NASEO News

US DOE EECBG Solution Center Application Resources

Please click here for the US Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) Solution Center Application Resources page.  The page includes Model Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategies, Model Project Activity Sheets, the EECBG Estimated Expected Benefits Calculator and the Application Review Checklist.  These should be of use to states, entitlement communities and tribes in preparing EECBG applications, due June 25th.  

Industrial Technologies Program Regional Activities

NASEO and the State Energy Offices have been working closely with the US Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies Program on regional meetings and activities.  NASEO co-hosted the Northwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit on February 17th in Portland, OR.  The event brought together regional leaders in government, industry, utilities and supporting organizations to collaborate and overcome barriers to ensure industry's competitiveness through energy efficiency.  Please click here for the summit's summary and action plan.  NASEO will also be supporting the Midwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Exchange in Detroit, MI in September 2009.  NASEO and DOE will be contacting Midwestern SEOs directly in the near future.  Please contact Benjamin Deitchman if you have any questions.   

ARRA Job Creation Matrix

Please click here for a document from the Executive Office of the President's Council of Economic Advisers which will probably be of assistance to states and local governments in determining job creation numbers for the upcoming EECBG.  Table 4 notes that for every $92,136 spent by a government, one job-year is created.  States keep leveraging or matching funds in mind as they determine job creation numbers.

Industrial Superior Energy Performance Program

NASEO is working with the US Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies Program on the development and expansion of the Superior Energy Performance Program.  Superior Energy Performance provides industrial facilities with a road map for achieving continual improvement in energy efficiency while maintaining competitiveness. To encourage broad participation by U.S. industry, Superior Energy Performance offers a tiered approach to demonstrating energy intensity improvement.  Several states are already working with DOE on Superior Energy Performance demonstration projects.  Please visit the Superior Energy Performance website for more information.  Please contact Bill Nesmith if you have any questions.

EEBA Announces Affiliation with NASEO

From Energy & Environmental Building Alliance Press Release 5/21/2009: The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) has partnered with The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) to officially participate as an Affiliate Member.  Since 1982, EEBA has provided educational and training resources to the sustainable building industry.  Through various outreach and collaboration venues, including: the Excellence in Building Conference & EXPO; Houses That Work™ Educational Sessions, SmartTools Online Bookstore and new interactive media initiatives, EEBA delivers unique and creative, multi-platform educational resources with the intention of manifesting sustainable and responsible building principles in the design, marketing and execution of the building process.  ‘The building industry is at an exciting crossroads in the green and sustainable building arena.  At no other time has the profound impact of the built environment gained unparalleled public prominence,' states EEBA's Kathleen Guidera, Executive Director.  ‘EEBA looks forward to being part of NASEO and contributing valuable resources pertaining to emerging building science issues, education and training,' continues Ms. Guidera."  Please click here for the full EEBA press release.  Please also click here for more information on NASEO's Affiliate Membership Program.  NASEO is excited that EEBA has joined over 25 other organizations as an affiliate member and looks forward to EEBA's participation in NASEO's activities.

USGBC Roadmap to Sustainable Government Buildings

The US Green Building Council's (USGBC) Roadmap to Sustainable Government Buildings is a collection of resources developed by governments with established and emerging green building programs.  The Roadmap draws on these resources to suggest strategies for developing a green building program within a typical government entity framework. The USGBC Government Sector will work to refine and update this information with the experiences from government green building programs across the country.  Please click here for the Roadmap.

Election of Investment Tax Credit in Lieu of Production Tax Credit

From the Novogradac & Company LLP Renewable Energy Tax Resource Center 6/5/2009: "The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today in Notice 2009-52 provides a description of the procedures that taxpayers will be required to follow to make an irrevocable election to take the investment tax credit for energy property under Internal Revenue Code section 48 in lieu of the production tax credit under IRC section 45. The election described in Notice 2009-52 was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009."  Please click here for more information from the IRS on energy provisions from the Recovery Act.

Energy Services Coalition Webinar Resources on Leveraging Funds, CREBs and QZABs

Please click here for information from a June 5, 2009 webinar of the Energy Services Coalition "Biggest Bang for the Buck - Leveraging Funds."  The presentations include information on "what's new in lease-purchase financing in this new economic climate; applying the various bonds and grant programs - Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs), Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs), Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBGs), and Build America Bonds, to name a few, and; how to take advantage of the many tax incentives, including those that apply to government projects."  Hunton & Williams LLP has also published information about CREBs and QZABs that could provide background information for SEOs.  Please click here for a publication on these new and updated programs from the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008.