VIRGINIA ENERGY PLAN TO BE SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
A 10-year Virginia Energy Plan is almost ready to be signed by Governor Tim Kaine. The VA Energy Plan charts a path forward that will provide for reliable supplies of energy at reasonable rates and increase the use of conservation and efficiency in Virginia. The Plan has been developed in accordance with 2006 legislation (Title 67 of the Code of Virginia) that set out energy policy statements and objectives and directed the Dept. of Mines, Minerals, and Energy to develop a 10-year state energy plan. The Plan is to be updated every five years.
This Plan was developed using information gathered from the Virginia Energy Plan Advisory Group, which met five times to address the major components of this Plan. AECP Executive Director, Billy Weitzenfeld, was a member of the Advisory Group. The Plan is also the product of input received at five public workshops held around the state, from public comments submitted via the internet, and input from the Dept, of Environmental Quality and other state agencies. Research and development recommendations are derived from a study by the Center for Innovative Technology.
The following energy policy statements guided the development of the Plan:
- Ensure the availability of reliable energy at costs, which are reasonable and advance the health, safety, and welfare of Virginia citizens.
- Establish sufficient energy supply and delivery infrastructure.
- Use energy resources efficiently and facilitate conservation.
- Facilitate development of both low-cost energy resources located within and outside the Commonwealth, including development of clean coal resources.
- Facilitate development of energy sources which are less polluting to the air and water, and electric generating technologies that do not contribute to greenhouse gases and global warming.
- Ensure the economic viability of Virginia’s producers of low-cost energy resources.
- Foster research and development of alternative sources, which are competitive at market prices.
- Develop energy resources and facilities that do not impose a disproportionate adverse impact on economically disadvantaged or minority communities.
- Increase Virginia’s reliance on agricultural-based ethanol and biodiesel from crops grown in Virginia.
- Ensure that energy generation and delivery systems are located in places that minimize impacts to pristine natural areas and other significant onshore natural resources, and which are as near as possible to compatible development.
SCC WILL DELIVER REPORT TO LEGISLATURE ON REDUCING ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) will deliver a report to the VA general Assembly on Dec. 15, 2007 on how electricity consumption in Virginia can be reduced by 10% by the year 2022. A statewide working group has been formed to provide recommendations to SCC staff. Five subgroups have been formed with specific topics of discussion to help facilitate this effort and AECP Executive Director, Billy Weitzenfeld is currently serving as Co-Chair of the Consumer Education subgroup.
NORTH CAROLINA MOVES TOWARDS RENEWABLE POWER
North Carolina Governor Mike Easley signed a bill last week that sets a minimum requirement for the use of renewable energy by the state’s electric utilities. The bill requires the investor-owned utilities to draw on renewable energy for 3% of their electric supply starting 2012, with the requirement increasing every three years until it reaches 12.5% of the electricity supply in 2021. Utilities can also meet up to 25% of their renewable energy requirement through energy savings due to energy efficiency measures, and starting in 2021 they can meet up to 40% of the requirement through energy efficiency measures.
FTC ANNOUNCES NEW ENERGYGUIDE LABEL
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced recently that it has finalized its revisions to the EnergyGuide label, which helps consumers compare the energy performance of many appliances. The new EnergyGuide label will still be a familiar yellow color but will feature a streamlined look that prominently displays the estimated annual operating cost for most appliances. The new label will provide energy use data in terms of cost – rather than kilowatt- hours of electricity or British thermal units of natural gas. This provides a clearer context for consumers to compare different models. It also allows for a more informed decision when consumers trade off the up-front cost of an appliance with its annual operating cost.
ENERGY TIP
When purchasing a new computer or monitor buy a flat-panel monitor. They use only 1/3 of the power of conventional monitors.