Latest news with #RFO
Time of India
29-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Govt and Mala villagers undertake eco-drive project under MGNREGA
Udupi: An environmentalist is serving as a vital link between the govt and the public, facilitating a conservation initiative under the MGNREGA programme that merges ecological restoration with rural employment in Mala village. In collaboration with the social forestry department, residents of Mala village are undertaking an ecological restoration project under the MGNREGA scheme. The effort began in Sept last year when environmentalist Arathi Ashok submitted a proposal for a green project on the cut road in the village. With 5–10 locals ready to participate, the project was greenlit, and by April, the work order was issued after an inspection by the Range Forest Officer (RFO). Arathi told TOI that the project involves planting 150 saplings (local species supporting the biodiversity of the Western Ghats) on a 1.5km stretch of the two-kilometre Gundipalke-Mala road. A total of Rs 2 lakh was sanctioned, covering material costs and wages. The road is lined with saplings protected using bamboo fences and 150 acacia sticks, safeguarding them from grazing animals. Locals Govinda Gowda and Santhosh took the lead in managing and distributing bamboo fencing materials to each planting spot, with 30 saplings assigned per location. An MGNREGA project board has also been installed on-site. She said that so far, 70 saplings were planted manually, with work timed perfectly in June when the soil is soft and rainfall is manageable. The initiative helps in environmental restoration, but also offers a valuable income opportunity, especially for rural women, with a simple process of taking before and after photos of their work to ensure transparency and credit. "Though such projects are popular in Kerala, they remain under-utilised in Karnataka. However, the Mala initiative is proving that change is possible when local people take the lead. Looking ahead, plans are in place to dig percolation pits in the next phase, particularly in areas where afforestation was taken up by the social forestry department. Coming Sept, attention will turn to weeding and fertilising the planted saplings," Arathi said. The success of this project lies not just in the green cover but in its potential to attract more funds, empower rural communities, and combat poverty through sustainable livelihood. "For initiatives like this to truly scale as a national model, panchayat members must play an active role in informing citizens about such govt-supported schemes, something that, unfortunately, rarely happens in practice. While there is institutional support and intent to expand green cover, these programmes often remain underutilised simply because people are not made aware of them. Concerned authorities must treat such awareness as a mandatory responsibility," she said.
Chicago Tribune
29-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Michigan developer proposing mixed use project with 54 houses and retail space in Burns Harbor
A Michigan developer is proposing a mixed-use development of 54 houses and retail space on 25 acres at Haglund Road and Indiana 149 in Burns Harbor. The Sloane Avenue Group and Redstone Group, a joint venture, have offered $25,000 to the town of Burns Harbor for the land. As part of the agreement, the developers would assume all costs of building the roads, sewers and utilities, along with soil analysis and wetland mitigation. There would also be 8,000 square feet of retail space built on the north end of the property. The developer from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the only one to respond to a Request for Offer (RFO) advertisement from the town of Burns Harbor. The Burns Harbor Redevelopment Commission opened the bid at its June 18 meeting. The commission could announce at its July 9 meeting whether they will accept or reject the offer. Councilwoman Roseann Bozak, who is chair of the commission, denied a public records request from The Post-Tribune at the June 18 meeting to release details of the proposal. She cited that the offer needed to be reviewed first by legal counsel. Burns Harbor Town Attorney Clay Patton publicly released the details of the offer from The Sloane Avenue Group and The Redstone Group this week. The Sloane Avenue Group and Redstone Group stated that they are trying to maintain the affordability of homes on the site, which explains the $1,000 per acre offer for the 25 acres. The town in 2018 originally purchased 28 acres at Haglund Road and Indiana 149 for $250,000 from the Duneland School Corporation. 'We are asking the Redevelopment Commission to incentivize development via a reduced purchase price,' the offer states. 'It is essential for the end-numbers to work, and given high interest rates and elevated construction costs, a low land basis will allow us to stay focused on providing high quality homes at an approachable price.' The offer doesn't reveal what the potential costs would be for the roads, sewers, utilities and other amenities. In 2023, Burns Harbor had to decline a $960,000 state grant from the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), which would have paid for underground utilities. The reason for rejecting the grant was that Holladay Properties in 2023 withdrew from a $32 million partnership with the town to develop the property. That project would have been anchored by a new Burns Harbor Town Hall and community center alongside apartments, townhouses and retail space. Tina Rongers, the town's consultant, has said that this time around, 'The project will be developer-driven as opposed to a public-private partnership.' She said she didn't have an estimate on what the proposed infrastructure costs would be if they were all covered by Sloane Avenue Group and Redstone Group. The Sloane Avenue Group and Redstone Group state in their proposal that it has experience developing mixed-use projects in the region. Tryon Meadow is a proposed 218-unit community on 39 acres within a short driving distance to downtown Michigan City that includes single-family homes, townhomes and low-rise rental buildings. The developer also has a proposal for 160 single-family homes on 35 acres of land in LaPorte. The Hunter Woods subdivision would be located near the $1 billion Microsoft data center that is going to be built there. In Burns Harbor, the plan calls for a community of 54 single-family homes to be built south of the Marquette Greenway, which runs diagonally from the southwest to the northeast through the property. 'Our site plan concept is designed to create a tight-knit smaller community within the greater Burns Harbor community,' the plan states. Lennar Homes would be contracted to build the houses on lots which would be 45 feet wide and 120 feet long. The housing development would be accessed from two entrances off Haglund Road. 'These lot sizes strike a balance between density and affordability, as well as promote walkability in the neighborhood as wider lot sizes, in our opinion, isolate residents from one another,' the plan states. The 8,000 square feet of retail space would be north of the Marquette Greenway and have 80 parking spaces. It is envisioned that the businesses would serve local residents and tourists. When the Marquette Greenway is finished, it will stretch from Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan, and is expected to become a tourist attraction, along with the state and national parks. North of the trail, there would still be 10 acres of open green space. The town also still owns an adjoining 4 acres, which could be the site of a future town building.
Chicago Tribune
19-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Burns Harbor receives a lone bid for land it owns and hopes to be developed
Burns Harbor hopes to sell land it owns off Ind. 149 so it can be developed, two years after a developer withdrew from a $32 million project in partnership with the town. The Redevelopment Commission on Wednesday opened a bid from one company to buy 25 acres the town owns at Haglund Road and Ind. 149. The property is located across the road from the current Town Hall. Sloane Avenue Group and Redstone Group of Grand Rapids, Michigan, proposed to pay $25,000 for the land and to assume all costs of infrastructure, engineering, soil analysis and potential wetland mitigation. It was the only company that responded to the town's Request for Offer (RFO). Commission members didn't discuss the proposal because they wanted time to review and evaluate it. The proposal will also be reviewed by the town's consultant, Tina Rongers, and Town Attorney Clay Patton. A decision may be announced at the Redevelopment Commission's July 11 meeting. Councilwoman Roseann Bozak, who is the commission president, wouldn't release a copy of the proposal, citing that it hasn't been reviewed yet by the legal counsel. Bozak said they are looking for a mix of residential and commercial on the land, like the town intended to develop with its prior partner, Holladay Properties. 'We intend on sticking with that,' Bozak said. She wouldn't share what the Sloane Avenue Group and Redstone Group are proposing, beyond taking care of infrastructure, engineering, soil analysis and potential wetland mitigation. A BP pipeline does go through the property. The relationship between Burns Harbor and any party that buys the property will be different than the last time. 'The project will be developer-driven as opposed to a public-private partnership,' Rongers said. Burns Harbor and Holladay Properties had originally reached their agreement in 2019, but plans were then delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Holladay Properties announced in June 2023 that they couldn't go forward because of economic conditions. As a result, the town had to decline a $960,000 state grant from the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), which would have been used to install underground utilities. The town also spent money on a property master plan, Rongers said. The plan's goal was to create a new town center, which would have been anchored by a 22,800-square-foot town hall and community center. Another key amenity was that a section of the Marquette Greenway trail would be built on the property. The development also would have had 40 single-family townhouses, five multi-family luxury apartment buildings with 138 units, along with 5,800 square feet of commercial space in the ground floors of three of the apartment units. During the past two years, a 0.8-mile section of the trail has been built on the property. The Marquette Greenway, when finished by multiple communities, will eventually stretch 60 miles from Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan. Rongers said that the property is currently zoned residential. Burns Harbor will still retain a 4-acre parcel off of Ind. 149 neighboring the 25 acres to be sold. The vacant lot, which once was the location of a community center, could be the future location for a new town hall. The town in 2018 purchased 28 acres at Haglund Road and Ind. 149 for $250,000 from the Duneland School Corporation.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clean Power Alliance Launches its 2025 Clean Energy and Reliability Request for Offers
RFO Addresses Tariff and Tax Credit Uncertainty While Seeking Additional Renewable Energy and Reliability Resources for Southern California Customers Los Angeles, Calif., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clean Power Alliance (CPA), the nation's leading green power provider and the largest community choice energy aggregator in California, today announced the release of its 2025 Clean Energy and Reliability Request for Offers (RFO.) This solicitation reflects CPA's continued commitment to clean energy, grid reliability and innovative procurement practices. Building on the framework of its 2024 Clean Energy and Reliability RFO, the 2025 RFO has several key updates, including tariff and tax credit price adjusters to address potential changes in equipment-related tariff costs and federal tax policy. 'As market and policy conditions continue to shift, CPA is proactively updating its procurement approach to secure affordable, clean and reliable energy for the communities we serve,' said Ted Bardacke, CPA's chief executive officer. 'This RFO reflects our commitment to both progress and proactive problem-solving by offering developers clear guidance and options to keep projects on track during a time of policy and regulatory uncertainty.' The 2025 RFO invites proposals across six distinct product categories: 1. Renewable Generation OnlyIncludes baseload or firm renewable energy resources that qualify under California's Mid-Term Reliability (MTR) requirements and achieve an annual capacity factor of at least 80%. Also includes standard RPS-eligible resources such as solar and geothermal projects. 2. Renewable Generation Plus StorageCombines RPS-eligible renewable generation with storage systems offering a minimum of four hours of discharge. Storage capacity must not exceed 100% of the generation nameplate capacity. 3. Stand-alone StorageStorage-only projects providing a minimum of four hours of energy capacity, supporting grid flexibility and reliability during periods of peak demand. 4. Resource Adequacy-OnlyResource adequacy-only offers from qualifying technologies, including storage or dispatchable thermal resources, to meet regulatory reliability requirements. 5. PCC1 Energy-Only (Fixed Price or Index-Plus)Offers of RPS-eligible generation—such as solar, wind or geothermal—priced either at a fixed rate or as index-plus contracts. These are classified as PCC1 for compliance under California's Renewable Portfolio Standard. 6. Dispatchable Thermal Energy with RA ContractsIncludes existing gas-fired generation projects using cleaner operations, such as pairing with storage to reduce emissions or blending with green hydrogen or renewable biogas. These projects must include resource adequacy capacity and measures to minimize impacts on local air quality. CPA has traditionally focused its annual RFOs on meeting various California renewable energy and mid-term compliance requirements. However, CPA has already met or exceeded these compliance obligations, expecting to have a portfolio that is 80% renewable energy for 2024. As a result, this RFO seeks to fill a larger portion of CPA's energy and resource adequacy portfolio needs with long-term contracts that reduce the need for CPA to procure energy in the more volatile short-term market, thus helping to stabilize customers' electricity bills. To review CPA's Clean Energy and Reliability RFO click here. A webinar to inform about the RFO process will take place on June 3, 2025, at 11 a.m. (PST). Offers are due June 30, 2025. Proposers must register on the RFO website to receive RFO documents and participate in the webinar. About Clean Power Alliance Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated, not-for-profit electricity provider serving 38 cities and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. CPA is the fourth largest electricity provider in California and the number one green power provider in the United States. CPA provides clean renewable energy at competitive rates for approximately three million residents and businesses, along with innovative programs that promote resiliency, electrification, and customer bill savings. CPA has an investment-grade credit rating of A-minus from S&P Global Ratings. View CPA's most recent Impact Report here. Learn more about CPA at CONTACT: John Axtell Clean Power Alliance 213-376-4850 Ext. 184 jaxtell@
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
34 endangered vultures bred in Pinjore get new home in Maharashtra
In a significant boost to India's vulture conservation programme, 34 critically endangered vultures – 20 long-billed and 14 white-rumped – were successfully transferred from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre (JCBC) in Pinjore, to Maharashtra on Tuesday, coinciding with World Earth Day. The birds are destined for reintroduction into the wild across three key sites: Melghat, Pench, and Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserves. The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), in a statement, said the birds were being transferred from the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre in Pinjore to Maharashtra, where they will be reintroduced to the wild. The transfer marks a significant step in reviving critically endangered vulture populations in central India. According to the statement, vultures, aged between two to six years, were chosen following comprehensive health checks to ensure their fitness for release into the wild. The birds were carefully distributed across all three locations to maintain ecological balance, support successful breeding in the wild and ensure a balanced sex ratio at each site, it said. The vultures were transported in individual wooden boxes, one bird per box, to minimise stress and ensure safety during the journey, and they were fed two days in advance as per standard protocol. The birds were moved in three air-conditioned tempo travellers to maintain optimal temperature and ventilation throughout the transit, it stated. The team was led by Rundan Katkar, RFO, Kolsa, TATR, and supported by veterinarian Dr Mayank Barde from PTR, Manan Mahadev, senior biologist, BNHS, and two forest guards. Chief Wildlife Wardens of Haryana and Maharashtra, Vivek Saxena and Srinivasa Rao and BNHS Director Kishor Rithe monitored and guided the entire operation. The BNHS has set up the four Jatayu conservation breeding centres in the country, at Pinjore, Bhopal, Rajabhatkhawa (West Bengal) and Rani, Guwahati (Assam). The Maharashtra forest department has set up three pre-release aviaries in three tiger reserves in Vidarbha to follow the protocol for soft release. The birds are expected to reach their respective aviaries in two days.
