Energy Efficiency
DOE has released new energy efficiency standards to reduce energy consumption of furnace fans by 46 percent. On June 25, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced new energy efficiency standards for furnace fans used for air circulation in residential heating and cooling equipment. The new standards would reduce a furnace fan’s energy consumption by…...
DOE has committed more than $10M to improve the electricity grid by deploying advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology. On June 11, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $10M for six grid improvement projects across five states. The projects will increase deployment of advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology to…...
NYSERDA has announced higher incentives to promote net zero energy standards in the residential construction market. On June 6, 2014, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the availability of significantly higher incentives under its Low-rise Residential New Construction Program including first incentives for homes designed for net zero energy performance…....
The EPA stressed State flexibility in its Clean Power Plan to reduce emissions 30 percent by 2030. Overview On June 2, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its Clean Power Plan to set carbon pollution guidelines for existing power plants and emission standards for modified and reconstructed power plants. The proposal is key…...
The 24th RGGI carbon auction sold allowances at $5.02 each, generating approximately $90.67M. On June 6, 2014, the nine member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) released the results of their 24th carbon auction held on June 4. Auction 24 offered 18,062,384 allowances at a reserve price of $2.00 each. All allowances sold at…...
On March 12, 2014, Eos Energy Storage announced plans to test its Aurora energy system at a Con Edison facility in mid-2014. The pilot aims to demonstrate the value of distributed energy storage in reducing costs associated with energy infrastructure upgrades to serve peak electricity demand. The project is supported by $1M in funding from the…...
The New York State Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative aims to answer the question of how to proceed with New York’s energy future in the face of aging electric generating plants and the need for a more resilient energy infrastructure. Overview The initiative – announced by Governor Cuomo in April 2014 – tasks the…...
Energy efficiency upgrades through DOE’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Program have saved more than $730M on energy bills. On May 21, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that is Better Buildings Neighborhood Program has worked with 41 state and local governments and their partners to upgrade energy efficiency in more than 100,000 buildings, saving more than…...
Multiple energy industries rely on federal tax incentives to spur private investment in commercializing renewable technologies. However, the periodic expirations of these tax credits have led to business uncertainty and an inability to make long-term planning decisions. The most recent Senate extender bill – the Expiring Provisions Improvement Reform and Efficiency (EXPIRE) Act of 2014…...
In 2013, New York Power Authority (NYPA) produced approximately 27.8B kilowatt-hours, approximately 20 percent of the state’s power. Approximately 70 percent of this power came from clean, renewable hydropower. NYPA, the nation’s largest state-owned power organization, is at the forefront of innovative energy, environmental, and economic development initiatives. As a leading provider of low-cost electricity,…...
The 2014 Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act failed in the Senate, disrupted by debate over the Keystone XL pipeline approval and proposed power plant regulations. On May 12, 2014, the 2014 Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 2262) failed in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans could not reach an agreement on amendments…...
DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge has added new partners and financial allies, expanding its energy efficiency efforts to more than one billion square feet of building space. On May 9, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that its Better Buildings Challenge partners are on track to meet their energy performance goals, having achieved an annual…...