NASEO News

NASEO Kicks Off Regional Coordinators Program

Last week NASEO officially launched our Regional Coordinators Program to improve communications with and among State and Territory Energy Offices, NASEO, the U.S. Department of Energy, and other NASEO partners.  This program also will enhance peer-to-peer exchange of energy program innovation and expanded use of best practices across a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy areas.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has led to numerous opportunities and challenges for the State and Territory Energy Offices and your implementation partners.  Assisting you in enhancing your State's energy programs and can only serve to boost the visibility and importance of the efficiency and renewable energy activities your offices lead and invest in. 

NASEO has selected six regional coordinators to conduct this program: Northeast – Chuck Guinn; Mid-Atlantic – Chuck Clinton; Midwest – Larry Bean; Southeast – Brian Henderson; Central – Jim Ploger; West – Bill Nesmith.  Chuck Clinton will serve as the lead regional coordinator working closely with NASEO to coordinate the efforts on a national level.  Each coordinator has held a leadership position at a State Energy Office and has a longstanding relationship with NASEO.  As part of this effort, coordinators are expected to meet regularly with the state energy officials in their region, reach out to other state agencies and regional organizations, and foster the development of regional projects suitable to the needs of the region. 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NASEO's Affiliate members, and other partners all have expressed a positive reaction to this program, and DOE in particular is providing cost-shared financial support. Overall, we believe this program will lead toward a greater trend of regional collaboration.  Most importantly, we hope it will provide you with a valued service and offer you assistance in achieving your State's energy goals.  For more information about the regions and the coordinators, visit the NASEO website: http://www.naseo.org/members/regions/index.html.  Contact Kate Marks, NASEO Managing Director (kmarks@naseo.org), or Chuck Clinton, Senior Advisor and Regional Coordinator (cclinton@naseo.org), with any questions. 

Collaborative Meeting on International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

The U.S. Department of Energy will host two collaborative meetings on proposed changes to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for interested parties and code change proponents on September 17, 2009 for residential and September 18, 2009 for commercial. The meetings will be held at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center, 775 12th Street NW, Washington, DC (Phone 1-202-737-2200) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The agenda for each meeting, which will be moderated by Sean McDonald of PNNL, will follow the likely code change agenda (by section number in the code) and focus on sections in the code where there are multiple changes and obvious areas for discussion and possible collaboration.  Please RSVP to kimberly.reynolds@pnl.gov by September 14, 2009 if you would like to attend the meetings.  This outreach effort is in addition to the three-part webcast series on the commercial requirements of the 2009 IECC discussed in last week's newsletter.  Please click here for additional information on the webcast series. 

Obama Administration Awards More than $51 Million for State Energy Programs

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced more than $51 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Alaska, Guam and New Jersey.  Under DOE's State Energy Program, states and territories have proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce carbon pollution.  Please click here for the full press release and additional detail on the individual awards.   

Nearly $300 Million in Clean Cities Grants to Support Clean Fuels, Vehicles, and Infrastructure Development

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation's vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year.  Please click here for the full story and additional detail on the project awards. 

Obama Administration Delivers More than $101 Million for Weatherization Programs

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy is providing more than $101 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand weatherization assistance programs in Guam and Pennsylvania. The funding, along with additional funds to be disbursed after the grantees meet certain Recovery Act milestones, will help them weatherize approximately 29,200 homes, lowering energy costs for low-income families that need it, reducing pollution, and creating green jobs across the country.  Please click here for the full press release and additional detail on the individual awards.