Federal Energy Policy
Federal energy policy is being reshaped by the imperatives of climate change and a growing antipathy to our dependence on imported fossil fuels. There is an opportunity to establish a new national energy paradigm that emphasizes energy efficiency and other clean resources.
Background
ENE has significant experience energy reform at the state and regional level. ENE has engaged with local utilities to promote energy efficiency, and has supported the development of low-carbon and...
[Read full background]
.jpg)
The New England states have led the way in adopting forward-looking policy that increases the efficiency with which we use existing energy resources and expands use of domestic, renewable sources of energy.These policies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save consumers money, and increase energy independence.
ENE is seizing the opportunity to bring successful energy policy models from the northeast to the federal arena, and a memo making the economic case for energy efficiency investments. “Energy Efficiency as Economic Stimulus” was included in a collection of Memos to the Next President, compiled and published by the Progressive Policy Institute.
ENE worked with the National SAVE Energy Coalition to advocate for significant federal funding for efficiency and renewables through state energy programs. New funding for efficiency included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is described in the ENE Summary of State Efficiency Funding in the Stimulus. (See What's New).
As the federal government takes up comprehensive energy and climate policy, ENE is working with utilities, consumer groups, and other advocates to promote significant, nationwide increases in energy efficiency funding. In a federal climate bill efficiency funding can be delivered through allowance allocations to states and through conditional allocations to utilities, with the requirement that allowance value be directed to money-saving efficiency programs.
ENE is also advocating an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) that would require utilities to meet a portion of projected energy demand through efficiency improvements. ENE developed a 2-page information sheet on a Federal EERS describing how the policy could work.
In order to provide accessible examples of the benefits and mechanics of real world efficiency programs, ENE worked in conjunction with M. J. Bradley & Associates energy consultants and progressive utilities from across the country to develop an n Energy Efficiency Profiler that examines eight model efficiency programs from the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, and provides accessible examples of the benefits and mechanics of real world efficiency programs.
For more information about federal initiatives, visit ENE's Federal Cap and Trade page.
