding Award and Acceptance Letter_September 2012.docx SSF Equipment Fall 2011 Funding Award and Acceptance Letter_Signed.pdf SSF Fall 2011 Equipment Proposal.pdf Student Farm Funding Agreement Fall 2011.pdf Fall 2011 Student Farm Award and Acceptance Letter.docx SSC Equip Proposal.docx Student Farm Funding Agreement Spring 2012.pdf Student Farm Funding Agreement Spring 2012-Unsigned.pdf Student Farm Funding Spring 2012.pdf SSF Educator Spring 2012 Proposal .pdf SSF Proposal 1-12.docx Student Farm Educator Award Letter.docx
FY09-FY12 Student Farm Funding Awards.xlsx Student Farm Transaction Detail.xlsx Burrill and Morrill Rain Garden Spring 2012 Funding Award and Acceptance Letter_Signed.pdf Burrill Morrill Project (cancelled) Final Report.docx Burrill and Morrill Funding Award and Acceptance Letter.docx Burrill and Morrill Funding Award and Acceptance Letter_No signatures.docx BurrillMorrill.pdf Fall 2012 Project Status Update Burrill Rain Garden.docx Morrill Burrill intial site assessment.pdfA presentation about the Energy Dashboard was given at the Behavior Change / Energy Efficiency Conference on May 22, 2012: http://www.igencc.org/bhc12.speakers.
As of May 2010 approximately 2.6 million gross square feet, 56 football fields, or 20% of the campus academic space have benefitted from retrocommissioning.
The Request for Proposal for a Solar Farm Public-Private Partnership on South Farms resulted in 12 proposals for the Solar Farm. The technical evaluation committee worked on reviewing and scoring each proposal, and provided some clarification questions to the UI Purchasing contact person. The committee will meet again in May to identify a preferred vendor.
Staff met with a representative from the UI Electric Vehicle Club. We discussed potential implementation strategies for an electric vehicle charging station on campus.
Bryan Johnson, from University Housing's Sustainability Council, has reported that residence halls PAR and FAR have individual metering setup, but Blaisdell Hall's metering is connected to the mechancial room and dining hall. LAR and Allen have individual metering, but the dining hall feeds into both dining halls. Information about metering in Busey-Evans is still needed.
The projects committee in the US Green Building Council student chapter is working on a "Green Your Dorm" project encouraging dorms to save energy and water. The SSC has approved funding to put individual metering in dorms. The USGBC chapter made the suggestion that Ikenberry Commons resdence halls be the first to receive meter upgrades.
Keith Shank at IDNR responded to the EcoCAT request, with the following note. "Well, it’s hard to escape those Franklin Ground Squirrels. In 2010, Ameren observed two FGS near the intersection of Curtis Road and Rt. 45, and ten years ago we had a road-killed FGS at Windsor Road and Rt. 45. Ameren opined they could be all up and down the RR corridor, which the western end of your project area happens to lie against.
It may be possible the FGS are in the area around the farm buildings, but they would be unlikely to be out in the experimental plots, at the moment. However, depending on the type of solar energy facility being proposed, they might be able to colonize the solar farm. While that would be good for the FGS, it could complicate subsequent operations and maintenance of the facility. Remember that they love any kind of soil stockpile, so be careful where you stack any dirt and how long you might leave it there."
There are officially 12 proposals submitted, and 11 are responsive per Purchasing’s requirements. The Evaluation Team is: Kent Reifsteck, chair; Mike Marquissee, Keith Erickson, Morgan Johnston, Teresa Temples, Larry Altenbaumer, and Kim Porter.
Held pre-proposal meeting and site visit for the Solar Farm RFP. Also, submitted the EcoCAT review request regarding that space. Responded to over 30 questions from potential proposers for the Solar Farm RFP.
IDNR staff will review the project because the Franklin's Ground Squirrel may reside there. They state they will require thirty days of review. The Franklin’s Ground Squirrel resides in culverts and areas with low shrubs and prairie grasses and not in cultivated farm areas. Most of the Solar Farm area has been farmed for years.
