SEEN & HEARD

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• NEEP was out in force at the annual Build Boston Conference in November. Public Policy Director Jim O’Reilly led a discussion on net zero energy buildings, Senior Building Program Manager Carolyn Sarno moderated a panel on high performance schools, and Building Energy Codes Program Manager Don Vigneau participated in a panel on the new Massachusetts Stretch Building Energy Code.

• Policy Outreach Manager Natalie Hildt made the case for New Hampshire  to advance policies aimed at capturing all cost effective energy efficiency as part of a panel discussion at the November 20 Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EESE) Board meeting. Other panelists included Senator Amanda Merrill, who authored the original legislation on least cost planning in the early 1990s, George Gantz, Senior V.P. of Distributed Energy Resources at Unitil, and Rick Weston from the Regulatory Assistance Project. NEEP has had significant involvement in efforts to promote stronger energy efficiency policies in the Granite State.  Hildt’s presentation can be found by clicking here.

 

• Jim O’Reilly was asked to speak at the New England Governor’s Council (NEGC) environment and energy meeting in November. O’Reilly gave an overview of the most important efficiency policy developments in the region, put the unprecedented ramp up in EE spending in context, and laid out ideas for some of the most impactful policies that states could adopt. Representatives from the states were particularly interested in legislation to tighten appliance efficiency standards. NEEP continues to work with states on this and other policy priorities. See article on standards below.