Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Energy Efficiency is the fastest, cheapest and cleanest way to meet our energy needs while saving consumers money and creating jobs. ELPC is one of over 60 industry and environmental groups who have formed the Campaign for an Energy Efficient America to advocate for a federal energy efficiency resource standard (EERS).
The campaign supports an EERS that would require utilities to reduce electricity demand by 15 percent and natural gas demand by 10 percent by 2020. This EERS is included in both House and Senate versions (H.R. 889 and S. 548) of the Save American Energy Act, introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).
Energy efficiency initiatives that reward consumers and businesses for reducing electricity and gas usage could result in utility bill savings of $168.6 billion and create 220,000 jobs, according to a report released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Learn more at the campaign website www.energyefficiencyworks.org
Read coverage from Energy and Environment Daily
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
On the day that ELPC celebrates the opening of its new Iowa office, Executive Director Howard Learner lays out a plan for Iowa’s future in an OpEd in the Des Moines Register. He points out that Iowa is well-positioned to be a leader in the growing green economy, specifically with three major opportunities in energy efficiency, wind power and high-speed rail development.
“Energy, environmental, employment, economic and national-security goals are converging. President Barack Obama and Congress are moving toward realigning our nation to accelerate clean-energy development to create new jobs and achieve significant greenhouse-gas pollution reductions. Clean-energy development is a win-win-win for job creation, economic growth and better environmental quality.”
Read the full OpEd.
Friday, March 6, 2009
In this editorial, the Des Moines register welcomed the decision by Interstate Power and Light to cancel plans for a new coal plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. The editorial rightly points out that coal is the leading cause of global warming pollution and spending huge amounts of money on a new plant would tie Iowa to a dirty and inceasingly expnsive source of energy.
The editors echoed ELPC’s call for the Iowa Utilities Board to require a strong efficiency plan from the utility Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency will create jobs, save money, reduce pollution and eliminate the need for an expensive new coal plant.
Read the editorial here.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
ELPC’s Iowa Global Warming Campaign took the cue on the national Day of Service held on Martin Luther King’s birthday to help Des Moines families to weatherize their homes. Of course, the crew took along a video camera.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
From the Des Moines Register:
Blanche Formaro, 79, has lived in her house on Southeast Dunham Avenue in Des Moines since 1952. The house has survived two floods and frigid winters, but Formaro said a lot of air comes in the front door.
Or at least it did before Monday.
Volunteers with Iowa Global Warming turned out Monday to help Formaro weatherize her home. They taped plastic on the windows, changed her light bulbs to energy-efficient ones and put weather stripping on her front door.
“I appreciate it a whole bunch,” said Formaro, who has six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Basic weatherization of a home can save up to 30 percent on the energy bill, said Andrew Snow, campaign manager with Iowa Global Warming.
With the present economic crisis, there couldn’t be a better time to cut down on energy bills, Snow said. About 30 volunteers weatherized 18 area homes Monday.
“When you get groups working together, we can really make a difference in people’s lives,” Snow said.
Excerpt from Des Moines Register article. Read the full story here
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The North Dakota Alliance for Renewable Energy (NDARE) presented a comprehensive report outlining steps North Dakota should take to foster greater development of its renewable energy potential.
Saying that North Dakota has a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to capitalize on the growing demand for renewable energy and greater energy efficiency, the Alliance presented its detailed policy proposals for six key sectors and areas: energy efficiency, wind, biomass, biodiesel, ethanol and carbon.
ELPC is a member of NDARE, which is comprised of representatives from commodity groups, farm organizations, investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, state agencies, economic development groups, universities, banks, manufacturers, conservation and environmental groups, and private citizens. NDARE is dedicated to making North Dakota the preeminent state for the production and use of renewable energy and the practice of energy efficiency.
Read the press release.
Read the report’s executive summary.
Watch the television coverage.
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Thursday, December 18, 2008
In the midst of dropping temperatures and rising heating bills, ELPC filed a brief today calling on the Illinois Commerce Commission to approve NICOR’s first ever efficiency program. The program has the potential to save ratepayers millions, while protecting the environment. “We need to get these programs implemented as quickly as possible or we will be in this position again next winter,” said ELPC Senior Attorney Rob Kelter.
ELPC supports the program because NICOR is the largest natural gas utility in Illinois – a 1% reduction in gas consumption by NICOR customers would save $22 million. In addition, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota all have energy efficiency programs in place and the average consumer in all three states uses less gas than Illinois Customers. Finally, the average home heating bill has risen from $750 per year to $1008 per year in the last five years. Efficiency is the most effective way to save consumers money.
Read the press release. Read the brief.
Friday, December 12, 2008
ELPC’s Senior Policy Advocate Andy Olsen spoke with Colorado farm radio host Brian Allmer about the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP grants and loan guarantees help farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses with money-saving projects like generating clean energy through wind or solar power or making their operations more energy efficient. These projects reduce pollution and create new income in rural communities. Andy explains that now is the time for farmers to start planning their clean energy projects.
Monday, December 8, 2008
In a recent OpEd in the Des Moines Register, ELPC President and Executive Director Howard Learner warns us not to back off support for necessary global warming action because of the current economic conditions. In fact, he points out that there are many industries that will benefit from taking these steps and many new jobs that will be created.
“Solving our global-warming problems is the moral, economic, policy, political and technological challenge of our times. Fortunately, there are smart, clean renewable-energy and energy-efficiency developments and clean-car innovation strategies that are good for the economy, create new green jobs and improve the environment…”
Read the full OpEd.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
These are tough economic times, and in times like these, businesses can’t afford to waste energy and drain their bottom lines from high energy bills. Smart businesses view their energy efficiency investments as a profit-center, argues ELPC President and Executive Director Howard Learner in his Southwest News Herald OpEd:
“Let’s face it. America’s economy is bad shape. Some will seize upon the troubled times to argue that we should cut back on investing in clean energy and environmental protection. But that’s the wrong direction both for today and for the future.
For today, energy efficiency makes even more sense in tight financial times. Businesses can’t afford to waste energy and drain their bottom lines from high energy bills, while causing more pollution to our environment. Improving energy efficiency is an investment that can achieve a healthy return. Smart businesses view their energy efficiency investments as a profit-center.”
Learn more at Howard’s blog here at elpc.org.
