Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson announced December 23 that $100 million in emergency funds will be immediately provided to states, territories and tribes from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income families pay their heating bills.
The funds will provide states with extra assistance, over and above the $1.2 billion sent to states last October, to help with winter heating costs. The $100 million uses one-third of the contingency funds made available by the FY 2005 omnibus appropriations bill. The remaining $200 million in contingency funds will be reserved for future heating and cooling emergencies.
In Virginia – state law requires that 15% of any LIHEAP allocation to the state, including contingency funds, be transferred to the Virginia Weatherization Program. So the program will receive $325,000 in additional funds to provide weatherization services across the state.
U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INCREASE
According to a recently released report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased by .07% in 2003, from 6,891 million metric tons to 6,936 million metric tons. Emissions of carbon dioxide from energy consumption and industrial processes grew by 0.8%, from 5,825 million metric tons in 2002 to 5,870 million metric tons in 2003. Since 1990, energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide have risen 16%.
Greenhouse gases, which include methane, nitrous oxide, as well as carbon dioxide, are the leading cause of global warming and are the result of the burning of fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas. This burning of fossil fuels is also responsible for releasing fine particulate matter into the air, which according to the American Lung Association is causing thousands of pre-mature deaths in America.
So the good news will be when we actually begin to decrease greenhouse gas emissions through conservation, greater efficiency, and a broader application and use of renewable energy.
DOE LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a new website with detailed information and tips on how to save money by developing smart energy habits. The site, www.EnergySavingTips.gov serves as a consumer-friendly portal to detailed energy saving information from various federal agencies. There will be information on where to buy Energy Star appliances, where to buy the cheapest gasoline, comparisons of vehicle fuel efficiency, information on buying hybrid cars, and what federal, local, and state tax incentives and utility rebates are available, and much more.
WIND POWER QUADRUPLES IN GROWTH
Wind power accounted for only about one-tenth of 1 percent of total U.S. electric power generation capacity in 2003, but wind power capacity quadruples between 1990 and 2003. Most of the nation’s wind potential remains untapped. Wind power’s growth will depend largely on the continued availability of federal and state financial incentives, including tax credits, and expected increases in prices for fossil fuels.
CALIFORNIA SETS NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS
California has approved new appliance efficiency standards that will save consumers money and reduce pollution. The standards will save more than 5,000 gigawatt/hours of energy per year, more than the amount of electricity used by all San Francisco residences.
The new standards will apply to external power supplies, swimming pool pumps, electronic products, TV set top boxes, refrigeration, and certain lighting products. These new regulations will save consumers about $2 billion by 2020 by reducing energy consumption through more energy efficient appliances.
ENERGY TIP
Drive Sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.