NASEO News

FEDERAL UPDATE

Senator Klobuchar Pushes Renewable Power, Biofuels Measures Ahead of Energy Debate

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) has introduced legislation to expand use of renewable electricity and alternative transportation fuels that she says is a way to increase support for broad energy legislation among farm-state lawmakers. Biofuels and wind energy are popular among farm-state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.  Senator Klobuchar said the plan would include expanded tax credits for biofuels and wind, and that the bill would create a standard of 25 percent renewable electricity by 2025. The current Senate energy bill creates a standard that reaches 15 percent by 2021, and allows utilities to meet up to a fourth of the target with energy efficiency measures. To read more about the proposed legislation, please click here.

DOE Announces Technical Assistance Program to Support Recovery Act Projects

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the launch of a technical assistance program that will support projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the State Energy Program (SEP) and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG).  The technical assistance program will provide states, cities, and tribes with the tools and resources they need to implement successful and renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, in such areas as, solar deployment, buildings retrofits, and alternative transportation fuels development. The program will aid states and local governments in accelerating project execution and adoption of innovative program implementation options..  Please click here for more information from DOE.

DOE EERE Organizational Chart

A variety of senior positions within the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy have changed over the past several months.  To see an updated organizational chart with senior leadership changes and continuing vacancies, please click here.

Model Lighting Ordinance Second Draft Now Available

The International Dark Sky Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Boards of Directors have approved the release of the Second Draft of the Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) for Public Review and Comment.  In response to the wide number of public comments submitted February-April 2009, the MLO Joint Task Force developed the revised MLO Draft, which incorporated many of the public comments.  The second draft is now available for Public Review and Comment.  The review period will last for 60 days, starting June 24, 2010, and ending on August 23, 2010.  Please click here for highlights of issues addressed in the draft as well as a link to download the full text.

NASEO NEWS

NASEO Board of Directors Meeting

The NASEO Board of Directors convened last week for the summer board meeting in Washington, D.C., from Wednesday, July 7 – Thursday, July 8. Representatives from sixteen State Energy Offices, led by Chairman Phil Giudice (MA), discussed ARRA implementation, reviewed new NASEO programs and received an update on Congressional activities.  Representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Government Accountability Office attended to provide ARRA status and program updates. The Board unanimously passed a resolution to support the recommendations for efficiency improvements in buildings compiled by the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition, and known as The 30% Solution 2012.  Also, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute hosted a congressional briefing on the economic impacts of Recovery Act funding from the State Energy Program featuring NASEO members Phil Giudice, NASEO Chair (Massachusetts), Ted Peck, NASEO Secretary (Hawaii); and Regional Representatives Lou Moore (Montana) and Frank Murray (New York).  Visit the NASEO website for more information on the board meeting, including the congressional briefing materials.

NASEO Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting

The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) hosted a two-day strategic meeting with State Energy Office (SEO) directors and Public Utility Commissioners on June 28-29, 2010, in conjunction with the Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (MACRUC) meeting in Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Through a series of discussions, June's event convened SEO directors and utility commissioners to share updates and exchange ideas on energy efficiency and renewable energy program and policy best practices.

The joint discussion topics included ARRA implementation, State Energy Program (SEP) activities, offshore wind policies, and the pending residential home retrofit program known as Home Star.  Also discussed was an update from Betty Ann Kane, Chairman of the District of Columbia Public Service Commission, regarding the Eastern Interconnect States Planning Council (EISPC).

In the meeting of SEO directors, states including Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia were able to further strengthen program coordination across the region and discussed ARRA funding.  David Terry, NASEO Executive Director, participated in the discussion and updated state participants on DOE technical assistance offerings and the importance of increasing the pace of SEP ARRA funds obligation and spending.  Other discussion topics included training standards, energy assurance, and renewable energy programs. 

State-by-state recaps were provided by the directors, and Jack Werner, Executive Director for the Institute for Sustainable Power, distributed a draft paper focusing on key elements of a regional program that would lead to consistency of training and certification protocols and potentially to reciprocity across state lines for trained and certified energy efficiency retrofit workers. The NASEO Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting concluded with presentations from Mark Bailey, SEP Lead for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Benjamin Goldstein, also of DOE, on State Energy Program obligations and national guidelines for the home energy efficiency retrofit workforce development.

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.

Upcoming NASEO Annual Meeting Session Highlights

• 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, and learn more about available sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities.

Upcoming DOE CHP Webinars: Output-Based Emissions Standards 101

The U.S. EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership, in conjunction with U.S. DOE's Southeast Clean Energy Application Center, will be presenting two upcoming webinars about output-based standards. The webinars will supplement the material covered in the CHP Partnership's webinar hosted on January 2009 (www.epa.gov/chp/events/webinars.html#012909).   

The first will be held on Friday, July 23, from 1:00-3:00 PM EDT. "Output-Based Standards 101" will cover:

• Why Output-Based Emissions Standards?
• Input-Based Standards: introduction, use and application in the Southeast
• Output-Based Standards: introduction, use and application

Registration is available online at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/328263346.  After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.  The second webinar, to be announced soon, will focus on case study examples. Participants will hear from both a state regulator and a CHP user about their respective experiences with output-based standards.

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

California Governor Issues Statement on the Federal Housing Finance Agency PACE Decision

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement in response to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) decision on the Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing (PACE) program:  "I am deeply disappointed that the Federal Housing Finance Agency has chosen not to support a federal stimulus program that would make it cheaper for Californians to invest in energy efficiency. This decision not only puts at risk millions of dollars of Recovery Act funds but sends a message to local governments and private businesses that energy independence is not a priority. I have directed the California Energy Commission to do everything possible so that we do not miss out on an opportunity to invest in home energy retrofits, which will create jobs, provide energy savings and benefit the environment." To read the rest of the statement, please click here.

Kentucky Schools Use Stimulus Dollars to Hire Energy Managers

With 92-degree heat pushing up electrical demand, officials from Kentucky school districts met in Lexington Wednesday afternoon to start working on ways to help their schools cut energy costs.  The session opened three days of orientation and training for 35 newly hired school energy managers who will be charged with helping up to 130 Kentucky public school districts use energy more efficiently, and incorporate energy conservation into student curriculums. The effort could reach more than 1,000 schools, officials said. The energy managers—most of whom are starting work this week—were hired with federal economic stimulus dollars funneled through the Kentucky School Boards Association and the Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence. To read more about the program please click here.

Massachusetts Continues Study of Biomass-Fired Electricity as CO2 Uncertainty Remains

As Massachusetts works to meets its obligations under the state's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008, electricity from biomass—a key solution to the mandated 80 percent emissions reductions by 2050—has been shown to not be carbon neutral by a state-commissioned study. The state's Secretary of Energy and Environment Affairs (EEA), Ian Bowles, has written a letter to Commissioner Giudice of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) describing his recommendations regarding biomass power generation. Please click here to read the letter at DOER.

Montana Wind Farm Wins CiCi Project for Excellence in Community-Based Projects

Trade & Industry Development, the leading magazine dedicated to site selection, announced its 5th Annual Corporate Investment & Community Impact (CiCi) Awards. For the second year in a row, a Montana energy project graces that distinguished list. The awards not only highlight the largest corporate investment projects, but also recognize those projects that may not involve large investments, but made the most notable impact on communities. The Montana project selected this year was the Glacier Wind Farm, a project of NaturEner USA. The company has become an important member of the community in north central Montana. With millions of dollars of investments and hundreds of jobs created, the project has brought a much-needed economic boost to the region. The projected ongoing economic infusion will continue to make a lasting impact on the community. To read more about the award, please click here.

Nebraska Rebate Program Increases Sales for Local Businesses

Nebraska's Appliance Rebate Program opened on Monday, July 6, to record numbers.  According to one Omaha retailer nearly 500 people lined up outside to buy qualified ENERGY STAR products. The program offers rebates ranging from $100 to $250 on air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigerators, furnaces, clothes washing machines and dishwashers. The program will remain open until the state's $1.5M in funds has been exhausted. For more information on the state's appliance rebate launch, please visit: http://www.energyempowers.gov/post/appliance-rebate-program-nebraska.aspx. 

Tennessee Plans 5MW Solar Farm Planned to Highlight Low Carbon Energy

The proposed five-megawatt, 30-acre electricity generation facility is part of Governor Phil Bredesen's Volunteer State Solar Initiative, funded by federal stimulus dollars. The Department of Economic and Community Development has contracted with the University of Tennessee to oversee planning, operation and management of the solar farm.  Solar modules are expected to begin going up in October 2010, with the system completed in the spring. The solar farm, which will include a welcome and education center, is being paid for by federal stimulus funds. To read more about Tennessee's first large foray into solar, please click here.

Wisconsin Focus on Energy Program Saves Residents and Businesses $319 Million in 2009

Governor Jim Doyle announced that Wisconsin residents, farms and businesses saved more than $319 million in energy costs in 2009—compared to $239 million in 2008—through energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives with assistance from the Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program. For every dollar invested in the Focus on Energy program last year, residents, farms, and businesses in Wisconsin saved $2.20 in energy costs. Focus on Energy works with Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.  They provide information, resources and financial incentives help to help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs and protect the environment.  Please click here to read more about the future of energy is Wisconsin at the Governor's website.

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.