4th Quarter 2007
Quarter 4 Update
October, November, December 2007
MA Poised to Pass Landmark Energy Bill
CT Efficiency Breakthrough
Stop Global Warming Connecticut
ENE Participates in Plum Creek Hearings
MA Poised to Pass Landmark Energy Bill
Comprehensive Legislation Passes House and Senate
A groundbreaking energy bill that will make the state's energy system cleaner, more affordable and more reliable has passed both the House and Senate in Massachusetts. An Act to Generate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Now (SB 2457, also HB 3965) would boost energy efficiency and renewable energy, bring transparency to energy planning, and make Massachusetts a leader on global warming. The bill is now headed to a conference committee.
The bill includes many top priorities from ENE's energy platform, including a provision mandating that electric and gas utilities purchase all energy efficiency resources that are cheaper than conventional supply. This would be a major change for Massachusetts, which currently spends $6 billion on conventional supply, even though it is 3 times more expensive than efficiency.
To ensure that the procurement mandates and other reforms in SB 2457 are implemented properly and reap maximum benefits for consumers, the bill establishes a stakeholder council that would represent industry, low-income, environmental and other interests in the process.
ENE played a key role in developing and advocating for the adoption of important energy efficiency and energy policy concepts based on successful models that have been enacted in neighboring states.
Summary of SB 2457
Summary of HB 3965
"Energy boost: Wide-ranging bill aims to promote wind, water power sources and curb harmful greenhouse gases," Boston Globe, November 8, 2007
CT Efficiency Breakthrough
Connecticut took a major step forward in energy policy when the state's two largest utilities,Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) and United Illuminating (UI), formally submitted a new electric utility procurement plan pursuant to the mandates of Connecticut's new enery law Public Act 07-242. The new plan focuses first on purchasing all cost-effective efficiency and demand-side resources, rather than relying on traditional supply from large fossil-fuel burning plants.
If the plan is formally approved, it will triple current efficiency investments -from $113 million to $352 million- by 2014, and it will reduce demand below current levels by 2018. This would provide tremendous benefits for the state's environment and economy. Decreasing reliance on fossil fuel generation will reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring that demand is met and consumer costs are kept low.
As a leading advocate for the PA 07-242 and a member of the Energy Conservation Management Board, ENE is heavily involved in developing and implementing energy reforms in Connecticut. The utilities' plan is an important milestone in moving the state and region toward a cleaner and more secure energy system. Review of the plan now turns to state agencies.
Summary of PA 07-242
Stop Global Warming Connecticut
Advocates Launch Carbon Cap Campaign
ENE and other leading environmental groups recently announced the Stop Global Warming Connecticut campaign to push for the adoption of a mandatory, statewide global warming pollution cap during the 2008 legislative session. The campaign kicked off by holding press conferences, meeting with state officials and lawmakers, and by distributing written materials to the public about the importance and benefits of a statewide carbon cap.
The goal of the campaign is to help Connecticut combat climate change by establishing a mandatory cap on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning. It calls on the legislature to put teeth into the voluntary goals set by Connecticut's 2004 Climate Action Plan. The campaign proposes a suite of policies and programs that will help the state keep emissions at or below the cap levels, including:
- Low Carbon Fuel Standard to curb motor vehicle pollution
- Cap and Trade Programs to limit industrial emissions
- Updated and Well-Enforced Building Codes to increase efficiency of new construction and retrofits
If implemented along with other global warming solutions, these policies could help the state achieve an 80% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050 -the target scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst consequences of global warming.
SGWCT Press Announcement
SGWCT Program Summary
SGWCT Policy Outline
"Squaring off on global warming," New York Times, January 11, 2008
ENE Participates in Plum Creek Hearings
First-Ever Climate Assessment Featured in Land Use Planning Testimony
On December 14th ENE testified before the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) about its assessment quantifying the amount of greenhouse gases that the Plum Creek "Concept Plan" would produce. ENE's assessment was filed as testimony on behalf of GrowSmart Maine, an official intervener in the permit proceedings. The testimony set a historic precedent as the first to ask LURC to weigh global warming concerns in a land rezoning petition.
ENE's assessment estimated the amount of carbon dioxide that would be released by land clearing caused by the construction of 2,315 housing units and two resort lodges over approximately 20,000 acres in the Moosehead Lake Region during project construction, and the amount that would be emitted each year from transportation and building energy use associated with Plum Creek Timber Company's plan.
LURC will hold public hearings up through the end of January.
Audio webcasting of the hearings
"New Test for Developers in Maine: Climate Change" Christian Science Monitor, January 16, 2008
