ASHRAE Journal - January 2009 - (Page 50) Obama’s Energy, Science Plan By Ryan M. Colker ven before Inauguration Day, President Elect Barack Obama began laying the path for the next four years. Obviously, the economy is at the top of the agenda, but he also has established goals for energy, climate change, and science and innovation policy. This column examines the Obama agenda and its likely implications for the building community. Obama hopes Congress will pass an economic stimulus package within his first few days in office. If infrastructure spending is part of the package, look for possible inclusion of buildingsrelated infrastructure improvements. This could include funds for building retrofits or to tackle some of the maintenance backlogs affecting federal, state, and local governments. Funding for green job training including energy efficiency and renewable energy-related jobs also could be included. Energy and Climate Change Policy E Obama has identified dependence on foreign oil, climate change, and a clean energy future as some of the greatest challenges of our time. His energy plan uses a multifaceted approach to tackle this challenge. Given the proportion of total energy used by the buildings sector, buildings have a prominent role in Obama’s energy plan. He would invest $150 billion over 10 years to focus on basic research, technology demonstration, and commercial deployment and market creation. Particular areas of interest include promotion of the development of commercial-scale renewable energy, encouraging energy efficiency, and transitioning to a new digital electric grid. This investment is said to help create 5 million new jobs. Additionally, an energyfocused youth jobs program would invest in disadvantaged youth to provide energy efficiency and environmental service opportunities. A Grid Modernization Commission would be established to facilitate adoption of smart grid practices. Utilities would be required to meet a federal renewable portfolio standard of 10% by 2012. The federal production tax credit would be extended for five years to further encourage the production of renewable energy. Energy efficiency plays a prominent role in Obama’s attempt to reduce energy use and lower costs. He will set an energy efficiency goal to reduce electricity demand 15% from the Department of Energy’s projected levels by 2020. A portion of this goal would be met by setting annual demand reduction targets on utilities, the rest would come from more stringent building and appliance standards. 50 ASHRAE Journal These building standards include a goal of making all new buildings carbon neutral by 2030 and improving new building energy efficiency by 50% and existing building energy efficiency by 25% over the next decade. The process for implementation of appliance efficiency standards would be overhauled to establish regular updates to the standards. Federal government energy use also will be targeted with a goal of achieving a 40% increase in efficiency in all new federal buildings within five years and by 2025, all new federal buildings would be zero-emission buildings. Investments in retrofits would achieve a 25% increase in efficiency for existing federal buildings within five years. Federal energy consumption would be reduced by 15% by 2015. Funding for these programs would come from a cap and trade program on greenhouse gases aimed at reducing emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. All pollution credits would be auctioned. Obama also will re-engage with the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to ensure developing nations are included in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Science and Innovation Policy To foster economic growth, improve the quality of life, and strengthen national security, Obama promotes investment in science and technology. His goals include doubling the federal investment in basic research over 10 years with an emphasis on supporting young researchers and backing high-risk, high return research. Agencies targeted for increases include the National Science Foundation, DOE Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Science education and training will be a national commitment by recruiting the best and brightest to become K–12 math and science teachers and by tripling the numbers of National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowships. A Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Committee will be established in the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a coherent federal STEM education effort. Innovation will be encouraged through making the business research and development tax credit permanent, streamlining the patent system, and eliminating capital gains tax on start-ups and small businesses. Ryan M. Colker is ASHRAE’s Manager of Government Affairs in W ashington, D.C. Up-to-date information on ASHRAE’ s Government Affairs activities is available at www.ashrae.org/ advocacy. ashrae.org January 2009 http://www.ashrae.org/advocacy http://www.ashrae.org/advocacy http://www.ashrae.org
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