Regional

Consistent with the statutory obligations under I-937, Washington State's three investor owned utilities filed 2012-2013 conservation targets with the Utilities and Transportation Commission along with a biennial conservation plan. The Commission has currently open dockets for these filings. I-937 requires the utilities to assess their 10 year conservation potential (that is cost effective and achievable analyzed using a methodology consistent with the Power Council) and file biennial targets that are a pro-rata share of that potential.

BPA announced its decision on how to handle its FY2011 overspend on energy efficiency (higher than anticipated energy efficiency project activity in BPA's federal fiscal year 2011 placed BPA's 5 year conservation budget into jeopardy, necessitating last minute negotiations with their retail utility customers and affected the activity of third party program implementers of BPA regional programs).

It has often been said that you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Data from the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) have important direct and indirect impacts on the building industry and U.S. economy. CBECS is a nationally representative survey of commercial building energy consumption and expenditures, and their energy-related characteristics in the United States.

The Environmental Business Alliance of Tacoma-Pierce County has been formed to help businesses become green in two ways: by improving their environmental performance and increasing their profitability. EBA is a partnership of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Citizens for a Healthy Bay, Go Local and the City of Tacoma. The alliance provides businesses with access to resources and information about environmentally sustainable practices.

September 13, 2011

A conversation with Margie Harris, Energy Trust of OregonPresenter: Margie HarrisDescription: The Energy Trust of Oregon is one of a small handful of third party implementers of energy efficiency program activity. Margi Harris has served as its Executive Director since the Trust’s inception. This is an opportunity to hear from Margie her view of what the Trust has accomplished, where its headed, and the role that trade allies have and will play in the Trust’s activities.

October 26, 2011

With a scant few weeks left in its 2011 fiscal year, BPA has determined that budgeted resources for conservation are insufficient to cover what is turning out to be a banner year for conservation. A combination of aggressive BPA retail customer utility conservation acquisition teamed with a robust market response from the regionally offered and third party administered sector specific conservation activities has… well flat out busted the BPA conservation budget.

 Washington State’s citizen inspired statute, I-937, is shaping up to be major energy focus for the 2012 legislative session. The first legislative committee information session kicked off last month, chaired by Rep. Dave Upthegrove whose chairs the environment committee which will have committee responsibility for any bills on the topic. Presentations by staff at the Governor’s Office, the WA PUD Association, Renewable Northwest Project, Northwest Energy Coalition, and the Association of Washington Business underscore the continuing diversity of points of view on I-937.

NEEC members participating in our Industry Webinar Series learned that the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) will be entering into rulemaking for the revised tax credit program in that state affecting energy efficiency investments by business and the multi-family sectors. The 2011 Oregon Legislature made significant changes to the (now former) Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) which, when signed by the Governor (anticipated soon), will both reduce the amount of tax credit available over the next two years and change the rules for eligibility and application.

The Department of Energy (DOE) today [June 20, 2011] recognized the publication of ISO 50001, a new global energy efficiency and energy management standard which will help organizations worldwide save money in their buildings and industrial facilities. The new international standard will pave the way for long term energy savings and serve as a critical tool for the implementation of the Department’s energy efficiency programs.

The Washington Legislature used up every bit of its overtime session this month waiting until the final hours to pass a budget (operating and capital). In an active last day of session, Senate and House leadership agreed to a budget package that includes deep cuts in education and health services to low income people. Notably, the House and Senate agreed to a phased reduction in the state’s debt capacity limits, but not by constitutional amendment as had been sought by the Senate.