NEEP’s Policy Tracker

NEEP’s  Policy Tracker keeps followers up to date on the latest developments in  energy efficiency legislation across the region.  Check in every few weeks to stay on top of your game.

Policy Tracker—March 13, 2012

March means that we are reaching a critical time in the year for energy efficiency policy, particularly in state legislatures. This week’s Tracker lists some of the policy areas that NEEP has been engaged with so far this year.

Josh Craft
Policy Associate

Recent Policy Work

• Oil Heat Bill: NEEP’s Policy Outreach team has been working with a coalition of advocates in support of H. 3897, an act regarding energy efficiency and green jobs, sponsored by Representative John Keenan (D-Salem). The bill, which would create an oil heat energy efficiency program, currently awaits further action before the House Ways and Means Committee. For more information on the bill, see a coalition fact sheet here. Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont are considering similar legislation as well.

• Building Energy Rating: Building energy disclosure and rating programs are an initiative that NEEP has championed for some time (see our “Valuing Building Energy Efficiency through Disclosure and Upgrade Policies” report for more). Disclosure can drive awareness of energy waste and boost investment in energy retrofits. NEEP testified last week before Connecticut’s Energy and Technology Committee in favor of their new building energy disclosure bill, HB 5385, and you can see our comments here. Connecticut and Vermont are aiming to be the first Northeast states to adopt energy disclosure programs statewide. Also, be sure to check out the webinar NEEP is hosting this Friday, March 16 on Massachusetts innovative Building Asset Rating project (register here).

• Building Energy Code Outreach: NEEP’s Energy Codes team works to assist with enforcing and strengthening building energy codes, a cost-effective energy savings and consumer protection measure. It provided testimony against measures recently that would have undermined energy codes in New Hampshire and in Maine. The bills in New Hampshire were voted down; we await further news on the future of the bills in Maine.

• Connecticut Integrated Resources Plan (IRP): Connecticut has been active on energy policy under the leadership of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Commissioner Dan Esty. DEEP’s draft Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) advocates for a significant expansion of the state’s energy efficiency programs, including doubling program funding. NEEP’s comments on the plan can be seen here.

Other Notable Policy Developments

Below are a few other state policy developments that NEEP is keeping a close eye on:

• Maine Bill LD 1864: This bill, filed by Governor LePage, would restructure the Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT), which runs energy efficiency programs, to give the governor more control of its board and budget.

• Pennsylvania Act 129 Extension: The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will discuss the future of its Act 129 utility energy efficiency programs throughout this month. Extension of the programs through 2015 looks likely. See the stakeholder meeting announcement here.

• New Jersey RGGI bill: Members of the New Jersey legislature are working to require its state to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which Governor Chris Christie withdrew from last year. The bills, A. 1998/S. 1322, are likely to pass only if the Legislature overrides a veto by the Governor.  Check out Environment New Jersey’s RGGI page for more information.

Worth Reading!

• NEEP partners ACEEE and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) just released “Efficiency Boom: Cashing In on the Savings from Appliance Standards.” The report find that cumulative savings of over $1.1 trillion could be achieved through existing and future appliance and product energy efficiency standards. “Efficiency Boom” can be seen here.

• Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors and the Rockefeller Foundation found in a recent report, “United States Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Market Sizing, and Financing Models,” that retrofitting existing buildings could achieve over $1 trillion in savings over 10 years. Read the report here.

• Policy ally Environment America also focused on energy savings in the building sector in its “Building a Better America” report, finding that carbon pollution could be reduced by 30 percent by 2030 while cutting $450 each year from consumer’s energy bills.