Energy Efficiency

Goal #1: Lower energy costs to existing homes, business and farms

Proposal: Sen. Phil Rockefeller will introduce legislation to:

Triple the number of homes weatherized under the existing low-income household weatherization program
Assist middle income households and small businesses to increase their energy efficiency through energy audits and upgrades
Assist farmers to increase their energy efficiency by conducting "whole farm" energy assessments
Target job training in conducting energy audits and efficiency construction at community colleges and work force training programs.

The result: At full implementation, 20,000 buildings retrofit per year over five years. Using U.S. Department of Energy estimates for job creation in energy efficiency work, this would create 7,500 jobs.

The details: This legislation will combine funding from a variety of sources, including increased federal low-income household weatherization funds, anticipated significant federal stimulus funding to be directed to states for energy efficiency upgrades, targeting state capital budget funds toward energy efficiency in publicly funded housing, increased contributions from electric utilities toward weatherization programs, matching funds from local sponsors, and contributions toward the upgrade costs by homeowners and business owners.

This legislation will provide the impetus to knit together all of these sources into a greatly expanded effort to weatherize homes and businesses.

Federal funds for the Low Income Housing and Energy Assistance Program are expected to be greatly increased, resulting in about $34 million for low-income weatherization this year.
The federal stimulus package is expected to have a large amount sent through the states for energy efficiency activities, which could mean $100 million or more to our state from additional federal funds.

The legislation also has incentives for utilities to contribute toward this program, and these incentives become more attractive as their conservation responsibilities under I-937 begin to approach.

Additional funding for the training component and for state agency and publicly funded housing elements of the legislation may be addressed through a variety of sources, including the state capital budget and use of unemployment insurance worker retraining funds.

Goal #2: Lower energy costs within state government

Proposal: Sen. Kevin Ranker has introduced SB 5560 to:

Reduce state agency emissions of greenhouse gases to
1990 levels by 2017
25 percent below 1990 levels by 2025, and
50 percent below 1990 levels by 2035 or 70 percent below the business-as-usual projection for 2035, whichever is lower
Increase the fuel economy of the state motor pool to 36 mpg by 2015
Set targets for more efficient energy use in state buildings, beginning with a 2017 target to reduce consumption by 20 percent below 2011 levels.

The result: Heating and powering buildings comprise of about 30 percent of the state’s carbon footprint. With this legislation, the state is leading by example.

The details: General fund state and private funding for measuring and tracking tools, and development of the carbon reduction and energy efficiency strategies. A fiscal note hasn't been prepared on the legislation yet, but these initial costs should not be extensive.

Agency vehicle fleet purchases to meet the miles-per-gallon target will be made on their regular replacement schedule. The costs of most building efficiency improvements and vehicle purchases will be paid for on a life-cycle basis in the reduced energy costs for buildings and the reduced fuel usage in vehicles.

Goal #3: Lower energy costs for buildings

Proposal: Sen. Derek Kilmer will introduce legislation to:

Establish a goal of achieving "net zero" emissions in new buildings by 2030, with a 50 percent increase in efficiency in existing buildings, and
Provide new authority to cities, counties and PUDs to provide energy efficiency loans and services
Provide an incentive through a credit against the public utilities tax (PUT) for buildings meeting high Energy Star scores
Require benchmarking in larger public and commercial buildings.

The result: The reduced energy use in buildings from this legislation will achieve millions of tons in reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The details: The Building Code Council already updates its code regularly, so additional costs to the Council are not anticipated from this legislation. The costs to state agencies to implement the building performance benchmarking will be addressed in the biennial budget. The PUT credit in the legislation is capped at a total of $750,000 per year, and would impact the General Fund.

Continue to Growing Clean and Green Energy Jobs

Clean Energy, Green Jobs