NATIONAL NEWS
DOE
Relaunches Energy.Gov
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced the next step of its
comprehensive website reform, making Energy.gov a cutting-edge, interactive
information platform and saving taxpayers more than $10 million annually.
Through a complete overhaul of its front-end and back-end design, Energy.gov
modernizes how consumers and businesses access the information and resources
they need to save money and energy while improving Departmental staff’s ability
to interact with the public and each other. The new website makes it
easier for visitors to get localized information specific to their cities,
counties and states on tax credits, rebates, energy saving tips and grant
opportunities and utilizes the latest technologies in information visualization,
bringing updated and interactive charts and maps to Energy.gov and making energy
information more relevant to individuals.
'Billion-Ton'
Study Highlights Opportunities for Growth in Bioenergy Resources
The U.S. Department of Energy released a report this week –
2011
U.S. Billion-Ton Update: Biomass Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry
– detailing U.S. biomass feedstock potential nationwide. The report examines the
nation's capacity to produce a billion dry tons of biomass resources annually
for energy uses without impacting other vital U.S. farm and forest products,
such as food, feed, and fiber crops. The study provides industry, policymakers,
and the agricultural community with county-level data and includes analyses of
current U.S. feedstock capacity and the potential for growth in crops and
agricultural products for clean energy applications. The biomass resources
identified in the report could be used to produce clean, renewable biofuels,
biopower, or bioproducts. The 2011 Billion-Ton Update was produced in
collaboration with the DOE's Oak Ridge and Idaho National Laboratories, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, and other university and
industry representatives. To view the report and explore its data, which was
analyzed at a local level – county-by-county – visit the Bioenergy Knowledge Discovery Framework.
EPA Takes Action on Reducing Barriers to the Use of Carbon Capture and
Sequestration Technologies
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule to advance
the use of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, while protecting
Americans’ health and the environment. CCS technologies allow carbon dioxide
(CO2) to be captured at stationary sources - like coal-fired power plants and
large industrial operations - and injected underground for long-term storage in
a process called geologic sequestration. The proposal is consistent with
recommendations made by President Obama’s interagency task force on CO2.
sequestration and helps create a consistent national framework to ensure the
safe and effective deployment of technologies that will help position the United
States as a leader in the global clean energy race. Follow these links for
more information on the
proposed rule and the
Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide.
House to Probe Transmission Rule in Fall
Hannah Northey, E&E reporter
House lawmakers will hold a hearing after the August recess on a new and
highly controversial federal rule that revamps the way new power lines are
planned and financed, a key Republican said yesterday Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.),
who heads the House Energy and Power Subcommittee, told reporters yesterday at
an event in Washington that he has concerns about the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission's newly minted transmission planning and cost allocation rule, which
the agency unanimously approved last month (Greenwire, July 21). Whitfield
is worried that the cost of new power lines will be spread to ratepayers who see
no benefit.
"We intend to have a hearing on it," Whitfield said. "It is my understanding
that there is a way to socialize the cost ... of new transmission lines. And I'm
very much opposed to the socialization of the costs myself. And others are. But
we'd like to just have a hearing on it to get a more complete understanding of
really what it's all about."
The rule requires transmission developers to follow certain principles when
devising plans for plotting and allocating the costs of new power lines. FERC is
barring planners from providing incumbent transmission owners with the "right of
first refusal," or the ability to block projects that independent developers
want to build. Transmission planners must also conduct regional coordination and
consider state and federal goals for expanding the use of renewable energy.
Whitfield's concern falls in line with senators who have raised similar
questions.
In February, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) introduced legislation to amend federal
law to ensure rates and charges for electricity are proportionate to benefits
such as reliability and economic benefit. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Burr
(R-N.C.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Lindsey Graham
(R-S.C.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) are co-sponsoring the
bill (Greenwire, July 18).
FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff has repeatedly said that only ratepayers who
benefit from new transmission lines will have to pay and that those who receive
no benefits will not be allocated costs under the new rule.
Even so, concerns linger and Whitfield said the hearings will allow House
members to better understand the ruling.
Top Contenders Announced for EPA National Building Competition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program recently
announced its top contenders for the 2nd Annual National Building Competition,
Battle of the Buildings. These top contenders identify leaders with the
greatest percentage reduction of energy use intensity (EUI) in each of the
twelve building categories. Within the first six months of the
competition, teams representing approximately 245 buildings nationwide saved
more than $3.7 million on utility bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
equal to the electricity used by more than 2,300 homes annually.
Participants in this competition measure and track a building's monthly energy
consumption using EPA's online energy measurement and tracking tool, Portfolio
Manager. The building with the greatest reduction in energy consumption will be
recognized as the winner in November 2011.
DOE Seeks Comments on Commercial Building Asset
Rating Program
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released a Request for
Information (RFI) to solicit input on key issues associated with the development
of a voluntary national Asset Rating Program for Commercial Buildings (AR
Program). DOE’s goal is to facilitate cost-effective investments in energy
efficiency and also to reduce energy use in commercial buildings – DOE would
like to pilot the program in January 2012. The proposed program incorporates
several elements:
- An online tool to enter building information, generate a
rating, and provide recommendations for EE improvements.
- Two tiers: One is a preliminary rating that you generate
yourself - the other is a certified rating that is verified by a
qualified professional.
- The proposed rating would be on a 100-point scale based on
source energy intensity.
- The recommendations portion of the tool is also preliminary.
Please access the Commercial Building Asset Rating Program RFI via the
following link:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-08/pdf/2011-20014.pdf. For
reference, the docket number is EERE–2011–BT–NOA–0049. NASEO is
considering pulling together a response to the RFI and would like to get state
input. Please contact Diana Lin (dlin@naseo.org)
if you have any thoughts or comments to share.
REPORTS
NASEO Releases ENERGY STAR Case Studies for Michigan, Oregon, and West Virginia
NASEO has just released ENERGY STAR Case Studies profiling three projects
from the states of Michigan, Oregon, and West Virginia. Chosen and based
on geographic diversity, these three case studies demonstrate the effectiveness
of ENERGY STAR and how it has helped promote a wide array of initiatives.
These examples of successful stories range from a large scale office building in
Detroit, MI, to a new homes development community in Beaverton, OR, to a public
school district in Wyoming County, WV. And while all three projects differ
in the sectors they reach, each showcases the benefits which can be obtained
from ENERGY STAR qualified products, procedures, and requirements.
STATE NEWS
Iowa Governor Breaks Ground on New Wind Farm
KIMT-TV
Governor Terry Branstad and other elected leaders helped to kick off
construction on a 60 turbine wind farm capable of producing enough clean energy
to power about 25,000 homes in Franklin County this week. The new $235 million
wind farm will be built in addition to the current Whispering Willow East
project already in operation. “Twenty percent of the energy in Iowa is now
being generated by wind,” said Gov. Branstad, who says that Iowa is the second
largest wind energy producing state in the country. Construction on the
new wind turbine farm is expected to be complete sometime next year. The farm
will produce nearly 100 megawatts of energy.
NYSERDA Announces $20 Million to Help Fund Solar Energy Projects
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), in
conjunction with the state Public Service Commission (PSC), recently announced
the award of $20 million in large-scale solar power projects to help facilities
in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley generate electricity for their own
use. This is the first round of a $150 million, five-year funding program.
The money is being awarded to solar contractors, who are seeking to install the
systems on more than 30 commercial buildings and large apartment buildings.
Having PV systems in prominent locations such as major retailers or large
apartment complexes helps encourage others to make similar investments.
Because of the large size of these installations, NYSERDA’s investment leverages
a much greater return than solar incentives that concentrate on small-scale
solar power (photovoltaic, or PV) projects.
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