energy efficiency

Kansas conversations on utilities and efficiency

Check out this article from Energy Central. A workshop in Topeka, Kansas has been trying to figure out how to incentivize Kansas utilities to embrace conservation. The local regulated utility summarizes the problem: “We are totally committed to energy efficiency,” said Chris Giles of Kansas City Power and Light, “as long as we can have […]

Energy efficiency alone is not sufficient

China’s power plant emissions have surpassed the U.S. for the first time and are slated to double in the next decade, despite efficiency improvements. Without major technological innovation it will be impossible to decrease the absolute quantities of CO2 in the atmosphere. This is why government involvement is so important; we need massive R&D and […]

California Energy Commission considers PG&E proposal to require energy-efficient televisions

The following post is by Earl Killian, guest blogger at Climate Progress. —– The California Energy Commission is considering a proposal by PG&E to require televisions sold in the state to meet a minimum efficiency standard. Why is a utility proposing its customers by more efficient appliances? Because California allows utilities to earn a return […]

The electric sector’s price inversion

There is a phenomenon known in financial markets as an “inverted yield curve.” Like a stray elephant in Central Park, it is a reliable indicator that something odd is going on. It seldom lasts long, as markets quickly note and adjust to the weirdness. Prices in current electric markets are similarly inverted, especially in the […]

Cleveland brewery attempts energy recyling yet is foiled by regulation

Last week Cleveland Scene wrote about a local brewery that is recovering its waste heat. They set out to convert the heat into electricity and useful steam for their brewery. In a great quote, the owner Patrick Conway says: “When our engineer explained this technology to us,” says Patrick, “it was like putting wheels on […]

On energy, survey results show public favors supply, increasingly favors Republicans

New polling from Rasmussen confirms current D.C. scuttlebutt: Republicans are winning on energy. The reason can be boiled down to this: Voters overwhelmingly want prices brought down, they’re convinced that increasing supply is the way to do that, and Republicans are the ones most vocally calling for increased supply. There’s lots in recent survey results […]

New England ISO’s forward capacity market

A guest post by a writer with more than 30 years in energy and the environment with government, private industry, and the nation’s leading think tanks. He currently works for the federal government and will be blogging in anonymity until he leaves public service. — One of the more serious structural flaws in energy policy […]

California’s innovative energy efficiency loan program is a model worth copying

A request: If you a) have anything to do with city or county government, and b) have any interest in, or authority over, property taxes, finance, or energy efficiency, please drop whatever you're doing for two minutes, and skim this article.

Oh, all right, I bet you didn't actually hit the link. So to make your job easier, I'll pull a quote or two.

California [just] enacted a law that allows cities and counties to make low-interest loans to homeowners and businesses to install solar panels, high-efficiency air conditioners and other energy-saving improvements.

Participants can pay back the loans over decades through property taxes. And if a property owner sells his home or business, the loan balance is transferred to the next owner, along with the improvements. [Emphasis added.]

I don't think that I emphasize this enough: This is truly groundbreaking. In fact, it may well be among the top three climate policies ever adopted by the state. I hope that other states follow suit soon -- even if it means fixing the state constitution (Cough*Washington*cough).

Efficienciezzz …

Bob Herbert’s column in the NYT yesterday makes two points: One, efficiency and conservation are the smartest strategies to combat our energy woes; two, it’s very difficult to talk about efficiency and conservation without being boring as paint.