Energy Efficiency
The EPA has announced the largest penalty under the Clean Air Act, requiring automakers Hyundai and Kia to pay $100M for violating tailpipe GHG emission standards. On November 3, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations of Hyundai and Kia for…...
The White House has released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate plans outlining methods to incorporate energy and climate considerations into their decision-making. On October 31, 2014 – the fifth anniversary of the 2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance – the White House released federal agencies’ sustainability and climate change adaptation plans, detailing…...
On October 16, 2014 the FERC ruled New England Transmission Owners’ base ROE unjust and unreasonable, and lowered the base rate to 10.57 percent. The rate reductions and refunds are not currently considerable financial burdens to NETO companies, however the lower ROE may impact future transmission infrastructure investments. With tightening capacity reserve margins and a shifting…...
The Army has partnered with NREL to install net-zero energy installations at nine pilot sites, potentially replacing eight percent of its current installation site energy supply with renewable energy. On October 27, 2014, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced a partnership with the U.S. Army to advance Net Zero Energy…...
NY Green Bank’s initial transactions will produce more than $800M in investments supporting clean energy projects that would annually avoid 575,000 tons of carbon emissions. On October 22, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the NY Green Bank’s first seven transactions, which – supported and agreed to in principle – will produce more…...
Massachusetts has topped the ACEEE’s annual energy efficiency scorecard for the fourth year in a row. On October 21, 2014, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released the eighth edition of its State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks states on their energy efficiency policy and program efforts and recommends measures to improve…...
New York’s first energy management network operations center will provide statewide public facilities with real-time energy use data to improve building performance. On October 21, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of NY Energy Manager (NYEM), the state’s first energy management network operations center, at the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and…...
Massachusetts offered its first green bond sale in June 2013, and several additional states have offered green bonds over the last two years. Green bonds offer issuers access to capital to finance projects for water quality and infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable energy, pollution cleanup, and other capital-intensive projects.. With the Green Bond Principles gaining marketplace…...
The DOE has issued a final rule establishing standards for green building rating systems that provide certification for federal buildings. On October 10, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule establishing standards for green building certification systems to strengthen federal buildings’ energy management through enhanced energy use measurement and energy efficient design…....
The EIA’s annual fuel economy report shows that MY 2013 vehicles achieved an all-time high fuel economy and record low emissions levels. On October 8, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its annual “Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2014” report which tracks average fuel economy, emissions,…...
ISO-NE’s eighth Forward Capacity Market Auction (FCA-8) rates became effective September 16, 2014, despite FERC being unable to reach agreement on whether the filing was “just and reasonable.” The final price for existing sources was set at the administrative price of $7.025/kW-month, a 123 percent increase from the FCA-7 clearing price. The Northeast Massachusetts (NEMA)/Boston…...
The DOE has recognized 11 manufacturers for energy efficiency achievements under the Better Plants Program comprised of voluntary participants that have pledged to reduce energy intensity 25 percent over 10 years. On October 2, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) recognized 11 manufacturers for meeting energy efficiency goals under the Better Buildings, Better Plants Program,…...