LGEAN - Energy

Energy

Latest News and Updates

Austin, Texas, Authorizes Renewable Energy Plan
Austin City Council approved Austin Energy’s generation and climate protection plan April 21 after more than an hour of public comment and council discussion. The council also said the plan would not go into effect until the accompanying affordability matrix could be completed. That is expected to happen by the end of the year.

Bland County, Virginia, Exploring Wind Power Choices
For the past several months, the Bland County board of supervisors have been researching the idea of wind energy, and although there is no document presently in the works related to a position of the board, the board’s chair has been impressed by the concept of harvesting wind energy in Bland County.

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 Agency’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
Tuesday, December 15, 2009-- Launched in November, 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)

New EPA Website Provides Tools to Cut Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Homes
Friday, December 11, 2009-- Home owners, buyers, and renters have a new resource for going green indoors and outdoors. EPA's new Green Homes website will help people make their homes greener with tips on reducing energy consumption, carbon footprints, waste generation, and water use, as well as improving indoor air quality. -- (full text) [EPA]

California Energy Commission's Municipal Toolkit
Wednesday, October 21, 2009-- The Tool Kit provides an array of strategies and options that local governments can implement to help encourage solar developments in their region. While some strategies require more resources than others, the Tool Kit provides a variety of options that can be tailored to meet the individual circumstances of each municipality. Some of these suggested strategies include: amending general plans, incentivizing energy efficiency measures and solar installations and educating local home builders about existing solar incentives. -- (full text) [California Energy Commission]

EPA Offers Tips to Save Energy and Fight Climate Change this Summer
With summer and the high costs of cooling right around the corner, EPA is offering advice to help Americans reduce both energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by one-third through Energy Star. The energy used in an average home costs more than $2,200 a year and contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical car. "A few simple changes will help create real reductions in high summer electric bills and provide a hefty cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the bargain," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

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.

The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP)
The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) provides free assistance to states and municipalities in their efforts to adopt and implement both commercial and residential energy codes. Also on the BCAP site is the frequently-updated "Status of State Energy Codes Newsletter" and a listing of energy codes links by state.

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.

EPA Releases Report on Sea Level Rise
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with other agencies, has released a report that discusses the impacts of sea level rise on the coast, coastal communities, and the habitats and species that depend on them. The report, Coastal Sensitivity to Sea-Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region, examines multiple opportunities for governments and coastal communities to plan for and adapt to rising sea levels.

Ten Schools in Community Energy Challenge Municipalities Receive ENERGY STAR Designation

EPA is recognizing ten schools in Community Energy Challenge Municipalities in New England that have earned the prestigious ENERGY STAR label for superior energy performance. Contact Information: Dave Deegan 617-918-1017

Clean Energy-Environment Municipal Network

By implementing clean energy strategies, local governments can reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, lower energy costs, and improve the reliability and security of their energy system. Clean energy can also spur local economic development, improve public health and quality of life, and help communities meet sustainability and green building goals—all while providing opportunities for leadership and recognition. The Clean Energy-Environment Municipal Network is an informational resource network that supports local governments' efforts to use clean energy strategies to advance a number of community priorities.

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.

Resources Powerlines

U.S. EPA

Clean Energy Resources Resources
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.
Landfill Methane Outreach Program
This voluntary assistance and partnership program promotes the use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source. As of December 2007, approximately 445 landfill gas (LFG) energy projects were operational in the United States. These 445 projects generate approximately 11 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and deliver 236 million cubic feet per day of LFG to direct-use applications. EPA estimates that approximately 535 additional landfills present attractive opportunities for project development.
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 Atmospheric Programs - These programs focus on climate change issues, protecting the ozone layer, and improving regional air quality by addressing problems such as acid rain.
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.
Energy Strategies Group - This program develops regulations and evaluates energy strategies to secure the nation's energy future.
Oil Program - EPA works to prevent, prepare for, and respond to oil spills that occur in and around inland waters of the United States.
Oil and Gas Sector Program - EPA's Sector Strategies Program achieves performance improvement and burden reduction in a collaborative setting.
Resource Conservation Challenge - EPA's Office of Solid Waste promotes waste reduction and energy conservation.
Smart Growth Program - EPA's outreach programs help communities grow in ways that conserve energy.
Sustainable Infrastructure for Water & Wastewater - EPA identifies approaches to integrate energy efficient practices for the water sector.

Other Federal Departments and Agencies

U.S. Department of Energy

States

State Environmental Agencies

Where You live Each EPA Regional Office is responsible for the execution of the Agency's programs within its states. This link provides a map and listing of Regional Offices to access to your region's energy related programs and websites.

Climate Change State Resource Locator. Use this tool to locate state climate change resources. You will find links to state climate change main pages, state action plans, climate policies and more.

EPA Summary: State and Local Governments. This section of the site provides details on actions by states and efforts by local agencies to address climate change, along with links to relevant EPA voluntary programs that can help states and localities meet their goals.

Other Organizations

Links