California Proposes Ban on Incandescents

In January 2007, California state lawmaker Lloyd Levine introduced a bill that aims to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs statewide by 2012. The negotiations – which could yield a phase out of incandescents for the huge California market, and affect the product line in most of the nation – are taking place amid evidence of a rising anti-incandescent clamor. Any move in California toward tougher energy standards for lighting are expected to raise the bar for federal lighting efficiency standards currently under review. A potential drawback is that compact fluorescent lights (CFL)- the alternative to incandescents- contain mercury. In recognition that CFL disposal could pose a problem, major manufacturers are promoting CFL recycling programs and plan to cut CFL mercury content.

ACEEE Publishes Report on the Peak Demand Impacts of Energy Efficiency

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released their report Examining the Peak Demand Impacts of Energy Efficiency: A Review of Program Experience and Industry Practices. In this study, ACEEE examined the results and achievements of various energy efficiency programs in order to identify examples of clear, significant peak demand savings. The major findings of the study include that energy efficiency programs have undoubtedly achieved significant peak demand reductions; most program evaluations have not used direct, on-site measurement of the demand impacts; the need for greater understanding and accuracy in quantifying the peak demand impacts will increase; and there are solid foundations in place for establishing a broader knowledge base of the peak demand impacts of energy efficiency. To read the entire report, visit the ACEEE Web site.

Western States Agree to Cut Greenhouse Gases

On February 26, governors from Arizona, California, Oregon, New Mexico and Washington agreed on a plan to cut their states' emissions of greenhouse gases and to establish a regional carbon-trading system. The governors pledged to set a regional target for lower emissions within six months; a year after that they plan to devise a regional cap-and-trade system. The specific steps that Western states will take in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions have yet to be determined.  For more information, read the Washington Post article.

EPA to Develop Model Program Evaluation Guide for Efficiency Savings

Building from existing measurement and verification protocols around the country (including the California Energy Efficiency Evaluation Protocols, the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocols, the Federal Energy Management Program Guidelines), the Environmental Protection Agency is funding the development of a national guide as part of its Energy Efficiency Action Plan. The guide will establish consistency in how energy efficiency savings are quantified, address the issue of certainty and reliability of savings, and explain how to translate the savings into emission reductions. The guide will be developed with input from a broad range of stakeholders, including evaluation experts, regional and state program administrators, and public utility and air regulatory staff. The effort is co-chaired by Dian Grueneich, Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission, and Diane Munn at Edison Electric Institute. For more information, view a related presentation.

ISO-New England Forward Capacity Market

The Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-New England) has issued its final draft of the Forward Capacity Market (FCM) Measurement and Verification (M&V) Manual. The manual was approved by the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) Markets Committee in early March, and awaits final approval by the NEPOOL Participants Committee in mid April. The M&V Manual reflects extensive input from public utility commissions and program administrators gathered through a stakeholder process which has been facilitated by NEEP over the past five months. The M&V Manual provides specific requirements for developing M&V plans to support demand reduction bids into the Forward Capacity Auction by Demand Resource Providers (including energy efficiency, load management, demand response and distributed generation), including acceptable M&V methods and specific level of rigor required for calculating a project’s demand reduction value. For more information on the FCM and M&V Manual, see the recent presentations from the ACEEE Market Transformation Symposium by Paul Peterson (Synapse Energy Economic) and Chris Neme (VEIC).

Also, NEEP is assisting the New England states to coordinate evaluation efforts and identify where joint studies make sense to support M&V plans that must be developed by  Program Administrators as part of their qualification package to ISO-New England by June 15, 2007 for the first forward capacity auction in 2008.  

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Comments Accepted on Connecticut Model Rule

As part of their RGGI Draft Model Rule development process, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection accepted comments from interested parties on the auction and allocation of RGGI carbon credits. The Department expects to have a draft Model Rule, accommodating these suggestions and recommendations, released at the end of March. The comments are available online.

Massachusetts Signs on to RGGI; Stakeholder Meetings Held

On January 18, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Memorandum of Understanding, committing the Commonwealth to a multi-state effort to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and tackle global climate change. At the signing event, Gov. Patrick announced that Massachusetts will auction 100 percent of its allowances, and use the funds generated by those sales to fund energy efficiency, demand reduction, renewable energy programs, and combined heat and power projects. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been holding stakeholder meetings in order to collect comments and recommendations on how the state should proceed with the development of the state Model Rule and auction. For more information read the Governor’s press release or visit the DEP Web site.

Proposed Legislation will Authorize Maine's Participation in RGGI

Legislative Docket 1090, “An Act to Authorize the State’s Participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,” has been submitted to the Maine state legislature. This bill will give Maine the approval necessary to participate in RGGI. The bill allocates all revenue from the auction of carbon credits towards energy efficiency in order to maximize benefits to energy consumers. LD 1090 is sponsored by Representative Koffman, and is cosponsored by 25 representatives and senators. It is supported by the Environmental Priorities coalition, the Maine Center for Economic Policy, Maine Interfaith Power & Lights, and the Maine Global Warming Action Coalition. The bill can be read online.  

New Jersey Governor Calls for Greenhouse Gas Reductions

On February 13, New Jersey Governor John Corzine signed Executive Order 54, directing the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, followed by a further reduction of 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. To reach this goal, the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection will work with the Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Community Affairs, and other stakeholders to evaluate methods to meet and exceed the  target reductions. The resulting recommendations will take into account the economic benefits and costs of implementing these recommendations. For more information, read Executive Order 54.

New York Releases Pre-Proposal Draft Model Rule

On December 22, 2006 the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released their RGGI pre-proposal Draft Model Rule for the state of New York. The pre-proposal states that New York will auction off 100 percent of their carbon credits and will utilize those funds for energy efficiency and clean energy programs. Also, as part of their stakeholder process, the DEC requested comments from stakeholders on the pre-proposal. Comments, due by March 13, were submitted by NEEP as well as many other New York based and regional energy efficiency organizations. For more information, visit the DEC Web site.

Rhode Island Committed to Joining RGGI

On January 30, in his State of the State address, Governor Carcieri announced that Rhode Island will join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Governor noted that "Rhode Island can boast some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any state in our region. This agreement represents a commitment by neighboring states to follow our example." For more information, read the State of the State Address.

Vermont Releases Pre-Proposal Draft Model Rule and Requests Comments

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation released its pre-proposal Draft Model Rule for the implementation of RGGI, and has requested that interested parties submit comments to the Department by April 1. Vermont’s pre-proposal states that they will auction off 100 percent of the CO2 allowances and allocate the resulting funds to a consumer benefit or strategic purpose set-aside account for use by energy efficiency and other low-cost, low-carbon power system investments.  Read the pre-proposal Draft Model Rule here.

 

2007 Energy Plan Approved

On February 6, 2007 the Connecticut Energy Advisory Board approved its 2007 Energy Plan for submittal to the legislature.

Governor Announces New Energy Initiatives

On February 5, Governor Rell announced that her biennial budget will include new energy initiatives, namely the development of a new Department of Energy and organizational changes at the Office of Policy and Management, the Office of the Consumer Counsel and the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC). The new Department of Energy will be responsible for the development and planning of energy policy, including alternative and renewable resources and conservation and efficiency. The DPUC will be responsible for only those regulatory actions necessary in approving rates for public electric and gas utilities and responsibilities relating to water and telecommunications utilities. In addition, the Governor proposed several long-term energy initiatives including a 20 percent reduction in peak electric demand by 2020. All of the changes will provide for better energy planning, new conservation measures and a task force to study ways to aggregate purchases for Connecticut consumers in order to lower energy prices. For more information, a press release is available on the Governor's Web site.

Proceedings Initiated on Conn. Clean Energy Options Program

The Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) has created Docket 07-01-09 for the purpose of considering and establishing the program parameters for the second phase of the Connecticut Clean Energy Options (CCEO) program. The current program contracts expire in April 2008. The docket will incorporate a diverse group of stakeholders to determine the CCEO program structure for the next contract period.  DPUC would also like to facilitate a docket and subsequently a Request for Proposals to consider other options that may also serve the program goals of providing alternative options to consumers. Read more about this docket at the Department's Docket Database.

New Media Campaign Urges Customers to Reduce Their Energy Use

The Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) joined with the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF), the Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and the United Illuminating Company (UI)to launch a marketing campaign, “Determine Your Own Energy Future,” to promote the CEEF’s energy-saving programs. The campaign debuted in mid-February, and is designed to educate Connecticut residents about energy-efficiency programs and tips to help reduce energy consumption and lower energy bills. The campaign will last through the end of May 2007. For more information, visit www.ct-energyinfo.com or read the press release.

Legislation Introduced to Ban the Sale of Incandescent Light Bulbs

The Connecticut General Assembly's environment committee has proposed a ban on  the sale of ordinary incandescent light bulbs as part of an effort to encourage energy efficiency and curtail greenhouse gas emissions. The ban is part of Bill No. 1432, “An Act Concerning Global Warming.” The bill, as currently written, would prohibit retailers and wholesalers to sell any bulb blacklisted by the Department of Environmental Protection. Those found violating the ban would get a written warning and be subject to a $100 fine for each inefficient bulb sold. The bill also creates an income tax exemption for money earned from the sale of "greenhouse gas emissions credits" as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). For more information, read the bill on the Connecticut General Assembly Web site.

Demand Side Management Rules Considered

In Docket EX06110813, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has proposed to repeal and replace its rules regarding demand side management (DSM) for energy conservation, which expired on December 19, 2006. The goal of the DSM program rules was to encourage the State’s gas and electric utilities to promote cost-effective investment in energy conservation programs, including installed conservation, load management and energy efficiency measures in residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and governmental facilities. As an incentive to develop these programs, the utilities were permitted to earn financial returns equivalent to, or greater than, the returns provided on utilities owned supply side projects. Due to the discontinuance of the DSM program, the DSM rules are no longer needed. However, term extensions for outstanding contracts executed under the standard offer programs must still be addressed. Therefore, the BPU is proposing new rules under the chapter governing renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. The proposal covers contracts previously executed under the DSM program, and restrict the term of those contracts to the term in effect at the time the rules are adopted. More information is available here.

PSC Releases Notice Soliciting Comments on System Benefits Charge III

In November of 2006, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) submitted a petition on the System Benefits Charge (SBC) in which they propose a reallocation of certain SBC II funds, as well as applying any unexpended SBC II program funds that existed as of the expiration date of the SBC II programs to program funding categories in the SBC III program. The Notice requests comments relating to NYSERDA’s petition. Read the Notice Soliciting Comments here.  

NYSERDA to Give Nearly $7 Million for Distributed Generation Projects

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced on February 12, that it will give $6,422,450 in funding to support seven distributed generation projects throughout the state. The projects, which are sited at three universities, an office building, a large city hotel, a municipal wastewater treatment plant, and an urban condominium, will co-generate 38,475 kW of electricity and heat. Read the Press Release for more information.