NASEO News

FEDERAL UPDATE

Kerry, Lieberman Introduce American Power Act Bill

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, recently released the details of their comprehensive energy and climate change legislation that will create jobs, strengthen America's energy independence, safeguard our national security, and restore our global economic leadership for decades to come.  The legislation aims to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and more than 80 percent by 2050. 

"The American Power Act will finally change our nation's energy policy from a national weakness into a national strength," said Senator Kerry. "We can finally tell the world that America is ready to take back our role as the world's clean energy leader. This is a bill for energy independence after a devastating oil spill, a bill to hold polluters accountable, a bill for billions of dollars to create the next generation of jobs, and a bill to end America's addiction to foreign oil and protect the air our children breathe and the water they drink."

"The American Power Act is fundamentally different from previous energy and climate bills – and not just because it will be the one that actually passes," said Senator Lieberman. "Our bill will create jobs and transform the American economy; make our country more energy independent, which in turn will strengthen our national security; and improve the quality of the air we breathe. We are proud to have support from a growing and unprecedented coalition of business, national security, faith, and environmental communities, who are energized to work hard to pass this bill this year. America has a lot to gain from getting started now."

For more information, including a copy of the full bill, summaries, and a press release, please click here. 

EPA Helps States and Utilities Tap into Greater Energy Efficiency Savings

In partnership with several states and utilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a new pilot program designed to further improve commercial building energy efficiency. Building Performance with Energy Star will help utilities and state energy efficiency programs achieve increased energy savings and fight climate change by strategically pursuing whole building energy improvements with their business customers. The pilot program is being launched with Energy Star partners Commonwealth Edison, Mass Save, MidAmerican, National Grid, New Jersey's Clean Energy Program, Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Focus on Energy. To read the full press release, please click here to visit EPA.

EVENTS AND WEBINARS

DOE Webinar May 18, 2010: U.S. Department of Energy Commercial Reference Buildings: Benefits and Applications

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Program is offering a Webinar on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, from noon to 1:30 pm Eastern titled "U.S. Department of Energy Commercial Reference Buildings—Benefits and Applications."  This Webinar focuses on commercial reference buildings, which are complete descriptions of buildings for whole building energy analysis. DOE, in conjunction with three of its national laboratories, developed these comprehensive commercial reference buildings (formerly Commercial Building Benchmark Models).  The webinar is free, but you must register in advance.  Please click here for more information and for a link to register. 

Webinar May 19, 2010: Insulation as a Critical Component of High Performance Buildings

Join the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), National Insulation Association (NIA), and Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) on Wednesday, May 19 from 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern for a webinar training session about the benefits of insulation in increasing energy efficiency, protecting the environment, and creating jobs.  This session will discuss in-depth how proper insulation is a critical component of high performance buildings (commercial and residential) , industrial – manufacturing , each organization's expertise and ability to offer states educational information and other assistance, and how insulation factors into key national policy issues (such as Home STAR, Building STAR, and building codes). 

SPEAKERS

• Jared O. Blum, President, PIMA
• Ron King, Past President & Consultant, NIA
• Kate Offringa, President and Chief Executive Officer, NAIMA

CALL-IN INFORMATION

Toll Free Number:   1.800.250.2600
US Toll Number:     1.212.381.2929
Participant PIN:      57539633#

WEB CONFERENCING INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1:          To join the web conference, click here.
Step 2:          Enter your Web Login Reference:   122332040
Step 3:          Enter your Participant PIN Code:     57539633

If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact Shemika Spencer at sspencer@naseo.org

ACLP Smart Grid Event

The Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute (ACLP) at New York Law School will host "Smart" Energy Regulation: Facilitating the Deployment of a National, Broadband-Enabled Smart Grid on May 19, 2010 from 9AM – 5 PM at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. 1150 22nd St., N.W.  Agenda topics will include:

• Assessing the Impacts of the Current Energy Regulatory Paradigm on Innovation Across the Sector
• Identifying Necessary Regulatory Reforms to Create a Broadband-Enabled Ecosystem of Innovation in the Energy Sector
• Extending Innovation into the Home: How to Ensure that Consumers Benefit from the Universe of Broadband-Enabled Smart Grid Tools
• Charting a Course Towards a National, Broadband-Enabled, Consumer-Centric Smart Grid

For more information about the event, please contact ACLP Director, Michael Santorelli, at michael.santorelli@nyls.edu or (212) 431-2163.

U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue 2010 Conference:  Increasing Trade in Clean Electricity

The U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue 2010 Conference:  Increasing Trade in Clean Electricity will be held May 19-20, 2010, in Rosemont Illinois.  The Clean Energy Dialogue (CED) was announced in February 2009 when President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met in Ottawa. The CED is charged with expanding clean energy research and development, developing and deploying clean energy technology, and building a more efficient electricity grid based on clean and renewable energy in order to reduce greenhouse gases and combat climate change in both countries. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Canadian Minister of Environment Jim Prentice serve as the lead government officials for moving the CED forward.  For more information on the conference including an agenda and online registration, please click here.  

SAVE the DATE: EPA Tech Forum May 20: State PUC Overview for Energy & Environment Officials

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's State Climate and Energy Technical Forum will host the State Public Utility Commission (PUC) Overview for Energy and Environment Officials webcast on Thursday, May 20, 2010, from 2:00-3:30 PM EDT.  The topic will be how PUCs make decisions that affect clean energy and air quality, and examples of inter-agency collaboration. Featured speakers will be:

• Miles Keogh from NARUC
• Ann Berwick, Undersecretary of Energy for Massachusetts
• Frank Kohlasch and Bill Sierks from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Vincent Chavez from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security

To register for the webinar, go to: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/840599059.  To find more information about this topic, access background materials here

DOE Announces EnergySmart Schools Operations and Maintenance Webinar

A no-cost, live webcast on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, will introduce school officials and facilities management to this online training tool, which is based on the Guide to Operating and Maintaining EnergySmart Schools, released in June 2009. The webcast will provide a walk-through of key features of the training tool, by function, and will include a panelist discussion on O&M best practices and thoughts about the training tool. For more information, please visit www.energysmartschools.gov.

ECW Webinar May 26, 2010: Assessing Your Impact: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community Energy Initiatives

ASERTTI member, the Energy Center of Wisconsin will host a free webinar, Assessing your impact: evaluating the effectiveness of community energy initiatives, on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 1:00 pm–2:00 pm CDT.  The webinar will be presented by Claire Cowan, Project Manager, Energy Center of Wisconsin.  If your community is involved in an energy initiative or is considering one, don't miss this complimentary webinar.  Learn how to evaluate and measure the success and effectiveness of community energy initiatives.  Communities across the United States are launching initiatives that promote more sustainable use of energy resources. Assessing the impact of its initiatives is elemental to keeping a community informed of its progress toward meeting its goals. By applying a systematic approach to evaluating its initiatives a community helps ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds. It can use the results to adjust planning assumptions and strategies to be more reliable and effective. And it can develop compelling stories that tell its citizens how successful they've been in their efforts, building community support. For more information and to register for the webinar, please click here.

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

New Hampshire Stimulus Funds to Research Renewable Energy Transmission System Upgrades

The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning has signed a contract with KEMA, Inc to develop an Action Plan and Cost Allocation Methodology to address the upgrade of transmission lines in Coos County to encourage additional development of renewable energy generation.  The $189,800 contract is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's State Energy Programs – Feasibility Studies, and is coordinated on behalf of the North Country Transmission Commission. Project tasks include meeting with a wide range of stakeholders to review the challenges and opportunities of transmission cost allocation and developing the action plan to pay for the upgrade of the transmission system. The plan anticipates the integration of an additional 400 megawatts of new renewable energy generation on the Coos Loop. To read more about the study, please click here to visit NH OEP.

Indiana Heating and Cooling Incentive Program Continues at Strong Pace

The Indiana Heating and Cooling Incentive Program (IHIP), which provides rebates for the purchase and installation of Energy Star Rated furnaces, boilers, central air conditioners and heat pumps, has now paid out 50 percent of the money available in the program. "In its first 98 days, The IHIP program had distributed nearly $3 million in rebates," said Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, who oversees the Office of Energy Development.  "Our team was praised for putting together a great rebate plan, and the efficiency of this process is putting money into Hoosiers' hands extremely quickly." IHIP is the Indiana program that is part of the federal State Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP).  Indiana received $6.1 million for the program, which will remain active until the funds are exhausted.  Rebates range from $150 to $1,000 depending on the technology being installed.  As of May 6, 2010, the average rebate was $402. To read more about the success of Indiana's novel appliance report program, please click here to visit IN OED.

Missouri DNR Offers Grants for Renewable Energy Resource Assessments

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is offering grants for renewable energy resource assessments and project feasibility studies by Missouri residents, businesses, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, universities and research institutions, and county or city governments. The department will accept applications for funding through June 2.  The department has allocated a total of $900,000 statewide for this funding opportunity. On a competitive basis, a maximum grant of $50,000 will be awarded to each recipient based on project evaluation criteria. Cash match, or cost-share, is preferred, but not required. Eligible applicants include Missouri businesses, corporations, not-for-profit organizations, universities and research institutions, county or city governments and individuals. The grant program is funded under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To read more about the grants, please click here to visit MO DNR.

Wyoming Business Council Board Approves Over $1.8 Million in Energy Efficiency Grants

The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors recently approved 15 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)-funded Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) worth $1,851,695.59. The State Energy Office, housed within the Business Council, received $9.5 million in EECBG federal stimulus funding for grants and the administration of the Facility Retrofit Program. The program helps fund energy efficiency upgrades for facilities owned by local governments, tribal entities, nonprofit organizations, and joint powers boards. To read more about the grants, please click here to visit the Wyoming Business Council.

Colorado Governor Ritter Signs Legislation to Encourage Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Financing

Senate Bill 100 will allow homeowners and businesses to obtain financing to cover upfront costs of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.  "Senate Bill 100 is a powerful tool for providing residential and commercial property owners the financing necessary to make efficiency and renewable energy improvements. This will reduce energy bills, expand Colorado's local economies and advance state energy goals," Governor Ritter said. "Without the changes proposed in SB 100, it will be extremely difficult for Colorado's smaller counties to offer this financing tool, denying their home and business owners access to the benefits this tool provides." In 2008, Governor Ritter signed House Bill 1350 which gave local districts the ability to offer financing for energy improvements. The current law prohibits local improvement districts from crossing county boundaries.  SB 100 allows multiple counties to now work together to offer financing for energy improvements. To read more about the new law, please click here to visit the Colorado Governor's Energy Office.

Southern Company Asks DOI for Leases to Test Offshore Wind Near Georgia Coast

Southern Company has asked the U.S. Department of the Interior for ocean leases off the coasts of Jekyll Island and Savannah to erect research towers to determine the feasibility of constructing offshore wind turbines. The Atlanta-based company wants to construct towers to support equipment to measure wind speeds and directions, hurricane resistance and to gather other data determine if wind turbines may be viable as an alternative energy source in Georgia. A two-year study the company conducted with Georgia Tech found favorable conditions for wind turbine technology five miles off Georgia' coast, where average wind speed was 16 to 17 mph. Please click here to read more at the Augusta Chronicle.

Federal Support for Cape Wind Spurs Other Offshore Wind Projects

Last week's approval of a wind farm off the Massachusetts shore has wind energy developers in other states riding a wave of new momentum, even as the Gulf Coast oil spill casts doubt on the future of drilling. From Maine to North Carolina, efforts to plant enormous wind turbines on the ocean floor got a boost when the U.S. Interior Department signed off on 130 wind turbines five miles off the coast of Cape Cod, the first time an offshore wind project has passed federal muster. The next day, in New Jersey, a company called Fishermen's Energy launched a buoy to measure wind speed and temperatures to determine the best location to site turbines. If all goes as the company hopes, construction on up to 100 offshore turbines could begin next year, says spokeswoman Rhonda Jackson. To read about other proposed offshore wind sites, please click here to read more at stateline.org.