The Romney Camp's Take on Energy Efficiency

Consider this Romneyism: "Energy efficiency is a solution looking for a problem... if it saved money, people would do it on their own." (Source)

The assumption that consumers make "rational decisions" relies on an unstated assumption, to wit: the consumer has complete custody of every step in the decision-making process. This means that the consumer (1) detects some lapse of utility, (2)

Toward an Advanced Manufacturing Policy

NASEO Annual Meeting Keynote Address Focuses on Key Role for States in Advanced Manufacturing

[from NASEO.org, Sep. 11, 2012] Ro Khanna, author of "Entrepreneurial Nation: Why Manufacturing is Still Key to America's Future" and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, highlighted the State government and State Energy Office role in advanced manufacturing during his

White House Announces Executive Order on Industrial Energy Efficiency, including Combined Heat and Power

Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order to accelerate investments in industrial energy efficiency, including combined heat and power (CHP). Accelerating investment in industrial energy efficiency in a way that benefits manufacturers, utilities, and consumers can improve American manufacturing competitiveness and create jobs while improving our nation's energy system and reducing harmful

Better Buildings, Better Plants

The U.S. Department of Energy will soon evolve its program structure, merging the current Industrial Technologies Program with the Buildings program. Deputy Assistance Secretary Kathleen Hogan gives a concise overview of “Better Plants, Better Buildings.” If energy efficiency is to be achieved in the buildings and industry sectors, these will be the critical success factors:1. Direct cost

Point, Counterpoint: Industrial Energy Consumption

A very succinct evaluation of today's energy policy comes from the Council of Industrial Boiler Owners. While some good points are made here, there's also a gap in the logic. My comments are below this quote:"One of the goals/objectives of the Obama Administration has been to delink fossil energy from Gross Domestic Product (GDP). So far it looks like they have been pretty good at it. The only

DOE Announces Over $30 Million to Help Universities Train the Next Generation of Industrial Energy Efficiency Experts

[Ed. note: The implementation of industrial energy efficiency depends as much on organizational dynamics as it does on technical acumen. The "next generation of industrial energy efficiency experts" must become adept at creating consensus across departmental lines. They must also demonstrate a compelling linkage between energy and business performance. These are skill sets that can and should

Funding Cuts for the Energy Information Administration?

Despite our economy's ever-increasing reliance on information as a means for creating value, federal budgeteering has resulted in a sizeable reduction of funding for the Energy Information Administration. A 14 percent cut to the EIA's budget is to be extracted now, not by spreading the cut over a full year, but instead squeezing it from the remaining FY 2011 budget, which runs through September

U.S. Supreme Court Weighs in on Climate Change

On April 19, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in American Electric Power v. Connecticut. This case will likely become the defining decision on climate change litigation, and it will have profound implications for environmental law generally as well as the future of climate change policy in the United States. Last year's 2nd Circuit decision in this case was the first time a

Kudos to the Nevada State Office of Energy

With 50 states plus a number of territorial authorities, we're starting to see a fairly impressive cross-section of stimulus-funded energy efficiency programs. Just one example comes from Nevada. Per their website: "The mission of the Nevada State Energy Office (NSOE) is to ensure the wise development of the state’s energy resources in harmony with local community economic needs and Nevada’s

Sustainability: Future-Proofing for Business

When the term “sustainability” appears in news headlines, it is usually the subject of policy debate. These debates seem to focus on the rights and privileges of investors and property owners. Debate is generally a good thing, but it’s pointless if the subject of debate is not clearly defined to all participants. This is often the case with concept of “sustainability.”To many observers, “