NASEO News

March 26, 2010

NASEO News

FEDERAL UPDATE

EPA, DOE Announce New Steps to Strengthen ENERGY STAR®

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy outlined a series of steps to further strengthen the trusted ENERGY STAR program. This action comes at a critical time for American consumers, many of whom struggle to keep up with their monthly energy bills. In addition to third-party testing already underway, EPA and DOE have launched a new two-step process to expand testing of ENERGY STAR qualified products. DOE recently began testing of some of the most commonly used appliances, which account for more than 25% of a household's energy bill, and both agencies are now developing a system to test all products that earn the ENERGY STAR label. The steps are part of an overall effort by the Obama Administration to improve the energy efficiency of homes and appliances to save families money.  For more information, please click here to read the full press release. 

EPA's Green Buildings List Ranks D.C. Area Number 2 in Nation

The D.C. area took the No. 2 spot in a nationwide survey of metropolitan regions with energy-efficient buildings, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  Washington's second-place ranking for 2009 is a boost from the previous year, when the area placed fourth on the EPA list. The region now has 204 commercial buildings that have earned the government's "Energy Star" rating, up from 136 in 2008. Los Angeles has been at the top of the list since the EPA began the survey in 2008; the city claimed 293 energy-efficient buildings for the most recent count. Please click here to read more at the Washington Post.

EVENTS AND WEBINARS

REGISTER NOW!  DOE Summer Energy Outlook Conference and Energy Data and Assurance Planning Workshop

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) in conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) are pleased to invite you to the Summer Energy Outlook Conference and a special, interactive Workshop on Energy Data and Assurance Planning.  These two events will be held on April 20-21, 2010, at the Brown Palace in Denver, Colorado.

The Summer Energy Outlook Conference will feature the Energy Information Administration's 2010 Short-Term Energy Outlook including outlooks and presentations by experts on global oil supplies, natural gas, electricity and renewables.

The Workshop on Energy Data and Assurance Planning will be held for State and Local government officials to identify and understand how to use EIA energy data through a series of energy-based scenarios.  Participants will receive practical guidance on State and Local Energy Assurance Guidelines and receive ideas on how to develop a mechanism for tracking energy supply events and disruptions.

Please click here to register for the meeting, review the preliminary agenda and find information about event lodging.  The registration deadline for the two events is April 9, 2010.

The event is also co-sponsored by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

Save the Date!  Leveraging Energy Partnerships in the Stimulus Environment

NASEO invites you to attend a one day conference on "Leveraging Energy Partnerships in the Stimulus Environment" on April 15, 2010.  Hosted by the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships (NCPPP), and co-sponsored by NASEO, the event will focus on ways state energy offices and other supporters of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs can further leverage their ARRA funding at all levels of government (state and local) by taking advantage of public-private joint initiatives.  The environment for the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) is rapidly changing, presenting new opportunities and challenges at all levels of government.  PPPs are one way to meet both immediate and long-term objectives for economic stimulus and energy projects.  Expert speakers will outline this new environment, the opportunities, and how PPPs can be used to address funding gaps to leverage limited public funds.

Speakers will include Mark Johnson and Mark Bailey of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with a luncheon keynote given by Gil Sperling, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. DOE.  Additional speakers will include Joe Sikes, Director of Facilities Energy for the U.S. Department of Defense; Malcolm Woolf, Director, Maryland Energy Administration;  Bevan Smith, Director, Virgin Islands Energy Office; Anita Molino, Chair, Energy Institute; Brian Castelli, Alliance to Save Energy; C.J. Cordova, Office of Enterprise Management; Deborah Estes, Majority Counsel, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; Roger Feldman, Andrews Kurth, LLP; Kevin Kampschroer, GSA; Richard Kidd, U.S. DOE; Kenyattah Robinson, Jones Lang LaSalle; Mark Wagner, Johnson Controls; and Mark White, Bostonia Partners, LLC.

The speakers will offer insights into how to increase the effectiveness of limited government funded energy programs via the use of private capital.  Congressional members and key segments of the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry have also been invited to discuss this rapidly evolving environment and its implications for the increased use of PPPs for energy efficiency and renewable energy.  Case studies of successful public private partnerships will also be discussed. 

The conference will be held at the Sheraton National Hotel, 900 South Orme Street in Arlington, VA.  Please go to www.ncppp.org to access the agenda, registration, and hotel information.  Please note that the above hotel is sold out.  If you are in need of hotel accommodations, there are several hotels in the area.  For further information, contact Garth Otto at NASEO, gotto@naseo.org.

Utilities Telecom Council’s Smart Grid Policy Summit, April 7-8, Washington, DC

Policies that will impact the success of Smart Grid deployments are being developed in many diverse forums by many diverse groups. Getting the most out of such deployments requires a concerted effort to carefully align policies for energy, telecom, the environment and the economy. The purpose of this Summit is to create a forum for such discussions.  UTC is gathering key people from every policy community to address questions that are critical to the long term policy success of Smart Grid. Visit http://summit.utc.org for more information.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE  

  • Aneesh Chopra, US Chief Technology Officer
  • Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communication Commission
  • Philip Moeller, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • David Coen, Commissioner, Vermont Public Service Board, President, NARUC
  • Orjiakor Isiogu, Chair, Michigan Public Service Commission, Co-Chair FERC/NARUC Smart Grid Collaborative
  • Maureen Harris, Commissioner, New York Public Service Commission, Co-Vice Chair NARUC Telecommunications Committee
  • Paul Centolella, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
  • Garry Brown, Chair, New York Public Service Commission, Chair Electricity Committee, NARUC
  • Ron Binz, Chair, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
  • Larry Landis, Commissioner, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Chair 706 Joint Conference
  • Nick Sinai, Energy and Environment Director, Federal Communications Commission
  • John Jimison, Senior Counsel, House Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Pat Hoffman, Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery & Energy Reliability, U.S. Dept of Energy
  • Henry Kenchington Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. Dept of Energy
  • Jonathan Adelstein, Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
  • Stacy Angel, Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Lillie Coney, Associate Director, Electronic Privacy Information Center
  • Laurence Daniels, Ass't People's Counsel, DC Office of People's Counsel

 The summit will tackle areas such as:  

  • Legislative And Regulatory Policy Initiatives – What Should We Expect?
  • Balancing Multiple Policy Initiatives – Can We Get It Right?
  • Smart Grids And Broadband – Can They Be Mutually Supportive?
  • Comprehensive Spectrum Policies – What Is Necessary For Smart Grids?
  • The Standards Making Process – Can It Fulfill Its Goal?
  • Cyber Security and Consumer Privacy – What's Really Needed?
  • Smart Grid Benefits – Maximize The Benefits For Everyone Or Just A Few?
  • Smart Grid Policies – Challenges for Tomorrow?

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

Efficiency Maine Awards $1.3 million to Four Community Colleges for Energy-Related Programs

Efficiency Maine -- a program of the Maine Public Utilities Commission -- has awarded a total of $1.3 million in grants to four Maine Community Colleges to support their work in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act 2009 (ARRA) provided federal stimulus funds for this grant program.  The $1.3 million that will fund these grants is part of over $38 million administered by Efficiency Maine. This announcement marks the last of nearly two dozen separate energy efficiency initiatives that Efficiency Maine has launched to deploy ARRA funds.  Please click here to read the original press release.

Arkansas Energy Office Announces Renewable Technology Rebate Fund

The Arkansas Energy Office, a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, recently announced a $1.78 million Renewable Technology Rebate Fund. Through this program, Arkansans may be eligible to receive rebates on the purchase and installation of small-scale renewable energy systems. Eligible systems include photovoltaic (solar), wind turbine, and solar hot water heating systems. Funds for this program were provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Rebates for non-residential consumers will be available soon, once a list of qualified contractors has been made available. Rebates will be given on a first come, first served basis and will be available through March 31, 2012, or when the funds for this program are depleted, whichever occurs first. Please click here to read more at the Arkansas Energy Office.

Missouri Division of Energy Starts Two-Phase $10 Million Energy Conservation Loan Program for Schools and Local Governments

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Energy is now taking applications for the department's Energy Revolving Fund loan program, which makes low-interest loans for qualifying energy conservation projects.  Loan recipients then repay the loans from the energy savings they experience after the projects are completed. During calendar year 2010, the department plans to offer a total of $10 million in two separate competitive loan program cycles, one in the spring and another in the fall. For each cycle, the department plans to make $5 million available for loan financing of energy-efficiency projects. Each applicant in each cycle may apply for a loan not to exceed $1 million. Loan applications will be judged based on a competitive basis. Those with the quickest payback time based on project cost versus anticipated energy cost savings will receive first consideration. Please click here to read more at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

California Energy Commission Announces Clean Energy Business Financing Program

The California Energy Commission approved an agreement with the California Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency that will soon make more that $30 million available to eligible California manufacturing businesses. Under the Clean Energy Business Financing Program (CEBFP) manufacturers will have the opportunity to apply for low-interest loans using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Energy Program funds to help broaden the state manufacturing base and strengthen California's leadership in using clean energy systems.  Loans to qualifying applicants will be a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $5,000,000. Projects must demonstrate program success, leverage other project funds, and show profitability.  The CEBFP applications will become available April 7, 2010, at: www.energy.ca.gov/recovery/cleanenergy.html.  Please click here for the full story.

NYSERDA Commits $100 Million over Next Two Years to Improve Energy Efficiency of Data Centers and Manufacturers

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced that over the next two years, the state will provide over $100 million through its Industrial and Process Efficiency program to help data centers and manufacturers control their energy costs and improve their competitiveness.  Funding will support energy studies and capital improvements that will increase energy efficiency and productivity and reduce waste.  While NYSERDA offers incentives for all business sectors to retrofit existing buildings or to incorporate energy efficiency measures into new buildings, the new funding is being targeted specifically for data centers and manufacturers, which are among the largest consumers of energy and have significant potential for efficient growth.  To ensure the widest possible access to these energy efficiency funds, NYSERDA has awarded three companies approximately $2 million each to help manufacturers and data centers identify cost-effective energy savings options and educate these businesses on available funding.  The companies are Clough Harbour & Associates (Albany), Energy & Resource Solutions (New York), and Willdan Energy Solutions (New York).  Please click here for the full story.