Energy Efficiency
Groups assail BPA’s woefully low efficiency spending proposal
NW Energy Coalition and 29 other clean energy advocacy organizations and businesses submitted a group letter to the Bonneville Power Administration April 11, urging the agency to adequately fund energy efficiency it its FY 2016-2017 capital budget. The letter expressed concern that the proposed budget is inadequate to meet BPA’s legal obligations or to pursue the best interests of the region.
Read MoreBPA seriously underfunding energy efficiency
Bonneville Power recently released its proposed capital budget, but it has not yet finalized its expense budget for public review. Given what we’ve seen so far, BPA’s draft budgets for 2016-17 seriously underfund energy efficiency efforts, making achievement of the full power savings called for in the regional plan unlikely at best.
Read MoreNWEC spring conference to feature energy efficiency panel
Please join us May 2-3 at the NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference in Helena, Mont. One of panels at the Helena conference will address the challenges and opportunities for increasing energy efficiency in the Northwest. Energy efficiency is now the second-largest resource used to meet customer electricity needs, and meeting all new electricity needs with energy savings is within reach. But troubling clouds are on the horizon.
Read MoreDOE Overestimating Impact of Energy Efficiency Standards on Appliance Prices
A new report released today by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) finds that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been overestimating the impact that energy efficiency standards for appliances and other products have on their price tags…
Read MoreACEEE honors BPA industrial efficiency program
Bonneville Power Administration’s Energy Smart Industrial Program has been honored with a 2013 Champion of Energy Efficiency Award by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The award, one of four given this year, recognizes “leadership and accomplishment in the energy efficiency field,” according to ACEEE. “Winners are selected based on demonstrated excellence in program implementation, research and development, energy policy or private sector initiatives…”
Read MoreBonneville Power Administration makes compelling ‘Case for Conservation’
On June 28, the Bonneville Power Administration released a significant study showing that its energy efficiency investments have saved the agency at least $750 million and likely more than $1.3 billion dollars over the last 10 years. BPA savings translate into savings for Northwest public utilities – and thus for the families and business they serve…
Read MoreBig wins for clean energy in PSE case
A combination of rulings that some are calling the most important utility regulatory decision in decades paves the way for Puget Sound Energy to boost energy efficiency savings, make low-income families’ homes more livable and facilitate a fair and orderly end to coal-fired power production in WA state…
Read MoreNew Pilot Unlocks Deep Energy Efficiency in Buildings
For the first time, an electric utility is testing a 20-year model to purchase metered energy efficiency savings. The agreement between Seattle City Light and the Bullitt Foundation is designed to make deep energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings economically feasible…
Read MoreIdaho energy updates from Coalition member Snake River Alliance
Idaho Power received a surprise earlier this month when its majority partner in its Nevada coal plants announced plans to get out of the coal generation business, customers just received the bad news from Idaho Power that their rates will rise this summer due in part to poor river flows and power generation and more news inside…
Read MoreFuture Energy Conference: PacifiCorp, NW Energy Coalition experts address efficiency | Sustainable Business Oregon
Utility experts told attendees of the Future Energy Conference that their industry faces several questions as customers, in looking to reduce their various energy footprints, demand more efficient options.
Wendy Gerlitz, a senior policy analyst with the Coalition, offered five key questions for utilities, and their business customers, to use when analyzing energy efficiency offerings…
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