1 In 5 New Homes EnergyStar: Tougher 2011 Standards

Energy Star Could Get Tougher
Source: BUILDER OnlinePublication date: July 9, 2009

By Teresa Burney

Qualifying for the Energy Star label on homes is likely to become much more difficult in 2011. The Department of Energy is seeking comments now on proposed significant increases in Energy Star specifications.

"They are much stricter, intentionally," said Sam Rashkin, national director of Energy Star for homes, of the new specs. "It should be a bit of a stretch for builders."

While adding between $2,000 and $4,000 to a home's cost, roughly $10 to $20 a month more in mortgage costs, the changes should save homeowners between $30 and $50 a month on their utility bills, said Rashkin.

In the long run, the change in specs will be good for builders of new homes because it "substantially increases the differential between the new product and their competition, a used home."

That angle has not escaped the notice of builders who have been signing up for the program in droves since the market deteriorated, said Rashkin. "Since the market went soft and the downturn has occurred, the number of builders joining is up a thousand percent, from 30 a month (19 to 20 months ago) to 300, plus or minus. So timing for the spec changes is pretty good."

That increased participation has already begun to show in the numbers of homes that qualify under the program.

In 2008, 17% of new homes built qualified for the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program, a 5% jump over 2007. There have been nearly 940,000 Energy Star-qualified homes built to-date, with more than 100,000 built in 2008.

And those numbers look to climb dramatically in 2009.

This year, roughly one in every five houses is expected to be built with the Energy Star rating, said Rashkin. In 2008, the Energy Star market share was already 20% or greater in 15 states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Vermont.

The proposed changes include:

--Completing the thermal envelope system by making sure that everything from the windows to the insulation, to the caulking and other barriers, form a completely sealed envelope sound enough to stand up to an infrared camera test.

--Treating the heating and cooling elements as a system where all the components are designed and sized to work together efficiently and are installed correctly.

--A more comprehensive set of measures to manage water to make sure it stays out of the home's envelope.

--More energy efficiency requirements for the appliances in the home such as fans and lighting.
More details on the proposed changes can be found here.

Comments are being accepted until Friday, July 10. Depending on the comments, the new specifications should be finalized either in late August or late October and will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011.

The Rest @ Big Builder Online

Clean Fuel for Vehicles - Louisiana Increases Tax Credit to 50%

Governor Bobby Jindal recently announced that he signed Louisiana House Bill 110, legislation that increases personal and corporate income tax credits for use of alternative fuel for motor vehicles, including the use of compressed natural gas (CNG.)

The legislation, authored by Louisiana State Representative Jane Smith (R-Bossier City) and led by Louisiana Senator Nick Gautreaux (D-Abbeville) in the Senate, will increase economic development and investment in Louisiana by encouraging companies to use a fuel source that is clean, abundant, affordable and American.

"Now with proper incentives in place, Louisiana retailers can offer CNG as an alternative fuel to consumers who take advantage of the ability to convert their car or truck or purchase a new vehicle," said Smith.

The new legislation includes provisions to:

• Increase the existing personal or corporate income tax credit from 20% to 50% for purchase of qualified clean burning motor vehicle fuel property, including equipment installed on a motor vehicle and property directly related to the delivery of an alternative fuel.
  
• Increase the existing personal or corporate income tax credit for the purchase of a motor vehicle with qualified clean burning motor vehicle fuel property installed by the manufacturer of such vehicle to 10% of the cost of the vehicle or $3,000, whichever is less.
  
• Establish the existing credit as a refundable income tax credit if no taxes are owed and notes that the tax credits are retroactive to January 1, 2009.
  
• Repeal provisions under current law that prohibit a company or individual who qualifies for Louisiana's Quality Jobs Program from taking advantage of the existing income tax credits for alternative fueled vehicles and equipment.
  
• Gautreaux said, "With potentially the largest natural gas field in the United States, Louisiana is poised to support an energy policy that enhances our national security and promotes a cleaner environment in our country and state. Louisiana now has some of the most aggressive incentives in the country for both consumers and companies to use clean buring, truly American natural gas as transportation fuel."
  
• The legislation was broadly supported with 67 co-authors in the House and 23 co-authors in the Senate. Additionally, a total of 24 entities and organizations passed Resolutions supporting HB 110. They ranged from local governments, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and environmental groups that represent literally thousands of Louisiana citizens interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building our nation's energy security.

The Rest @KATC

US Treasury Guidance for Grants over ITC and PTC

July 9, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which was enacted in February, permits an applicant to receive a grant from Treasury in lieu of claiming investment tax credits (ITCs) or production tax credits (PTCs).

Today the U.S. Treasury Department issued much-anticipated guidance concerning applications to receive cash grants in lieu of claiming income tax credits for certain renewable energy projects.

Although the guidance includes a sample application form, the U.S. Treasury has stated that it will not accept applications until August 1.

Click here to read the full analysis on this guidance including grant details, eligibility and the application process at www.stoel.com.

The Rest @ Stoel Rives

Capstopne's Intepretation of the Stimuls BIl

This is from the Ca[pstone Website



-Editor


Stimulus Package Signed by President Obama On February 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1) into law.



The package contains a number of measures designed to promote clean energy and energy efficiency, many of which could be beneficial to deployment of Capstone’s products and the continued development of our technology. For example, the Stimulus provides:


Grants in lieu of the 10 percent investment tax credit (ITC) on microturbines and combined heat and power (CHP);
$3.2 billion in block grants to states and local governments to spend on energy efficiency and $3,1 billion to fund state energy programs;
$16.8 billion in funding for DOE to fund Research and Development of clean energy and efficiency technologies, among other programs;
Bonus depreciation of capital equipment;
$11 billion to fund clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades at federal buildings.




The following summary contains more details on the individual energy provisions in the Stimulus package that could be beneficial to Capstone’s business.


Overview of Energy Provisions in the Stimulus Bill

• Clean Energy Grants: Purchasers of microturbines and CHP systems can now elect to receive grants in lieu of the ITC for projects placed in service during 2009 and 2010 (or after 2010 if commenced in 2009-2010).


• The Act also allows facilities included in Section 45 (biomass, biodiesel, landfill gas, et al) to take a 30 percent refundable ITC in lieu of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for projects placed in service on or before 2013.


• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants: Appropriates $3.2 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants as authorized in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This funding goes to state and local governments to make investments in energy efficiency, including the application and implementation of energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency.
  Repeals Penalty for Financing Section 48 Technologies (Microturbines and CHP, et al): Allows businesses and individuals to qualify for the full amount of the tax credit, even if projects are financed with local development bonds or other subsidized energy financing.
  


• Green and Efficient Federal Buildings: The Act includes $5.5 billion to be deposited into the Federal Buildings Fund for expenditures to construct, repair and make alterations on federal buildings to increase energy efficiency, including installing solar energy equipment. In addition, $4.5 billion is available for measures necessary to convert Government Services Administration facilities to green buildings. The act also provides $1 billion for non-recurring maintenance on Veterans Affairs medical facilities, including energy projects.


• State Energy Program: $3.1 billion dollars will be made available to the Secretary of Energy to award grants to states. The award of this funding is conditioned upon a notification to the Secretary of Energy by the governor that the state has obtained the necessary assurances to adopt certain utility regulatory polices to encourage utility-sponsored energy efficiency improvements and updated energy efficient building codes. In order to take advantage of existing institutional structures, a state is also encouraged to use federal funds to existing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
  Loan Guarantee Program: Establishes a temporary, low-cost loan guarantee program by DOE for renewable energy systems and electric power transmission projects that begin construction by September 30, 2011. The Act makes available $6 billion for use by this program, which is estimated to support more than $60 billion in loans for these projects.
  Manufacturing Investment Credit: Provides a 30 percent investment tax credit for facilities engaged in the manufacture of advanced energy property, including microturbines. Projects must be certified by the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, through competitive bidding. .Extend Bonus Depreciation: Allows businesses to recover 50 percent of the cost of capital investment in the first year in order to spur upfront expenditures in 2009 and 2010.
  Energy Department Funding: Appropriates $16.8 billion to energy efficiency and renewable energy, including $2.5 billion for applied R&D, demonstration and deployment projects. There will be $800 million for projects related to biomass and $400 million for geothermal projects which, according to the U.S. Clean Heat and Power Association, could also include funding for sections 451, 452 and 471 (these provisions were stripped from the House version). These provisions could entail a DOE grant program for CHP projects.
  


• New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (“New CREBs”): Provides an additional $1.6 billion for local governments and municipalities to finance facilities that generate electricity from renewable energy (biogas, biodiesel, landfill gas, et al) sources.


• Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds: Authorizes $2.4 billion in bonds to finance state, municipal and tribal government programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.


• Green Collar Jobs: Appropriates $500 million to fund job training programs in energy efficiency and renewable energy.


• Smart Grid: Provides up to 50 percent reimbursement to electric utilities or other parties that carry out smart‐grid demonstration projects.
  Renewable Energy for Water Treatment Plants: Appropriates $2.4 billion in grants that could be used to put renewable energy in wastewater treatment plants.


• Department of Defense Energy and Efficiency Programs: The act provides $300 million to the DOD for the purpose of research, testing and evaluation of projects to energy generation, transmission and efficiency. The bill provides an additional $100 million for Navy and Marine Corps facilities to fund energy efficiency and alternative energy projects.


• The Defense Health Program will also receive $400 million to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve, repair and modernize military medical facilities in the United States and its territories. There is also an additional $120 million appropriated for the Energy Conservation Investment Program for military construction defense-wide

$3.2 BIllion In Energy Block Grants Issued to Local Governments

DOE announced on March 26 that it plans to invest $3.2 billion in energy efficiency and conservation projects in U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and tribal lands.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide formula grants for projects that improve energy efficiency and reduce fossil fuel emissions.

• Funding is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use,
• to ensure accountability, DOE will provide guidance to grant recipients and require them to report on the:

1. number of jobs created or retained,
2. energy saved,
3. renewable energy capacity installed,
4. greenhouse gas emissions reduced,
5. and funds leveraged.

The funding will support:

• Energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings,
• The development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections
• The creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.
• Transportation programs that conserve energy
• Projects to reduce and capture methane emissions from landfills
• Renewable energy installations on government buildings
• Energy-efficient traffic signals and street lights
• Combined heat and power systems
• District heating and cooling systems,
• Other projects.

Cities and counties will receive nearly $1.9 billion under the block grant program.

States and territories will receive nearly $770 million,

More than $54 million will flow directly to tribal governments.

• States will receive and administer funds for those counties and cities that are not large enough to qualify for direct DOE funding.
• In addition, up to $456 million will be made available for local energy efficiency projects under a separate competitive solicitation to be released at a later date.

See the DOE press release and the Web site for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

S0urce US Department of Energy EERE Program

2008 Weatherization Assistance Program

The US Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistane Program

2008 Weatherization Assistance

Click on the links below to download a PDF of each section.

• Here is a Fact Sheet
• Programs by State
• Here is a list of Texas Programs, seachable By Utilities

Table of Contents
1. Program Overview
This section provides an Executive Summary of the Weatherization Assistance Program, as well as a Legislative and Regulatory Timeline since the Program's inception.
2. Program Funding
This section includes information on funding, state start and end dates, state allocations, how the allocation formula works, as well as the 1995 Federal Register 10 CFR Part 440 ruling.
3. Training and Technical Assistance
Click the link above to view activities taking place at DOE Headquarters, as well as in the PMC field offices. This section also includes information on what audit tools states are using and identifies those that use a priority list.
4. New Initiatives
This section addresses: Lead Safe Weatherization Pollution Occurrence Insurance, Adding U.S. Territories to Service Area, the National Evaluation, the Hot Climate Initiative Project, and How Weatherization is Green.
5. Health and Safety
Lead-based paint regulations, mold and moisture, two-part spray foam, unvented space heaters, and disaster relief planning are covered here.
6. Questions and Answers
Do you have basic questions about the Weatherization Assistance Program? Click the link above to find answers to what the Program is, how it works, why it is important, and much more!
7. Program Accomplishments
In 30 years of providing service to low-income citizens, the Program has has garnered a great deal of attention and credit. View the number of units weatherized, average unit costs, and more with this link.
8. Media Relations
Click here to view press coverage the Program receives on a consistent basis.
9. Weatherization Plus
Curious about Weatherization Plus and how it has moved forward in recent years? This section provides an overview of the initial effort as well as the latest actions.
10. Additional Resources
Still haven't found what you are looking for? Perhaps it's a fact sheet, a presentation, a specific report, or something else. This section contains an assortment of useful tools for the weatherization network.

Source: Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Site

Renewable Energy Certificates ( RECs)

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), also known as Green tags, Renewable Energy Credits, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), are tradable environmental commodities in the United States which represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was renewable (generated from an eligible renewable energy resource).

These certificates can be sold and traded and the owner of the REC can claim to have purchased renewable energy. While traditional carbon emissions trading programs promote low-carbon technologies by increasing the cost of emitting carbon, RECs can incentivize carbon-neutral renewable energy by providing a production subsidy to electricity generated from renewable sources. It is important to understand that the energy associated with a REC is sold separately and is used by another party. The consumer of a REC receives only a certificate.

In states which have a REC program, a green energy provider (such as a wind farm) is credited with one REC for every 1,000 kWh or 1 MWh of electricity it produces (for reference, an average residential customer consumes about 800 kWh in a month). A certifying agency gives each REC a unique identification number to make sure it doesn't get double-counted. The green energy is then fed into the electrical grid (by mandate), and the accompanying REC can then be sold on the open market.

Source: Wikipedia

Stimulus Update -A "Triple Play"

A hefty portion of President Obama's $825 billion stimulus plan is aimed at generating a triple play for

• employment
• energy
• the environment:

The House version of the bill, for example, would put more than $68 billion toward boosting America's green-tech sector, which could in turn reduce the average household's energy bill as well as our costly hunger for fossil fuels.

But will the triple play pay off? Some folks on the sidelines worry that billions of dollars could be wasted on technological dead ends, while others complain that all this spending is just a greener shade of pork.

The greening of American infrastructure

Job No. 1 for the stimulus package, also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is generating jobs. The plan would follow through on Obama's campaign promise to do that by putting billions toward the greening of the nation's infrastructure (which is in a pretty dark place right now).

An analysis by the Center for American Progress, which is where most of Obama's ideas were fleshed out during the campaign, shows that the biggest chunk of the package's green spending - almost $31 billion - would go to increase the energy efficiency of federal facilities and low-income housing, plus rebates for energy-efficient appliances and green-job training programs.

• The package would more than triple the amount that the federal government is currently spending on this category, the center said.

This means that if you're considering an energy-related upgrade, you might want to wait to see what kind of aid will be available once the stimulus package is passed - particularly if you're in a lower income bracket.

When Obama laid out the plan last weekend, he said such measures would "save taxpayers $2 billion a year by making 75 percent of federal buildings more energy-efficient, and save the average working family $350 on their energy bills by weatherizing 2.5 million homes."

It would also create jobs: A report by the Center for American Progress and the University of Minnesota estimated that spending $100 billion on energy efficiency and renewable energy would produce 2 million new jobs in two years.

This part of the plan wouldn't break new ground, technologically speaking, according to Daniel J. Weiss, the center's senior fellow and director of climate strategy.

"What's been lacking is resources rather than technology, particularly in a retrofitting situation," he told me. "For federal buildings, you could be installing more energy-efficient windows, plugging leaks in the buildings, getting a more efficient heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system."

• That means most of the green-tech jobs would go to contractors, electricians and other skilled laborers rather than, say, researchers and business executives.
• Even Joe the Plumber might find something to like.

Scientists - and particularly engineers - would be enlisted to prime the pump with greener technologies and cleaner vehicles. Among the priorities:

• research into advances in renewable energy (for example, solar and wind-generated electric power),
• carbon capture and sequestration,
• support for cleaner diesel vehicles
• better plug-in electric hybrids
• better batteries.

The House has set aside $8.6 billion for these categories, including $600 million to buy plug-ins and alternative-fuel vehicles for federal fleets.

Weiss said the legislation shifts the focus somewhat away from biofuels, which are currently not as affordable or available as experts would have expected a couple of years ago. "Given that problem, focusing on alternative fuels that already have an infrastructure built in for the delivery of that fuel - namely, electrical outlets - has more promise," he said.

Bottom line? Plug-in electric vehicles should get an extra boost toward the marketplace.
Speaking of electricity, the plan would allocate $19 billion for smart-grid technologies - innovations that range from:

• smart meters in the home
• upgraded transmission systems in the countryside.

Another $10 billion would beef up the nation's mass transit systems.

Taking on the challenges

It all sounds great to Charles Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering. A year ago, the academy announced a list of 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering, and Vest feels as if the Obama administration has picked up on the suggestions.
"Thematically, there's a lot of overlap between the engineering challenges and some of the things that are being started," he told me. "It's obvious that the No. 1 theme was clean, efficient, American energy. Several of the Grand Challenges fit into that."
Of course, the challenges were selected for long-term development rather than short-term stimulus.

For instance, it's not likely that engineers will figure out how to provide cheap, commercial fusion power in the next couple of years (though there's always a chance).

"A jump start is really important," Vest said. "Simply getting engineers engaged in green technology has a lot of intrinsic value for the long term as well.

• Working on the grid ... moving on the efficiency front, retrofits and things like that ... these can literally be done overnight.
• Other areas, like the development of advanced batteries, is something that can use a big push. You can't guarantee that it's going to happen in a year or so, but you can certainly employ people in an area that has critical importance moving forward."

Green pork?So what's not to like? House Republicans are wary about supporting so much spending, particularly on items that don't seem to benefit mom-and-pop businesses. The idea of spending money on new cars for federal agencies has been drawing some of the harshest fire.

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-Va., specifically mentioned the purchase plan for alternative-fuel vehicles and plug-ins during an interview with NPR and said the American people expected Congress to stop pork-barrel spending. "Frankly, this bill doesn't rise to that standard," Cantor said.

Anne Korin, who is co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security and chair of Set America Free, has a different kind of worry:

...In the rush to pass a stimulus bill that makes billion-dollar bets on future energy technologies, some of those bets may end up being misplaced...

Like Cantor, she pointed to the vehicle purchase plan as an example. "When you look at that, that may on the surface sound good, but the devil is in the details," she said.

• Would the vehicles have to be purchased before the next generation of plug-ins hits the market?
• Should the money go toward buying the whole vehicle, or should it be stretched out to cover only the extra cost of going with the greener technology?
• Should the tax breaks being given for new hybrid vehicles be extended to plug-in conversions as well?

"It would be desirable to slow down and make sure there's a chance to actually analyze these expenditures," Korin said.

Looking ahead

Weiss agreed that the stimulus spending had to be monitored to make sure it was going toward the most appropriate technologies.

"You don't want everybody buying Beta when the rest of the world is going VHS," he said. (For the young kids out there, that's an analogy from the bygone days when most people actually watched videos on tape - think of it as Blu-ray vs. HD DVD.)

You don't want the stimulus money sitting on a shelf while the technology sorts itself out, either. The Congressional Budget Office raised precisely that concern this week, saying that a big chunk of the money in the stimulus package wouldn't be spent before fiscal 2011. As you'd expect, the White House has taken issue with that analysis.

In any case, House action on the package is just an early step along the way. The Senate has to weigh in as well, and the green-tech effect may end up looking a lot different by the time the bill gets out of Congress.

The Senate Appropriations version, for example, would allocate $40 billion for "the development of clean, efficient, American energy" and $2.6 billion for alternative-fuel cars in the federal motor fleet. (Cosmic Variance's John Conway has more on the science stimulus.)

Weiss said the green stimulus spending would be merely the first step in Obama's three-step agenda for energy and the environment.

"There will be an energy bill that begins after the stimulus package," he said. "This will be done in late February or March and April. It's more likely that what you'll have is policies like renewable electricity standards and [policies aimed at making it] easier to build transmission lines."

Weiss said the third step will be the big one: a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse-gas emissions - the type of system that former Vice President Al Gore called for just today during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

The Rest @ MSN Live

A Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board (RAAT Board)

I'm not sure they see the joke yet, but the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act being proposed by the house aims at "unprecedented accountability, and will set up a board that will report on unintended use of funds, and protect fraud whistle blowers:

... no kidding, the summary proposes a RAAT Board.

...A Recovery Act Accountability and Transparency Board will be created to review management of recovery dollars and provide early warning of problems. The seven member board includes Inspectors General and Deputy Cabinet secretaries.
• The Government Accountability Office and the Inspectors General are provided additional funding and access for special review of recovery funding.
• State and local whistleblowers who report fraud and abuse are protected.

The House Democrats' Stimulus Good for Green

[Jan 15th] House Democrats revealed their proposed stimulus package totaling $825 billion. As hoped, money for renewable energy and efficiency make up 54 billion of those dollars.The biggest proportion, $11 billion, would go towards creating a smart grid, which is dramatically shy of the $400 billion Al Gore thinks should be set aside. Here's a list of some of the larger energy incentives.

• $11 billion for investment in smart-grid technologies
• $8 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy and transmission
• $6.9 billion for energy efficiency help to state and local governments
• $6.7 billion for retrofits to federal buildings
• $6.2 billion for home weatherization, targeted at low-income families
• $2.4 billion for carbon sequestration
• $2 billion for loans guarantees and grants to automobile battery-makers

Feed reported @ Ecogeek from Greeninc

Investment in and Loans for Renewable Companies

The enery-independance-and-security-act-of 2007 legislation bears further examination for those starting up or buy interests in Rewnewabel Energy Companies:

-Editor

SEC. 1205. ENERGY SAVING DEBENTURES.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of the Small Business Investment
Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 683) is amended by adding at the end
the following:

‘‘(k) ENERGY SAVING DEBENTURES.—In addition to any other
authority under this Act, a small business investment company
licensed in the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of
this subsection or any fiscal year thereafter may issue Energy
Saving debentures.’’.

(b) DEFINITIONS.—Section 103 of the Small Business Investment
Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 662) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (16), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) in paragraph (17), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(18) the term ‘Energy Saving debenture’ means a deferred
interest debenture that—

• (A) is issued at a discount;
• ‘‘(B) has a 5-year maturity or a 10-year maturity;
• ‘‘(C) requires no interest payment or annual charge
  for the first 5 years;
• ‘‘(D) is restricted to Energy Saving qualified investments;
  and
• ‘‘(E) is issued at no cost (as defined in section 502
  of the Credit Reform Act of 1990) with respect to purchasing
  and guaranteeing the debenture; and

19) the term ‘Energy Saving qualified investment’ means
investment in a small business concern that is primarily
engaged in researching, manufacturing, developing, or providing
products, goods, or services that reduce the
the use or consumption of non-renewable energy resources.’’.

(The rest of the bill

The Enery Independance and Security Act of 2007

An Act:

To

• move the United States toward greater energy independence and security
• to increase the production of clean renewable fuels,
• to protect consumers,
• to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles,
• to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options,
• and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government,
• and for other purposes.

Index

TITLE I—ENERGY SECURITY THROUGH IMPROVED VEHICLE FUEL
ECONOMY

Subtitle A—Increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Average fuel economy standards for automobiles and certain other vehicles.
Sec. 103. Definitions.
Sec. 104. Credit trading program.
Sec. 105. Consumer information.
Sec. 106. Continued applicability of existing standards.
Sec. 107. National Academy of Sciences studies.
Sec. 108. National Academy of Sciences study of medium-duty and heavy-duty
truck fuel economy.
Sec. 109. Extension of flexible fuel vehicle credit program.
Sec. 110. Periodic review of accuracy of fuel economy labeling procedures.
Sec. 111. Consumer tire information.
Sec. 112. Use of civil penalties for research and development.
Sec. 113. Exemption from separate calculation requirement.

Subtitle B—Improved Vehicle Technology
Sec. 131. Transportation electrification.
Sec. 132. Domestic manufacturing conversion grant program.
Sec. 133. Inclusion of electric drive in Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Sec. 134. Loan guarantees for fuel-efficient automobile parts manufacturers.
Sec. 135. Advanced battery loan guarantee program.
Sec. 136. Advanced technology vehicles manufacturing incentive program.
Subtitle C—Federal Vehicle Fleets
Sec. 141. Federal vehicle fleets.
Sec. 142. Federal fleet conservation requirements.

H. R. 6—2

TITLE II—ENERGY SECURITY THROUGH INCREASED PRODUCTION OF
BIOFUELS
Subtitle A—Renewable Fuel Standard
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Renewable fuel standard.
Sec. 203. Study of impact of Renewable Fuel Standard.
Sec. 204. Environmental and resource conservation impacts.
Sec. 205. Biomass based diesel and biodiesel labeling.
Sec. 206. Study of credits for use of renewable electricity in electric vehicles.
Sec. 207. Grants for production of advanced biofuels.
Sec. 208. Integrated consideration of water quality in determinations on fuels and
fuel additives.
Sec. 209. Anti-backsliding.
Sec. 210. Effective date, savings provision, and transition rules.

Subtitle B—Biofuels Research and Development
Sec. 221. Biodiesel.
Sec. 222. Biogas.
Sec. 223. Grants for biofuel production research and development in certain States.
Sec. 224. Biorefinery energy efficiency.
Sec. 225. Study of optimization of flexible fueled vehicles to use E–85 fuel.
Sec. 226. Study of engine durability and performance associated with the use of
biodiesel.
Sec. 227. Study of optimization of biogas used in natural gas vehicles.
Sec. 228. Algal biomass.
Sec. 229. Biofuels and biorefinery information center.
Sec. 230. Cellulosic ethanol and biofuels research.
Sec. 231. Bioenergy research and development, authorization of appropriation.
Sec. 232. Environmental research and development.
Sec. 233. Bioenergy research centers.
Sec. 234. University based research and development grant program.
Subtitle C—Biofuels Infrastructure
Sec. 241. Prohibition on franchise agreement restrictions related to renewable fuel
infrastructure.
Sec. 242. Renewable fuel dispenser requirements.
Sec. 243. Ethanol pipeline feasibility study.
Sec. 244. Renewable fuel infrastructure grants.
Sec. 245. Study of the adequacy of transportation of domestically-produced renewable
fuel by railroads and other modes of transportation.
Sec. 246. Federal fleet fueling centers.
Sec. 247. Standard specifications for biodiesel.
Sec. 248. Biofuels distribution and advanced biofuels infrastructure.

Subtitle D—Environmental Safeguards
Sec. 251. Waiver for fuel or fuel additives.

TITLE III—ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH IMPROVED STANDARDS FOR
APPLIANCE AND LIGHTING

Subtitle A—Appliance Energy Efficiency
Sec. 301. External power supply efficiency standards.
Sec. 302. Updating appliance test procedures.
Sec. 303. Residential boilers.
Sec. 304. Furnace fan standard process.
Sec. 305. Improving schedule for standards updating and clarifying State authority.
Sec. 306. Regional standards for furnaces, central air conditioners, and heat
pumps.
Sec. 307. Procedure for prescribing new or amended standards.
Sec. 308. Expedited rulemakings.
Sec. 309. Battery chargers.
Sec. 310. Standby mode.
Sec. 311. Energy standards for home appliances.
Sec. 312. Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.
Sec. 313. Electric motor efficiency standards.
Sec. 314. Standards for single package vertical air conditioners and heat pumps.
Sec. 315. Improved energy efficiency for appliances and buildings in cold climates.
Sec. 316. Technical corrections.
Subtitle B—Lighting Energy Efficiency
Sec. 321. Efficient light bulbs.

H. R. 6—3
Sec. 322. Incandescent reflector lamp efficiency standards.
Sec. 323. Public building energy efficient and renewable energy systems.
Sec. 324. Metal halide lamp fixtures.
Sec. 325. Energy efficiency labeling for consumer electronic products.

TITLE IV—ENERGY SAVINGS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY
Sec. 401. Definitions.

Subtitle A—Residential Building Efficiency
Sec. 411. Reauthorization of weatherization assistance program.
Sec. 412. Study of renewable energy rebate programs.
Sec. 413. Energy code improvements applicable to manufactured housing.
Subtitle B—High-Performance Commercial Buildings
Sec. 421. Commercial high-performance green buildings.
Sec. 422. Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative.
Sec. 423. Public outreach.

Subtitle C—High-Performance Federal Buildings
Sec. 431. Energy reduction goals for Federal buildings.
Sec. 432. Management of energy and water efficiency in Federal buildings.
Sec. 433. Federal building energy efficiency performance standards.
Sec. 434. Management of Federal building efficiency.
Sec. 435. Leasing.
Sec. 436. High-performance green Federal buildings.
Sec. 437. Federal green building performance.
Sec. 438. Storm water runoff requirements for Federal development projects.
Sec. 439. Cost-effective technology acceleration program.
Sec. 440. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 441. Public building life-cycle costs.

Subtitle D—Industrial Energy Efficiency
Sec. 451. Industrial energy efficiency.
Sec. 452. Energy-intensive industries program.
Sec. 453. Energy efficiency for data center buildings.
Subtitle E—Healthy High-Performance Schools
Sec. 461. Healthy high-performance schools.
Sec. 462. Study on indoor environmental quality in schools.
Subtitle F—Institutional Entities
Sec. 471. Energy sustainability and efficiency grants and loans for institutions.
Subtitle G—Public and Assisted Housing
Sec. 481. Application of International Energy Conservation Code to public and assisted
housing.

Subtitle H—General Provisions
Sec. 491. Demonstration project.
Sec. 492. Research and development.
Sec. 493. Environmental Protection Agency demonstration grant program for local
governments.
Sec. 494. Green Building Advisory Committee.
Sec. 495. Advisory Committee on Energy Efficiency Finance.

TITLE V—ENERGY SAVINGS IN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

Subtitle A—United States Capitol Complex
Sec. 501. Capitol complex photovoltaic roof feasibility studies.
Sec. 502. Capitol complex E–85 refueling station.
Sec. 503. Energy and environmental measures in Capitol complex master plan.
Sec. 504. Promoting maximum efficiency in operation of Capitol power plant.
Sec. 505. Capitol power plant carbon dioxide emissions feasibility study and demonstration
projects.

Subtitle B—Energy Savings Performance Contracting
Sec. 511. Authority to enter into contracts; reports.
Sec. 512. Financing flexibility.
Sec. 513. Promoting long-term energy savings performance contracts and verifying
savings.

H. R. 6—4

Sec. 514. Permanent reauthorization.
Sec. 515. Definition of energy savings.
Sec. 516. Retention of savings.
Sec. 517. Training Federal contracting officers to negotiate energy efficiency contracts.
Sec. 518. Study of energy and cost savings in nonbuilding applications.

Subtitle C—Energy Efficiency in Federal Agencies

Sec. 521. Installation of photovoltaic system at Department of Energy headquarters
building.
Sec. 522. Prohibition on incandescent lamps by Coast Guard.
Sec. 523. Standard relating to solar hot water heaters.
Sec. 524. Federally-procured appliances with standby power.
Sec. 525. Federal procurement of energy efficient products.
Sec. 526. Procurement and acquisition of alternative fuels.
Sec. 527. Government efficiency status reports.
Sec. 528. OMB government efficiency reports and scorecards.
Sec. 529. Electricity sector demand response.
Subtitle D—Energy Efficiency of Public Institutions
Sec. 531. Reauthorization of State energy programs.
Sec. 532. Utility energy efficiency programs.
Subtitle E—Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants
Sec. 541. Definitions.
Sec. 542. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.
Sec. 543. Allocation of funds.
Sec. 544. Use of funds.
Sec. 545. Requirements for eligible entities.
Sec. 546. Competitive grants.
Sec. 547. Review and evaluation.
Sec. 548. Funding.

TITLE VI—ACCELERATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Subtitle A—Solar Energy
Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Thermal energy storage research and development program.
Sec. 603. Concentrating solar power commercial application studies.
Sec. 604. Solar energy curriculum development and certification grants.
Sec. 605. Daylighting systems and direct solar light pipe technology.
Sec. 606. Solar Air Conditioning Research and Development Program.
Sec. 607. Photovoltaic demonstration program.

Subtitle B—Geothermal Energy
Sec. 611. Short title.
Sec. 612. Definitions.
Sec. 613. Hydrothermal research and development.
Sec. 614. General geothermal systems research and development.
Sec. 615. Enhanced geothermal systems research and development.
Sec. 616. Geothermal energy production from oil and gas fields and recovery and
production of geopressured gas resources.
Sec. 617. Cost sharing and proposal evaluation.
Sec. 618. Center for geothermal technology transfer.
Sec. 619. GeoPowering America.
Sec. 620. Educational pilot program.
Sec. 621. Reports.
Sec. 622. Applicability of other laws.
Sec. 623. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 624. International geothermal energy development.
Sec. 625. High cost region geothermal energy grant program.

Subtitle C—Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Technologies
Sec. 631. Short title.
Sec. 632. Definition.
Sec. 633. Marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy research and development.
Sec. 634. National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration
Centers.
Sec. 635. Applicability of other laws.
Sec. 636. Authorization of appropriations.

H. R. 6—5

Subtitle D—Energy Storage for Transportation and Electric Power

Sec. 641. Energy storage competitiveness.
Subtitle E—Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 651. Lightweight materials research and development.
Sec. 652. Commercial insulation demonstration program.
Sec. 653. Technical criteria for clean coal power Initiative.
Sec. 654. H-Prize.
Sec. 655. Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prizes.
Sec. 656. Renewable Energy innovation manufacturing partnership.

TITLE VII—CARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION
Subtitle A—Carbon Capture and Sequestration Research, Development, and
Demonstration

Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Carbon capture and sequestration research, development, and demonstration
program.
Sec. 703. Carbon capture.
Sec. 704. Review of large-scale programs.
Sec. 705. Geologic sequestration training and research.
Sec. 706. Relation to Safe Drinking Water Act.
Sec. 707. Safety research.
Sec. 708. University based research and development grant program.
Subtitle B—Carbon Capture and Sequestration Assessment and Framework
Sec. 711. Carbon dioxide sequestration capacity assessment.
Sec. 712. Assessment of carbon sequestration and methane and nitrous oxide emissions
from ecosystems.
Sec. 713. Carbon dioxide sequestration inventory.
Sec. 714. Framework for geological carbon sequestration on public land.

TITLE VIII—IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF ENERGY POLICY
Subtitle A—Management Improvements
Sec. 801. National media campaign.
Sec. 802. Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline administration.
Sec. 803. Renewable energy deployment.
Sec. 804. Coordination of planned refinery outages.
Sec. 805. Assessment of resources.
Sec. 806. Sense of Congress relating to the use of renewable resources to generate
energy.
Sec. 807. Geothermal assessment, exploration information, and priority activities.

Subtitle B—Prohibitions on Market Manipulation and False Information
Sec. 811. Prohibition on market manipulation.
Sec. 812. Prohibition on false information.
Sec. 813. Enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission.
Sec. 814. Penalties.
Sec. 815. Effect on other laws.

TITLE IX—INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PROGRAMS

Sec. 901. Definitions.
Subtitle A—Assistance to Promote Clean and Efficient Energy Technologies in
Foreign Countries
Sec. 911. United States assistance for developing countries.
Sec. 912. United States exports and outreach programs for India, China, and other
countries.
Sec. 913. United States trade missions to encourage private sector trade and investment.
Sec. 914. Actions by Overseas Private Investment Corporation.
Sec. 915. Actions by United States Trade and Development Agency.
Sec. 916. Deployment of international clean and efficient energy technologies and
investment in global energy markets.
Sec. 917. United States-Israel energy cooperation.
Subtitle B—International Clean Energy Foundation
Sec. 921. Definitions.

H. R. 6—6
Sec. 922. Establishment and management of Foundation.
Sec. 923. Duties of Foundation.
Sec. 924. Annual report.
Sec. 925. Powers of the Foundation; related provisions.
Sec. 926. General personnel authorities.
Sec. 927. Authorization of appropriations.
Subtitle C—Miscellaneous Provisions
Sec. 931. Energy diplomacy and security within the Department of State.
Sec. 932. National Security Council reorganization.
Sec. 933. Annual national energy security strategy report.
Sec. 934. Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage contingent
cost allocation.
Sec. 935. Transparency in extractive industries resource payments.

TITLE X—GREEN JOBS
Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program.

TITLE XI—ENERGY TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Subtitle A—Department of Transportation
Sec. 1101. Office of Climate Change and Environment.

Subtitle B—Railroads

Sec. 1111. Advanced technology locomotive grant pilot program.
Sec. 1112. Capital grants for class II and class III railroads.
Subtitle C—Marine Transportation
Sec. 1121. Short sea transportation initiative.
Sec. 1122. Short sea shipping eligibility for capital construction fund.
Sec. 1123. Short sea transportation report.
Subtitle D—Highways
Sec. 1131. Increased Federal share for CMAQ projects.
Sec. 1132. Distribution of rescissions.
Sec. 1133. Sense of Congress regarding use of complete streets design techniques.

TITLE XII—SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY PROGRAMS
Sec. 1201. Express loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Sec. 1202. Pilot program for reduced 7(a) fees for purchase of energy efficient technologies.
Sec. 1203. Small business energy efficiency.
Sec. 1204. Larger 504 loan limits to help business develop energy efficient technologies
and purchases.
Sec. 1205. Energy saving debentures.
Sec. 1206. Investments in energy saving small businesses.
Sec. 1207. Renewable fuel capital investment company.
Sec. 1208. Study and report.

TITLE XIII—SMART GRID

Sec. 1301. Statement of policy on modernization of electricity grid.
Sec. 1302. Smart grid system report.
Sec. 1303. Smart grid advisory committee and smart grid task force.
Sec. 1304. Smart grid technology research, development, and demonstration.
Sec. 1305. Smart grid interoperability framework.
Sec. 1306. Federal matching fund for smart grid investment costs.
Sec. 1307. State consideration of smart grid.
Sec. 1308. Study of the effect of private wire laws on the development of combined
heat and power facilities.
Sec. 1309. DOE study of security attributes of smart grid systems.

TITLE XIV—POOL AND SPA SAFETY
Sec. 1401. Short title.
Sec. 1402. Findings.
Sec. 1403. Definitions.
Sec. 1404. Federal swimming pool and spa drain cover standard.
Sec. 1405. State swimming pool safety grant program.
Sec. 1406. Minimum State law requirements.
Sec. 1407. Education program.


The whole 310 page bill

Goal for Renewable Energy Section 39.904

Section 39.904 of Texas State Bill Seven (PUC discussed below is the Public Utility Commision of Texas)

Goal for Renewable Energy

• Provides that by January 1, 2009, an additional 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity from renewable technologies will have been installed in Texas (i.e., estimated to be 3% of the state total) and lists specified deadlines for installation of the renewable capacity (i.e., timetable);
• Requires PUC to establish a renewable energy credits trading program.
• Requires a retail electric provider, municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative that does not satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by directly owning or purchasing capacity using renewable energy technologies to purchase sufficient renewable energy credits to satisfy the requirements by holding renewable energy credits in lieu of capacity from renewable energy technologies;
• Requires PUC, no later than January 1, 2000, to adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this section.
• Requires the rules to at a minimum achieve the enumerated goals;
• Defines "renewable energy technology" (specifically biomass products, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, wind, wave, or tidal energy).
• Energy resources derived from fossil fuels or waste products from inorganic sources are excluded;
• Authorizes a municipally-owned utility operating a gas distribution system to credit toward satisfaction of the requirements of this section any production or acquisition of landfill gas supplied to the gas distribution system based on a certain conversion calculation.

Goal for Natural Gas

• Provides that 50% of the megawatts of generating capacity installed after January 1, 2000 use natural gas.
• Requires PUC, to the extent permitted by law, to establish a program to encourage utilities to comply with this section by using natural gas produced in this state as the preferential fuel.
• Provides that this section does not apply to generating capacity for renewable technologies.
• This provision is expected to have little immediate effect since most generation currently is gas-fired (e.g., for 1998, the electric utility natural gas generating capability in Texas is 61%);
• Requires PUC to establish a natural gas energy credits trading program. Requires any power generation company, municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative that does not satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by directly owning or purchasing capacity using natural gas technologies to purchase sufficient natural gas energy credits in lieu of capacity from natural gas energy technologies;
• Authorizes PUC, not later than January 1, 2000, to adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this section and to perform any necessary studies in cooperation with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RC). Requires the rules, at a minimum, to achieve the specified provisions; and
• Authorizes PUC, with the assistance of the RC (Railroad Commision), to adopt rules allowing and encouraging retail electric providers and municipally-owned utilities and electric cooperatives that have adopted customer choice to market electricity generated using natural gas produced in Texas as "environmentally beneficial".
• Requires the rules to allow a provider, municipally-owned utility, or cooperative to achieve the specified provisions.

Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs)

Biofuels Law: EPA Guidance on Potentially Illegal RIN Trading Practices
Seattle, WA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently publicized practices that it claims are illegal under its complex system for documenting compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard. The system requires obligated parties to establish that they have purchased sufficient Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), which are generated by the sale of renewable fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol. The EPA notice suggests that some RIN market participants' efforts to correct clerical errors in their RIN transactions may be creating additional civil exposure. Properly documenting RIN transactions has been a source of substantial concern to producers, marketers and purchasers of renewable fuels. The EPA's recent notice probably exacerbates those concerns for past transactions but does provide some useful guidance for future transactions

Full Article Stoel Rives, Attornesy At Law

New York City Establishes MicroTurbine Sntallation Standards

March 11th, 2008

Last week, RSP Systems installed the first microturbines in New York City pursuant to a new rule for their installation and use that Mayor Bloomberg signed into law last December.

RSP installed a set of Capstone C60 Microturbines at LEED Gold-certified Millenium Tower Residences in Battery Park City.

According to RSP President Cory Glick, microturbines are being specified with increasing frequency in local projects for new and existing buildings, and the company has created a New York-area dealership network of electrical and mechanical contractors who can design, install, and commission Capstone microturbines.

• The microturbine law was drafted by a Cogeneration Task Force led by Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta.
• Microturbines capture the heat waste generated by their turbines in producing electricity and transform it into usable energy, making them between 70 and 80 percent efficient (compared with 30 to 35 percent efficiency for most types of power plants).
• Pursuant to the rule, approved microturbines can be installed in certain locations on both commercial and residential projects, including within weatherproofed enclosures, on roofs, or within rooms that have two-hour fire doors.

As Steven Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of New York note, microturbines offer the dual benefit of clean energy and the addition of “needed electric generation capacity without further taxing [New York City’s] transmission and distribution systems.”

In order to install a microturbine system under the rule, owners must

1. receive permission from the utility company,
2. file an application with the Department of Buildings,
3. obtain a permit from the Fire Department in order to operate the system

Once DOB issues the first permit and the system is actually installed.

The rule is codified under Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York under Chapter 50, Distributed Energy Resource Standards.

First Microturbines Commissioned Under NYC Standard (PR)
Rule 50 (DOB)

Bloomberg Announces New Rule (PR)

The Rest from Green Building Sync