Q1 Update 2010
State Energy Efficiency Leadership
Cap and Trade as a Regional and National Climate Solution
Rhode Island Driving Progress with Electric Vehicles
Forests and Climate Policy
Letter from the Executive Director
With federal action on climate change and energy policy delayed, the leadership examples coming from the states are critically important. Northeast states are advancing reforms that lead the way to a cleaner, more secure, low-carbon future. The RGGI program has been operating for one full year, demonstrating that capping greenhouse gas emissions is a viable and beneficial policy for the U.S. States are investing in efficiency at nationally leading levels, bringing huge savings to customers and slashing energy demand and emissions. They are also moving ahead to embrace new technology, like electric cars, and new frameworks, like coordinating lead abatement and home weatherization in low-income communities.
ENE is proud of our role in helping to bring these solutions forward, and we are hard at work to build on these first steps and make sure that the progress continues.
The recent months have also been a time for celebrating pioneering efforts within our organization. I would like to acknowledge in particular ENE Senior Attorney Roger Koontz, who tirelessly led key efforts in Connecticut that have formed the foundation for energy reforms region-wide. He retired this year after several years of service to the public and the environment in Connecticut, and eight years with ENE.
ENE is also pleased to have been able to reach out to new friends, including the enthusiastic crowd that gathered at the Union Club in Boston in February for an evening of conversation on the latest climate issues and ENE's current priorities. And earlier this quarter, we joined with Preti Flaherty to convene a highly successful conference of business and policy leaders to outline the climate policy opportunities facing the region and the nation. Last but not least, I'd like to thank the young leaders of CDTTrek, who initiated an inspiring campaign to raise awareness of the environmental issues in their home states as they prepared for a challenge of their own --hiking the Continental Divide Trail.
Please read more about the latest news from ENE.
-- Dan Sosland
State Energy Efficiency Leadership
Connecticut Programs to Coordinate Health and Efficiency Improvements for Family Homes
ENE and the Lead Action for Medicaid Primary Prevention (LAMPP) project held a special event at the Capitol in Hartford on March 22nd to announce new coordination of energy efficiency, lead abatement and healthy homes programs. The goal is to maximize the reach and effectiveness of existing programs through a coordinated approach. With new measures in place, programs that serve low-income families in Connecticut will address multiple home improvements at once - removing lead and other health hazards, increasing energy efficiency, and addressing indoor air quality. See ENE and LAMPP Press Announcement.
The Connecticut Energy Advisory Board (CEAB) recently endorsed an electric utility proposal to procure all cost-effective energy efficiency and significantly expand the state's efficiency programs. ENE advocates these expanded efficiency investments as a key economic and environmental solution, and they are required under state energy law. In addition to providing direct savings for the customers who participate in the programs, efficiency investments create jobs and boost the overall economy. The proposal is awaiting review and approval by the Public Utilities Commission.
See more about ENE's efforts to advance efficiency and other solutions at our Connecticut Climate and Energy Web page.
Massachusetts Efficiency Savings Levels Will Be Top in the Nation
The Massachusetts DPU approved 3-year efficiency plans that will put the state on a path to achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency and more than $6 billion in consumer benefits. This level of efficiency investment will set a new national precedent and makes the state a leader on energy policy.
Energy Efficiency in Massachusetts: Our First Fuel (publication of Department of Energy Resources)
Massachusetts Sets Ambitious Energy Standards, New York Times, January 29, 2010
ENE and other members of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council are working with program administrators, the Council's expert consultants, community-based organizations, and Massachusetts policy makers to review and implement the plans, which are required under the 2008 Green Communities Act. To read the plans and more visit ENE's Massachusetts Climate and Energy Web page.
Rhode Island Releases Annual Report on Efficiency Activities
The Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council released its Annual Report to the General Assembly for April 2009-April 2010, the Council's third year of operation. The Annual Report contains a summary of the activities of the Council over the past year including its role in:
• Implementation of Least Cost Procurement
• Implementation of System Reliability Procurement
• Identifying opportunities for energy efficiency
• Advising the OER on the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
ENE is a member of the EERMC and active in these and other efforts in RI to reduce GHGs in the energy sector. Resources and more about Rhode Island Energy and Climate Issues at our Web site.
Proposed 3-Year Efficiency Plan Under Review in Maine
The Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) worked with expert consultants, industry leaders and other stakeholders -including ENE- to develop its first 3-year plan for expanding efficiency programs in Maine. The plan calls for investments in cost-effective resources for all fuels and customers, and it is now being reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission. Former ENE Senior Counsel Michael Stoddard recently joined Efficiency Maine Trust as its first executive director.
See the proposed Triennial Energy Efficiency Plan at the EMT Web site.
More about Maine Energy Reform.
Cap and Trade as a Regional and National Climate Solution
The nation and the region are facing critical decisions about how to move forward with climate change policy. ENE is leading efforts to educate state and federal policy makers about how to expand upon and improve policy models at work here in the northeast.
January marked one year of successful operation for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the northeast's groundbreaking mandatory GHG cap and trade program. ENE's RGGI Year 1 Evaluation outlines key features and lessons that can be applied as RGGI and other regional and federal cap and trade programs move forward. The evaluation finds that RGGI is economically efficient and well organized, and its overall success shows that cap and trade can work in the United States. To date, RGGI has raised almost $600 million for states to invest in energy efficiency and other programs that will benefit consumers, while scarcely affecting electricity prices in the region.
ENE also examined the potential impacts of federal preemption of state and regional greenhouse gas cap and trade programs like RGGI, analyzing funding impacts and offering policy solutions to mitigate those impacts. Read Federal Preemption of RGGI: State Impacts and Policy Solutions.
For more information and updates visit ENE's RGGI and Federal Cap and Trade pages.
Rhode Island Driving Progress with Electric Vehicles
In January, ENE joined a coalition of electric car advocates in celebrating Rhode Island's participation in Project Get Ready. Project Get Ready is a national, non-profit initiative designed to help communities prepare for the introduction of electric vehicles (EVs). Rhode Island is the first Project Get Ready state and the first participant in New England. The goal is to have 10,000 EVs on Rhode Island roads by 2015.
ENE is advocating efforts to explore vehicle electrification as a major environmental and economic opportunity for the northeast region. Switching to electricity could generate significant reductions in carbon emissions from cars and trucks and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels. According to ENE's analysis, the widespread adoption of EVs will avoid 500 gallons of gas per year for the average customer, saving about $1,500 in annual operating costs. For more information, see ENE's Vehicle Electrification page.
Forests and Climate Policy
Creating a domestic forest carbon offsets market in a cap and trade climate program will help reduce emissions, help landowners enter the low carbon economy, and provide a major cost-containment mechanism for cap and trade. However, it is essential that the offset program standards are rigorously crafted, or real emissions reductions will not reliably occur and the emissions cap will be undermined.
ENE is working with stakeholders, policy makers and other advocates to advance a strong domestic forest offset program as a central component of the U.S. energy and climate strategy. Most recently we joined with 6 other national organizations to submit a set of priority recommendations for U.S. Senators working on current legislation. Key points include ensuring that standards are stringent enough to ensure real reductions, and also setting up a supplemental program for smaller projects that would not qualify as offsets.
Joint Letter to the Senate on Priorities for Forest Offsets and Supplemental Programs
More about ENE's Federal Forest Policy and Forests and Land Use Program
Thanks and Congratulations
In February, ENE honored Senior Attorney Roger E. Koontz for his many years of service to the Connecticut public and environment, including eight years at ENE. A Public Interest Law Award has been established in his honor. We are very grateful for his dedicated efforts and wish him the best in his retirement.
ENE would also like to thank and congratulate David and Oriana of CDTTrek for their efforts to raise awareness and support for environmental issues through their 3,000-mile hike on the Continental Divide Trail. Visit the CDTTrek Web site to follow the trekkers' progress on the trail, read about current environmental news and issues, and pledge support.
"Mountain Trek Is for a Worthy Cause," Portland Press Herald, March 21, 2010
ENE is very grateful to CDT Trek and their network for their contributions to the organization and our cause.
