Energy efficiency

Taxpayers have until Nov. 30 to take advantage of the tax savings

Nov. 5, 2009 -- CHARLESTON, W.Va.— West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin today reminded West Virginians that the last day to take advantage of the State’s second ENERGY STAR® Sales Tax Holiday is Nov. 30, 2009.

Since Sept. 1, West Virginians will not have to pay sales and use tax on certain ENERGY STAR® qualified products valued at $5,000 or less. Tangible personal property for use in a trade or business is not subject to this sales tax holiday.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- SOUTH PORTLAND – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today joined Gil Sperling, head of the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, to talk about Maine’s successful weatherization efforts and ways to collaborate with other public and private partners to expand the State’s energy efficiency goals.    » read more »

Letter to Agencies Calls for Consumer Protection Measures

Washington, DC – Last week, Congressman Harry Teague lead a group of 30 House members in sending a letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson calling for more accurate reporting of ENERGY STAR ratings. Two recent reports released by both the Inspector General of the DOE and EPA have placed the integrity of the label in question, citing unqualified appliances that have received the energy-efficiency moniker. The letter urges the officials to provide consumers with accurate information on products claiming the ENERGY STAR designation.    » read more »

11/03/09 -- U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.) announced today the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded more than $10-million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for energy efficiency projects and conservation activities.

“This funding will support investments in state-wide and local-level energy solutions to help strengthen West Virginia’s economy and create jobs at the local level,” said Rahall.    » read more »

November 03 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud praised the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement that Verso Paper Corporation will receive a $9,356,177 Recovery Act grant for the deployment of waste energy recovery technologies. The project will implement a portfolio of 12 waste energy recovery sub-projects at Verso paper mills located in Jay, Maine; Bucksport, Maine; and Sartell, Minnesota. The sub-projects were chosen for their energy savings potential and potential for immediate implementation. The bundled project has an overall efficiency of 33%, and will save an estimated 1.28 trillion Btu annually.    » read more »

Lawmaker says “energy efficiency is the next frontier.”

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – At a Capitol Hill press conference today, Representatives Jane Harman (D-Venice) and Fred Upton (R-MI), both members of the Energy & Commerce Committee, cheered an agreement on outdoor lighting efficiency standards between environmental and industry groups. Also in attendance were Senators Jeff Bingaman, Mark Pryor, and Lisa Murkowski.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $38 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 4 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states – Alaska, Kansas, Utah and West Virginia - will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is awarding more than $155 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 41 industrial energy efficiency projects across the country. These awards include funding for industrial combined heat and power systems, district energy systems for industrial facilities, and grants to support technical and financial assistance to local industry. The industrial sector uses more than 30 percent of U.S. energy and is responsible for nearly 30 percent of U.S. carbon emissions.    » read more »

November 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is providing up to $5.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the X PRIZE Foundation’s work to inspire a new generation of energy efficient vehicles. As part of the Automotive X PRIZE competition, teams design innovative, commercially-viable, high-efficiency vehicles that will help break our dependence on oil and stem the effects of climate change.    » read more »

11/3/2009 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The installation of 121 fans in 29 buildings across base is expected to reduce energy use and cost of heating systems operation during colder months.

The project, which has a maximum cost of approximately $86,000, is estimated to have a payback time of slightly more than 8 months and save the base more than $1 million over 10 years, according to Christian Thurner, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental engineer.

The project received funds from the Air Force Productivity Enhancing Program as a Fast Payback Capital Investment, or FASCAP project, meaning the investment was less than $250,000 and had a payback time of less than two years.    » read more »

New Industry and Advocate Agreement to Boost Streetlight Efficiency; Save Electricity and Money

WASHINGTON (November 3, 2009) -- A breakthrough agreement between electrical manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, will create the first national standards for street lights, parking lot lights and other outdoor lighting. The standard will save electricity and money for consumers, taxpayers and local governments.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Today, lighting equipment manufacturers and energy efficiency organizations announced agreement on a legislative package that would create new minimum efficiency standards for many types of outdoor lighting products. If enacted by Congress as new legislation, the agreed-upon new standards would reduce U.S. lighting energy use by about 24 to 42 billion kWh annually, equivalent to the annual output of 3 to 6 new 1000 MW power plants (the typical size of a new nuclear unit).    » read more »

New ACEEE Report Sets Record Straight about Impacts of Climate Policy

Washington, D.C. (October 27): A report released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) sets the record straight about the long-term economic impacts of cap-and-trade legislation and demonstrates how climate legislation that encourages energy-saving investments will create millions of jobs and save U.S. consumers billions on monthly energy bills.    » read more »

CA, MA And CT Rated Best On Implementing Energy Efficiency

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 21, 2009): The current economic downturn is not sidetracking state-level efforts to make the most of energy efficiency as the cheapest, cleanest and quickest of all energy resources, according to a 50-state scorecard on energy efficiency policies, programs, and practices from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

The 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks states in six categories, concludes that the 10 states doing the most to implement energy efficiency are: California (1); Massachusetts (2); Connecticut (3); Oregon (4); New York (5); Vermont (6); Washington state (7); Minnesota (8); Rhode Island (9); and Maine (10).    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that Idaho will receive financial support for several significant industrial energy efficiency projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the Idaho Office of Energy Resources (OER) a $350,000 Industrial Technologies grant to help make energy efficiency improvements at several industrial facilities. The recipients include projects at several Simplot plants and the Amalgamated Sugar Company in Nampa. Both companies contributed matching funds to leverage the DOE grants.    » read more »