 February-March 2006 Newsletter Contents: Guest Highlight Alliance to Save Energy Column State Updates RECA Report
State Perspectives on the Federal Budget By Jeff Genzer, Counsel, The FY’07 Federal Budget provides increased funding for the State Energy Program (SEP), which is the principal state-federal partnership program for energy efficiency. This increase, to $50 million, follows a 20% cut in federal appropriations to SEP in FY’06, and is well below the $100 million authorized for the program under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). Additionally, the budget slashes the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program by almost $80 million from the FY’06 level of $242 million.
The Star of Vermont
On January 13, 2006, the Vermont State Legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution 212, congratulating the Burlington Energy Department (BED) on its receipt of a 2005 Star of Energy Efficiency Award from the Alliance to Save Energy. We are gratified to see that Vermont’s government appreciates the important work being done by BED to further energy efficiency in Vermont, and recognizes that BED deserves to be acknowledged for it.
Arizona House Bill 2374 Assigned to House Rules Committee 1/24/06 HB 2374 would require municipalities to adopt the 2003 IECC commercial building energy code, including the ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004 supplement, or a more stringent code.
The Responsible Energy Codes Alliance (RECA) RECA continues its work to promote adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). In February, RECA and its members were active in Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. On April 1, the Iowa State Building Code and Historical Building Code, which includes the commercial buildings provisions of the 2004 IECC with an updated reference to ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004, will go into effect. Mississippi is in the process of developing legislation that requires that the 2003 International Residential Code and International Building Code are implemented in hurricane-prone counties. It also allows all jurisdictions to adopt the most recent codes developed by the International Code Council. States to watch for code developments in the months ahead are Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. According to its mission, RECA will continue to promote the adoption of the most recent version of the IECC in these states. Click here to visit the RECA website for more information. The Alliance Wants to Hear from You!
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By Steve Capanna, Research Associate, Alliance to Save Energy
