December 12, 2008

NASEO News
 

President-elect Obama Names Leadership Team on Energy and the Environment

Press reports indicate that President-elect Obama will name Steven Chu, director of the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, the next Secretary of Energy.  He is also expected to name Lisa Jackson, former head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.  Carol Browner, EPA Administrator during the Clinton Administration, will serve in the White House overseeing energy, environment and climate change policy (the name "Climate Czar" position).  Nancy Sutley, the deputy mayor of Los Angeles in charge of the city's energy and environmental affairs, will lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality.  The New York Times, Washington Post and CNN have further details on the expected announcements.  NASEO looks forward to working with the new administration on priority areas for the state energy offices and will keep its membership updated on developments as candidates are confirmed and the administration fills other relevant positions.

Maryland Energy Director Testifies Before U.S. Senate on Behalf of NASEO

Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), testified on behalf of NASEO before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  In NASEO's testimony, Mr. Woolf recommended that the federal government provide the following:

  • Provide $10 billion for an energy efficiency buildings retrofit program;
  • Provide $6 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant;
  • Expand funding for proven, authorized programs, including:
    • $125 million for the State Energy Program;
    • $1 billion for the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program;
    • $100 million for Energy Efficiency Building Codes;
    • $100 million for the EPA ENERGY STAR program;
    • $250 million for Green Jobs (Authorization contained in EISA);
    • $250 million for the USDA REAP program; and
    • $2.5 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (in addition to the $5.1 billion in FY’09 appropriation)

For more details, please read the testimony and appendix.  You can also watch the archived hearing online. 

Senator Stabenow Introduces the Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act

Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan introduced the Green Jobs and Infrastructure Act today as S. 3725.  This bill includes a $50 billion loan guarantee for clean energy/energy efficiency manufacturing, $1 billion in targeted funding for large-scale energy efficiency retrofit projects, and also includes Green Jobs Act and Service Corps funding.  Sen. Stabenow also sent out a "Dear Colleague" letter on the stimulus, which does not include the manufacturing loan guarantee and includes more comprehensive language about funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.  The Apollo Alliance has reported on this news.

Reminder: NASEO 2008-2009 Survey of State Energy Offices

NASEO has been coordinating with the National Conference of State Legislatures to collect information on the relative positions of state energy offices in state government and other basic operating information.  To help NASEO complete this information, we ask that you please fill out this brief survey and submit to NASEO by December 15, 2008.  Please contact Benjamin Deitchman at BDeitchman@NASEO.org if you have any questions on this effort.

Reminder: NASEO Energy Outlook 2009

This year's winter meeting, NASEO's Energy Outlook 2009, will be held on February 1-4, 2009, in Washington, DC.   For more information on the meeting and state travel assistance contact Shemika Spencer or visit the events page.  Meeting registration and hotel registration are already open.

National Energy Technology Laboratory Hosts Energy Roundtable with State Energy Offices

On December 11, 2008, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) hosted an Energy Roundtable at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The purpose of the Roundtable was to connect with State Energy Offices to strengthen stakeholder relationships, more effectively leverage NETL resources and investments, expand NETL's near-term impact, improve the quality of NETL data, expand state use of NETL data and services, and adjust NETL resources based on State Energy Office feedback.  NASEO, along with representatives from ten states and territories (Tennessee, West Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Wyoming, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, and the District of Columbia) participated in discussions (in person and via conference call) addressing the issues of carbon regulations, hydrogen energy, algae for carbon recycling, site restoration, and water use in power production, and training.

NETL Director, Carl Bauer, opened the Roundtable with a brief discussion on the lab's mission and commitment to the states to function as a high quality data and technology source, provide analysis support, and provide technology development, demonstration, and deployment activities. 

Discussions on carbon management focused on long-term energy outlook projections that estimate coal electricity generation increasing to 54% by 2030 (from 48% in 2008).  Thomas Feeley provided participants with an overview of NETL carbon capture and storage technology activities and path forward to ensure the concept is commercially deployable by 2020.  In addition, NETL briefly discussed available opportunities for states to work with NETL on carbon management through cooperative research and development agreements and competitive cooperative agreement solicitations.

Anthony Cugini, Director of NETL's Office of Research and Development, discussed activities in the office's four areas of focus: geological and environmental science, energy system dynamics, materials science, and computational and basic science.  During his presentation Cugini highlighted NETL's energy and infrastructure modeling and analysis capabilities which is used by DOE senior management during energy emergencies to identify interdependencies, provide rapid response support, and perform post-event analysis.  In addition, Cugini discussed NETL's carbon capture research, refractory development, and other key research and development activities.

Ken Kern, Director of NETL's Office of Systems, Analyses and Planning, discussed viable opportunities to address greenhouse gas emissions in the near-term.  David Haberman, ended the Roundtable with a facilitated discussion on the immediate needs of the State Energy Offices and how NETL resources and activities could be most effectively leveraged.  In addition, a discussion on how NETL could best reach out and partner with State Energy Offices to assist deployment efforts. Finally, NETL committed to sending out follow-up information to participants and working with NASEO to identify the appropriate staff to participate on panel sessions during the 2009 Energy Outlook Conference in February.

For the full Roundtable agenda and presentations, please visit the website. Please contact Shemika Spencer at sspencer@naseo.org  if you have questions.