State & Local Spotlight
Nov. 20, 2018
A monthly update from EERE's Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office (WIP) for state, local, and K-12 officials that features energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and innovative practices across the United States by a wide range of government, community, and business stakeholders, in partnership with state and local organizations and community-based nonprofits.
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News
South Carolina SEP Award Supports $3 Million in Annual Savings
With the help from a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) State Energy Program (SEP) competitive award, the South Carolina Energy Office created the Palmetto Energy Efficiency Retrofits (PEER) program to take advantage of the considerable potential for energy cost savings in the state’s public buildings. As a result of PEER, six projects were completed with a combined energy cost savings of more than $3 million per year. The projects included performance contracting, energy retrofits, and solar installations for school districts, public universities, and state agencies across South Carolina. Learn more.
Download the Updated Resource Guide for State and Local Leaders
The 2018 update to DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources for State and Local Leaders compiles the most current and popular technical assistance resources to support the energy priorities of state and local governments. WIP helps state and local governments meet their energy goals by developing tools and solutions to address barriers; convening and creating peer exchanges to showcase public sector leadership and effective private-public partnerships; and providing information from leading technical experts. Featured topics include wastewater infrastructure, benchmarking, and low-income households. Download the resource guide.
Chicago Exceeds Commitment in the Better Buildings Challenge
When Chicago committed to DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge in 2012, it set a goal to reduce its energy use intensity by 20% in 10 years. In 2018, Chicago exceeded its goal by 2%, achieving a 22% energy intensity improvement across its 24 million square-foot commitment, including 2.5 million square feet of public building space—5 years ahead of schedule! As a result of this achievement, Chicago has saved approximately $48 million and 5.2 trillion BTUs. In addition to saving taxpayer dollars, this also increases market competition, creates jobs, and reduces pollution in the process. Read the blog post.
New EPA Finance Resource: Green Banking Strategies for Local Governments
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a new resource for local governments interested in green banking (working with financial institutions that leverage public funding to attract private capital for clean energy projects). The resource is a primer that provides a basic explanation of green banks, benefits they offer, issues local governments might consider when deciding whether to create a green bank, and several case studies. The primer is intended for state, local, and nonprofit sector staff with non-financial backgrounds interested in learning about innovative strategies to fund clean energy projects and programs. View Green Banking Strategies for Local Governments.
Atlanta Excels in the Better Buildings Challenge
Atlanta has committed more square feet to DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge than any other local government, and leads the largest Better Buildings Challenge program in the country. The Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (ABBC) encourages private building owners in Atlanta to work together in a community-wide effort to drive greater energy efficiency. Since its launch in 2011, the number of participating buildings has grown from 28, representing approximately 26 million square feet, to more than 650 buildings, representing 116 million square feet today. Through ABBC, Atlanta has achieved a 19% energy savings and a 15% water savings over their 2011 baseline. In addition, ABBC has added $16 million to the local economy and created 221 jobs. Read the blog post for more information.
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Events
Commercial PACE Working Group: Technical Webinar Series
Achieving Energy Savings in Commercial PACE Programs: Trends, Tools, and Case Studies
Nov. 28, 2018, 2–3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Join this DOE-hosted webinar to hear from experts on trends and practices for demonstrating energy savings in commercial property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs. The webinar will feature speakers from PACENation, the Investor Confidence Project, and the Connecticut Green Bank. Speakers will discuss national trends in investments and building energy savings attributable to C-PACE programs, as well as explain how tools, such as the Investor Confidence Project protocol and OpenEE, can be leveraged to ensure project energy savings are estimated, verified, and achieved. This webinar is part of DOE’s Commercial PACE Working Group Technical Webinar Series. Register now.
eProject Builder: Online Training Series
The eProject Builder (ePB) team hosts regular introductory demonstration and training webinars, as well as webinars on advanced features of the tool. These are open to Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) teams in all sectors, including state and local governments and their energy service companies. The upcoming webinar is:
- Advanced training on the measurement and verification module and reporting/analysis feature:
- December 4, 2018, 3–4:30 p.m. EST
Pre-registration is not required. Attendees simply log into www.readytalk.com shortly before the start of the webinar, click the "join meeting" button, and enter Access Code 4952370. The call-in line is 866-740-1260. For more information or to request a calendar invitation to a webinar, please email epb-support@lbl.gov.
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Infrastructure Investments in the News
New Jersey Utility, PSEG, Unveils 6-Year Clean Energy Plan
PSEG plans to invest $2.8 billion in energy efficiency, including customer rebates and other incentives, with a special focus on customer groups that have traditionally been underserved.
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About WIP
WIP is part of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and supports a national energy strategy to create greater energy affordability, security, and resiliency. WIP's mission is to enable strategic investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies through the use of innovative practices across the United States by a wide range of stakeholders, in partnership with state and local organizations and community-based nonprofits.
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