Washington, DC (November 1, 2007)- This Vision for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency establishes a goal of achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025, presents ten implementation goals for states, utilities, and other stakeholders to consider to achieve this goal, describes what 2025 might look like if the goal is achieved, and provides a means for measuring progress. It is a framework for implementing the five policy recommendations of the Action Plan, announced in July 2006, which can be modified and improved over time.
Improving the energy efficiency of homes, businesses, schools, governments, and industries- which consume more than 70 percent of the natural gas and electricity used in the United States- is one of the most constructive, cost-effective ways to address the challenges of high energy prices, energy security and independence, air pollution, and global climate change in the near future. Energy efficiency can play a significant role in meeting our energy requirements, and it is a critical component of the overall modernization of utility energy systems worthy of the 21st century.
As of November 2007, more than 100 organizations have endorsed the Vision for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency recommendations and/or made commitments to take energy efficiency to the next level within their spheres of influence. As a next step, the Action Plan co-chairs challenged the Leadership Group to define a vision that would detail the steps necessary to fully implement the Action Plan.
Ten Implementation Goals
The Vision suggests that implementation of a number of policies will enhance the likelihood that the long-term goal will be achieved. Energy efficiency needs to be valued similarly to supply options. Utilities and investors need to be financially interested in saving energy. State activity is key in this transformation of natural gas and electricity supply and delivery, including updating and enforcing codes and standards to ensure that savings are captured as new buildings and products enter the system. Customers must also have the proper incentives to make investments in cost-effective energy efficiency.
Of the ten goals, Goal Two- Developing Processes to Align Utilities- most closely aligns with urban forestry efforts. Incentives equally for efficiency and supply resources applicable state agencies are encouraged to:
* Work with utilities to implement revenue mechanisms to promote utility and shareholder indifference to supplying energy savings, as compared to energy generation options.
* Consider how to remove utility disincentives to energy efficiency such as by removing the utility throughput disincentive and exploring other rate making ideas.
* Ensure timely cost recovery in place for parties that administer energy efficiency programs.
Next Steps
This Vision is offered as a framework to assist change in energy efficiency and related policies and programs at the state level across the country, toward the goal of achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency in 2025. It presents a snapshot of where the country is in 2007 based on the collection and organization of available state-level information on the existing policy and program options. This snapshot, as well as other elements of the Vision, will be updated as new information becomes available and improved as information changes. People are encouraged to provide additional information and their comments for how to refine this Vision to the Action Plan Leadership Group.
Please send feedback to Action Plan sponsors via:
Larry Mansueti
U.S. Department of Energy
202-586-2588
AND
Stacy Angel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
202-343-9606
Related Resources:
Vision 2025
Vision for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency