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Tennessee

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State Planning and Incentive Structures | Energy Efficiency Actions | Energy Supply Actions

State Planning and Incentive Structures

Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency in Public Facilities

Status: Completed

Details: On March 19, 2008, Governor Bredesen signed Executive Order 54, which aims to reduce energy consumption by state agencies to serve as an example to businesses and homeowners in the state. The Order sets up the Governor's Task Force on Energy Policy. The task force delivered short-term recommendations to the Governor in July 2008 on opportunities for state government to lead by example in energy efficiency and conservation, with an emphasis on building construction and management, and vehicle fleet purchasing and management.
SB 266 (signed April 17, 2007) requires the governor, utilizing the resources of the department of agriculture, the department of economic and community development and the department of environment and conservation, to develop a comprehensive state energy conservation plan. The plan must be presented to the general assembly for review prior to its implementation.

Lead By Example—Energy Efficient Appliance and Equipment Purchase Requirements for Public Facilities

Status: No Activity Identified

Lead By Example—Clean Energy Goals for Public Facilities

Status: No Activity Identified

Lead By Example—Energy Efficiency and Alternative Fuel Goals for Public Fleets

Status: Completed

Details: Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen on June 6, 2008, announced an ad hoc committee to develop immediate recommendations for what Tennessee should do to cut gas consumption in the state’s fleet of vehicles.
Public Chapter 532 (S123/H1146, signed June 27, 2007) requires that at least 30% of the motor vehicles purchased for the state fleet each fiscal year be energy-efficient. The requirement applies to vehicles designed for carrying six or fewer adult passengers.
Public Chapter 489 (H723/S109, signed June 21, 2007) requires state agencies, universities, and community colleges to develop and initiate implementation of plans to reduce or displace motor vehicle fleet use of petroleum products by 20% by January 1, 2008.
An "energy-efficient" motor vehicle is one that is considered an alternative fuel vehicle as defined by the Energy Policy Act of 1992; a flexible fuel vehicle utilizing ethanol, biodiesel, or any other commercially available alternative fuel approved by the U.S. Department of Energy; a hybrid-electric vehicle; or a vehicle powered by unleaded gasoline that has an estimated highway economy rating of at least 25 mpg.

State and Regional Energy Planning

Status: Completed

Details: Executive Order 54, signed by Governor Phil Bredesen on March 19, 2008, established the Governor’s Task Force on Energy Policy and charged it with developing a state energy plan focused on energy efficiency and conservation, use of renewable energy sources, and development of clean energy technology.
Signed on April 17, 2007, Tennessee Senate Bill 266 requires the governor, utilizing the resources of the department of agriculture, the department of economic and community development and the department of environment and conservation, to develop a comprehensive state energy conservation plan.
In 2001 the governor established the Governor's Interagency Energy Policy Work Group and Advisory Committee. He formed the group with representatives from public, private, and non-profit stakeholders. The group developed a set of policy recommendations for TN in each of the following areas: reliability, availability, quality, price and environmental effects; energy efficiency; transportation; new technologies and clean power alternatives; public education and information; and energy emergency planning. The recommendations also included an outline of broad recommendations and potential areas for action with specific numerical targets and timelines.

Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (NOX Budget Trading Program)

Status: No Activity Identified

Determining the Air Quality Benefits of Clean Energy—Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set Asides (CAIR Budget Trading Program)

Status: No Activity Identified

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Energy Efficiency Actions

Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards

Status: No Activity Identified

Public Benefit Funds for Energy Efficiency

Status: No Activity Identified

Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Commercial Programs

Status: No Activity Identified

Details: ASHRAE 90A-1980 and 90B-1975 statewide, voluntary. Tennessee also provides the option of complying with the 2000 IECC. On May 14, 2008, the state legislature amended Public Chapter No. 907. The new law strongly encourages builders to voluntarily adhere to the 2006 IECC standards.

Building Codes for Energy Efficiency—Residential Programs

Status: Does Not Meet ECPA

Details: 1992 MEC, Mandatory statewide. Jurisdictions can adopt a more stringent code; can use REScheck to show compliance.

State Appliance Efficiency Standards

Status: No Activity Identified

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Energy Supply Actions

Renewable Portfolio Standards

Status: No Activity Identified

Public Benefit Funds for Clean Energy Supply

Status: No Activity Identified

Output-Based Environmental Regulations

Status: No Activity Identified

Interconnection Standards—Clean Distributed Generation

Status: In Progress

Details: On January 5, 2007, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) issued orders in dockets #06-00182 and #06-00183 stating that Entergy and Kentucky Utilities had already implemented standards 11 (net metering), 14 (time based metering), and 15 (interconnection) as described by PURPA 2005, prior to August 8, 2005 and further consideration of those standards by TRA was not required (i.e., declining to make any changes in the existing standards). In August 2007, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) adopted a modified version of PURPA 2005: "TVA shall make available, upon request, interconnection service, for generators with output of 20 MW or less, to any electric consumer that it serves." As part of its decision, TVA is allowing the distribution utilities that operate in its territory the flexibility to create their own interconnection procedures that are similar to TVA's.

Interconnection Standards—Net Metering

Status: No Activity Identified

Details: On January 5, 2007, the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) issued orders in dockets #06-00182 and #06-00183 stating that Entergy and Kentucky Utilities had already implemented standards 11 (net metering), 14 (time based metering), and 15 (interconnection) as described by PURPA 2005, prior to August 8, 2005 and further consideration of those standards by TRA was not required (i.e., declining to make any changes in the existing standards).

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