June 30, 2010

NASEO News

FEDERAL UPDATE

EPA Launches New Program to Green America's Capitals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new technical assistance program to help state capital cities design more sustainable communities. Greening America's Capitals will assist state capitals, selected through a competitive application process, develop a vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green building and green infrastructure. This program is a new project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities between EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). To read more about the program, please click here.

E12, E13, E15 – Senators Call for Rapid Blend Approvals, Governors Call for Approval or Compromise Action

As reported by 25x'25, the recent announcement from EPA that it is delaying again a decision on a request to increase ethanol blend limits in gasoline is raising concerns among conventional and cellulosic ethanol advocates. It marks the second delay in the agency's response to a request that ethanol blends in gasoline be increased from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15). The agency delayed a decision that was due last fall, claiming a ruling on the blend increase would come this summer. Following the announcement, a group of prominent Republicans – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) – asked President Obama to speed up approval of higher blends. 25x'25 also reported that a reasonable alternative for the Obama administration is adoption of a proposal (view by clicking on "proposal") from the Governors Biofuels Coalition calling for a "substantially similar" waiver for E12 or E13. The "sub-sim" designation can be expedited, while federal researchers continue their testing of higher blends. Please click here to read more.

New USDA Report Provides Roadmap To Achieve America's Renewable Energy Goals

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently released a report outlining both the current state of renewable transportation fuels efforts in America and a plan to develop regional strategies to increase the production, marketing and distribution of biofuels. The report provides information on current production and consumption capacities as well as projections to meet the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) mandate to use 36 billion gallons of biofuel per year in America's fuel supply by 2022. Please click here for the full story and a link to the report.

DOE Announces More Than $76 Million for Advanced Energy-Efficient Building Technologies and Commercial Building Training Programs

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced awards totaling more than $76 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support advanced energy-efficient building technology projects and the development of training programs for commercial building equipment technicians, building operators, and energy auditors. The 58 projects selected will help make the nation's buildings more energy efficient and cost-effective. They will also support programs to train workers to service and operate new and existing buildings, to develop and deploy best practices resulting in fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and to establish a green workforce with technical expertise to reduce energy costs for consumers. Please click here for the full story.

FERC Releases National Action Plan on Demand Response

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently released the National Action Plan on Demand Response. FERC developed the Plan in response to a provision in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). At the core of the Plan, FERC recommends that public institutions and private sector organizations from across the country should form a Coalition to help states, localities and regions develop and deploy successful and cost-effective electric demand response programs.

"There is strength in numbers. Coalitions harness the combined energy of individual organizations, producing results that can go far beyond what can be accomplished on an individual basis," FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said. "The success of this National Action Plan depends on all interested public and private supporters working to implement it."

The Plan consists of strategies and activities to achieve three objectives: technical assistance to states; a national communications program; and the development or identification of tools and materials for use by customers, states, and demand response providers. Please click here for a link to the Plan as well as more on the development of a Coalition.

Patricia Hoffman Confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Reliability

Patricia Hoffman has been confirmed as the Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Reliability. Prior to her confirmation to the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Ms. Hoffman was the Program Manager for the Federal Energy Management Program within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE. In her current position Ms. Hoffman is working to modernize the electric grid, enhance the security and reliability of the energy infrastructure and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply both domestically and internationally.

NASEO NEWS

New NASEO Affiliates

NASEO welcomes R.W. Beck, an SAIC company, and the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance as a new affiliate member of NASEO.

R.W. Beck, an SAIC company

R. W. Beck, an SAIC company, is a group of technically based business consultants serving public and private infrastructure organizations and financiers worldwide. By delivering industry insight that impacts the way clients think about and do business, we develop sustainable business and technical solutions and foster enduring systems that advance the business of infrastructure.

Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance

Founded in 1987 originally as the Polyurethane Foam Contractors Division, the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) is the voice, along with the educational and technical resource, for the spray polyurethane foam industry. SPFA is a trade association, which is composed of contractors, manufacturers, and distributors of polyurethane foam, equipment, and protective coatings, inspections, surface preparations, and other services.

MEETINGS AND WEBINARS

Register Today for the NASEO Annual Meeting in Boston, September 28-October 1, 2010

This year's NASEO Annual Meeting will be held September 28-October 1, 2010, at the Sheraton Boston in Boston, Massachusetts. While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) continues to deliver unprecedented opportunities and challenges for the State and Territory Energy Offices and their partners, what lies beyond ARRA? Also, as the Administration evolves in Washington, D.C., keeping up with the pace of change at the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies is critical. This meeting offers an opportunity for state energy officials to hear from key policy and decision-makers, learn about new funding and partnership opportunities, and interact with peers.

To prepare and inform conference attendees, NASEO has planned a full week of informative events, with the core conference agenda being complemented by ARRA and committee sessions, as well as site tours and in-depth tracks on topical issues. The 2010 NASEO Annual Meeting will serve as an essential opportunity for State Energy Office (SEO) directors, staff, and interested stakeholders to hear the latest on innovative financing and project implementation, clean energy technologies, and links between energy, environment, and transportation priorities.

Session Highlights

Elevating State Energy Offices
State Energy Program Effectiveness and Impact Evaluation Update
ARRA State Energy Program and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Implementation
DOE ARRA Implementation: Overall Progress and Successes
Renewable Energy Applications: Electricity and Transportation
Technology Investments and Innovation: Discovering and Commercializing New Energy Technologies
Commercial Buildings Consortium: Achieving a High Performing Building Stock
Appliance Rebate Program: Lessons Learned
Evolving State and Federal Roles in Energy and Environmental Policy

Please click here to visit the event website to register online, view the preliminary agenda (coming soon), and learn more about available sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

NASEO ARRA Jobs Reporting Conference Call

NASEO held an ARRA Jobs Reporting briefing on Tuesday, June 29, to provide State Energy Offices with a recap and clarification on the DOE and OMB job counting formulas. Two subject matter experts reviewed the requirements for both DOE and OMB jobs reporting. Also, the Massachusetts energy office shared their approach to tallying job figures that complements federal reporting and utilizes a more expansive definition of jobs, including those created and retained from the manufacturing of equipment, for example. The state feels this formula provides a more comprehensive total of jobs and uses it when providing a job count to the media. NASEO will provide follow-up information from the call in the next few days. If you have any questions, please contact Kate Marks at kmarks@naseo.org or (703) 299-8800, ext. 11.

Energy Codes 2010: The Future is Now!

Energy Codes 2010 will be held July 19-22, 2010, at the Westin Charlotte Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. Energy Codes 2010 will provide hands-on training and face-to-face networking through various training activities with other members in the energy codes community. It represents a unique opportunity to bring together state energy office representatives and members of the building industry and to discuss current building energy code issues and receive consistent technical training on building energy codes and standards. Please click here for more information including the preliminary agenda and online registration.

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

California Expands Support for Electric Cars and Alternative Fuels with $114.3 Million in Funds

California drivers soon will be able to find charging stations for their electric cars, or fueling stations for their ethanol-powered vehicles. The California Energy Commission approved three awards that leverage $15.4 million in state funding with $49.6 million in federal stimulus money and $49.3 million in private funds. "California's investment will leverage more than six times as much money for new infrastructure and new jobs, and help to solve one of the biggest problems with alternative-fueled vehicles - making sure motorists have ready access to fuel, including electricity," said Energy Commissioner Anthony Eggert. "By taking this bold step, state and federal government, along with the private sector, are advancing new technology and collecting important information that will help America replace petroleum and reduce pollution." To read more about the program, please click here.

Colorado Governor's Energy Office Surpasses 5,000 Completed Weatherization Projects This Year

The Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO) and its statewide partners have surpassed 5,000 homes receiving weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades for the program year that began July 1, 2009. The GEO and its 11 weatherization partners have significantly increased the number of families served compared to recent years thanks to the additional dollars provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The program has already surpassed last year's production by more than 1,500 homes with many additional units still to be completed before the end of the fiscal year, June 30. To read more about the success of Colorado's weatherization program this year, please click here.

Hawaii to Host 2010 Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo

Over 1,200 local, national, and international participants are expected to attend the 2010 Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo from August 30 through September 2 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Four days of high-level speakers, workshops, exhibitions and networking will focus on the transformation to a clean energy economy in Hawaii and beyond. Governor Lingle noted that a key focus of this year's energy summit will be China's renewable energy, investments and policies. Governor Lingle is leading a delegation to China this month where a major portion of her trip will focus on developing clean energy partnerships. To read more about the Expo, please click here.

North Carolina Program Aims to Boost New Construction Efficiency by 15 Percent

The North Carolina Energy Office is launching a $3.7 million program to improve energy efficiency in new single-family homes and multi-family housing under construction. Two agencies have been designated to work with the state to develop, implement and monitor a statewide residential energy efficiency program that will provide sustainable energy savings in new homes. The Appalachian State University Energy Center in Boone and Systems Building Research Alliance, a nonprofit consortium of electric utilities and major manufactured and modular home building companies, have been designated by the Energy Office to lead the effort. Appalachian State University will receive $2.6 million to focus on site-built single-family and multi-family home energy efficiency improvements. Systems Building Research Alliance, will receive $1.1 million to focus on manufactured homes. To read more about the new program, please click here.

Oklahoma State University Opens Five New Buildings without Increasing Energy Costs

Oklahoma State University has been able to open five new buildings without increases utility costs because of its energy conservation program. "This is a testimony to the school's priority to contain costs while still moving forward with significant new facility construction on the campus," OSU President Burns Hargis said. "The $3.3 million in energy savings we have realized over the first nine months of our fiscal year have allowed us to open these facilities—over 320,000 square feet—without increasing our monthly utility budget a single penny." Please click here for the full story.

West Virginia is First State to Join EPA Program for Safe Disposal of Old Appliances

West Virginia is the first state to join forces with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program, a nation-wide effort to protect the ozone layer and reduce greenhouse gases by properly disposing old refrigerators, freezers and other appliances. The program will complement the state's Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program which starts today and offers mail-in rebates to West Virginia consumers who replace older, inefficient appliances with Energy Star-qualified appliances. To learn more about the agreement between West Virginia and EPA, please click here. To learn more about RAD, please click here.

Coal-to-Biomass Switch Set for Power Plant on the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus

The Boldt Co. of Appleton has been selected by Wisconsin to convert a power plant on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus from coal-burning to biomass. The state Department of Administration recently announced that Boldt will work alongside British consulting firm AMEC to install the new biomass boiler at the Charter Street heating plant. The project is expected to be done by the spring of 2013. Please click here for the full story.

Do you have news you would like to share? Send us your stories and announcements. Email or call Garth Otto with the details: gotto@naseo.org , 703.299.8800, ext. 16.