U.S. Department of Energy's Regional Office: The Boston Regional Office

FACT SHEET

The Boston Regional Office (BRO) is the U.S. Department of Energy's Regional Office for the six New England states and New York State. Working under the direction of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE/RE), BRO implements a wide-variety of programs to promote the adoption of cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies throughout the region. The BRO is a team-oriented organization, focused around four main sectors of our economy: Utilities, Industry, Transportation and Buildings. Financial and technical assistance is provided through formula grant programs to the states and miscellaneous national grant activities. The BRO is committed to providing the best service to our customers through our educational, financial and technical assistance, and public information initiatives.

Priority Program/Project Activities & Contacts

The following programs are being given priority in 1999:

Clean Cities

Clean Cities is a program designed to help local businesses and communities voluntarily comply with environmental regulations and create jobs by expanding the use of alternative fuel vehicles (AFV's) in urban communities. We continue to consume more than 60% of the oil used in this country for transportation. Clean Cities helps to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil as well as reduce air pollution caused by gasoline-powered vehicles. The objective of Clean Cities has been to create local market places where people can learn what's required to create an alternative fuels community; what's available; how to purchase a vehicle and where to fuel it---all the transactions that need to take place for a market to develop. Since the program began in September of 1993, more than 60 U.S. cities have received DOE's Clean Cities designation, including Greater Boston, five Connecticut cities (Norwalk, Waterbury, Norwich, New Haven and New London), five New York cities (White Plains, Western NY, Central NY, Long Island and Genesee Region), and Portland Maine. By the end of 1999, more than 400,000 AFV's are anticipated to be on the road with up to 6,240 refueling and maintenance facilities nationwide.

Contact: Michael Scarpino, 617/565-9716

Industries of the Future

The Office of Industrial Technologies role is to encourage and accelerate industry's adoption of energy-efficient, pollution-reducing technologies. Industries of the Future is the core initiative for completing this role. It is based upon facilitation of partnerships within the seven most energy- and waste-intensive industries to define each industry's vision of its technological future and then creating roadmaps to reach the vision. The seven industries are: Agriculture, Aluminum, Chemicals, Forest Products, Glass, Metal Casting, and Steel. DOE then supports R&D, technology transfer, innovative financing, technical assistance, information dissemination, and education related to each vision. BRO works with DOE Headquarters, state governments, utilities, and industry to promote the program in the Northeast.

Contact: Lili Griffin, 617/565-9734

Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)

The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) reduces the cost of government through energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and water conservation. Federal energy managers are assisted in identifying and procuring the best energy-saving projects through pro-active problem solving and forming effective partnerships among agencies, utilities, the private sector and states. FEMP works in four major areas:

project financing - energy savings performance contracting (ESPC), and utility incentives;
technical guidance and assistance;
coordination and reporting; and
new initiatives - solar and other renewables, water conservation, mobility and procurement of energy- and water-saving products.

Regional Super ESPC Contract and FEMP Service Network are also both available to serve and support Federal energy managers implement energy saving performance contracts.

Contact: Paul J. King, 617/565-9712

Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI)

A Presidential Initiative launched in 1997, the goal of the Million Solar Roof Initiative (MSRI) is to install one million solar energy systems across the United States by the year 2010. The U.S. Department of Energy/BRSO is supporting partnerships in the northeast comprised of the building industry, local and state government agencies, the solar industry, electric utilities and other university and environmental organizations to remove market barriers, foster incentives, and strengthen the demand for solar energy technologies. The Million Solar Roofs Initiative includes both photovoltaic and solar water heating systems for homes, commercial or institutional and government buildings.

Contact: Richard Michaud, 617/565-9713

NICE3 - National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment and Economics

The U.S. Department of Energy sponsors an innovative, cost-sharing grant program with state and industry partners to save energy, prevent and reduce pollution and enhance industrial competitiveness. The NICE3 program focuses on providing financial assistance to the state and industry that demonstrate and develop industrial process modifications that will reduce energy consumption, promote innovative waste minimization techniques and enhance industrial competitiveness through the introduction and dissemination of cost effective energy efficient processes, equipment and practices. Awardees receive a grant of up to $400,000 for the proposed NICE3 project. NICE3 grants fund up to 50% of total project cost for up to three years. The overall goal of the NICE3 program is to promote energy efficiency for industry, reduce operating costs and promote clean production.

Contact: Sam Thomas, 617/565-9732

Motor Challenge Program

The Motor Challenge Program is an initiative to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. industry by encouraging the use of energy efficient motor/drive systems. Under the initiative, DOE provides reliable and timely data on motor/drive systems through an information clearinghouse. Showcase demonstrations, partnerships, outreach/marketing and development of a national database are also elements of the program. The BRSO works closely with state governments, utilities and industry to promote the program to the Northeast.

Contact: Lili Griffin, 617/565-9734

Climate Challenge

Climate Challenge Program is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy and the electric utility industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program consists of voluntary commitments by individual electric utilities to undertake actions to reduce, avoid or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. DOE has published the Climate Challenge Options Workbook which describes over fifty options that utilities can use to meet their commitments. (DOE has also developed forms for voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions.)

Contact: Ronald Shaw, 617/565-9727

Building Standards and Guidelines Program

Under this program, the BRO provides technical assistance and support to promote the implementation and upgrade model energy codes and standards by the states in both the residential and commercial building sectors. The Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL), the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Cooling Engineers, Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and other organizations collaborate on the program. One of the goals of this program is to reduce operating costs and save energy in residential and commercial buildings. Code workshops and training are available to all states. Assistance is tailored to meet individual state needs.

Contact: Sam Thomas, 617/565-9732

Rebuild America

Rebuild America is a voluntary program that helps community partnerships make profitable investments in existing buildings through energy-efficient technologies. In partnership with state and local government offices, the Rebuild America Program is forming public/private partnerships that accelerate energy efficiency improvements to institutional, commercial and multi-family buildings. Partnerships tailor their programs to local needs, choosing which buildings to renovate, how much energy to save, and the best technologies to use. More than 160 partners have already committed to retrofit over 500 million square feet of building space. Their Rebuild America projects will save money, create jobs, promote growth and protect the environment. Rebuild America partners are seeing that energy efficiency means real results. Energy efficient buildings cost less to operate, increase in market value, and enhance worker productivity.

Contact: Gregory Davoren, 617/565-9706

Grant Programs

State Energy Program (SEP)

The State Energy Program (SEP) is a statutory formula-grant program. States submit annual plans for funding. There are mandated measures that each plan must address, but once the minimum requirements are met, a state may then request funds for almost any energy efficiency program which best meets its citizens' needs. Mandated measures include: building standards, procurement, transportation, emergency planning and activity coordination. Optional measures can range from photovoltaic array projects to car pools. The State Energy Program has provided each state with funds to design energy efficiency and renewable energy programs to meet individual state energy needs.

Contact: S.J. Seymour, 617/565-9704

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

The U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides weatherization services to low-income clients by improving the energy conservation of their homes while ensuring their health and safety. The Weatherization Program is delivered nationwide by a large organization of state agencies, Native American Tribal Organizations and approximately 750 local agencies. Using advanced diagnostics and weatherization technology, the Weatherization network increases the energy efficiency of dwellings occupied by low-income citizens by directly installing energy conservation measures in their residences. The BRO administers the Weatherization Program in the Northeastern region and continuously strives to improve the quality and effectiveness of services provided to clients through on-going technical training of state and local agency staff.

Contact: Christine Reinfelds, 617/565-9708

Special Projects

Northeast Regional Biomass Program

The Northeast Regional Biomass Program (NRBP), managed for DOE by the Coalition of Northeastern Governors Policy Research Center, Inc., has a mission of promoting the use of biomass energy in eleven northeastern states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. Biomass energy is used to make electricity, liquid fuels, gaseous fuels, and a variety of useful chemicals, including those currently manufactured from petroleum. In the last two decades, biomass power has become the second largest renewable source of electricity after hydro power. If biomass is cultivated and harvested in a sustainable cycle that is repeated, there is no net contribution to global warming.

NRBP has three basic components:

providing a grant to each of the eleven states (with a 50% match required) to strengthen and integrate the work of state agencies in promoting biomass
performing technical studies in areas of critical importance to the optimal use of biomass in the northeast
performing long range planning to spur greater development and use of biomass in the Northeast.

Contact: David Mark, 617/565-9711

Regional Energy Planning Project

Funded by DOE and managed by the New England Governor's Conference, Inc. (NEGC) the Regional Energy Planning Project is an on-going regional planning effort. The goal of the project is to provide the states with a comprehensive and balanced assessment of New England's energy situation. The project is providing each state with modeling capability, database development, policy analysis, and the incorporation of the views of appropriate related sectors in the region.

Contact: S.J. Seymour, 617/565-9704

GeoExchange

The Boston Regional Office has awarded a grant to the Geothermal Heat Pump Consortium, Inc. to perform feasibility studies for utilizing this exciting technology in the northeast region. GeoExchange systems (also known as ground source heat pumps or geothermal heat pumps) have been identified by President Clinton as one of the most cost-effective and environmentally sound ways to heat and cool residential and commercial buildings. GeoExchange Systems work by moving heat, rather than by converting chemical energy to heat, like in a furnace. Every GeoExchange System has three major subsystems or parts: a geothermal heat pump to move heat between the building and the fluid in the earth connection; an earth connection for transferring heat between its fluid and the earth, and a distribution subsystem for delivering heating or cooling to the building. Each system may also have a de-superheater to supplement the building's water heater, or a full-demand water heater to meet all of the building's hot water needs. GeoExchange heat pumps are much more efficient than air source heat pumps because earth/groundwater temperatures are much more uniform throughout the year than outside air temperatures.

Contact: David Mark, 617/565-9711

Renewable Energy Activities

The BRO manages grants to support the commercialization of solar, wind, and biomass energy through several grants. Grant recipients include consumer advocates, state utility, energy, and environmental working groups throughout the United States. Some of the grantees include the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, the Regulatory Assistance Project, the United States Association for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the National Academy of Sciences, the Pace University Environmental Law Center, the Biomass Energy Alliance, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Lab, the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Training Institute, the Lighting Research Center-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the Smithsonian National Design Museum.

Contact: Richard Michaud, 617/565-9713

Educational Initiatives

In addition to providing public information, the BRO sponsors a number of education programs and projects. The BRO publishes a comprehensive guide to energy and environmental education resources for science and math curriculum. The BRO sponsors the Annual Regional Science Bowl and the Junior Solar Sprint, events which stimulate enthusiasm for science in pre-college students. The most recent effort in this area has been to establish the Northeast Energy Education Network

Northeast Energy Education Network (NEEN)

The Northeast Energy Education Network (NEEN) was created in 1995, to foster energy education in the Northeast through communication and exchange of ideas to ensure a sustainable energy future. NEEN is a cooperative effort of educators, utilities, non-profits and government organizations whose goal is to create a community of shared resources for energy education. NEEN has three components: (1) provide information and materials on energy curricula that teach students energy concepts, math and science problem solving skills through classroom activities and experiments; (2) educate teachers about current energy trends and issues in the Northeast; and (3) provide an opportunity to network with other energy educators and share strategies for identifying funding sources and implementing energy education programs/projects in local schools.

Contact: Christine Reinfelds, 617/565-9708

Junior Solar Sprint

The Junior Solar Sprint (JSS) is an annual competition in which middle-school students design, build and race model cars powered by solar energy. In the 1995-1996 school year there were approximately 10,000 students involved in the JSS in New England.

Contact: Christine Reinfelds, 617/565-9708

New England Regional Science Bowl

The New England Regional Science Bowl is a tournament-style academic competition for high school students. This competition challenges and recognizes students knowledge of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, astronomy, and general science topics. In the 1998 competition, approximately 165 students competed at the Science Bowl representing 33 high schools and five of the six New England States.

Contact: Christine Reinfelds, 617/565-9708

Web Pages & U.S. Department of Energy Hot lines

Boston Regional Office (BRO) - Home Page

Contact: Greg Davoren, 617/565-9706

Northeast Energy Education Network (NEEN) - Home Page

Contact: Gregory Davoren, 617/565-9706

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC):

1-800-DOE-EREC

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)

Clean Cities/National Alternative Fuels Hotline and Web sites:

1-800-CCITIES

http://www.ccities.doe.gov

http://www.afdc.doe.gov

NOTE: Fiscal year 2000 may see a number of changes in some of these programs and projects as a result of budget and organizational changes.

Regional Brownfields Hotline (800) 346-5009

For information, contact: brownfields.r2@epa.gov

U.S. Department of Energy's Regional Office: The Boston Regional Office

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