Green Counsel

Spitzer Announces Major Energy Reduction Plan: 15% by 2015

New York's Governor Spitzer announced today a major plan to cut New York's energy consumption 15% from levels predicted by 2015 -- an energy reduction level that is reportedly more aggressive than any other state's plan to reduce global warming. Specifically, the plan will meet increased demand by implementing aggressive peak energy load reductions rather than by building new plants. Elements of the plan include:

1) More efficient buildings and appliances with new legislation setting standards for inefficient appliances.

2) State agency approval of 21 contracts for renewable energy power plants delivering 800 MW of electricity that will replace heavily polluting plants (expected to be completed by 2008).

3) Breaking the gridlock on passage of Article X, New York's power plant siting law, that will speed construction of clean plants.

4) Supporting long term contracts between developers of power plants and utilities, that hopefully will provide enough expected revenues for investors to support new plant construction.

5) New York Public Service Commission agrees to the concept of decoupling that will allow utilities to make money even when utilities impose energy conservation mechanisms.

Read more here.

Supreme Court Rules EPA Can Regulate Greenhouse Gases

Big news from Washington today: the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Clean Air Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Court ruled that the states had the right to sue the EPA to challenge its decision, and that the Clear Air Act gave the EPA authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases.

Additionally, the Court ruled that the EPA had to re-examine the EPA's position that it had discretion not to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The Court said the agency has so far provided a "laundry list" of reasons that include foreign policy considerations, but it must tie its rationale more closely to the Clean Air Act.

As the Court said, the "EPA has offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change."

See full story here.

3 Major Energy Trade Associations Groups Now Support Carbon Reductions

In a major shift in policy, three major energy lobbying groups -- the Edison Electric Institute, the American Gas Association, and the Electric Power Supply Association -- have reversed their position and now support compulsory controls on their carbon emissions. Members of the largest group, the Edison Institute, are responsible for 60 percent of the nation's electricity.

The good news is that this is a sure sign that there will soon be global warming legislation passed by Congress. The bad news is that there will be enormous pressure for a watered down bill that will preempt more meaningful state action.

An article in the Wall Street Journal indicates that the groups' shift in policy was a pragmatic decision to ensure they have places at the table when inevitable national policy on climate change is developed. The American Gas Association, which was publicly against any federal climate change legislation and that represents 200 utilities that distribute natural gas, reportedly "reversed itself because of growing signs that Congress could pass mandatory controls."

Let's see -- if I was one of Dick Cheney's duck hunting buddies would I want a law that I could control now, or take a chance with a unknown Democrat or Republican like John McCain?

Australia to Ban Incandescent Bulbs

The BBC reported today that Australia would become the first country to ban incandescent bulbs with a complete phase out by 2010.

Since compact flourescents use only 20% of the electricity of traditional bulbs, the move could cut the Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons by 2012. According to Australia's environmental minister, if the whole world switched to compact flourescent bulbs today, we could reduce worldwide consumption of electricity by an amount equal to five times Australia's annual consumption.

There sure is elegance in mandatory actions.

A Computer for the Planet

If computers are going to help solve the sustainability crises, then they must stop being part of the problem. A study last week, for example, indicated that computer servers alone use about 1.2% of the country's electricity -- more electricity used than in the entire state of Mississippi and 19 other states.

A small Boston company, Tech Networks of Boston, is doing something about it. Last year, Tech Networks released it’s Earth-PC and Earth-Serve machines that use at least 25 percent less power than standard computers, and can save between $20-$45 in electricity costs per year. For a business, school district or organization with many computers, annual savings can easily be in the thousands.

A standard desktop computer, excluding the monitor, uses electricity roughly equivalent to a 100 watt light bulb. However, substantial waste occurs when the AC power from your outlet is converted to the DC power required for a computer. Inexpensive power supplies in most computers not only waste up to 40% of input electricity, but they also generate heat that requires additional energy for cooling. The Earth-PC uses an 80 Plus Certified power supply, guaranteed be at least 80% efficient, wasting not more than 20%.

Inefficiencies in servers are even greater, and Tech Network’s Earth Server can save $1,500 over a five-year period (see comparison here).

Tech Network not only provides a good product, but it’s a good corporate citizen. It gives discounts to non-profits and donated over $12,000 to charities in 2005. Tech Networks is also a co-founder in January 2006 of the Business Summit for a Sustainable Boston -- a network of business leaders and city officials actively working to make Boston a more livable, environmentally-friendly city.