NATIONAL NEWS
DOE
Launches New Tools to Accelerate Adoption of Electric Vehicles
The U.S. Department of Energy announced this week the launch of two online
tools designed to help communities better prepare for widespread adoption of
plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). DOE has developed a template to help local
governments design permits for residential EV charger installations and
accelerate the approval process. The template can be found on the
Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicle Data Center's EV deployment
website. DOE has also released a training video to provide inspectors and
electricians with a guide to facilitate inspections and installations of home EV
chargers. The
video is available on Clean Cities TV, a hub for DOE's
alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technology videos.
EPA Accepts First GHG Reporting Data and Launches Electronic GHG Reporting Tool
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching a new tool to allow 28
industrial sectors to submit their 2010 greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution data
electronically. Prior to being finalized, more than1,000 stakeholders, including
industry associations, states and NGOs tested the electronic GHG Reporting Tool
(e-GGRT) to ensure clarity and user-friendliness. The data collected with
e-GGRT will provide the public with important information about the nation’s
largest stationary sources of greenhouse gas pollution. Industries and
businesses can also use the data to help find ways to decrease carbon pollution,
increase efficiency and save money. EPA expects to receive 2010 GHG data
from approximately 7,000 large industrial GHG emitters and suppliers, including
power plants, petroleum refineries and landfills. For more information on
the GHG
Reporting Program.
ENERGY STAR Homes Issue Brief
The Energy Programs Consortium recently developed an issue brief regarding
ENERGY STAR Homes. The
issue brief documents the inroads that ENERGY STAR
qualified homes are making as part of overall residential construction.
While the total production numbers are significant, they are especially
significant in a number of states, like Texas, Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, and
Ohio, to name a few. The issue brief describes factors that contribute to
more ENERGY STAR Homes production as well as provides a closer look at each
region and their performance under the program. It also offers ideas on
possible strategies to increase ENERGY STAR Homes production.
HUD Multifamily
Energy Innovation Fund NOFA
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Affordable
Housing Preservation (OAHP) is issuing a notice of fund availability (NOFA) for
the Multifamily Energy Innovation Fund. This fund provides a total of $25
million in grants to be used for the purpose of energy efficiency upgrades at
multifamily properties. The goals of this NOFA are to:
- Demonstrate solutions to the primary and longstanding
challenges to implementing energy efficiency and renewable
energy improvements, in existing affordable multifamily
properties.
- Leverage private capital and additional public funding to
demonstrate “proof of concept” of specific models.
- Conduct applied research to document and disseminate
mainstream, scalable approaches to retrofitting affordable
multifamily properties.
The overall objective of the Energy Innovation Fund is to help catalyze a
home energy retrofit market in the United States by accelerating private
investment in cost-saving energy efficiency retrofits in the residential sector.
Innovative and replicable strategies to improve the usefulness of existing HUD
programs--as well as developing new financing tools--will lead to significant
reductions in energy consumption, operating costs, and the carbon footprint of
both affordable and market-rate housing. More information can be found here:
Energy Innovation
NOFA.
STATE NEWS
Nebraska Schools to Get Free Energy Use Assessments
The Nebraska Energy Office will fund analysis, ranking and more through the
Nebraska Public School Energy Efficiency Project, a three-part effort to help
schools use analytical tools to help them find potential energy and resource
savings. Under Phase One, schools submit energy use data for 18 months
along with specifics about the building. Under Phase Two, those schools
that show the most potential for energy savings will receive an investment-grade
audit that includes an on-site analysis that identifies a number of energy
efficiency improvements that could be undertaken. A third phase will
address how the improvements can be made.
New York Public Service Commission Takes Major Step toward Modernizing the Grid
The New York State Public Service Commission approved a policy statement last
week that would establish regulatory policies and set forth guidelines for
utilities to follow regarding the development of smart electric grid systems and
associated efforts to modernize the electric grid. With the formalization
of the guidelines in place, utilities now have a better understanding of the
“rules of the road” to develop smart grid systems that integrate new intelligent
technologies, while optimizing the use of existing facilities and resources and
maintaining just and reasonable rates for electric customers. Utilities will be
free to pursue established and reliable technologies that can provide a proven
return on investment.
Wisconsin
Company Adds Jobs with Help from State Energy Program Funding
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker appeared at Weldall Manufacturing last week
to tout the company's job creation with the help of public incentives. The
governor pledged to create 250,000 jobs during his four-year term that began in
January, but Weldall promised to create at least 75 jobs before Walker was
elected and the company has exceeded that figure. A year ago, the Waukesha
Common Council approved $975,000 in incentives for Weldall through tax
incremental financing on the promise that the firm would add at least 75
manufacturing jobs to the 106 jobs that then existed. In February, the city
agreed to sponsor Weldall's application for a state grant that will pay half of
the $1.3 million cost of a railroad spur to serve the expanded factory. The
company will pay the rest of the rail cost. The public funding helped
offset the cost of a 76,000-square-foot addition to the metal fabricator's
plant, which is allowing for an expansion of its product line. Under tax
incremental financing, all the property taxes on the new tax base are diverted
from the usual overlying taxing districts, like the county and schools, until
the project costs in the district are paid off.
|
