NASEO News

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.

Also, check out the State Success Stories!

FEDERAL UPDATE

DOE Announces $8.5 Million to Advance Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced that the Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratories is investing $8.5 million for four projects that have reached Stage III of the Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) program.  These investments will be matched more than one-to-one by the SEGIS contractors to support more than $20 million in total projects. The selections announced are part of the Department's ongoing work to improve the Nation's electrical grid reliability as solar energy technologies reach cost-competitiveness with conventional sources of electricity and increasing amounts of photovoltaic (PV) solar electricity flow into the Nation's electrical grid.  Please click here for the full story. 

DOE Issues Loan Guarantee Supported by Recovery Act for Nevada Geothermal Project

The U.S. Department of Energy recently today announced a partial guarantee for a $98.5 million loan to the 49.5 megawatt Blue Mountain geothermal project in Humboldt County in northwestern Nevada.  The loan guarantee is being issued to John Hancock Financial Services to support a loan to a subsidiary of the Nevada Geothermal Power Company.   The Blue Mountain project consists of a geothermal well field and fluid collection and injection systems that enable energy to be extracted from rock and fluid below the Earth's surface, and a power plant that converts geothermal energy into electricity.  The energy produced by the power plant is free of greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.  The loan guarantee was issued under the Financial Institution Partnership Program (FIPP), a Department of Energy program supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  FIPP is designed to expedite the loan guarantee process for renewable energy generation projects that use commercial technologies and to expand credit capacity for financing of U.S. renewable energy projects.  Please click here to read more. 

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 Tuesday, September 28-Friday, 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
• Technology Investments and Innovation: Discovering and Commercializing New Energy Technologies
• Appliance Rebate Program: Lessons Learned

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

2010 Winter Fuels Conference – October 13, 2010

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) invite you to participate in the 2010 Winter Fuels Outlook Conference.

This important supply and demand forecast event will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at the National Press Club, Holeman Lounge, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045.

Global oil supply uncertainty, demand for heating fuels, and price volatility may increase the potential for supply and distribution concerns this winter. Minor problems in the distribution system could cause price volatility with potential surges in localized regions. To help inform the energy community about the current situation, this conference will include EIA’s Winter Fuels Outlook along with presentations by industry representatives and energy experts.  Online registration is now available.  Please continue to check the NASEO website for additional information. 

NASEO Building Energy Efficiency Workshop, October 27 – October 30, 2010

NASEO will be hosting a comprehensive Building Energy Efficiency Workshop at the Westin Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina on Wednesday, October 27 – Saturday, October 30, 2010.  The Workshop will be held concurrent with a portion of the International Code Council's (ICC) Final Action Hearings and will focus on building codes training and compliance, residential and commercial building energy code implementation strategies, green buildings and sustainability, existing building rehab and substantial renovation, equipment efficiency standards, "beyond-code" standards for public facilities, utility involvement in code activities, roadmapping code strategy discussions, model building retrofit programs, etc.

NASEO is offering travel assistance for state and local government energy and building codes officials to attend the Workshop as well as participate in the ICC Final Action Hearings.  The travel support is available on a first-come first-served basis.  Individuals interested in attending the Workshop must complete and submit the "NASEO Travel Reimbursement Application Form" by Friday, October 15, 2010, for review and approval by NASEO.

A preliminary agenda and workshop information and NASEO travel policy are now available.  For more information on the Workshop visit the NASEO website at: http://www.naseo.org/codes/.  For questions, please contact Shemika Spencer at 703.299.8800 x15 or sspencer@naseo.org.

Energy Services Coalition (ESC) Beginnings Webinar: September 10, 2010

The Energy Services Coalition (ESC) will host a webinar bringing together its early founders to share how and why ESC got started and how it evolved while keeping its mission in focus.  The webinar will take place on Friday, September 10, 2010, from 1:00 – 1:40 PM ET.  ESC has been a public-private partnership from the start.  ESC's sole focus has always been on energy performance contracting—breaking down barriers and increasing awareness to increase energy efficiency through performance contracting.  Founding a chapter today is very similar to the founding of the organization—public and private participants working on a common mission.  Please click here for more information on the webinar as well as a link to online registration.

Southwest Renewable Energy Conference: September 14-16, 2010

The Southwest Renewable Energy Conference (SWREC) will be held September 14-16, 2010 at the Santa Fe Convention Center in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.  SWREC 2010 offers thoughtful evaluation and discussion of renewable energy development on tribal, federal, state and private lands. A diverse range of conference sessions, receptions and exhibitions will provide opportunities to network and share ideas with leaders in research, government and the renewable industry. This year's offerings include access to over 60 speakers; 3 distinct tracks: technology, policy and application; and elected officials, policy makers, utility leaders and state energy staff members. Please click here to visit the SWREC website for more information.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Offshore Wind Webinar: September 16, 2010

In FY 2011, DOE will initiate a formal Offshore Wind Program to promote and accelerate responsible commercial offshore wind development in the United States. In Creating an Offshore Wind Industry in the United States: A National Vision and Call to Action the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Power Program will outline its vision to guide the United States in creating a world-leading offshore wind industry. A ‘world leading offshore wind industry in the United States’ will achieve 54 gigawatts of offshore wind deployment at a cost of 7-9 cents per kilowatt-hour by the year 2030, with an interim target of 10 gigawatts at 13 cents per kilowatt-hour by 2020.

This webinar will also issue a call to action for the nation’s resources to mobilize and harmonize in addressing the substantial barriers to offshore wind deployment.  To facilitate the discussion portion of the webinar, the DOE Wind and Water Program would like participants to submit questions ahead of time to susan.hinnen@nrel.gov. Questions will be accepted until September 15, 2010.

Below are the participant details to access this webinar:

Date: September 16, 2010 
Time: 2 pm Eastern Time
Duration: 1 hour (½ hour presentation, ½ hour Q&A)

Audio Access Information:
Toll-free #: 888-982-4612
Toll #: 1-517-308-9013
Participant passcode: 2660405

Web Access Information:
URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=PW4292233&p=2660405&t=c   

If you have trouble with the above link, try going to this website and enter the info separately:

URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/
Conference number: PW4292233
Participant passcode: 2660405

Energy Center of Wisconsin (ECW) Workshop: Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Community-Based Social Marketing, September 16, 2010, Milwaukee, WI

The Energy Center of Wisconsin is excited to announce internationally acclaimed social-marketing expert Doug McKenzie-Mohr, PhD will present, Fostering Sustainable Behavior: Community-based social marketing, Thursday, September 16, 2010, in Milwaukee, WI.  This full-day workshop will provide participants with a comprehensive, introductory understanding of community-based social marketing.  The workshop is designed for energy program designers and implementers, utility program managers, communications and marketing professionals, community planners, and professionals in the fields of energy and sustainable communities. For more information, including online registration, visit www.ecw.org/socialmarketing.   

ASERTTI Fall 2010 Meeting: October 4-7, 2010

Please mark your calendars for the fall 2010 ASERTTI meeting, which will be held October 4-7 in Long Island, New York.  Hosted by Brookhaven National Laboratory and Long Island Power Authority, this year’s fall meeting will include presentations on the energy programs and research activities from around the nation.  Agenda presenters and topics include:

• Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Energy R&D and Technology Commercialization at Brookhaven National Laboratory
• California Energy Commission’s R&D priorities and community energy program
• Long Island Power Authority’s Solar and Off Shore Wind Projects
• Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Hub – an overview of the newly established Penn State-led "buildings hub"
• Energy Innovation Models – this session examines several state, regional, and national technology innovation models, and covers the release of the newly published ASERTTI-NASEO Commercialization Models Report
• New York’s Smart Grid Consortium
• University Energy RD&D Collaboration – representatives of four university energy centers offer their views on collaborative models and priorities
• Superior Energy Performance – This industrial energy efficiency presentation examines the move toward ISO50001 and opportunities with the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing and U.S. DOE
• New focus of and opportunities with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Buildings RD&D Program

Attendees will also hear an overview of ASERTTI programs and the latest Washington, DC update.  In addition to the full technical agenda there are some exciting networking and tour activities planned.  Please visit the ASERTTI website today to access online registration and the most up-to-date agenda. 

STATE AND LOCAL NEWS

Hawaii and Nissan Agree to EV Partnership

Hawaii and Nissan North America recently announced a partnership to promote development of electric vehicles (EV) and charging networks throughout the state. The compact Nissan Leaf EV, powered by lithium-ion batteries, will be available in Hawaii beginning in January 2011. According to the carmaker, the partnership marks Nissan's first such definitive agreement in the United States. State officials noted this was part of a strategy begun in 2008, when it launched the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative in conjunction with DOE. The initiative aims to have at least 70% of Hawaii's power come from clean energy by 2030.  Hawaii offers consumers a $4,500 state tax credit towards the purchase of an electric vehicle and a $500 state tax credit towards the purchase and installation of a home charging station. That means that the Leaf, with a 100-mile range and a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $32,780, could sell for as little as $20,780 after state and federal credits.  Please click here for more information and a link to the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. 

New York Named a Leading State for Energy Efficiency by Center for American Progress

New York has been named one of the leading states in the nation for energy efficiency by the Center for American Progress.  Noting that energy efficiency can serve as a "national engine of reinvestment and job creation," the report says "The state of New York is a great example of officials at the state level and municipal level taking an aggressive, multifaceted approach to energy efficiency."  Energy efficiency measures are the most cost-effective tools needed to reduce energy usage in businesses and residences. Highly effective energy efficiency programs authorized by the Public Service Commission and administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as well as the major investor-owned utilities help to save consumers money while making energy efficiency an integral part of New Yorkers’ everyday lives. These initiatives are part of broader state policies designed to develop a clean energy industry and an efficient and competitive economy.  Please click here for the full story. 

Pennsylvania Launches Diversity of Clean Energy Projects to Create Jobs and Reduce Pollution

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell recently announced $20.5 million in state and federal investments that will create 1,400 jobs in the rapidly expanding clean energy industry. The funding will benefit 40 diverse energy projects that will generate or save the equivalent of more than 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity over their lifetimes. The Governor noted that the state investment provided through the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, or PEDA, will also leverage more than $211 million in private funds, generating a 10-to-1 return on investment. Since 2005, PEDA has invested more than $99 million in 201 projects which have generated more than $883 million in matching funds. To read more about Pennsylvania’s clean energy programs, please click here.