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Welcome to the Alliance to Save Energy's monthly newsletter e-FFICIENCY NEWS

Industry Leader Interview: Bob Foster, Mayor of Long Beach, California

Picture of Bob Foster Bob Foster was elected mayor of Long Beach, California’s fifth largest city in June of this year. After a career spent working directly and indirectly with the energy industry, including a four year stint as president of Southern California Edison, Mr. Foster decided to pursue his lifelong desire to serve in public office. The mayor took time out of his busy schedule to discuss his plans for cleaning up the Long Beach port, his many accomplishments advocating for energy efficiency in the utility sector, energy blackouts in California, and an ambitious green building program for the city of Long Beach.

e-FFICIENCY NEWS: Another hot topic from the election is the proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal for the port of Long Beach. This facility would supply 10 percent of California’s energy needs, drive down the price of natural gas, and increase city revenues. Is there a way to make this type of facility functional and safe? What other options do we have aside from increasing supply?

FOSTER: There is a proposal to locate an LNG facility in the Port of Long Beach and the City Council will have items before them to consider probably before the end of the year. While the State does need additional and diverse sources of natural gas, frankly, I don’t believe Long Beach is an appropriate place for such a facility. There are at least three off-shore proposals for new LNG terminals – and these proposals would serve the same purpose of increasing the natural gas supply while posing much less risk to a dense urban area. Read the Full Interview

Transformers – More than Meets the Eye

Picture of Power Transformers For the first time in over five years, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a proposed rule for new appliance standards. The rule would affect electric distribution transformers, equipment used mainly by utility companies at switching stations or on power poles to reduce electricity voltage levels for delivery to homes, businesses and industry. However, several energy efficiency groups, consumer advocates and nine major utility companies do not believe the new standard goes far enough. Read the Full Article.

Take a Tax Holiday

Florida officials have announced the state’s first tax holiday for energy-efficient products. Scheduled to run October 5-11, the offer will give consumers the option to buy any Energy Star appliance that retails for less than $1500 without paying state sales tax. The tax break is part of the Florida Energy Act passed earlier in the year and is just one of several innovative tax initiatives in the region in the past year.

“Georgia’s sales tax holiday prompted increased purchasing of select products, including ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and lamps. We're excited about the initial results and look forward to strengthening our efforts in the future," said Elizabeth Robertson, Director, Division of Energy Resources for the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.

Consumers in Florida can expect to save roughly 6 percent on their purchases and save up to 30% on their energy bills by investing in appliances bearing the federal Energy Star label.

Energy Hog Spotted in NYC

Picture of an Energy Hog poster at Madison Square Garden The infamous Energy Hog, bane of energy efficiency and conservation, was recently spotted in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. A loyal e-FFICIENCY NEWS reader was able to capture him on film. Keep your eyes and ears open; new Energy Hog public service announcements have been released to 1,600 TV stations and 6,500 radio stations nationwide.

Clinton Takes on Climate

Clinton Foundation Logo Former President Bill Clinton wants the world to think and act seriously about global warming. Twenty-four of the world’s largest cities are doing just that. Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, London, Cairo, Delhi, Mexico City, and others recently joined the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a new initiative by the Clinton Foundation that is seeking to achieve practical and measurable decreases in global greenhouse gas emissions. No specific targets have been set, but Clinton proposes to use the same business-oriented approach his Foundation brought to the fight against HIV/AIDS. CCI will mobilize top experts in the world, establish best practices and measurement tools, pool the purchasing power of cities to lower prices of energy saving products and accelerate the market transformation of new energy-efficient technologies.

Who Revived the Electric Car?

Picture of the Tesla Roadster Earlier this year, Chris Paine wrote and directed a documentary called Who Killed the Electric Car? which chronicled the brief rise and rapid demise of this country’s first attempt at mass producing an electric vehicle. In July, California-based Tesla Motors unveiled their ultra high-performance Tesla Roadster. Capable of hitting 0-60 in 4 seconds, going up to 250 miles on a single charge, and averaging just $2.50 to ‘fill up’, this is no ordinary sports car. Of course this comes at a price, roughly $90,000 to be exact. Read the Full Article.

Save Energy and Money by Being Green

A new report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center says it pays for companies to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The report, “Greening the Bottom Line”, profiles a dozen California businesses and organizations that reduced pollution by 100 million pounds per year while saving $13 million collectively. The businesses profiled range in size and span all sectors of the economy. The report also highlights the economic benefits and opportunities companies can achieve by tackling climate change.

DOE Opens Loan Guarantee Program

Logo of the U.S. Department of Energy The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program, authorized under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is officially up and running. The purpose of this program is to encourage early commercial use of new or improved technologies in energy projects. The DOE is accepting pre-applications through November 6.

Alliance Welcomes New Board Members

The Alliance to Save Energy’s Board of Directors has elected three new members to its ranks:

James E. Rogers, president and CEO of Duke Energy;
John Fielder, the new president of Southern California Edison (SCE); and
Bob Malone, chairman and president of BP America.

Fielder replaces outgoing SCE President Bob Foster, who remains on the Alliance board in his new capacity as mayor of Long Beach, Calif., and Bob Malone replaces Ross Pillari, who has retired after 32 years of service to BP, while Rogers is an addition to the board

Insulation Campaign Targets Efficiency, Taps Construction Market

A new ad campaign is seeking to educate building professionals, architects, roofing contractors and others in the construction industry about the energy and cost saving benefits of polyiso insulation. Polyiso is a rigid foam board insulation primarily used on commercial building roofs and as sheathing for homes. The campaign kicked off earlier this summer and includes a new website (www.polyiso.org), modeling and research on first cost (247 KB PDF) and environmental benefits (213 KB PDF) of commercial building insulation upgrades, development of an American Institute of Architects (AIA) course on roofing systems as well as advertising.

MEEA Announces Energy Inspired Award Winners

On September 28th, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) presented their 2006 Inspiring Efficiency Awards, as part of the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference in Chicago, IL. Award winners included Wisconsin Senator Robert Cowles, Diane Munns, Commissioner of the Iowa Utilities Board, and MEEA Chair Mary O’Toole. MEEA honored these and other innovative companies and individuals who have pioneered the application and development of energy-efficient technologies, programs and policy initiatives.

Change a Light, Change the World

ENERGY STAR Logo October 4th marks the 2nd annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day. The day is a national call-to-action that kicks off Energy Awareness Month by encouraging individuals to replace one traditional light bulb with an energy efficient compact fluorescent lamp (CFL). CFLs use at least 2/3 less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last as much as 10 times longer. Participants are asked to sign the ENERGY STAR pledge and show their commitment to saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Senator Dorgan Given Top Honor

Senator Byron Dorgan (D – ND) received the Energy Executive of the Year Award on September 13th at the 29th World Energy Engineering Congress. The Association of Energy Engineers presented Sen. Dorgan with the award in honor of his hard work, dedication and commitment to energy efficiency and conservation.

UK Releases National Energy Review

The British Department of Trade and Industry has released a comprehensive study of the country’s long range energy challenges. The report, “The Energy Challenge: Energy Review Report 2006”, seeks to identify and address solutions that will simultaneously reduce carbon dioxide emissions and deliver secure, clean energy at affordable prices. Highlights of proposals from the report include the increased use of alternative energy sources, reducing demand through energy efficiency, more effective metering and verification methods for energy use, incentives for energy providers to be more energy efficient, and procedures to ensure government procurement methods and practices become carbon neutral by 2012.

Light Bulb Maker Sponsors NASCAR Race

OSRAM SYLVANIA announced it will continue its sponsorship through 2012 of the SYLVANIA 300. The annual race is held at the New Hampshire International Speedway, New England’s “Magic Mile” and is the area’s largest sporting complex. OSRAM SYLVANIA is North America’s leader in lighting solutions and specialty products that feature innovative design and energy saving technology.

EE etc . . .

Save the date for the 6th National Meeting of the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) November 14-16. Every major truck maker and system supplier should be on hand, together with the leading fleets in the nation interested in and making the first moves toward hybrid trucks.

The Corporate Climate Response conference will take place in New York City October 30-31. This conference is geared to understand how the corporate community should be reacting to climate change through energy efficiency, offsetting, carbon markets, employing renewables and then communicating their response. Climate change experts, companies and financiers will be present to discuss market driven solutions to climate change, climate response strategies, and corporate case studies.

The Alliance to Save Energy is organizing a workshop in Moscow on municipal energy efficiency financing. The forum will take place November 13-14. This work is supported by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). For information on registration and the agenda, visit the MUNEE website.

Around the Alliance

The Alliance would like to welcome the following new Associates this month:

The Alliance would like to welcome Jeff Harris as its new Vice President for Programs. Mr. Harris comes to the Alliance from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs where he worked as a Staff Scientist with the Environmental Energy Technologies Division and Group Leader for Government and Industry Programs. Mr. Harris will focus his attention on the Alliance’s Building and Utilities, Industrial, and International programs.

Brian Castelli, Alliance Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been named to the board of directors of Conservation Services Group (CSG). CSG is a Massachusetts-based non-profit energy services firm with over two decades of experience promoting energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources.

And, meet the employees of the month for August and September!

Monique Danziger (August)
Monique joined the Communications Department six short months ago and on top of her duties in the office, immediately threw herself into organizing the Alliance’s first ever softball team. Thanks to all her hard work and team building, the Killer Watts finished the regular season ranked number one. Thanks, coach.
Andy Coglan (September)
Andy is the Senior Program Associate for the Alliance’s award winning Green Campus program in California. Under his tutelage, the Green Campus program grew from 6 campuses in 2004 to 12 for the 2006-07 academic year. Congratulation and keep up the good work, Andy.

e-FFICIENCY NEWS: October 2006

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