Public Power - October 2008 - (Page 46)

GREEN ENERGY Recently, SMUD published its “Template for the Leadership Group of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.” The document commits to initiatives that will further the National Action Plan recommendations; including: • Implement a fully integrated resource planning and efficient use of electricity. • Assist the state in reducing building energy use through active participation and assistance to the green buildings team. • Participate in the California Energy Commission’s efforts to benchmark buildings and develop building commissioning guidelines and protocols. mit to achieving a 10 percent or more reduction in their energy use by things like installing compact fluorescent bulbs, other energy retrofits, or by conserving energy during peak times by turning up air conditioners a few degrees. “We are also working with local governments to improve courages public power utilities to take the initiative seriously and to be committed to it. “This is not trivial, because, in a lot of ways, energy efficiency is more difficult than building a transmission line or more generation,” he said. “With energy efficiency, you’re trying to predict, direct, and manage human behavior.” If you don’t succeed with this, you will need to build more transmission and generation, and that will become even more difficult in the future due to permitting, environmental, and public pressures, said Mansueti. One key is to realize that energy efficiency is a long-term commitment, he continued. “If you build a transmission line or generating station, you finance it, and you pay it off over a long period of time. You need to have the same long-term view of energy efficiency. There is no sense throwing a bunch of money at energy efficiency programs one year, then pulling the plug the next. You have to stay with it year after year.” More information on the Webinars hosted by APPA and the action plan can be found at www.EERCnet.org. T If you don’t succeed with this, you will need to build more transmission and generation, and that will become even more difficult in the future due to permitting, environmental and public pressures. budgeting process that includes cost-effective energy efficiency and demand reduction resources as the resources of first choice. • Expand SMUD’s energy efficiency offerings including whole building solutions and introduction of emerging technologies. • Redesign and actively deploy load management programs. • Engage the community (regional and local governments, developers, community organizations, trade organizations, contractors and customers) in working with SMUD to promote environmental stewardship and energy and resource efficiency in general plans, building decisions, and community activities. • Deploy high-efficiency equipment and practices in all of SMUD’s business operations, including energy delivery, facilities management, and supply chain management. • Explore the potential costs and benefits and offer appropriate cost effective time-dependent pricing for all customers to optimize the most 46 OCTOBER 2008 • Support the ongoing development by the California Energy Commission of building and appliance energy-efficiency standards. “There is no single thing that will help us reach our goal,” said Parks. “It requires a combination of efforts.” SMUD is doing a number of things in the area of emerging technology. “We do demonstration projects, and if they work out, we incorporate them into our energy efficiency program,” he said. SMUD is working on electrified vehicle transportation, such as plug-in hybrids, that allow people to drive vehicles 20 to 40 miles, so that 80 to 90 percent of a person’s commute options are gasoline-free. “In conjunction, we are looking at using the electricity from those batteries during peak periods to pump electricity back into the grid or into homes,” said Parks. SMUD is also doing a lot of work with the community, including neighborhood groups and chambers of commerce. Through the SMUD Energy Stars program, consumers com- efficiency,” said Parks. “We worked with the seven local jurisdictions in our service territory to streamline the permit process for retrofit photovoltaic projects, and to make it uniform throughout the jurisdictions.” Parks believes all utilities should start new, or expand existing energy efficiency programs. “If you don’t have a program, you need to start one,” he said. Set aside some budget allocations. Talk to others that have done it. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “There is a lot of low-hanging fruit right in front of you, just waiting to be picked.” A lot of resources are already available on the action plan’s Web site, said Angel. “There is something for everyone, regardless of the level of experience.” For example, the first-year report discusses the barriers to efficiency and an overview of broad policy options. In addition, it provides information on the leadership group’s five policy recommendations. DOE’s Mansueti also en- PUBLIC POWER 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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