California Held to Tightest Alternative Energy Standards

Yesterday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order that would require state utilities to get 33 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2020. This order makes California the nation's most aggressive when it comes to mandating renewable energy use (Hawaii previously held this title with its goal of 40 percent renewable power by 2030). The order will also allow California to import electricity from renewable sources in other states, such as wind, solar, and geothermal energy. California already imports a portion of its hydroelectric power from the Pacific Northwest, and such imports are expected to increase substantially.

The governor's complete press release can be found here: http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/13273/

Austin Energy Considers Cutbacks for Solar Rebates

In 2004, Austin Energy created a Solar Rebate Program to subsidize the installation of solar panels for homes and businesses. The program aimed to encourage local participation in this renewable energy source by covering up to two-thirds of the cost for solar panel installation. However, the program has become so popular that it has already received enough applications to completely use up the program’s $4 million budget.

Due to the lack of funds available for the program, Austin Energy will decide next week whether or not to decrease the amount of the subsidy or suspend the program for some or all who are currently eligible, such as commercial and nonprofit organizations. If Austin Energy decides to lower the subsidy amount, this change would not only apply to future applications, but it would also be retroactively applied to previous applicants who have already begun solar panel installations with expectations to receive the full subsidy amount. However, these people may be getting a much smaller check from Austin Energy than they were counting on. While the price of solar panels has dropped over 40 percent within the last year, Austin Energy’s decision could still force many of these private solar projects to be canceled.

Houston Planning Solar Plant

The City of Houston announced yesterday that it has plans to purchase power for city buildings from a new solar plant under construction in northwest Houston. Under a 25-year agreement with the city, the plant would provide up to 1.5 percent of the power needed to operate municipal buildings. Scheduled for completion next July, the plant will be the largest solar power plant in the state, producing 10 megawatts of output from 70 acres of solar panels. The plant is being build by NRG Energy at a cost of $40 million. This latest solar project is another part of Houston’s push for renewable energy, as the city has also entered a long-term deal to get 32 percent of its electricity from Texas wind farms.

For more information, see the city’s press release.

Cash For Clunky Old Refrigerators

Austin Energy is now offering to pay $50 for people who will recycle old refrigerators and freezers. In addition, the city will even come pick these units up from your house. The city is taking such an aggressive stance against these appliances because the old models are extremely energy inefficient, using two to three times more electricity than their modern counterparts. The city is also able to recycle 98 percent of the material from these old appliances while safely disposing of any harmful coolant chemicals.

To see if you and your old fridge qualify, visit Austin Energy’s website.

California to Set Energy Efficiency Standards for Televisions

The California Energy Commission is considering placing regulations on the sale of big-screen televisions that would require the TVs to meet new energy efficiency standards. Recent research shows that televisions account for 2 percent of the state’s electricity use and 10 percent of residential electricity use, and these numbers are expected to increase as more people purchase electricity-guzzling plasma and LCD televisions. The new regulations are expected to save $8.1 billion dollars in electricity over the next ten years, which comes out to around $30 per television per year in energy savings. If passed, the bill would go into effect in 2011.

List of Government Energy Rebates and Incentives

The U.S. government has a website http://www.dsireusa.org/ which lists all federal incentives and policies for promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. The website lists all programs by state.

Here are some of the programs available to Austin residents:

Property Tax Exemption – Allows an exemption of the amount of the appraised property value that arises from the installation or construction of a solar or wind-powered energy device.

Property Tax Financing – Allows property owners to borrow money to pay for energy improvements. The amount borrowed is repaid through an increased property tax assessment over a period of years.

Sales Tax Exemption – Purchases of certain energy-efficient products during Memorial Day weekend are exempt from the state sales and use tax.

Austin Energy Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program – Austin Energy offers loans to its residential customers to finance energy efficient improvements in their homes.

Austin Energy Free Home Energy Improvements Program – Austin Energy provides a variety of weatherization measures at no cost to its low-income and disabled residents through its Free Home Energy Improvements Program. Certain income levels must be met for residents to participate in this program.

Austin Energy Multi-Family Energy Efficiency Rebate Program – Austin Energy provides cash incentives to owners, developers, and property managers of apartments and other multi-family properties for making energy efficiency improvements. Rebates are available for qualified A/C systems, heat pumps, window treatments, insulation, ductwork, and lighting equipment.

Austin Energy Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program – Austin Energy offers incentives to its residential customers to encourage the use energy efficient equipment. Rebates are available for qualified HVAC equipment and weatherization improvements.

Austin Energy Solar PV Rebate Program – Austin Energy offers a $3.75 per watt incentive to eligible residential and commercial customers (including multi-family housing) who install photovoltaics on their homes or facilities.

Austin Energy Solar Water Heating Rebate Program – Austin Energy offers its residential, commercial, and municipal customers up front rebates or a low interest loan for the purchase and installation of solar hot water heaters.

Texas Gas Service Energy Efficiency Rebate Program – Texas Gas Service offers an incentive for its residential customers within the Austin and Sunset Valley city limits to install new central furnaces, hydronic water heaters, high efficiency gas water heaters (tank and tankless), duct repair/sealing and attic insulation.

Record High Financing for International Energy Efficiency Programs

The World Bank recently announced that financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in developing countries increased by 24 percent last year. This brings the total amount spent last year on these programs to $3.3 billion dollars, which exceeds the commitments made in 2004 to supply funding for new energy initiatives. This financing has allowed for 366 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects to be undertaken across 90 different countries. These projects include the construction of solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric power plants, upgrades to electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure, and the replacement of old industrial and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration units.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects accounted for over 40 percent of the bank's energy-related lending. This shift in the focus of energy spending demonstrates the internationally recognized importance of efficient energy programs. For more information, visit http://www.worldbank.org/energy

Energy Efficiency Funds Pour In Across U.S.

With the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, states are beginning to receive their funds for energy efficiency improvements. These funds will go towards improvements and upgrades for government buildings and low-income housing, as well as creating thousands of local jobs.

"Energy efficiency isn't just low-hanging fruit; it's fruit lying on the ground. We have the tools to reduce energy use at home and at work and to provide huge savings to families and businesses on their energy bills. But use of these technologies has been far too limited because we lack the simple and effective ways for people to access them," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in a recent statement.

With the slow economy and rising energy prices, the government is hoping that these funds for energy efficiency will free up the billions of dollars spent each year on wasted energy.

With the federal funds for energy efficiency beginning to flow, the government announced this week that Tennessee will receive $99 million, Georgia $129 million, Oklahoma $18.6 million, and Wyoming $9.5 million. $53 million will be divided between American Samoa, the Northern Arapaho Tribe, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only around half of these funds will be delivered initially, as the remaining allotments will come pending proof of successful use of the initial funds. Locally, Texas will receive $162 million, and Travis County has already received $2.2 million.

For more information:

Here is a list of 22 states that have begun receiving funds.

Here is a list of local governments that have already received funds.

Here is a list of Texas Cities and Counties that have begun receiving funds.

Austin Energy to Supply More Green Energy, Increase Prices

By 2020, Austin Energy will be buying over 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. This aggressive plan will help maintain Austin’s image as an environmentally proactive city by reducing carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants by 20 percent.

In this effort to reduce dependency on coal-produced electricity, Austin Energy will seek to get its power from West Texas wind farms, a new array of solar panels in eastern Travis County, a new natural gas turbine at an existing plant, and a planned biomass power plant in East Texas. Austin Energy also plans to continue purchasing a portion of its electricity from the South Texas Nuclear Project.

Austin Energy’s decision comes after months of low participation in its GreenChoice program where residents can voluntarily sign up to individually purchase power from renewable sources. Because electricity from the renewable energy sources is more expensive, the average Austin Energy residential customer will see a monthly electricity bill increase of around 22 percent. This scheduled increase in electricity prices only reinforces the need to ensure that all homes become as energy efficient as possible. In fact, efficiency upgrades made to homes now could potentially offset the entire price increase.