Public Power - October 2008 - (Page 44)

GREEN ENERGY Finding a Future in Energy Efficiency By William Atkinson Endorsed by the American Public Power Association as well as several of its members, The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is jump-starting efforts across the United States for utilities to encourage efficiency, and to make it a priority. The action plan, facilitated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, to encourage utilities to give energy efficiency an emphasis equal to that of energy supply, is a private-public initiative, established in 2005 to create a sustainable, aggressive, national commitment to energy efficiency through the collabora- and develop business practices to remove those barriers. Members of the leadership group and observers work with various stakeholders to help increase investment in cost-efficient energy efficiency. Since 2005, the leadership group and team of observers have developed five key recommendations: • Recognize energy efficiency as a high-priority energy resource. • Make a strong, long-term commitment to implement costeffective energy efficiency as a resource. • Broadly communicate the benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency. • Provide sufficient, timely, and stable program funding to deliver energy efficiency, where cost-effective. fostering innovation, and sponsors Tree Power, a tree-planting program created in 1991. In June 2007, APPA adopted a resolution on climate change that urges Congress to create comprehensive legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, incorporating 11 principles, including promoting energy efficiency measures. Most recently, APPA created a Web site dedicated to energy efficiency – www.EERCnet.org. APPA and the NAPEE are hosting a series of Webinars to assist smaller utilities with increasing investments in energy efficiency through developing and implementing effective energy efficiency programs, innovative rate designs and credible evaluation, measurement and verification of program benefits. Action plan supporters make a strong, long-term commitment to implement cost-effective energy efficiency as a resource. tive efforts of gas and electric utilities, regulators, and other partner organizations. This program is co-chaired by Marsha Smith, commissioner of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission and president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and James E. Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy. Utilities that make the commitment agree to take advantage of opportunities in homes, buildings, and schools to reduce energy use, save billions on customer energy bills, and reduce the need for new power supplies. NAPEE members identify barriers limiting greater national investment in energy efficiency 44 OCTOBER 2008 • Modify policies to align utility incentives with the delivery of cost-effective energy efficiency and modify ratemaking practices to promote energy efficiency investments. APPA endorsed the Action Plan’s “Vision for 2025: Developing a Framework for Change,” Nov. 12, 2007. The goal of that vision is to achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025. To complement this endorsement, APPA published a booklet Easy Steps to Energy Efficiency: What Works for Public Power. In addition, it continues to promote the Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments (DEED) program, which is approaching its third decade of Several APPA members have also pledged their support to the action plan, including Austin Energy in Texas, Sacramento Municipal Utility District in California, Santee Cooper in South Carolina, Seattle City Light, Waverly Light and Power in Iowa, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. “Several years ago, the electric and gas utilities, regulators, and others interested in energy efficiency decided to come together to discuss energy efficiency,” said Larry Mansueti, director of state and regional assistance for DOE’s Office of Electricity Deliverability and Energy Reliability. “There were a lot of debates and disagreements at first. However, they PUBLIC POWER http://www.EERCnet.org http://www.EERCnet.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - October 2008

Public Power - October 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions The Future of Fuels in a Carbon-Constrained World An Energy Revolution Energy Policy in 2009 and Beyond A Green Reincarnation Beyond the Green Bandwagon Reliability Green Energy Community Broadband Customer Service Hometown Connections Human Resources Parting Shot

Public Power - October 2008

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