![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency e-Newsletter
About
This is an e-Newsletter of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency—a public-private initiative to advance state policies and achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025.
Make a Commitment
Public Statements and Commitments in Support of the Action Plan
How To Make a Commitment (PDF) (1 p., 52K, About PDF)
New Action Plan Resources
Additional Action Plan Resources
- Vision for 2025
- Understanding Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Programs (PDF)
(96 pp., 1.1M) - Utility Best Practices Guidance for Providing Business Customers with Energy Use and Cost Data (PDF) (56 pp., 341K)
- National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Report
- Sector Collaborative on Energy Efficiency
- Aligning Utility Incentives with Energy Efficiency Investment (PDF)
(116 pp., 1.5M) - Guide to Resource Planning with Energy Efficiency (PDF)
(112 pp., 1.7M) - Guide for Conducting Energy Efficiency Potential Studies (PDF) (96 pp., 973K)
- Model Energy Efficiency Program Impact Evaluation Guide (PDF) (152 pp., 1.5M)
- Clean Energy Resources Database
- Energy Efficiency Benefits Calculator
Outreach Tools
- Communications Kit (PDF)
(14 pp., 427K) - Action Plan Fact Sheet (PDF)
(2 pp., 54K) - Vision for 2025 Executive Summary (PDF)
(24 pp., 273K) - Consumer Fact Sheet (PDF)
(4 pp., 216K) - ENERGY STAR Fact Sheet (PDF)(4 pp., 228K)
- Building Codes Fact Sheet (PDF)(6 pp., 211K)
- Sample Presentations
- Using the Action Plan Image (PDF) (2 pp., 79K)
August 2009, Issue #2
In this issue:
- New Technical Resources Available
- New National Study on Unlocking Energy Efficiency
- State Energy Efficiency Policy Highlights
- Making More Progress
- For More Information
New Technical Resources Available
Three new resources are now available for parties advancing the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency Vision of achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025:
- Rapid Deployment Energy Efficiency (RDEE) Toolkit. The RDEE Toolkit provides detailed program design and implementation guides for 10 broadly applicable energy efficiency programs. The Toolkit is designed to help states, local governments, and other government administrators choose successful programs as they advance energy efficiency program funding opportunities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The Toolkit focuses on programs that have extensive, proven field experience, along with documentation on program design, program cost, and results. If implemented as directed, these programs should produce clear, measurable, and predictable energy savings and jobs.
- Energy Efficiency Workforce Development Web Site. Several state and local workforce policy initiatives are underway to address energy efficiency workforce development issues. The Action Plan is sharing information on these activities through a new workforce development Web site. This Web site will be updated as energy efficiency workforce development policies and programs evolve at the local, state, regional, and federal levels.
- Clean Energy Lead by Example (LBE) Guide: Strategies, Resources, and Action Steps for State Programs. States spend about 10 percent of their operating budgets on energy bills, and these costs can be greatly reduced through the adoption of well-designed state energy management and greenhouse gas reduction programs. The Clean Energy LBE Guide highlights key strategies, resources, and tools states can use to lead the country in the adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency and clean energy programs in their buildings, facilities, and operations.
New National Study on Unlocking Energy Efficiency
According to a new report by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the U.S. economy could reduce its non-transportation energy consumption over 20 percent by 2020, saving more than $1.2 trillion—more than double the investment required. McKinsey finds that these savings would require the United States to adopt an integrated, comprehensive approach to energy efficiency. The new report, Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy, 
offers a detailed analysis of the magnitude of the efficiency potential of non-transportation uses of energy, a breakthrough assessment of the barriers that impede capturing efficiency's potential benefits, and an outline of the practical solutions required to achieve it.
McKinsey's research shows that to capture the vast, low-cost energy resource from energy efficiency, an integrated national plan is required. This plan would be guided by five principles:
- Recognize energy efficiency as an important energy resource that can help meet future energy needs while the nation concurrently develops new no- and low-carbon energy sources.
- Formulate and launch at both national and regional levels an integrated portfolio of proven, piloted, and emerging approaches to unlock the full potential of energy efficiency.
- Identify methods to provide the significant upfront funding required by any plan to capture energy efficiency.
- Forge greater alignment between utilities, regulators, government agencies, manufacturers, and energy consumers.
- Foster innovation in the development and deployment of next-generation energy efficiency technologies to ensure ongoing productivity gains.
McKinsey's research benefitted from the expertise and support of a wide group of sponsor organizations from the government, non-governmental, and private sectors, including several members of the Action Plan Leadership Group. This new report builds on McKinsey's 2007 report on reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which identified energy efficiency as the dominant low-cost greenhouse gas abatement option in the United States.
State Energy Efficiency Policy Highlights
State policy-makers, including utility commissions, state legislators, and governors' offices, are advancing energy efficiency in many of the key policy areas outlined in the National Action Plan. Recent actions include:
- With the passage of the Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 2009, all Delaware utilities are required to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015. The law also requires that energy efficiency be considered before obtaining new supply-side resources.
- Natural gas utilities now have energy efficiency requirements in Illinois. Senate Bill 1918 (PDF) (116 pp., 261K, About PDF) set a savings target of 7.1 percent reduction from 2009 consumption levels by May 31, 2019. Combined gas and electric utilities must integrate their gas and electric energy efficiency plans.
- Maine passed legislation to establish the Efficiency Maine Trust (PDF). (62 pp., 204K) The Trust is responsible for developing, planning, coordinating, and implementing energy efficiency and alternative energy resource programs.
- Michigan Public Service Commission has initiated meetings of the Energy Optimization Collaborative. The focus of the Collaborative is to scrutinize utility plans to meet the state's energy optimization standard of 5.5 percent by 2015.
- Minnesota's Omnibus Energy Policy Bill of 2009 allows utilities to carry forward a portion of energy savings to future years in their efforts to meet mandated energy savings, and clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission may establish criteria and standards for decoupling.
- Missouri passed the Energy Efficient Investment Act, which establishes a goal for investor-owned utilities to work to achieve all cost-effective savings through energy efficiency programming. The Act also grants the Public Service Commission the ability to approve financial incentives if savings targets are met.
- The Nevada legislature passed several energy efficiency measures, including Senate Bill 358 (PDF) (64 pp., 168K), which creates a new Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority. The Authority will have broad responsibilities, addressing many of the implementation steps in the Action Plan's Vision.
- New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) established targets for natural gas efficiency programs (PDF) (62 pp., 119K) to reduce gas usage by 14.7 percent by 2020. The NYSPSC also established a process for approving programs to create this comprehensive statewide initiative.
- The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative's (RGGI's) third and fourth regional carbon allowance auctions raised $123.4 million for investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Ten Northeast states participate in RGGI.
- Utah passed a Joint Resolution on Cost-effective Energy Efficiency and Utility Demand-Side Management, which sets energy savings goals of 1 percent per year for electricity and 0.5 percent per year for natural gas. The resolution also encourages the removal of financial disincentives to utility efficiency programs.
Making More Progress
Achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025 will require the cooperation, collaboration, and commitment of all of us—energy users, efficiency providers, utilities, and states. Educating key stakeholders on the benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency is a key component of the Action Plan. If you would like to highlight the Action Plan goals, tools, and resources at events and in presentations, contact Stacy Angel (angel.stacy@epa.gov) and/or leverage the outreach tools on the Action Plan Web site at www.epa.gov/eeactionplan. In addition, DOE and EPA offer direct technical assistance to states advancing energy efficiency policies and programs.
For More Information
Visit www.epa.gov/eeactionplan or contact:
Stacy Angel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Air and Radiation
Climate Protection Partnerships Division
Tel. (202) 343-9606
E-mail angel.stacy@epa.gov
Larry Mansueti
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
Tel. (202) 586-2588
E-mail lawrence.mansueti@hq.doe.gov