NASEO and the State Energy Offices in the News

The Washington Post – November 7, 2009

"If the New Deal was focused on building new things -- schools, courthouses, libraries -- then the stimulus is to a great degree focused on retrofitting what's already there. The $25 billion for energy efficiency, which is the same amount as is being spent on roads and bridges, is split roughly equally among programs for homes for low-income workers, federal buildings, public housing, military facilities and initiatives by local and state governments.

"Buildings account for 40 percent of the country's energy usage and are responsible for 40 percent of its carbon emissions, more than industry or transportation. Reducing buildings' energy demands, Energy Secretary Steven Chu says, is not just low-hanging fruit -- it is "fruit on the ground." Homeowners can cut their energy bills by a third. And the work cannot be outsourced, making "green jobs" the centerpiece of Obama's job-growth strategy.

"But hurdles have sprung up left and right, resulting in little insulating work getting done before the onset of cold weather. Officials in charge of the spending have become entangled in bureaucratic disputes over federal wage requirements, historic preservation rules and environmental regulations ….

"To speed the energy-efficiency grants for local governments, the Energy Department assigned 70 employees in a basement room the task of reviewing its 2,200 [state and local] applications. Some cities and counties have been able to move more quickly with specific projects, such as replacing lighting in parking garages or buying new air-conditioning systems.

"But many are using a big slice of their grants to commission audits of their energy usage and develop plans for how to proceed, which the federal government encourages. Loudoun County is waiting for the results of a $250,000 study before deciding how to use the rest of its $2.3 million grant. "It's long-range visioning that's done to help the board envision where it'll go with energy efficiency," said John Sandy, deputy county administrator.

"The General Services Administration, meanwhile, has awarded big contracts for its federal building projects. But much of the work has yet to start as the agency and contractors review their plans, said Bob Peck, the commissioner of public buildings.

"Is it possible or reasonable to think that the stimulus package could have moved faster moving into winter? I don't know," he said. "But if you step back a couple feet and say, 'where do we need to be in five years,' then the steps we're taking now are exactly right."

The Wall Street Journal – October 22, 2009

"States are backing big energy-efficiency programs, spurred by the belief that they could hold down heating and electricity bills, as well as cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

"The programs, usually funded by surcharges on utility bills, help customers weatherize their homes and install new lighting systems, among other things. Total annual spending on the efficiency programs is expected to rise from $3.1 billion in 2008 to $7.5 billion to $12.4 billion by 2020, according to a study released this month by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab ….

"While it is difficult to measure precisely how much energy has been saved with energy-efficient technologies, consumer demand has fallen in the past two years, the first reductions in consecutive years since the end of World War II. The recession may explain part of that decline.

"The third-annual scorecard from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a 30-year-old nonprofit advocacy group, was released Wednesday. The scorecard looked at six measures, including spending by utilities on energy-efficiency programs, state transportation policies, state building codes and appliance efficiency standards. It used 2007 data, the last year for which complete data are available from all states.

"The states with the strongest programs, according to a scorecard released Wednesday, are California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Vermont, Washington, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Maine ….”

The Wall Street Journal – October 19, 2009

"Iowa has become the second-largest producer of wind power in the U.S., and some credit an aggressive and supportive role played by local government.

"That support is seen in numerous ways: Wind-energy producers and equipment makers enjoy state tax breaks, and projects of 25 megawatts or smaller don't need to be certified by the utilities board. In addition, producers know ahead of time that they will be able to recover their costs from customers, which makes them more likely to invest. Iowa counties, meanwhile, appreciate the revenue and the jobs that wind farms produce, and have few zoning regulations for wind turbines ….

"Transmission is the big challenge," says Roya Stanley, director of the Iowa Office of Energy Independence. "While we still have some room on the grid in the state, it will be critical to have agreement regionally for further transmission build-out."

Foster Natural Gas Report – October 9, 2009

"At the National Organization of State Energy Officials (NASEO) 2009 Winter Fuels Outlook Conference on 10/6/09, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) unveiled its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) and annual Winter Fuels Outlook, and predicted, among other things, that residential expenditures for heating this winter would be 8% lower, on average. Households using natural gas and propane for their heat will see the largest decrease in expenditures, at 12% and 14%, respectively, while winter heating costs for electricity and heating oil will only decline by 2%.

"Richard Newell, EIA's Administrator, told FNGR and other reporters that the lower heating costs could be attributed to lower-than-expected fuels prices this winter compared to last, higher inventories of all heating fuels, and slightly milder winter weather predicted for many areas of the U.S. Alone, residential natural gas prices are expected to be 11% lower this winter ….”

Power Market Today – September 16, 2009

"Speaking at the annual meeting of the National Association of State Energy Officials in Annapolis, MD … Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary in DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said [that $454 million in funding announced that day by DOE for a national energy efficiency ‘retrofit ramp-up'] will help communities take advantage of ‘a moment requiring mobilization on a massive scale' to effect America's clean energy transformation …."

TheAutoChannel.com – September 9, 2009

"Imagine yourself zipping around a famous Indy Racing League oval, or on a road course circuit, with an experienced, pro driver behind the wheel for a thrilling high-speed ride in an Indy-style, bio ethanol-fueled, two-seater race car ….

"That's just one of the tempting prizes in the Drive Smarter Challenge video contest (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/contest). All you have to do is create a fun, two-minute video by the September 20 11:59 pm EDT deadline illustrating one or more of the Drive Smarter Challenge campaign's fuel efficiency driving and vehicle maintenance road trip tips (http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/money-saving-tips/Default.aspx) ….

"The 17 Drive Smarter Challenge campaign partners include … the National Association of State Energy Officials …."

The Wall Street Journal – August 24, 2009

"Energy-efficient mortgages have been around for years, but many lenders have been reluctant to offer them, since they involve much more paperwork and other complications than regular mortgages. For the lenders, ‘it's the same amount of profit for more work,' says Mark Wolfe, director of the Energy Programs Consortium, a joint venture of four national organizations that represent local and state energy programs and policy directors."

Inside Energy – August 17, 2009

"In an acknowledgment of the vulnerability of U.S. energy supplies, the administration last week said it would distribute $38 million in economic stimulus funding to help states prepare for emergencies that disrupt energy supplies, such as electric grid blackouts and hurricanes ….

"Specifically, the money went through the National Association of State Energy Officials [and three other organizations] …."

Telecommunications Online – July 17, 2009

"In its effort to build broad support for development of America's smart grid, the GridWise Alliance today announced new agreements – in the form of Memoranda of Understanding – with three major national organizations – the Alliance to Save Energy, the National Association of State Energy Officials and the Working Group for Investment in Reliable and Economic Electric Systems ….

"David Terry, the Executive Director of NASEO, said, ‘We are thrilled that the state energy offices can become more engaged with the GridWise Alliance. This partnership can provide unique resources to both groups to the benefit of all members.'"

Energy Washington Week – July 15, 2009

"Calling themselves ‘an unlikely coalition,' members of energy efficiency organizations, electric utilities, the building industry and other groups spoke out last week in favor of ambitious new building codes for energy efficiency that are included in proposed legislation.

"The Building Energy Efficient Codes Network says its major goals are new laws springing from provisions in energy bills that mandate that all new commercial and residential buildings have 30% improvement in energy efficiency by next year, and a 50% improvement by 2030. The provisions are included in the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed last week by the House, a well as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's American Clean Energy Leadership Act ….

"BEECN members announcing the initiative included … the National Association of State Energy Officials."

Transmission & Distribution World – June 30, 2009

"The U.S. Department of Energy has approved 16 State Energy Program spending plans authorized as part of the federal economic stimulus package signed into law in February. With the approval of these plans, 16 of the nation's State Energy Offices are receiving $508 million, representing 50% of full program funding. Remaining funding will come as states implement their programs and deliver results …

"DOE continues to review State Energy Program spending plans from 39 other states and U.S. territories. Action on the plans is expected by the end of July.

"These energy stimulus plans fulfill state obligations under the federal State Energy Program, one of a number of stimulus-funded programs operated by the 56 State and Territory Energy Offices. Total stimulus funding for the State Energy Program is $3.1 billion.

"The State Energy Program is a key part of the Obama Administration's national strategy to support green job growth, while making an historic investment in economically viable clean energy projects."

American City & County – May 15, 2009

"More than $1 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for energy efficiency projects will begin flowing to state governments in the next few weeks, according to the Alexandria, Va.-based National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). The remainder of the $16 billion in ARRA funds for clean energy and energy efficiency projects will be distributed at an accelerated pace over coming months as the U.S. Department of Energy reviews and approves more detailed funding plans from applicants.

"ARRA includes $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program, which helps low-income people make energy upgrades to their homes; $3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, which will fund local government and state projects; $3.1 billion for the State Energy Program, which funds energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative transportation projects; and $300 million for State Energy Offices to deliver rebates to consumers who purchase Energy Star-rated appliances. State Energy Offices will manage $3.8 billion of the State Energy Program, EECBG and Energy Star rebate money."