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Success Stories Assistance Areas SEED Reports Contact Information Last updated: 36     Activity Reports for energy and environment programs funded by USAID in Poland - the reports principally cover 1998 and 1999. Energy Efficiency Investment and Thermorenovation Plans Energy Sector Restructuring Regional Energy Efficiency Environmental Training Project U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Local Environmental Management Project (LEM II) Krakow Low Emission Skawina FGD Repair / Renovation   Activity Name: Development of City-Wide Energy Efficiency Investment Plans for cities, demonstrations, and professional strengthening of local SMEs toward offering thermorenovation services. Implementing Organization: Krakow Foundation for Energy Efficiency (FEWE/Krakow) Start Date: Oct 1, 1997 Completion Date: July 31, 2000 Activity goals and achievements: FEWE worked with six partner cities, one with population bigger that 100,000, three between 100,000-20,000, and two below 20,000. For each city FEWE provided the following: city-wide energy efficiency (heat) investment plan for the demand side (6 plans); energy audits (in compliance with the Thermomodernization Act standard) for five buildings (residential, schools, etc. selected together with the gmina) (30 audits); at two of the five selected buildings low cost thermomodernization works (window and door carpentry improvements, weather stripping, attic space insulation , etc. - a total of 12 demonstrations); at each city at least one SME is technically trained and prepared for implementing thermorenovation works (at least 6 SMEs); each city contributes financially to the projects. About $185,000 was expected as local, total matching funds. FEWE signed agreements with Krapkowice, Olsztynek, Nowy Sacz, Trzcianka, and Luban. An agreement with Bialystok (population above 100,000) was signed later in the project's implementation. FEWE cooperated closely with the Polish Network of Energy Cities (PNEC) as the project meets criteria of the PNEC resolution on contributing to Global Climate Change at the municipal level that was announced on the annual meeting of the European Network of Energy Cities, in Barcelona, in March, 1998. FEWE was also in touch with the Krakow Office of the Local Government Partnership Program. Lessons learned from the project will be disseminated to all Energy Cities and Partner Cities through seminars and publications. Back to Top   Activity Name:  Energy Sector Restructuring Regional Contract Implementing Organization: Bechtel Start Date: March 29, 1995 Completion Date: Dec. 31, 1998 Activity goals and achievements: Bechtel assisted the Government of Poland in enactment of the Energy Law and in establishing a market-based regulatory framework and an operational Energy Regulatory Authority (ERA). 1998 was the final year of this four year effort. Bechtel focussed on advisory services, training and technical assistance to the ERA, primarily in the areas of follow-up ordinances to the Energy Law, license design and processing, and information management systems. At a later stage of the assistance, the main focus was on tariffs. Bechtel’s advisory services, training and technical assistance for ERA concentrated on the following activities: Licensing Department: initiating the licensing process; designing the licenses; specifying licenses forms and procedures; designing questionnaires and data base; etc.); Tariff Department: preparation for establishing and implementation of economically-based prices, cost accounting and operation procedures, and rules of public participation; etc.); development and implementation of the Management Information Systems (MIS)for the ERA office; delivery of initial training in economic regulation, regulatory agency operations and public information programs. Working on energy sector legal reform and cooperating closely with the ERA, the Bechtel Team made significant contributions to the following: price transition: according to the GOP assessment, in 1989 the heat prices covered 1/3 of production costs and the electricity prices covered only 1/5 of the production costs. The 1998 levels of these two energy carriers’ average prices almost covers the production and distribution costs, although they are still too low to cover investment costs; the most important regulations on heat and electricity tariffs are in force as of early in 1999; in January 1999, heat prices were deregulated from Ministry of Finance control and started to be regulated by ERA; the increases in 1999 was limited to a maximum 15%; also in January 1999, electricity prices were freed up and their increases to residential customers in 1999 did not exceed 13%; on the basis of a new MIS, ERA is establishing a data base for automated licensing and tarification of all regulated energy sector enterprises; nine regional ERA offices are becoming institutionally strengthened and staffed to become key elements of the overall ERA organization, with significantly greater responsibilities; negotiating the EU accession conditions, GOP committed to adjust Polish regulations to EU energy market rules by 2003. Back to Top   Activity Name: Energy Efficiency Investment Plans - Energy Sector Restructuring (EAPS) Start Date: 1 April 1995 Completion Date: July 1998 Activity goals and achievements: The Environmental Action Program Support (EAPS) project was funded to help Polish state authorities cope with environmental challenges posed by the decisions of the Rio and Sofia environmental conferences, as well as to help local authorities manage local environmental/infrastructure investments aimed at decreasing pollutants. Most of the projects implemented on the local level (communal enterprises) in Poland focussed on lowering emissions through the modernization of heating systems, boiler conversions (coal to gas), refurbishing boiler houses, and local district heating development. Each of the project packaging efforts was supported by technical assistance in economic analysis for least cost solutions, environmental impact analysis, conceptual technical and economic designs and financing plans/applications. Back to Top   Activity Name: Regional Energy Efficiency Implementing Organization: Electrotek Concepts, Inc Start Date: October 1, 1996 Completion Date: December 31, 1999 Activity goals and achievements: The $2.5 million, four-year project seeks to promote energy efficiency in Poland (industry, municipalities, private sector) by promoting demand side management (DSM) and integrated resource planning (IRP) techniques (Gliwice Power Distribution Company/GZE; Torun Power Distribution Company/ZET), by assisting the mobilization of private, GOP, and multilateral financing (environmental funds, TDA) and by strengthening small and medium enterprise energy service companies (SMEs/ESCOs) and Energy Efficiency Business Support Organizations (EEBSOs) through TA, training and demonstration projects. During its last year of operation in Poland (1999) the main focus of the project will be put on TA for heat enterprises in preparation their tariff applications to ERA, and completing the demonstration projects and EEBSO support. As a result of this project, four EEBSOs were professionally strengthened or created: National Energy Conservation Agency (NAPE/Warsaw), Foundation for Energy Efficiency (FEWE/Krakow), Warsaw University of Technology Assessment Center/WUTAC, and Silesian Technical University Management and Energy Assessment Center/STUMEAC; nine SMEs started energy efficiency projects of total value about $600,000 (total Electrotek’s support is about $115,000); two SME ESCos were created (EnerTech, PilBut); and expected level of funds leveraged (environmental funds, TDA, EU, enterprise-funded DSM, etc.) is about $3,300,000. Two power distribution companies (GZE, ZET) have made major changes to their planning and investment procedures, adopting modern forecasting, evaluation, and financial management techniques. GZE has also established a Customer Energy Services department that is promoting energy efficiency programs for its customers. Please see some more information on the successes of this activity in the success stories section of this website.  The final report for this activity is available on the Development Experience Clearinghouse website (type Poland in the search mode). Back to Top   Activity Name: Environmental Training Project (ETP) Implementing Organization: University of Minnesota Start Date: February 11, 1992 Completion Date: November 30, 1999 Activity goals and achievements: The Environmental Training Project (ETP), started in 1992, was focused on upgrading managerial knowledge of local private businesses, environmental NGOs, academicians and local government to better operate in the transforming economic surroundings. Following the 1994 local elections, the focus of the project changed to target training for local government officials to facilitate a successful reform of the local gmina government system in Poland. The ETP program's concluding objective was to improve Poland's environmental and natural resource training capabilities so that they can be sustained by local trainers. ETP achieved this objective through a broad range of programs aimed at building local private and public institutional and human resource capacity in environmental management. Back to Top   Activity Name: EPA 1994 IAA: Environment Implementing Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Start Date: 01/10/1993 Completion Date: 06/30/2000 Activity goals and achievements: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through an agreement with USAID, offered a wide array of projects promoting technical, scientific, managerial expertise to NGOs, civic organizations, local governments, training institutions, state agencies, local research centers and industries to manage resources on local levels. Funding for this assistance is provided in reference to the Agreement between the Government of Poland and the U.S. on Cooperation in Science and technology (09/04/92). The total amount of funding for Poland during 1990-1998 came to over  $11,4 million (including activities that have already expired); total life of project funding for the activities listed below comes to almost $2,8 million. Through a number of projects EPA aims at upgrading the technical infrastructure and managerial capacities of all players active in environmental protection in Poland. In the final period of the assistance to Poland, EPA delivered the following assistance: Krakow: Urban Air/Mobile Source Pollution (through 06/00); Malopolska Voivodship: Water Technical Exchange Program (through 12/98); Upper Silesia: Biosolids Management-Stabilization of Mining Wastes (through 12/99); Upper Silesia: Underground Storage Tanks Rehabilitation (through 12/98); Hazardous Waste Management/Emergency Response (through 12/99); Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAP), (through 12/99); Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (through 12/99). Krakow: Urban Air/Mobile Source Pollution (AID IAA with EPA; EPA grant to Krakow Voivodship Office for project management; EPA grant for Air and Waste Management Association / AWMA): the additional ($155,000) monitoring equipment was installed to upgrade the existing network in order to monitor pollution from mobile sources, mainly particulates less than 2.5 microns (PM 2.5); four training sessions were provided by EPA: on the use of the PM 2.5 equipment, on emission inventory strategy; modeling (in US and in Poland); mobile sources modeling software package for Krakow was selected and installed in the Voivodship Office, Environmental Inspectorate, and Meteorological Institute; point pollution sources inventory has started; local financing: $26,000; local Project Manager was hired. Malopolska Voivodship: Water Technical Exchange Program. EPA grant for Water for People and Water and Water Environment Federation (project completed): Krakow Regional Environmental Education Center's (REEC) "Blue Thumb" awareness-building program is sustainable, although its financing is based mainly on grants. REEC established 140 "Blue Thumb" clubs (4000 members) in Malopolska and throughout Poland; started cooperation with Lviv in transferring there public participation initiatives; is implementing a Plan of Development prepared jointly with WEF; technical assistance (financing, highway/stormwater/spill runoff, conflict resolution) and training provided to the Upper Raba River Basin Union (URRBU; 13 gminas) improved their management skills to implement the Dobczyce Reservoir Protection Investment Program ($10 million) and to solve local environmental conflicts; URRBU successfully built a partnership with the Charles River US watershed group, the Mott Foundation, and continue cooperation with USAID under the LGPP project; as a follow-up activity to EPA Agricultural Water project (completed in 1997), WB is negotiating with the GOP a multi-dollar loan to duplicate best practices/demonstrations implemented by EPA. Upper Silesia: Biosolids Management-Stabilization of Mining Wastes: the project demonstrated (in three gminas: near Katowice) low-cost and low-tech solutions for remediation of huge piles of mining waste, through stabilizing and reclaiming them by planting grasses and trees that are fertilized by the sludge (Biosolids). The same technique, based on Polish success, is now being tested on the Superfund sites in the U.S. The remaining $15,000 and expected Polish co-financing will allow to extend the project to additional sites. Until 12/1999 there are expected technical assessments and evaluations of results and a final lessons learned dissemination conference. There seems to be a big potential for transferring this technology to other ENI/NIS countries under the ECOLINKS program. EPA intents to transfer the technology developed in Poland to the United States. In this regard, they are planning on inviting the Polish counterparts to attend a symposium in US (in 1999). EPA will sponsor and pay their expenses. EPA wants to organize an international symposium on hazardous site reclamation using biosolids in Poland. This would allow American scientists to see the results of this outstanding and innovative project. It would also allow scientists from surrounding Eastern European countries to learn how they could use this low cost technology to mitigate health risks and environmental damage. Potential for ECOLINKS. Upper Silesia: Underground Storage Tanks Rehabilitation (project completed): the project demonstrated procedures to assess soil pollution by chemicals leaking from underground tanks. Three demonstrations at gasoline stations were completed in the Katowice vicinity; a priority list, ranking most of gasoline stations from the Upper Silesia Voivodship based on the leakages potential, was provided to the Katowice Environmental Inspectorate (WIOS); training for WIOS and computer software was provided and data base established; a dissemination seminar provided in 12/98. the EPA recommended that at least one ground water monitoring well should be installed at all older stations down-gradient of the underground storage tanks, and periodic sampling and analysis of the ground water be conducted. This sampling would act as a leak detection system for the older stations. If leaks are detected, then a full environmental assessment should be conducted. In order to require that such monitoring wells be installed, it should be determined whether local government authority (gminas) could issue a requirement for gasoline stations in their area. Hazardous Waste Management/Emergency Response (Risk Management – Brownfields Demonstration Project): brownfields site inventory and ranking list for Poland developed by the State Environmental Inspectorate (GIOS) and introduced to MOE for implementation; one demonstration site assessment (Orzel Bialy smelter in Piekary Slaskie, Upper Silesia Voivodship, Warynski Smelter) using Brownfields redevelopment as basis for clean-up was completed by 12/99; a model for site assessment developed and introduced to GIOS, MOE, voivodships; training on risk management, risk communication, Brownfields and hazardous waste site assessments provided to environmental officials and industries was prepared; hazardous Waste Site Inventory: a conference on contaminated waste sites was held January 1999, in Katowice to kick-off the hazardous waste site inventory project by using the conference as a forum to develop a project steering committee and to explore ways in which the site inventory can be used by communities as a brownfields tool. Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAP I+II): Under LEAP I, two gminas (Elk and Radom) completed local environmental action plans in 1996/1997 (please refer to the success stories page of this website); project coordinators of these two LEAPS are now members of the Project Advisory panel. Under LEAP II, the National Environmental Fund (NEF) and their subcontractors (COWI - a local consulting company), have been continuing development of LEAPs, with focus on public participation in the process of environmental decision making in Chelm and Starogard Gdanski, based on agreements signed with these two cities. A limited support for a third city, Tczew, and powiat of Aleksandrow Kujawski has started. In Chelm and Starogard Gdanski were selected local project managers and Program Committees to monitor the implementation schedule. The main approach in LEAPs preparation is based on a US model of comparative risk assessment. The overall supervision of the progress is performed by the LEAP Advisory Panel (LEAP coordinators form Elk and Radom, Institute for Sustainable Development, consultants). Environmental Compliance and Enforcement: four industrial companies (Kedzierzy Kozle Chemical Plant, Czestochowa Steel Mill, Miasteczko Slaskie/Zinc Smelter, and Petrochemia Plock) were trained and negotiated with GIOS their environmental compliance adaptation plans. As a result of this three of these companies were conditionally deleted from the GIOS/MOE "Dirty 80" list; a provision on environmental compliance and negotiable adjustment plans for polluters was introduced to the new Environmental Protection Act; an additional 5 companies from the Dirty 80 list approached GIOS to start negotiations on their adjustment plans. Back to Top   Activity Name: Local Environmental Management Project (LEM II) Implementing Organization: Research Triangle Institute (RTI) Start Date: Sept 1, 1995 Completion Date: July 31, 1998 Activity goals and achievements: The project started in Poland in September 1995 as a follow up to LEM activities in Hungary helping selected municipalities to better manage communal waste streams. In Poland, the project focussed on two primary sites in southwestern Poland: 1) assistance to the Olawa/Brzeg Municipal Union for the closing down an old fashioned landfill and replacing it with a modern one to meet all environmental standards as well as introducing a waste management system (waste separation, recycling, composting and storage) in 5 cooperating municipalities; 2) assistance to the municipality of Oborniki Slaskie to better manage the local landfill and to create an operating system of waste collection. The project was managed entirely by Polish staff, and employed U.S., Hungarian, and Polish consultants to provide TA and help with training materials: Sludge Management Manual, the first of its type in Poland, developed by LEM was published in January 1998 LEM developed and translated training materials for a US Study Tour on solid waste management. The Study Tour was held in January 1998 with 14 Poles including representatives from gminas, regional environmental fund presidents, and LEM consultants A group of 20 city council members, city board members and local leaders were trained in Long Term Planning of Infrastructure Projects in Rydultowy A group of 28 local government officials responsible for implementation of infrastructure projects were trained in Project Management in February 1998 Two offerings of the training on Financial Management of Infrastructure Projects were delivered to local government officials in April 1998 in Zakopane Eight strategic planning sessions in the city of Rydultowy were held in July 1998, the results processed and a report issued Based on a municipal solid waste management report prepared by LEM, the city of Brzeg received approval of grants funds from the Environmental Partnership Foundation to implement a waste segregation system Back to Top   Activity Name: Krakow Low Emission, Phase IV Implementing Organization: U.S. Department of Energy Start Date: original activity: FY 1991; Phase IV: X 1998; Completion Date: 09/30/2000 Activity goals and achievements: The project started in 1990 with total funding of $20 million; out of this $14 million were capital grants, and the additional funds were spent for studies and training in implementation of the program. The project was to help the city of Krakow curb low emissions from local coal boiler-houses. Phase I created a database on sources of emissions. Phase II identified US companies (Honeywell, Shooshanian, LSR, CTI, Accurex, TCS, EFH, TECOGEN) that (through cost-sharing arrangements with DOE) were to start operation in Krakow and create JV with Polish companies. Phase III focused on work of these companies. Agreements with Accurex, TCS, EFH were terminated by DOE, based on recommendations of the Bilateral Steering Committee established to monitor the project. Phase IV focused on using reserves resulting from these terminations ($2,7 million), to eliminate low emission from additional Krakow boilerhouses by Polish companies and using Polish and US equipment. The Bureau for Krakow Development (BRK), Krakow Heat Utility (MPEC), and Krakow CHP (ECKSA) completed an inventory and selection of potential projects to be financed during Phase IV. Over 100 local boilerhouses were converted to gas or connected to the heat network during Phase IV. All of them are located in the center of Krakow (4 in the Old City, 34 in the area directly surrounding the Old City, and 67 further afield). Up to three of the conversions were assessed by BRK, ECKSA, and DOE as potential cogeneration projects, using microturbines. BRK, LEG, and DOE also assessed feasibility of extending the work to include modernization of the Krakow Pediatric Hospital’s heat system (gas boilerhouse backed-up by a microturbine). The whole project was financed in 50% by USAID / DOE using SEED Act funding, and in 50% by the Polish side (ECOFUND, national, voivodship, gmina environmental funds; own resources of ECKSA, MPEC, and private building owner funds). The Local Views section of the USAID close-out publication USAID and the Polish Decade includes a description of U.S. assistance to the environmental clean-up of the city of Krakow. Back to Top   Activity Name: Skawina FGD Repair/Renovation Start Date: May, 1997 Completion Date: May, 2000 Activity goals and objectives: The purpose of the Skawina Flue-Gas Desulphurization (FGD) project was to renovate and repair an inoperable facility previously financed and constructed under US DOE auspices in the early 1990s. The work was to encompass preparation of a "concept design" that would be the basis for a U.S./Polish design/build contract, and follow-on share of construction financing. Depending upon costs and technical recommendations, the plant was to encompass both the flue gas desulfurization facility as well as ancillary water treatment and gypsum production. A nearly-complete concept design sufficient to make a go/no-go decision on an IFB for a design/build construction contract, and for the purposes of securing the necessary additional financing to complete the project, was delivered to U.S. agencies and Elektrownia Skawina (ES) in June, 1998. ES declined to accept the concept design, stating that it was only a "final report" of the design contractor (Radian) and failed to meet "Polish standards". This assertion came despite the fact that Radian, at ES insistence, had hired a Polish design firm familiar with Polish FGD facilities to ensure that all applicable standards were met. It became apparent that the fundamental premise upon which the concept design was based, i.e. that it was a prelude to a design/build package, was not agreed by ES. Instead, ES insists upon a 100%, highly detailed final design following (ES asserts) Polish practice, which would greatly increase both the design cost and the design time for the project. Initially, the US side agreed to provide revise the concept design and complete such a 100% design, but this decision was judged uneconomic. USAID undertook a review of its entire commitment to the project. It was decided to cancel further US involvement, with funds ($5.0 million) made available to the Government of Poland's Ministry of the Environment under a separate GCC grant agreement. Back to Top

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