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NASEO International Sector |
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NASEO's International Peer Exchange Program for State Energy Officials New Projects in Vietnam and Ghana are part of States’ Successful Export Program The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) has facilitated U.S. peer exchanges and workshops among state energy offices as a means to share experiences and expertise among its members since the organization’s founding. These exchanges have enabled states and territories to adapt policies and programs to local circumstances. NASEO later expanded its peer exchange efforts to assist state energy offices in working with their peers in other countries through a number of projects related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, cost-effective emissions reduction, economic development, and sustainable energy development. These efforts led to establishing NASEO’s International Peer Exchange Program several years ago. Underlying the approach of NASEO’s International Peer Exchange Program is the assumption that state and territory energy officials, acting as mentors, have credibility with their peers in other countries because of their expertise and standing in state government. State and territory energy officials are in an ideal position to discuss private and public financing strategies, program designs, delivery systems, and technologies. State officials can introduce ideas that have worked in the states, and promote the adoption of successful market transformation in developing countries. Moreover, the relationships between the U.S. states and host countries often lay the groundwork for increased trade opportunities (for both the United States and host countries) in the areas of clean energy and energy efficiency products and services––expanding the world market for efficiency. NASEO’s International Peer-Exchange Program has expanded the opportunity for U.S. energy companies in Russia, India, Poland, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and the Philippines. The program set out to identify and apply concepts, policies, and programs that transform the market for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and services. Using market-oriented mechanisms the program finds pragmatic solutions to the complex problem of increasing the use cost-effective clean energy technologies in emerging economies and economies in transition. Each of the projects under NASEO's Peer Exchange Program was developed to both increase the export of clean U.S. energy technologies and services and foster sustainability in the host country. New Initiatives: Hungary, Brazil, Ghana, and Vietnam Hungary. NASEO has assisted the federal energy commission in Hungary by providing education and information about how various state energy efficiency programs promote deployment of technologies and development of an energy services industry. Materials were provided to the government on the structure of state energy offices, the market incentive programs states use to promote efficiency, and means to foster the growth of the market for clean energy technologies generally (e.g., barrier reduction). Brazil. NASEO developed a relationship between various Brazilian state energy officials and U.S. state energy officials to encourage the development of policies, programs, and incentives that will foster development of the energy service industry. The transfer of state energy offices' expertise in government buildings energy efficiency programs—programs that have spurred the growth of the energy service sector in the United States—will create great opportunities for U.S. energy firms in Brazil. Ghana. NASEO is also preparing to aid the newly formed energy commission in Ghana. State energy officials will travel to Ghana later this summer to provide their expertise in developing energy efficiency programs, crafting fossil energy safety practices, fostering development of a competitive utility industry, assisting in the development of new sources of power (gas and renewable). Vietnam. This fall, NASEO will begin its first peer exchange effort in Vietnam. The project's aim is to build a relationship among key state energy offices and Vietnamese officials in order to promote the export of clean coal and other clean energy technologies (e.g., industrial efficiency, government buildings efficiency). The focus of the project is to transfer of information about the United States' first eco-industrial complex located in Mississippi. This power production complex includes the integration of symbiotic manufacturing with a lignite-fired power plant using cutting-edge clean coal technology. It may be possible to deploy the ecoplex concept on industrial estates in Vietnam and to incorporate biomass/coal co-firing processes. Continuing Initiatives: Philippines, Poland, Brazil, China Philippines-Hawaii: Development of Energy Policy and Analytical Expertise: The Energy, Resources, and Technology Division of Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) is providing policy development assistance to the Philippines to encourage the adoption of energy efficiency and environmental technologies. The energy efficiency component of the project and mission that NASEO is supporting provides policy assistance in the areas of codes and standards, performance contracting, and integrated resource planning. Poland-Iowa: Iowa and NASEO are developing a project that would establish an energy efficiency program for municipal buildings and a weatherization program for low-income households. The project would be created and implemented in conjunction with the Polish Foundation for Energy Efficiency (FEWE), and other Polish agencies and nonprofit institutions. NASEO and FEWE have agreed to host a workshop in Poland to transfer American expertise to Polish officials. Brazil-New York, Iowa: New York, Iowa and NASEO are assisting in the development of an institutional energy efficiency programs for public buildings in Brazil. The program is similar to those operated by New York and Iowa which rely on the private sector to implement and finance efficiency projects in schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. China-Indiana: NASEO is providing support for the Indiana Energy Office to conduct a trade mission and peer exchange effort with the Zhejiang province in China. The effort will include transfer of industrial energy efficiency expertise to China, and a visit by officials from Zhejiang to NASEO’s Annual Meeting in September. Past Initiatives: Ukraine, Poland, China, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Dominican Republic, Micronesia Ukraine-Iowa: Officials from the Iowa Energy Office participated in a meeting of the Ukraine ESCO Association. Meetings were held with several Ukrainian ESCO representatives, officials from the Alliance to Save Energy, and officials from the Ukrainian Ministry of Power & Energy. While it appears that the Ukrainian government is not moving quickly to implement the reforms needed to begin moving to a commercials market which would include energy efficiency, the Ukrainian ESCO Association represent the type of entrepreneurs that will be needed to change this situation. Poland-Oregon: Metals Industry Energy Efficiency: The Oregon Department of Energy conducted an important technology and financing methods exchange project with the Dziedzice (ZM) Rolling Mill in Southern Poland. The project had two purposes: Promoting energy efficiency technology exchange between metals industry representatives from Poland and Oregon, and Implementing energy efficiency improvement measures emphasizing replicable and effective financing techniques at a Polish rolling mill. China-Hawaii: NASEO provided support for Hawaii in assisting Hainan province in China, in adopting energy-efficient building practices and sustainable development that encourages both tourism and clean energy production. Hawaii state officials completed a renewable energy and energy efficiency preliminary assessment for Hainan Province. The province’s emphasis on tourism and the state’s expertise in sustainable development will resulted in an effective peer exchange. Sri Lanka-New Mexico: Officials from the New Mexico met with Sri Lankan engineers, and utility representatives. The discussions focused on energy efficient aspects of electric power generation, but also included global deregulation trends for the power industry; energy efficiency and reliability issues, transmission and distribution; partnership development and long term strategic planning issues. Singapore-Wyoming: NASEO and the Southern States Energy Board participated with DOE’s Office of Coal Technology in an International Energy Agency workshop in Singapore. State energy officials from Wyoming and Mississippi made presentations on industrial and power generation efficiency, clean coal technology, and clean energy financing. The Director of Wyoming’s Energy and Conservation Office, was invited to chair the fourth plenary session concerning financing clean energy and energy efficiency projects. Dominican Republic-Puerto Rico: Improving Energy Programs and Policies: The Energy Affairs Administration of Puerto Rico assisted the Dominican Republic in establishing energy programs that emphasize energy efficiency and renewable energy. The focus of the project was to enhance the Dominican Republic’s energy and transportation systems, reduction of greenhouse gases, and development of U.S. service and product exports to the Dominican Republic. Micronesia-Washington: Energy Efficiency Program Development: The Washington Cooperative Extension Energy Program conducted an energy efficiency program development initiative and assisted in the development of a sustainable energy strategy for Micronesia. Washington officials have worked with officials in Micronesia for about two years on clean energy projects and efficiency aspects of electricity production and transmission. For more information about NASEO's peer exchange program please contact NASEO at 703.299.8800.
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