Changing the Climate: Looking Towards a More
Cost Effective, Energy Efficient Future
Nov 19, 2008 -- Energy Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy are
helping states lead the way in an effort to promote low cost energy
efficiency. More than 60 energy, environmental and state policy leaders from
across the country have come together to produce the updated National Action
Plan Vision for 2025: A Framework for Change. The action plan outlines
strategies to help lower the growth in energy demand across the country by
more than 50 percent, and shows ways to save more than $500 billion in net
savings over the next 20 years. These strategies, if implemented, are
estimated to help reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those
from 90 million vehicles.
"The significant action taken by states, utilities and energy customers
advances low cost energy solutions," said Robert Meyers, principal deputy
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "The plan is
a big step toward a more energy-efficient future, helping to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions while growing the American economy."
"These leaders from state government and the private sector should be
commended for their continued progress in promoting energy-efficient
technologies as a key part of modernizing our electric and gas
infrastructure to meet our nation's growing energy needs," said U.S.
Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability Kevin Kolevar.
The action plan outlines critical steps for state policy makers to take
toward the goal of increasing the nation's investment in low cost energy
efficiency programs. The plan also shows the progress states are making
toward these goals. States, utilities and other organizations are spending
about $2 billion per year on energy efficiency programs. Through this
investment, states, utilities and other organizations have saved the energy
equivalent of more than 30 power plants generating 500 megawatts of
electricity saving energy customers nearly $6 billion annually. This effort
helped reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those emitted
from 9 million vehicles.
The updated action plan also identifies areas for additional progress. About
one-third of the states have established energy savings targets and
addressed utility disincentives for energy efficiency. Moreover, about half
of the states have established energy efficiency programs for key customer
classes and reviewed and updated building codes.
Two technical assistance documents are also available to assist states in
achieving the energy goals established under the action plan. The first
document provides guidance on establishing cost-effectiveness tests for
energy efficiency programs, while the second outlines best practices for
providing business customers with energy-use and cost data.
Initiated in 2005, the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is
directed by a leadership group of 30 electric and gas utilities, 20 state
agencies and 12 other organizations. This state driven initiative is
designed to help electric and natural gas ratepayers increase energy
efficiency while saving money. More than 120 organizations have endorsed the
original recommendations of the action plan and have committed to making it
a reality.
The documents and the action plan are available at: http://www.epa.gov/eeactionplan
-DOE-
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