NASEO NEWS
State Energy Policy and
Technology Outlook Conference
A
preliminary agenda is now available for the 2012 State Energy Policy and
Technology Outlook Conference hosted by NASEO and ASERTTI, which will focus on
public-private strategies for modernizing U.S. buildings and energy
infrastructure to foster economic development and create a more resilient energy
system. This year's Conference will explore how states are encouraging economic
development and technology innovation through private investment to modernize
the nation's energy systems and infrastructure in public facilities, power
systems, and the transportation sector.
The need for a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy system presents
a significant opportunity to improve the U.S. economy, job creation, and global
competitiveness. However, there are a number of challenges to overcome. The
aging electric grid is vulnerable to blackouts and cyber-attack. Pending and
active air regulations are impacting the business decisions of utilities and
manufacturers. A lack of coordination across the state, federal, and private
sectors in technology investment and policy development is leading to a band-aid
approach to infrastructure development. Buildings account for 40 percent of
energy consumption, about half of which is attributable to the commercial
sector. All of these challenges, combined with tightening public budgets, demand
a shift in the business as usual model to a more dynamic and robust coordination
and investment strategy.
Register today for the 2012 NASEO/ASERTTI State Energy Policy and Technology
Outlook Conference on February 7-10, 2012, at the
Fairmont
Washington, D.C.
State
Energy Programs for Industry and Manufacturing Database and Report
NASEO is pleased to launch its recently created
State Energy
Programs for Industry and Manufacturing Database, which is now available on
the NASEO website. Based on information collected from the 56 State and
Territory Energy Offices in 2011, there are over $870 million in energy
efficiency investments available to the industrial sector between the years 2009
and 2012. Currently, more than 35 states and territories are operating
such programs through their State Energy Offices. These programs engage
manufacturers and leverage private sector activities, as well as support
innovations which help local communities and industries thrive. A
companion report,
State and Industry Partnerships: Advancing U.S. Industrial Competitiveness
through Energy Efficiency and Advanced Energy Technology Investments,
outlines, in greater detail, programs targeting the industrial sector and
highlights a few specific state approaches. . This is an ongoing NASEO
project and will continue to be updated over time. Please contact Garth
Otto (gotto@naseo.org) if you have any
questions or updates to your state’s page.
NASEO Releases
New Energy Assurance Video
NASEO is pleased to announce the posting of a new energy assurance video on
the main Energy
Assurance Program page. On-camera interviews conducted during the Midwest
Energy Assurance Exercise in Chicago August 31 – September 1, 2011 were used to
develop the short training video that highlights the value of the energy
assurance planning and the need to sustain the capabilities developed over the
last two and a half years. As part of the on-going effort to develop additional
training materials, NASEO conducted another round of on-camera interviews during
the Western Exercise in Phoenix, Arizona November 29-30, 2011 for future use.
New NASEO Affiliate: Southern States Energy Board
The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is pleased to
announce its newest affiliate member, the Southern States Energy Board (SSEB).
SSEB’s mission is to enhance economic development and the quality of life in the
South through innovations in energy and environmental policies, programs and
technologies. Formed in 1960, this organization is comprised of 16 states
and two territories, and is aimed at contributing to the economic and community
well-being of the southern region. Long term goals of SSEB are to perform
essential services that provide direct scientific and technical assistance to
state governments; develop, promote and recommend policies and programs on
energy and environment; facilitate the implementation of energy and
environmental policies between federal, state and local governments; and support
improved energy efficient technologies that contribute to a clean global
environment. Additionally, SSEB operates a wide variety of energy and
environment programs such as water use and biomass, to nuclear waste
transportation and regulatory action. To learn more about SSEB, please
visit: http://www.sseb.org/.
For further information about joining NASEO’s Affiliate Membership Program,
please visit:
http://naseo.org/members/affiliates/membership_program.htm.
NATIONAL NEWS
DOE Awards $7 Million to Reduce Electric Vehicle Charger Costs
DOE announced on December 21 awards totaling nearly $7 million in research
and development funding that will help to reduce the current costs of electric
vehicle chargers by 50% over the next three years. With DOE support,
manufacturers in California, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania will work to
improve the development and design of charging equipment. This research will
promote "smart" charging capabilities that can help ensure electric vehicles
enhance, rather than strain, existing electrical grid capacity. Two of the
four selected projects will focus on improving electric vehicle chargers that
attach to consumers' homes and are used by the owners to charge their vehicles
while they are at home. Two other projects will focus on chargers used at
commercial and public locations to charge large numbers of vehicles, including
commercial fleets of delivery vehicles.
DOI Approves Two Renewable Projects
Capping three years of efforts to develop renewable energy resources on
public lands both onshore and offshore, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar
announced approval of two utility-scale renewable energy projects—one wind and
one solar—that, when built, will generate nearly 500 megawatts of power, or
enough to power 150,000 homes, and create 700 jobs during peak construction.
Secretary Salazar also announced the first major step in developing an offshore
wind transmission line on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. For a fact
sheet on Interior’s onshore renewable energy program, click
HERE. For a fact sheet on Interior’s offshore renewable energy
program, click
HERE.
EPA Issues First National Standards for Mercury Pollution from Power Plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -USA Today
New rules released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will
require power plants that generate electricity with coal or oil to greatly
reduce emissions of 84 different toxins including mercury, arsenic, nickel,
selenium, and cyanide. The rules implement clean air mandates enacted by
Congress over 20 years ago and comply with a court order for federal action.
EPA estimates that the new standards will prevent as many as 11,000 premature
deaths and 4,700 heart attacks a year and help America’s children grow up
healthier – preventing 130,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and about
6,300 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children each year. Within as
little as four years, all coal- and oil-fired power plants must meet or exceed
the emission rates of the cleanest 12 percent of such plants. At the current
time, about 40 percent of the nation’s plants have no emissions controls in
place.
An analysis by the Associated Press concluded that between 32 and 68 coal-fired
power plants may close as a result of the new rules.
State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program: Program Closure Update
On February 17, 2012 all State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Programs
(SEEARP) will close, regarding the performance period established with the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) in 2009. If your state program is currently
still open, this will have impacts on certain areas of operation. To help
better assist in closing out programs successfully, this DOE document,
State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program: Grant Closure Update,
addresses topics such as cost sharing, in-kind contributions, recycling, rebate
processors, increasing rebate amounts, and document storage. Additionally,
this document contains common and fully explained Q & As, as well as details on
how States should address administrative costs and final reporting. Please
note that on February 17, DOE will send Final Report packets to all States with
open programs and that these reports are due back to DOE 90 days later (May 17,
2012).
This closure update is in regards to DOE’s announcement in 2009 that it was
making approximately $300 million from stimulus available to states and
territories to promote the purchase of ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances.
For additional details, please visit:
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/appliance_rebate.cfm.
STATE NEWS
Connecticut Approves Largest-Ever Solar Projects in the State
courant.com
The largest commercial solar projects ever approved in Connecticut have won
the backing of state regulators and could provide more sources of renewable
energy to electricity distributors. Two companies were selected by the
Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection from a field of 21
proposals as part of a new competitive bidding process by the state to increase
sources of renewable energy in Connecticut and drive down costs. The
competitive bidding process was part of this year's energy bill, which
authorized the state to select projects that would lead to the development of 30
megawatts of clean energy. Together, the two plants would generate 10
megawatts of power.
Solar Power Legislation Now Law in New Jersey
NorthJersey.com
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed a bill into law that will allow
solar panels and wind turbines to be installed on closed landfills and quarries.
Proponents say the measure will create jobs and eliminate eyesores while helping
to clean the environment and promote the benefits of alternative energy. The
bill was originally passed in January but was vetoed by Governor Christie due to
a technical issue that was later corrected and returned to the Governor for his
signature.
“Energy Highway” Planned for New York
Times Union
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently introduced a plan to upgrade the state's
high-voltage electric transmission system so that power generated in upstate New
York power plants and wind farms can be moved downstate. Bottlenecks in
the transmission system -- mainly between Utica and Albany and south of Albany
-- make it difficult to move electricity to the New York City area. That makes
downstate power expensive and it forces upstate power plants to hold back on
resources that could potentially create jobs. Cuomo was not clear which
state agency would lead the program, but he said the state would develop a
master plan and issue a request for proposals for a $2 billion "energy highway"
that would take power downstate. The plan would also include upgrading outdated
and polluting power plants in urban areas.
Ohio State Loans to Aid Energy Savings
The Columbus Dispatch
The Ohio Department of Development has started the Energy Loan Fund that can
lend money for projects such as installation of insulation, new lighting,
more-efficient heating and cooling systems, renewable-energy projects and
improved production processes that could cut energy consumption. The
program is another option in the state’s package of tools to help businesses
create and retain jobs and lower the state’s 8.5 percent unemployment rate.
The program will use more than $7 million in state funding from the Advanced
Energy Fund that came from a utility-bill fee that expired last year as well as
tap federal funds from the State Energy Program.
Virginia RFP: Develop a Strategic Sustainability Plan for Regional Energy
Alliances
The Commonwealth of Virginia has issued a request for proposals (FRP) to
develop a strategic sustainability plan for Regional Energy Alliances (REAs).
The successful proposer will work with the Virginia Department of Mines,
Minerals and Energy (DMME) staff and the REAs Programs operating in up to 5
energy efficiency programs throughout the state to set forth a long term
sustainability plan for each of the REAs as federal financial grant support
ends. The goal of the sustainability plan will be to assess the long term
funding and organizational structure needed to continue each Regional Energy
Alliance Programs in Virginia. Proposals are due no later than 2:00 p.m.
on January 31, 2012.
Washington State Breaks Ground on West Coast Electric Highway
Washington State Department of Transportation
The future of long-distance, zero-emissions travel begins right in
Bellingham, where construction is starting on the state’s first public charging
station that can recharge electric vehicles in 30 minutes. It’s the first sign
of a border-to-border network of public electric-vehicle charging stations and
the first stop on Washington’s segment of the West Coast Electric Highway along
276 miles of Interstate 5 between the state’s borders with Oregon and Canada.
With federal Recovery Act funding through the Washington State Department of
Commerce State Energy Program
and local funding, the state is developing public/private ventures to
support the nation’s first cross-state infrastructure for electric vehicles,
paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable way of travel.
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