Highlights Include Briefings on New Legislation, Federal Clean Power Plan
The Spring Meeting of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council attracted an overflow audience on May 11, filling the meeting room at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. Efficiency advocates gathered for the biannual meeting representing a wide variety of perspectives, including business of all sizes, utilities, nonprofits, national associations, local governments and state agencies.
The agenda featured several particularly timely topics, and speakers’ presentations can be found on the VAEEC website on our Resources page. A few highlights from the 2015 Spring Meeting:
- A pair of legislative successes at the General Assembly were prominently featured, starting with a top VAEEC priority: Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. VAEEC Board Member Bill Greenleaf of Virginia Community Capital, and Abby Johnson of Abacus Property Solutions, orchestrated the successful campaign and now teamed up again to share the story of how PACE passed in Virginia and how it’s working in other states.
- Another successful piece of legislation, a clarification to the CARE Act that governs natural gas utilities, promises to increase program offerings from the utilities. Gina Slaunwhite of Columbia Gas of Virginia provided background on why the change was needed and what it could mean going forward.
- Mary Shoemaker (pictured at right) of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) presented the
latest details on the proposed federal Clean Power Plan and how it could be addressed in Virginia, with a specific focus on the potential of EE as a cost-effective solution.
- VAEEC Board Member Tom Jewell of Dominion Virginia Power moderated our regular meeting feature in which attendees from utilities provide updates on their EE programs; a high number of utilities (electric and gas, investor-owned and coops) were in the room and participated.
- Bob Adams of Housing Virginia shared details of a recent report examining how EE benefits low income and rental housing and highlighted a new coalition under development to promote EE in multifamily housing in Virginia.
The meeting was peppered with many additional updates and announcements, including; a sneak preview of the VAEEC’s latest industry census results; Borna Kazerooni offering updates from Virginia DMME; and Matthew Cooper sharing the exciting news that his Virginia-based firm, PEG, was honored by ENERGYSTAR as a national Partner of the Year.
As always, we greatly appreciate the many individuals who attended the Spring Meeting, traveling to Richmond from across the Commonwealth and beyond. A special thank you to Dominion Virginia Power for sponsoring this year’s Spring Meeting. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Fall Meeting for another opportunity to share information and insights, catch up with friends and colleagues and make new connections.
Four Members Also Serve on VAEEC Governance Board
The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) is pleased to share the news that today Gov. McAuliffe appointed the members of the new Governor’s Executive Committee on Energy Efficiency. The Committee was created by the governor as part of the Virginia Energy Plan published in October, and it will be chaired by the state’s Chief Energy Efficiency Officer, Hayes Framme. The Committee is tasked with developing strategies to meet the state’s longstanding voluntary goal of reducing energy consumption in Virginia by 10% over 2006 levels by 2022 – a deadline that the governor has indicated should be moved up to 2020.
Statement by Ken Rosenfeld, VAEEC Executive Director:
“The creaton of the Governor’s Executive Committee on Energy Efficiency reflects the administration’s commitment to making energy efficiency a pillar of the Commonwealth’s energy future. The VAEEC applauds Governor McAuliffe for appointing this impressive group to accomplish its important work. The state’s 10% energy efficiency goal has been on the books for years, but without any plan to achieve it. This Committee has enormous potential to move energy efficiency forward in the Commonwealth, and to meet our efficiency goal in a way that generates significant benefits in terms of energy savings, financial savings, and job creation. The roster includes four VAEEC Governance Board members — Cynthia Adams, Bill Greenleaf, David Koogler and Saifur Rahman – and many other VAEEC member organization are represented as well; in total this is a remarkable collection of individuals who understand these issues in great detail. We look forward to working with the Committee to help ensure that every perspective is considered and to support its work in any way possible.”
Read the governor’s announcement.
The full list of appointees to the Governor’s Executive Committee on Energy Efficiency:
- Cynthia Adams of Charlottesville, Executive Director, Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)*
- Ken Barker of Richmond, Vice President, Customer Solutions & Energy Conservation, Dominion Virginia Power
- Carol Davis of Blacksburg, Sustainability Manager, Town of Blacksburg
- Jim Fawcett of Charleston, West Virginia, Manager, Energy Efficiency & Alternative Energy Initiatives, Appalachian Power Company
- Bill Greenleaf of Richmond, Loan Officer, Virginia Community Capital, Inc.*
- David Koogler of Hanover, Vice President, Customer Services, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative*
- Angela Navarro of Charlottesville, Staff Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
- Michele Peterson of Richmond, Senior Energy Business Consultant, Honeywell
- Bill Prindle of Charlottesville, Vice President, ICF International
- Saifur Rahman of McLean, Joseph Loring Professor and Director, Advanced Research Institute, Virginia Tech*
- William Reisinger of Richmond, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Virginia
- Dana Wiggins of Richmond, Responsible Lending Coordinator, Virginia Poverty Law Center
*VAEEC Governance Board Member
Governor McAuliffe chose Earth Day 2015 as the fitting time to sign several pieces of clean energy legislation into law, including a pair of bills promoting energy efficiency. The VAEEC was well-represented at the event with a number of member representatives joining the celebration. The new clean energy laws include two VAEEC priorities: Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, and a clarification to the Conservation and Ratemaking Efficiency (CARE) Act which regulates the state’s natural gas utilities.
The PACE legislation is the culmination of many years of work to have Virginia join the majority of states that have successfully implemented the program. PACE is a loan program that can be implemented by localities, allowing commercial property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for their properties and repay the loans as special assessments. VAEEC Board Member Bill Greenleaf of Virginia Community Capital spearheaded the successful campaign.
Read the final language.The update to the CARE Act clarifies how efficiency programs proposed by the gas utilities are evaluated by the State Corporation Commission. The change, supported by the utilities and the SCC, promises to result in more robust efficiency program offerings for Virginia customers.
Read the final language.
“The VAEEC thanks the Governor, his Administration, the bill sponsors, and the General Assembly for the great support of PACE financing and the CARE Act fix,” said Ken Rosenfeld, Executive Director of the VAEEC. “Both bills were overwhelmingly passed, reflecting the bipartisan support for energy efficiency in Virginia.”
“PACE financing provides a substantial new option to expand opportunities for commercial property owners. The CARE Act clarification, by providing a better measure of the true cost effectiveness of utility efficiency programs, promises to bring new opportunities to Virginia consumers. These two laws are a significant step forward for energy efficiency in the Commonwealth, and that means lower energy bills, cleaner air and local jobs. We have much more to do to reach the state’s energy goals, but this year’s General Assembly session was a home run for energy efficiency.”
The two new laws will be featured topics of discussion at the VAEEC Spring Meeting, Monday, May 11, 2:00-5:00pm, at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond. Register now.
PEG’s “Tactical Technical” mission is to provide world class engineering and environmental consulting for the THINKING ENVIRONMENT.
Learn more about PEG.
Join us for the Spring 2015 VAEEC Meeting, your twice-yearly opportunity to network with other leaders in the energy efficiency industry, hear from speakers about the state of the industry in the Commonwealth, and help chart the course for the VAEEC.
Topics and speakers on the agenda:
- PACE Financing Legislation (Bill Greenleaf, Virginia Community Capital, and Abby Johnson, Abacus Property Solutions)
- Gas Utility Legislation (Gina Slaunwhite, Columbia Gas of Virginia)
- Clean Power Plan (Mary Shoemaker, ACEEE)
- Utilities Update (Tom Jewell, Dominion Virginia Power)
- VAEEC Update / Census Results (Ken Rosenfeld, VAEEC)
- EnergyStar Partner of the Year (Matthew Cooper, PEG)
- EE and Affordable Rental Housing (Bob Adams, Housing Virginia)
Register now.
The meeting is free and open to all. Non-VAEEC members are asked to make a small donation. We encourage you to invite friends and colleagues. Parking is free. Thank you to Dominion Virginia Power for sponsoring the meeting.
Trane’s Performance Contracting Portfolio consists of healthcare, higher education, laboratories, military bases, local governments, and K-12 schools. Having worked with many PC clients in the Commonwealth, Trane has earned a reputation for responsible project development, quality design and execution, and “getting results” for customers.
The Virginia Energy Plan Released.
The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) applauds Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s Virginia Energy Plan, released on October 1. As the Governor says in his opening letter, “the cleanest and cheapest energy is the energy that is not consumed,” underscoring the central role energy efficiency will play in the Commonwealth’s energy future.
The plan is intended to provide a strategic vision for energy policy in Virginia, providing a comprehensive view of current assets and future opportunities. It will be formally presented at an event October 14, will be explored in detail as a featured agenda item at the VAEEC Fall membership meeting, which will be held two days later in Richmond. The meeting is open to everyone; click here to register.
Read the VAEEC’s full response to the Virginia Energy Plan.
D+R International is an energy efficiency market expert company. The firm leverages its relationships, built over its 30-year history, with energy efficiency advocates, utilities, product manufacturers and retailers to identify and design practical, cost-effective, high-impact solutions that address our nation’s energy problems and deliver environmental benefits.
Posted by Ken Rosenfeld, VAEEC Executive Director (December 15, 2014)
As 2014 draws to a close, we are fortunate to look back on a year in which energy efficiency began to assume its rightful place as a key resource in Virginia. Thanks to the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council’s members and broad coalition of supporters, we proudly played a leading role in this success and are poised to accomplish much more in the year ahead.
It was an exciting year, highlighted by a couple of significant accomplishments:
- The VAEEC released the results of the state’s first-ever energy efficiency industry census, revealing a robust Virginia industry comprised of 1,300 companies, 9,400 jobs, and $300 million in economic activity.
- We played a central role in the effort to draft the new Virginia Energy Plan, and the VAEEC was the only organization asked by the Administration to present at each of the state’s Listening Sessions during the plan’s development.
The year was also notable for the number of positive signals coming out of the state government in 2014 that bode well for the future, including:
- The new Virginia Energy Plan released by Governor McAuliffe suggests a new commitment to energy efficiency as a resource and a solution to our energy needs. For the first time, energy efficiency/conservation stands alongside other energy resources as a separate chapter in the plan, rather than a sidenote or afterthought.
- The Energy Plan includes the formation of a new energy efficiency board, which will develop strategies for meeting Virginia’s longstanding, voluntary goal of a 10% reduction in energy consumption.
- The Governor issued Executive Order 31, aimed at reducing energy consumption in state buildings, potentially saving millions of dollars and positioning the state government to lead by example, and issued Executive Order 36, creating a Green Community Program that will provide Virginia localities and the private sector with a low-cost financing tool to implement energy conservation projects.
- The Governor also appointed a Chief Energy Efficiency Officer, possibly the first state-level position of its kind in the country, to ensure that positive actions are forthcoming.
Meanwhile, organizationally, the VAEEC continued to establish its presence in 2014 as a valued resource and unique coalition. Our biannual meetings were the most well-attended to date. Our membership is steadily growing. We added a LinkedIn platform where everyone can stay apprised of news and opportunities. And on a personal note, it’s been a privilege to serve as the VAEEC’s first Executive Director, coming on board back in April.
Of course, the horizon is where we are focused. Our positive momentum couldn’t be more timely, as we have several critical opportunities ahead of us:
- Thanks to the establishment of the state energy efficiency board, we finally have a platform to address Virginia’s goal of a 10% reduction in energy use through efficiency and conservation. The goal was to be accomplished by 2022 (10% below 2006 levels), but to this point there has been no statewide plan to meet it.
- The Commonwealth is grappling with how to address the federal Clean Power Plan, which calls for a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the nation’s power sector – a 30 percent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030. VAEEC will be communicating to lawmakers, regulators and others that energy efficiency offers a sensible, low-cost solution.
These are great opportunities, and we know that energy efficiency represents a rare “win-win” in energy policy — a common sense, nonpartisan, cost-effective solution that directly addresses our energy needs while creating significant benefits for the state. It is critical at this time that all Virginians come to a consensus on the need for an increased commitment to energy efficiency.
Fortunately, the VAEEC consists of an incredibly diverse and engaged membership that can accomplish remarkable feats by working together. Our membership is our greatest asset, its strength reflected in its diversity of businesses of all sizes, utilities, nonprofits, universities and local governments.
There is a tremendous amount of work to be done to turn our opportunities into results. But as we close out 2014 proud of the burgeoning energy efficiency industry in Virginia, the momentum coming out of Richmond, and the number and variety of interested parties as reflected in the VAEEC membership, there’s reason for great optimism for the future of energy efficiency in the Commonwealth. Thank you for all that you do, and we look forward to another great year working with you at the VAEEC in 2015.
The Fall Meeting of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council packed the room on October 16, with a large audience representing a wide variety of perspectives, including business of all sizes, nonprofits, national associations, colleges and school districts, and local governments and state agencies. The biannual gathering was held at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, arranged to coincide with Governor McAuliffe’s signing ceremony for Executive Order 31, which is aimed at reducing energy consumption in state government.
It was a full, timely agenda, and we have uploaded several of the speakers’ presentations to our website (you can find them on our Resources page). A few highlights:
• The featured topic was the newly-released Virginia Energy Plan; VAEEC Chair Cynthia Adams detailed the many positive sections related to energy efficiency (Her presentation is available online., and Al Christopher, Director of the Division of Energy at the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy, provided valuable insight into the process.
• Jeff Soplop of EnergySavvy presented his company’s view of the important topic of Evaluation, Measurement and Verification (EM&V), focusing on the real-time quantification of energy efficiency. (His presentation is available online.)
• Ralph Joyce of Dominion Virginia Power (and VAEEC Governance Board Member) led our regular round-robin update of utilities’ energy efficiency programs.
• A number of reports were provided addressing VAEEC priorities and programs, including: VAEEC Governance Board Member Bill Greenleaf reported on efforts to introduce legislation on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing (His presentation is available online.); Angela Navarro of the Southern Environmental Law Center described a new initiative reviewing cost-effectiveness testing for energy efficiency in Virginia; and attendees were given the opportunity to provide input as part of the Clean Energy Roadmap project that the VAEEC is working on for the U.S. Department of Energy.
There was one piece of council business as the membership elected a slate of three new Governance Board members to fill open seats. The VAEEC is pleased to welcome the leadership of: Harry Godfrey of Opower; John Morrill, energy manager for Arlington County; and Saifur Rahman, director of the Advanced Research Institute at Virginia Tech. You can read more about these new Board members here.
We also send along our thanks to the three departing Board members who have been instrumental in establishing the VAEEC: Jim Kapsis of Opower; Kevin Martin of North Carolina State University; and Steve Walz of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
We greatly appreciate the many individuals who attended the Fall Meeting, including those who traveled to Richmond from across the state. A special thank you to Trane for sponsoring the Fall Meeting, which once again served as an exceptional venue for sharing information and insights, and making new connections.
— Ken Rosenfeld, Executive Director
