Govenors push (RMI) energy efficiency/energy independance plans

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Republican Governor Linda Lingle's "Energy for Tomorrow" bill has the potential to transform Hawaii -- the most oil-dependent state in the nation and the one with the highest energy costs -- into a state that will lead the nation with a low-cost, sustainable, locally produced, and secure energy system.
Incorporating many of the recommendations outlined in Rocky Mountain Institute's (RMI) 2004 study, Winning the Oil Endgame, the Governor's bill is a comprehensive list of policy actions that will accelerate society's adoption of efficient technologies and biofuels.

"This bill embraces Winning the Oil Endgame's strategy to reduce oil dependence through efficiency, renewables, and biofuels while strengthening the economy through agricultural revitalization," said Kyle Datta, RMI Senior Director of Research & Consulting, who coauthored the report.

According to Datta, the increase in oil prices since 2002 has cost Hawaii more than $1 billion, and increased energy expenses more then $1500 per household. Hawaii has no fossil fuel resources, but it does have a full portfolio of renewable energy resources.

Four of the bill's five major components offer innovations of national significance. First, Savings through Efficiency calls for the creation of a Public Benefits Charge that will be used to directly fund efficiency and distributed renewable energy through a third party.

Second, Independence through Renewable Energy contains provisions that strengthen Hawaii's renewable portfolio standard, setting it at 20 percent and tasking the Public Utilities' Commission with defining a methodology for valuing the long-run benefits of renewable power in reducing fossil fuel risk.

Third, the centerpiece of Fuels through Farming is a 20 percent Renewable Fuels Standard, backed with exemptions from the state fuels excise tax and state preferences for biofuels procurement.

Finally, this energy bill could lead the 50th state to become a world leader in hydrogen energy technology, Datta said. It calls for the immediate establishment of a world-class renewable hydrogen program.

The Democratic majority package mirrors the call for state leadership in energy efficiency by requiring LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver certification, and providing significant funding for energy efficiency in state buildings and photovoltaics in schools.

Implementation of all the conservation, renewable energy, and alternative transportation fuels components of this package, Datta said, is expected by the year 2020 to displace 110.5 million barrels of imported crude oil-saving Hawaii's consumers $6.32 billion; and avoiding 48.9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Energy for Tomorrow bill also points the way to the development of the Hawaiian biofuels industry and robust agricultural sector. A 2003 study by Stillwater Associates projected that Hawaii has an ethanol industry capable of producing 90 million gallons a year, which "could add as much as $300 million to Hawaii's economy in direct and indirect value."

"This really represents sweeping change for Hawaii, and it's an affirmation of the hard work we put into Winning the Oil Endgame," said Datta. "Our energy future is choice, not fate. This bill means Hawaii will define its energy destiny. RMI is committed to working with the State of Hawaii to develop and implement a forward-looking energy strategy."

RMI's Winning the Oil Endgameestimated that moving the United States off oil could stimulate a 750,000-job biofuels industry worth tens of billions of dollars. RMI is a 24-year-old, independent, nonpartisan, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization. Its mission is to foster the efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, profitable, and life sustaining.

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1. Pennsylvania (Dem Gov) Announces More Renewable Energy Grants

Pennsylvania Announces More Renewable Energy Grants
January 17, 2006
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania's commitment toward renewable energy continues. The state has just invested more than $8.5 million into 25 projects, complementing more than $144 million in private sector investment.
"Pennsylvania is using its resources to build a clean energy future that enhances security, generates economic growth and cleans up the environment," Governor Edward Rendell said. "Development and deployment of alternative energy resources is an economic and environmental win. By investing in companies, we are creating opportunities to put our people to work."

Energy output from the projects, which were approved by Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA), will generate 3.5 million megawatt hours (MWh), enough to power about 437,000 Pennsylvania homes. Another 526,225 MWh will be conserved. The projects also have the potential to produce 45 million gallons of biofuel.

The 25 projects will receive financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for a variety of clean electricity projects using sources such as wind, solar, biomass, waste coal and recycled energy. The funding also will finance comprehensive redevelopment plans and technological innovations using Pennsylvania fuels. The state financing supports millions of dollars in funding being invested into the projects by private interests.

This funding represents the second round of awards by PEDA, which Governor Rendell revitalized after years of inactivity as part of his strategy to build a clean, indigenous, diversified energy industry in the state. In June, PEDA awarded $6.5 million to finance 16 clean energy projects that will create as many as 450 permanent and construction jobs. In addition, the research projects, if successful, could net as many as 327 full-time jobs.

The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal-bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.

Following is a list by county of the $8.5 million in grants and loans awarded through PEDA for 25 clean energy projects.

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2. Greens push NE Govs to strengthen RGGI global warming pact

New Englanders Urged to Take Action against Global Warming
January 17, 2006
Washington, DC The Green Party of the United States urged State legislatures in the Northeast to significantly strengthen the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) recently signed by the governors of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont
"The proposed compact falls far short of the actions needed to reduce the devastating and accelerating impact of climate change," stated Greg Gerritt, secretary of the Green Party of Rhode Island. "The seven governors deserve praise for taking action in face of the stonewalling by both the Bush and Clinton administrations, but the public should push them to do much more."

Greens in northeastern states have called for the caps on carbon emissions by power plants to be significantly tightened; for all of the carbon emission permits (rather than the agreed upon 25 percent) to be auctioned off rather than given away to corporations; and for elimination of loopholes that weaken the reduction on greenhouse emissions.

"We're calling for all carbon emission permits under RGGI to be auctioned off, rather than most of them to be given free to existing carbon polluters," said Mark Dunlea, former chair of the Green Party of New York State and former national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Energy. "The hundreds of millions of dollars raised annually through the auction process would be used to offset the regressive nature of any 'energy tax,' for example, through state supplements to the low-income Home Energy Assistance Program. The rest would be invested in energy efficiency, conservation, and development of renewable energy technologies."

Scientists warn that the original Kyoto goal of a 5 percent reduction to 1991 greenhouse gas levels by 2012 is severely inadequate and urge a 70 percent reduction. The Green Party supports this goal, and notes that RGGI only calls for stabilizing current carbon emissions by 2015 and then reducing those levels by 10 percent by 2020. Greens are skeptical that RGGI, which only addresses power plants, will accomplish even this modest goal.
The seven governors deserve praise for taking action in face of the stonewalling by both the Bush and Clinton administrations, but the public should push them to do much more."

-- Greg Gerritt, secretary of the Green Party of Rhode Island