LGEAN - Energy

Energy Latest News and Updates

Upcoming Climate and Energy Webcasts for Local Governments
Upcoming webcasts are being offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). All webcasts are offered free of charge, but space may be limited.

Energy Management Best Practices and Technical Information Webinars
A range of topics will be covered in upcoming Webinars.

A Guide to Updating and Increasing Building Energy Efficiency
This guide is designed to help you take advantage of the benefits of energy efficiency.

Database on Health and Environmental Impacts of Electricity Generation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency updated its database that helps Americans understand the health and environmental impacts of electricity generation

Municipal Policy Toolkit for Energy Savings
Integrated Community Energy Solutions (ICES) released a resource for municipalities aimed at reducing energy consumption at the municipal level. It also offers ideas for how municipalities can get involved in energy policy discussions and development.

Upcoming Climate and Energy Webcasts for State and Local Governments
Upcoming webcasts are being offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). All webcasts are offered free of charge, but space may be limited.

Home Energy Retrofit Loan Pilot Program
Under the Retrofit Pilot Program, HUD, through FHA-approved lenders, will insure loans for homeowners who are seeking to make energy improvements to their homes.

Resources for Maximizing Energy Efficiency Stimulus Funding
In a recent ICMA-hosted web cast, over 300 local government officials learned from Arlington County, Virginia about how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyâ€™s cost-free, online ENERGY STAR tool, Portfolio Manager, can help maximize energy efficiency stimulus funding.

As described by Leslie Cook, EPA, Portfolio Manager is being used to measure energy performance in over 120,000 buildings across the U.S. The tool, available at www.energystar.gov/benchmark, can help assess the whole energy use of existing buildings, allow energy performance comparison to a national average, track changes in energy and water use over time in single buildings, groups of buildings, or entire portfolios, and track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions and cost savings.

Resources for Advancing Energy-Efficient Building Codes
The Online Code Environment & Advocacy Network (OCEAN) is the building codes community's forum for gathering information, sharing news and forming new partnerships to advance energy-efficient building codes. -- (full text)

Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program
EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) Program is a voluntary partnership program that began in October 2006 to help protect the ozone layer and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. As part of the RAD program, partners recover ozone-depleting chemicals from old refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.

State and Local Climate and Energy Economic Recovery
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA 2009) offers unprecedented opportunities for state and local governments to reduce energy, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and create jobs through the implementation of clean energy (energy efficiency, renewable energy, and combined heat and power) programs.

Study on the Potential of Energy Efficiency finds billions of dollars can be saved
A report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy details the billions of dollars that American consumers and businesses could save throgh energy efficiency. Initiatives for reducing electricity and gas usage could result in utility bill savings of $168.6 billion, that number is 16% higher than ACEEE's previous savings estimate of $144 billion and is based on updated data. The organization released its new economic analysis as business leaders, industry groups, and environmental advocates launched the Campaign for an Energy-Efficient America, a coalition calling on Congress to enact a federal energy efficiency target.

ACEEE's report, Laying the Foundation for Implementing a Federal Energy Efficiency Resource Standard, analyzes 2008 economic and energy data and estimates benefits of a federal energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) requiring utilities to reduce electricity demand by 15% and natural gas demand by 10% by 2020.

The report noted the significant benefits of energy savings achieved by the proposed federal EERS, including:

222,000 net permanent, high quality jobs in construction, manufacturing, and other fields
262 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions prevented
390 power plants that won't need to be built.

19 states have adopted individual EERS programs, but Americans cannot realize the full potential for energy efficiency without a federal program to enhance states' efforts, the ACEEE said.

The report analyzes the benefits of a federal EERS for each state by 2020. For example:

Florida will create more than 19,500 new jobs and save $14 billion in energy costs.
Illinois will create more than 6,500 new jobs and save $3.6 billion in energy costs.
Indiana will create more than 5,000 new jobs and save $3.6 billion in energy costs.
North Carolina will create nearly 6,500 new jobs and save $3 billion in energy costs.
Tennessee will create more than 5,000 new jobs and save $3.5 billion on energy costs.

Building Energy Codes Program
U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program is an information resource on national model energy codes. They work with other government agencies, state and local jurisdictions, national code organizations, and industry to promote stronger building energy codes and help states adopt, implement, and enforce those codes.

DOE Solar America Showcase Technical Assistance Available
DOE has announced availability of up to $2 million in technical assistance through Solar America Showcases. The Showcases are designed to help facilitate large-scale installations that involve cutting-edge solar technologies, novel applications of solar, high visibility sites, and/or high likelihood of replicability. Assistance is provided through teams of DOE-funded solar experts from national laboratories and includes regulatory and permitting assistance, analysis of financing options, cost/benefit analysis, structural and architectural analysis, design assistance, and bid specification preparation.

Issue Summary

The generation and use of energy affects the environment. Local governments can foster responsible regulatory and voluntary programs to foster more responsible use of energy resources. Local governments are also some of most substantial consumers of energy in this country, and are distributors of electricity in more than 2000 communities nationwide. They inherently represent a cross section of energy generators, distributors, and end users since they perform all of these functions.

U.S. EPA

EPA's Local Climate and Energy Program Resources. EPA provides local governments with peer exchange training opportunities and competitive grant funding along with planning, policy, technical, and analytical information to advance their climate change mitigation and clean energy goals.
Guide to Community Solar Now Available. The Solar America Communities program has released, A Guide to Community Solar: Utility, Private, and Non-profit Project Development.
Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies
Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies describes mitigation measures that xcommunities can take to address the negative impacts of urban heat islands.
Clean Cities
Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program. With almost 90 local coalitions and more than 5,700 stakeholders, Clean Cities' mission is to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. Since its inception in 1993, Clean Cities has made steady progress in displacing petroleum used the transportation sector. The number of Clean Cities coalitions has grown to almost 90 and stakeholders have expanded to more than 5,700. After 15 years, Clean Cities coalitions and stakeholders have displaced more than 2 billion gallons of petroleum. In 2007 alone, roughly 375 million gallons of gasoline were displaced as the result of coalition activities.
Distinguish Your Organization: Become an ENERGY STAR Leader
Energy Star Leaders continue to make a dent across the country, in big cities and small towns. They are avoiding more than 580 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions—equal to those from the electricity use of nearly 35,000 U.S. homes—and saving almost $50 million annually.
Stewardship, Partnership, and Voluntary Programs - Numerous EPA programs, including ENERGY STAR, the Green Power Partnership, and the SmartWay Transport Partnership, address energy consumption and conservation.
Office of Transportation and Air Quality - EPA actively promotes travel options that reduce emissions and regulates air pollution from motor vehicles, engines, and fuel use.
Regional Programs - EPA's ten Regions provide energy programs for your local area.

Other Federal Departments and Agencies

U.S. Department of Energy

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