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FSEC Policy Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes

March 30, 2018

Attendees: Paul Allen, John Anderson, Kelley Smith Burk, Chris Castro, Mike Faas, James Fenton, William Grieco, Larry Hufford, Elizabeth Klonoff, Byron Knibbs, Tom Lawery, Cory Ramsel, Helda Rodriguez, Louis Rotundo, Jennifer Szaro, David Winslow

Invited Guests: Larry Dencker, Universal Orlando; David Dunn, City of Orlando; John Giddens, Reedy Creek Energy Services; Bruce Lindsay, Brevard Public Schools; Anthony Norrow, Universal Orlando; K. Rajashekara, University of Houston; Paul Zombo, Siemans

FSEC Staff: Issa Batarseh, Paul Brooker, Carlos Colon, Philip Fairey, Safvat Kalaghchy, Colleen Kettles, Doug Kettles, Eric Martin, Ali Raissi, Richard Raustad, Bob Reedy, Susan Schleith, Sherri Shields, JoAnn Stirling, Rob Vieira

  1. Chairman David Winslow called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed board members and guests.  Everyone introduced themselves.
  2. Winslow asked that the minutes from the October 30, 2017 meeting be reviewed.  A motion was made to approve minutes as written and seconded.  Minutes were approved unanimously.
  3. Jim Fenton gave a presentation of FSEC programs.  Presentation:: The State of FSEC.
  4. Susan Schleith gave update on FSEC education department activities.  A grant was received from the Army to engage underserved and underrepresented students in STEM activities, specifically the Junior Solar Sprint program.  NREL is a partner on this grant.  The target areas in Florida include Saturn Elementary in Cocoa and STEM Tech Neighborhood Academy within a housing authority complex in Melbourne.  Teacher workshops were held in those targeted areas to help students build JSS cars and compete at the EnergyWhiz event.

    FSEC education department will pursue additional Army funding ($200,000) to expand these efforts to provide resources, technical assistance and to do more professional development for teachers and those working with students in afterschool programs.

    FSEC is working with Dr. Tom Turrentine, Director of the Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle Center at UC-DAVIS to provide professional development to teachers in Florida on the topic of Electric Vehicles.  An EV supplemental curriculum has been compiled by FSEC.  The department is also working with Brevard County Public Schools (BCPS), which received a grant to purchase two electric vehicles for their Drivers Education program.  Work with BCPS to include information about EVs in their Drivers Education program. 

    FSEC was present at the National Science Teacher Association Conference in Atlanta.  Presentations on our EV efforts were presented along with sessions on Solar Cookers in the classroom and EnergyWhiz.

    FSEC, which is a founding member of the Space Coast Science Education Alliance (SCSEA) hosted the SCSEA regional qualifying competition of the National Middle School Science Bowl.  The National Middle School Science Bowl is a program coordinated by the U.S. Dept. of Energy - Office of Science.  There are about 50 regional qualifying competitions throughout the U.S.  The winning team from Florida now goes on to compete in the national event in Washington, D.C., all expenses paid.  If we did not host and help coordinate this event, Florida would not be represented at the National Science Bowl event.

    The annual EnergyWhiz event is happening on May 12, 2018 at FSEC. Sponsors and volunteers are needed. For more information, contact Susan Schleith at 321-638-1017.
  5. Sherri Shields introduced the newly designed FSEC website, which is still under development and available only within FSEC, however, it’s expected to be released late May or early June. The new website also displays FSEC’s planned rebranding name, FSEC Energy Research Center, which was recently approved by Elizabeth Klonoff.
  6. Louis Rotundo said that no major energy bills were passed by the Florida Legislature.
  7. Kelley Burk gave an update on the Volkswagen settlement.  The Department of Environmental Protection will be the Lead Agency in Florida for purposes of participation in the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust.

    Byron Knibbs encouraged people to go to the DEP website and complete the Diesel Emissions Mitigation Program Public Survey.  The Department will use responses from this survey to help develop Florida’s Beneficiary Mitigation Plan.  Survey can be found at VW Emissions Mitigation Public Survey

    Colleen Kettles said that a bill was passed by the Legislature to allow condominiums to install EV chargers in their complexes.
  8. Elizabeth Klonoff gave a summary of the UCF Blue Ribbon Energy Panel. In an effort to streamline the many institutes and centers at UCF the faculty developed new definitions and these institutes/centers were placed under the guidance of the Office of Research. Definition of an institute is more than one center. New cluster programs were developed to pull talent from several disciplines at UCF. The Clusters were also placed in the Office of Research. Dr. Reinhart oversees all clusters. 

    Klonoff has created a blue ribbon panel consisting of UCF energy researchers, utility companies, and major manufacturers located near UCF to develop new programs. UCF is known as a partnership university and Dr. Klonoff feels that UCF should also be known as an energy university given the breadth of things we are looking at. With this panel there will be a blueprint to move forward. Final summary/blueprint of the panel should be finalized by this fall semester. Then UCF can work toward becoming America’s energy university.
  9. Paul Brooker gave presentation on PV and energy storage of FSEC buildings.  He recognized Byron Knibbs and OUC for their support and also credited Rich Raustad for his help.  Presentation: PV and Energy Storage at FSEC Buildings
  10. John Giddens gave presentation on the Disney World Solar Facility.  Presentation: Walt Disney World Solar Facility.
  11. Meeting adjourned at 12:20 for lunch.
  12. Meeting reconvened at 1:00 and Chris Castro gave a presentation on the city of Orlando Energy Update.  Presentation: Green Works Orlando.
  13. K. Rajashekara gave a presentation entitled EV – PHEV – EV, explaining the history of electric vehicles. 
  14. Doug Kettles announced the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Expo being held on May 23rd at AutoPort’s Port Canaveral facility. http://centralfloridacleancities.com/EXPO.php. They are inviting fleet managers, fuels providers, infrastructure providers, OEMs, governmental representatives, and other stakeholders. The agenda includes: A Clean Cities update, VW update, Fleet Case Studies, Vendor Exhibits and Vehicle Displays. Kelley Burk and David Dunn will be speaking.
  15. Winslow asked for any other announcements. 

    Helda Rodriguez stated that during the budget session the 2017 tax credit for EV infrastructure has been reinstated through 2017. 

    Knibbs mentioned that the Florida Municipal Power Agency, Orlando Utilities Commission and Next Era will be building three solar farms.  The public signing event will be held at FSEC on May 4, 2018.
  16. Winslow turned meeting over to Jim Fenton to announce elections of chairman and vice chairman for the Advisory Board.  Mike Faas will move up to the chairman after being vice chair for two years.  Chris Castro was nominated for vice chairman. Fenton called for a motion, Winslow made a motion, seconded by Tom Lawery and it was passed unanimously.
  17. Mike Faas asked about the next board meeting date.  Fenton will send out a Doodle poll to determine the most convenient dates and will be looking at an October timeframe.
  18. Faas made a motion to adjourn meeting.  Meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
David Winslow, Chairman