The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Tuesday the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020.
Through the SEE Action Network, DOE, EPA and other member organizations
will assist states with their energy efficiency initiatives, including
residential efficiency programs, financing solutions, and improving
availability of energy usage information.
The SEE Action Network will drive energy efficiency by using a broad
set of goals developed in the National Action Plan for Energy
Efficiency, but will strive to reach these goals five years earlier
than originally envisioned. These goals range from establishing
state-of-the art billing systems that provide consumers with consistent
information on their energy use and costs to developing strong state
policies to ensure robust energy efficiency practices.
The new SEE Action Executive Group will meet for the first time in
early March.
The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is a public-private
initiative that began in the fall of 2005 to create a sustainable,
aggressive national commitment to energy efficiency through
collaborative efforts of gas and electric utilities, utility regulators
and other partner organizations.
Additional DOE Budget Details
Yesterday we reported on the Obama Administration’s budget requests for various agencies dealing with the environment and energy. Now that we’ve seen the complete DOE budget proposal (available at the link below), we’d like to highlight a few more items.
The budget proposal calls for the termination of an Ultra-Deepwater exploration program, saving $50 million, and planned expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, saving $71 million. It also would cut appropriation for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, which are not in favor with the administration.
Under the president’s budget, DOE would receive lending authority to support approximately $40 billion in loan guarantees for innovative clean energy programs.
The budget also includes $40.5 million in funding for marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy—an increase of $10.5 million over the $30 million proposed by the President in FY’2010.
Geothermal technology funding would receive a 25% boost under the president’s plan to $55 million.
Funding for wind energy increases 53.1% to $122.5 million.
Solar funding is increased by 22% to $302.4 million.
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