NATIONAL NEWS
NASEO Holds Congressional Briefing on Economic Impacts
of SEP and Weatherization
NASEO hosted a Congressional briefing on Capitol Hill on Monday, April 4, to
highlight the positive impacts of the U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) and the
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The briefing provided data
and information on the energy-related economic development activity being
promoted by the nation’s 56 State and Territory Energy Offices and with public
and private sector partners. State officials presented on how these
programs have helped create jobs, reduce energy bills, and enhance energy
security. Speakers for the event included: David Terry, Executive
Director, National Association of State Energy Officials; Hannah Polikov,
Special Assistant to the Director, Maryland Energy Administration; Ginger
Willson, Director, Nebraska State Energy Office; Robert Scott, Director, Energy
Services, National Association for State Community Services Programs; and Ward
Lenz, Director, North Carolina Energy Office. Visit NASEO's State Energy
Program webpage for more information on the impacts of SEP:
www.naseo.org/programs/sep/
Senate Committee Hears Testimony on U.S. Hydropower
Potential
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on March 31
from scientists and representatives of the hydropower industry. Senators
Bingaman and Murkowski, the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee,
cosponsored the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011 and the Marine and
Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011. The briefing reviewed these
two pieces of legislation as well as the hydropower provisions from the American
Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA) of 2009. Please click here to view Senator Bingaman’s remarks and please
click here to view Senator Murkowski’s remarks.
Funding Opportunity: EPA Soliciting Applications for Energy Development on
Contaminated Sites
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications
from states, tribes, regional governments, and communities that are interested
in the development of renewable energy on current and formerly contaminated
properties. The opportunity is offered through EPA’s RE-Powering America’s Land
initiative, which takes a multi-pronged approach to site cleanup and development
of renewable energy production facilities on potentially contaminated land.
Potentially contaminated lands include Superfund, brownfields, RCRA corrective
action, and former landfill or mining sites.
Funding Opportunity: DOE and DOI Announce $26.6 Million in Funding to Develop
Advanced Hydropower Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of the Interior
announced $26.6 million in funding for research and development projects to
advance hydropower technology, including pumped storage hydropower. This funding
is focused on development of innovative technologies that can produce power more
efficiently, reduce costs and increase sustainable hydropower generation at
sites not previously considered practical. Mandatory letters of intent are
due May 5, 2011, and completed applications are due June 6, 2011. For more
details on this opportunity, see the
Funding Opportunity Announcement.
DOI
Report Finds Clean Electricity Potential at Existing Dam Facilities
The Department of the Interior (DOE) released the results of an internal
study that shows the department could generate up to one million megawatt hours
of electricity annually and create jobs by adding hydropower capacity at 70 of
its existing facilities. The report, Hydropower Resource Assessment at
Existing Reclamation Facilities, estimates that the additional hydropower
capabilities could create enough clean, renewable energy to annually power more
than 85,000 households. Based on industry estimates for job potential associated
with the kind of hydropower additions identified in this report, approximately
1,200 jobs could be created, including jobs in administration, manufacturing,
construction, engineering, operations and maintenance. The report is
available at
www.usbr.gov/power.
STATE NEWS
Michigan Green Hotels Program Taking Off: Saving Energy and Saving Jobs
The Westin Hotel Detroit Metropolitan Airport has earned Green Lodging
Michigan (GLM) Steward certification from the Michigan Department of Energy,
Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG). Green Lodging Michigan encourages hotels,
resorts, motels, and bed & breakfast facilities to implement environmental
initiatives and cost-saving "green" practices to conserve energy, reduce water
consumption, protect air quality, reduce waste, and participate in
environmentally preferred purchasing. "Cost-saving green business practices have
been extremely positive for job creation and retention in the hospitality
sector," said DELEG Director Steven H. Hilfinger. "Hoteliers across the state
are continuing to show their commitment to environmental responsibility by
earning Green Lodging accreditation."
New York State Launches Solar Thermal Incentive Program to Encourage Solar Hot
Water Use
The 5-year, $25 million program provides incentives of up to $4,000 per site
for eligible single- and multi-family residences and up to $25,000 per site for
eligible commercial and nonprofit customers who currently use electricity to
produce hot water. Electric hot water generally makes up 17 to 20 percent of a
homeowner’s monthly electric bill and less than 10 percent of the monthly bill
for the average commercial building. Solar thermal systems can provide
approximately 50 to 80 percent of a homeowner’s hot water needs and generally
have a very attractive payback period.
|
