Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

NOTE: At this time we are not reviewing unsolicited proposals, but you may still submit your idea below for future consideration.

Submit Your Idea

How To Submit

Proposal Criteria

Review Process

Questions + Answers

Legal Information

Questions & Answers

When can I submit a proposal?
Unsolicited proposals may be submitted at any time. However, NEEA reserves the right to alter procedures or discontinue the process at any time.

Are there funds to develop a business plan?
Project funds can be used to develop a business plan if it is determined to be an integral part of setting up a venture or an infrastructure project. Doing market research and developing a business plan is encouraged prior to proposal submittal.

What are the criteria for selection?
The criteria was developed from NEEA’s strategic plan and all projects need to address these criteria.

What can I expect if my proposed project idea is accepted?
After the NEEA Board has approved a project, staff will work with the applicant to develop a detailed scope of work, budget and a contract. After a signed contract is in place, staff will continue to work closely with contractor(s) to implement and evaluate the project. Contractors must submit monthly reports, detailing their progress toward achieving contract milestones and measurable outcomes. Invoices are submitted by the contractor and paid by NEEA after completion of milestones.

How much funding is available for successful proposals?
NEEA does not provide venture capital, but pays for the achievement of milestones as defined in the contract. NEEA payment is limited by the value of the contract in energy savings and non-energy benefits to the Pacific Northwest. Individual NEEA projects that have been funded through the unsolicited proposal process have received between $30,000 and $750,000.

How long does it take to get assistance from NEEA?
The entire process from submission to payment for completion of your first project milestone takes at minimum eight to twelve months.

Does NEEA provide assistance for projects that save other energy sources, such as natural gas?
Only if the project also saves a significant amount of electricity as well as meets the other criteria.

Does NEEA provide assistance for projects that develop distributed generation or that use renewable resources?
No, NEEA is an organization funded by Pacific Northwest electric utilities with a clear goal, "to catalyze the Northwest marketplace to embrace energy efficient products and services", i.e. products and services that reduce electrical energy consumption.

What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency is using less energy or using energy more efficiently. The production of energy has societal costs and environmental impacts. By using products and services that employ energy efficient technologies, every person or business can reduce those impacts, lower monthly energy bills and in many cases increase the comfort and livability of a home or workplace.

Why should we invest in energy efficiency?
Saving a kilowatt-hour of electricity through cost-effective energy efficiency is cheaper than building generating facilities, and transmission and distribution lines that are needed to meet growing energy demand in our region.

Energy efficiency is not the only answer, but it is definitely part of the solution.

What are the benefits of energy efficiency?

Northwest consumers and businesses that use energy efficient products and services lower their electric bills , which increases disposable income. The more than 500 average megawatts of electricity the region will save by 2010, through NEEA and related state and utility efforts, will save consumers and businesses about $1.90 for every dollar invested (in total resource costs).
Energy efficiency enhances the reliability of the electric system because it reduces the amount of electricity that has to be transported across constrained transmission and distribution lines. The cost for upgrading the system that will not be necessary because of the electricity savings expected from NEEA and related efforts will total $12.2 million a year by 2010.
Energy efficiency lowers energy market price volatility by keeping the growing demand for electricity manageable. If the region had continued with its energy efficiency efforts at the 1993 levels, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council predicts that the region's ratepayers would have saved more than $400 million in 2001 when power prices spiked.
Energy efficiency is easier on the environment. Through NEEA and related state and utility efforts, energy saved in the region by 2010 will offset the need to build two new power plants and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than two million tons – the equivalent of taking 600,000 cars off the road.