NASEO News

FEDERAL UPDATE

Fossil Fuels' Hidden Cost Is in Billions, Study Says

As reported in the New York Times, burning fossil fuels costs the United States about $120 billion a year in health costs, mostly because of thousands of premature deaths from air pollution, according to a study released Monday by the National Academy of Sciences.  According to the study, which was ordered by Congress, the damages are caused almost equally by coal and oil.  The study lends support to arguments that society should pay extra for energy from sources like the wind and the sun, because their indirect costs are extremely small. But it also found that renewable motor fuel, in the form of ethanol from corn, was slightly worse than gasoline in its environmental impact.  For more on the study's findings, please click here to read the full story. 

2009 Solar Decathlon Winners Announced

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the winners of the 2009 Department of Energy Solar Competition on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.  Team Germany, the student team from Darmstadt, Germany, won top honors by designing, building, and operating the most attractive and efficient solar-powered home.  The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign took second place followed by Team California in third place.  For more on the individual contest winners, please click here to read the full story.

Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds and ARRA

The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, enacted in October 2008, authorized the issuance of Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds (QECBs) that may be used by state, local and tribal governments to finance certain types of energy projects. QECBs are qualified tax credit bonds, and in this respect are similar to new Clean Renewable Energy Bonds or CREBs.  Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the maximum volume of QECBs was raised to $3.2 billion from $800 million. QECBs are issued with a zero percent interest rate, allowing the borrower to pay back only the principal over time. The bondholder receives federal tax credits in lieu of traditional bond interest. These tax credits are considered taxable income for the bond holder. QECBs are not subject to the U.S. Department of Treasury's application and approval process.  The definition of "qualified energy conservation projects" is fairly broad and contains elements relating to energy efficiency capital expenditures in public buildings; renewable energy production; various research and development applications; mass commuting facilities that reduce energy consumption; several types of energy related demonstration projects; and public energy efficiency education campaigns. Renewable energy facilities that are eligible for CREBs are also eligible for QECBs. 

For more information, please click here to visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website on QECBs or click here to view the IRS guidance notice for QECBs, which includes volume allocations per state.

EVENTS AND COMMUNICATION

Mark Your Calendars: 2010 Energy Outlook Conference, February 1-4, 2010

NASEO and ASERTTI will host the 2010 Energy Outlook Conference in Washington, D.C., February 1-4, at the Fairmont Hotel.  Please click here to visit the event website for more information and to register online.  A preliminary agenda will be available soon.  Please continue to check the website for updates.

NASEO Partners with ASERTTI and EPA's CHP Partnership to Host WWTF Webinar

On Tuesday, September 22, NASEO, in conjunction with the Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions (ASERTTI) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership Program, co-sponsored a 90 minute webinar on the energy efficiency opportunities available for wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) utilizing the generated biogas from the wastewater treatment process through anaerobic digesters. Presenters included Neeharika Naik-Dhungel from EPA's CHP Partnership Program and John Cuttica and Cliff Haefke from the Midwest CHP Application Center.  Participants were provided with an overview on the basics of anaerobic digesters; strategies utilizing generated biogas; concepts and benefits of CHP; ideas for incorporating biogas/CHP projects in state energy programs; and examples of successfully operating biogas/CHP systems in WWTFs.  Please click here to access the Webinar summary, presentations and the audio, on the Midwest CHP Application Center website.

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

NC Consumers to Save on Appliance Purchases

North Carolinians will be able to save on major appliance purchases while putting $8.8 million in federal Recovery funds to work stimulating the economy, cutting energy use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions under a plan filed today with the U.S. Department of Energy.  The plan calls for rebates of 15 percent to be offered to replace major home appliances with Energy Star-rated appliances over a four-day period next spring during Earth Day weekend: Thursday, April 22–Sunday, April 25, 2010.  Energy Star rebates will be in addition to any store, manufacturer or other discounts being offered.  The Energy Star Rebate program is planned to be conducted in two phases.  The first would offer a 15 percent rebate on qualified Energy Star household appliances (clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers) during Earth Day weekend.  The second phase in June will match rebates on gas storage water heaters, tankless gas water heaters, central air conditioners, heat pumps and gas furnaces offered through electric and gas utility programs.  Please click here to read the full press release.

Governor Jan Brewer Awards Stimulus Funds to Arizona School Districts for Solar Projects

Governor Jan Brewer announced 15 Arizona school districts will receive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for solar energy projects at schools throughout the state. The funding is part of the $55,447,000 awarded to the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office through the State Energy Program (SEP).  The School Facilities Board (SFB) is managing the Solar on Schools grants for the state. The grant will provide more than $5 million to procure photovoltaic systems for the qualifying school districts. The current round of funding appropriates $2.6 million for school solar projects.  Please click here for the full press release.

University of Michigan and DTE Energy Launch Second Clean Energy Prize Competition

As reported on Reuters, following the success of last year's inaugural Clean Energy Prize competition—conceived to help move clean energy technologies from the laboratory to commercial production—DTE Energy and the University of Michigan have broadened the scope of the competition encouraging participation from more Michigan colleges and universities. The teams still are being challenged to develop the best business plan for bringing a new clean energy technology to market. Winning teams will be awarded $100,000 in prize money. Please click here to read the full story.

Wisconsin Energy Efficiency Group, Focus on Energy, Announces Competitive Grants

As reported on WisBusiness.com, Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy, announced competitive grants to help industrial businesses and manufacturers throughout the state to complete energy efficiency projects. The grants will fund up to $500,000 or 50 percent of project costs per company for large energy efficiency projects that have been stalled due to lack of available internal capital. To read the full story, please click here.

Alaskan State Senate Releases First Draft of New Statewide Energy Policy

Alaskan lawmakers released a draft of the first statewide energy policy, which hits on seven energy goals including producing 50 percent renewable energy by 2025; increasing energy efficiency by 10 percent in the next six years; developing Alaska's energy resources; reducing the dependence of Alaskan communities on fossil fuels for electricity and heat through renewable energy resources; and promoting energy research at Alaska's universities. To view the full story on KTUU.com, please click here.

New Tennessee Building Code Designed to Reduce Waste

An effort is underway to curb Tennessee's energy consumption with a statewide building code that proponents say could cut consumption in homes by 30 percent or more.  The code would add to the cost of a home; but, it has drawn little opposition from local governments or builders who say they would benefit from the creation of more uniform building standards throughout the state, while buyers of new homes would recoup the upfront cost within three years.  The code will go into effect July 1, 2010, and the Department of Commerce and Insurance is working with local communities to define exactly what the code will include.  It likely will center on standards developed by the International Code Council, the basis of most building codes in the state. For the full story as reported at the Tennessean, please click here.