March 28, 2023, 3–4:30 p.m. ET
FEMP IACET: 0.2 CEU
Level: Intermediate
The ability to leverage third-party financing to upgrade aging infrastructure and reduce costs is a unique advantage of Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) and a critical cost element to understand when managing a project.
This webinar will include an overview of essential financing concepts and strategies followed by a financier panel and audience Q&A session. Topics addressed will include types of costs typically financed in a UESC, factors that influence interest rates, the process and roles and responsibilities for obtaining financing, and strategies to help federal agencies obtain optimal financing terms.
The panel will be made up of a diverse group of financiers with extensive UESC lending experience. They will be available to answer live questions during the webinar.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, attendees will be able to:
- Identify the elements of a UESC project that are typically financed
- Recognize how financing is obtained for a UESC project
- Identify valuable strategies to ensure fair financing terms
- Identify factors that may impact the financing rate for a UESC project.
Instructors
Chandra Shah is a senior project leader at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She has been supporting the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) since 1998—helping agencies purchase off-site renewable energy, implement distributed energy projects, and achieve energy/water goals through utility energy service contracts (UESC) and other utility partnerships.
Chandra is a co-author of the ESPC ESA Toolkit and other ESPC ESA templates. She is a CEM and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Washington and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan.
Jeff Gingrich manages program and training development for the Federal Energy Management Program Utility Team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He is an advisor in supporting development of utility energy service contract (UESC) projects and develops resources and curricula for the internationally accredited UESC training courses for federal agencies and regulated utilities.
In addition, Jeff supports a portfolio of projects at NREL that include energy savings performance contracts and Integrated Urban Services in the ASEAN region.
Russ Dominy is an experienced acquisition professional having served as the former acquisition director/chief of contracts office at NAVFAC Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center.
Russ was the department head responsible for overall management of 50 employees, including 40 contracting personnel. Russ also has held positions as the supervisory contracting officer, procurement contracting officer (PCO), administrative contracting officer, contract specialist, acquisition manager, and contracting officer representative.
Russ served as the PCO and source selection authority for all large contract actions including over $1 billion in ESPC contracts. Russ was responsible for Command Government Commercial purchase card consisting of more than $2 million in transactions annually.
About FEMP Training
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides live and on-demand training to foster and maintain a high-performance workforce that constructs, operates, and maintains energy-efficient and cost-effective federal facilities. Choose from over 120 free courses spanning topics like project financing, facility and fleet optimization, fleet management, resilience, sustainable product procurement, and more.
FEMP is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and awards IACET continuing education units (CEUs) upon the successful completion of select courses. FEMP training is provided through the National Institute of Building Sciences' Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG) learning management system.