NASEO News

The information below are highlights of news relevant to NASEO Members:

Winter Fuels Conference Highlights Energy Challenges for 2008-2009

The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), with support from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, hosted the 2008-2009 Winter Fuels Outlook Conference on October 7, 2008, in Washington, DC. The Acting Administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA), Howard Gruenspecht, presented the Short-Term and Winter Fuels Outlook. EIA expects that the average American will spend 15% more on home heating this winter, but changes to the global economy, weather and world events could cause this figure to fluctuate. Michael Halpert of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted that the weather should be warmer than normal for most of the nation, except for the northeast and coastal California.

In presentations on specific fuels, Lee Van Atta of Black & Veatch concluded that the natural gas market should be in a favorable position to meet demand for the upcoming winter. Propane stocks, on the other hand, could be well below average, particularly in the Gulf Coast region, according to Walt Hart of Pervin & Gertz, Inc. Frank Verrastro of the Center for Strategic and International Studies presented an overview of the global oil market, the factors that can cause volatility in the price of oil, and the need for strategic energy policy to meet and alter energy consumption patterns. John Felmy of the American Petroleum Institute also spoke of oil and the factors that are impacting gasoline prices and oil company earnings across the country.

Other speakers and panelists presented responses to energy emergencies and high energy prices. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Pat Hoffman of DOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability described the nearly complete recovery efforts from September’s hurricane damage to the electricity system and loss of refinery capacity. Jeff Pillon, Chairman of NASEO’s Energy Data and Security Committee, presented information about Energy Assurance Guidelines for States and the importance of preparation in meeting the challenges of an energy supply disruption. Mark Wolfe of the National Energy Assistance Director’s Association educated attendees about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Congress recently doubled LIHEAP funding to over $5 billion to help low income Americans pay their energy bills and this winter will be a critical for the program. The low income weatherization program, which helps less fortunate Americans save money through residential energy-efficiency improvements, also will play an important role in reducing energy costs, as Robert Adams of the National Association of State Community Service programs concluded. Sloan Coleman of the Small Business Administration explained his organization’s current opportunities for financial support to home heating businesses.

Alice Lippert of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability provided closing remarks and her observations about the importance of energy assurance planning and actions supported by informative events, such as the Winter Fuels Outlook Conference. She also stressed the importance of coordinated state, federal, and private sector planning, response, and mitigation efforts to ensure energy reliability for the public.

Approximately 130 people attended the event, including officials from federal and state governments and private sector energy organizations. More than 15 major print and television media outlets covered the event. With DOE’s support, NASEO hosts the Winter Fuels Outlook Conference each October in Washington, DC, and holds the Summer Fuels Outlook Conference each April. Please contact Shemika Spencer at sspencer@naseo.org if you have questions about NASEO events or NASEO’s Energy Data and Security Committee. For the full meeting agenda and presentations, please visit the website.

NASEO ANNUAL MEETING ADDRESSES ENERGY ISSUES IN THE STATES

As Americans assert their need for clean, reliable, and affordable energy, state and territorial energy directors gathered in Overland Park, Kansas from September 7 -10, 2008, to discuss policies and programs to address high energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Annual Meeting fostered a dialogue among representatives of state, federal and local governments, and the private sector. Lieutenant Governor Mark Parkinson of Kansas delivered the keynote address, while meeting attendees heard from the leaders of the inspiring efforts to rebuild Greensburg, Kansas as a “green” town in the wake of its disastrous 2007 tornado. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy David Rodgers announced federal awards worth $6.6 million in competitive State Energy Program funding and further opportunities for states to connect with national initiatives.

NASEO also signs MOU with US Department of State

While the meeting agenda focused on domestic concerns, states and territories also further recognized the importance of the globalized energy economy. NASEO formalized a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Department of State on “Cooperation within the Field of Clean Development and Climate” through the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP). Ambassador Reno Harnish signed the agreement on behalf of the State Department and addressed attendees on the potential for this new collaboration. The goal of the APP is “to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies” in North America, China, India, Australia, Korea and Japan and Dub Taylor, Chairman of the NASEO Board of Directors, indicated at the signing ceremony that the expertise of NASEO’s members can benefit these efforts among the world’s most significant energy users.

Other highlights of the program included an outlook on fuel costs from John Felmy, Chief Economist at the American Petroleum Institute, and forums on best practices for energy efficiency in buildings. NASEO has officially endorsed a more stringent International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential buildings and continues to support activities, such as the Energy Star program of the US Department of Energy and US Environmental Protection Agency, which help reduce heating and electricity bills, as well as carbon emissions. NASEO General Counsel Jeff Genzer concluded the main program of the meeting with his annual assessment of federal legislation and activities. With Washington waiting on a new presidential administration and its energy policy, the state and territorial energy offices remain leaders in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy and will implement climate and energy solutions that serve the needs of their state, the nation and the world. Presentations from the meeting can be accessed at: http://www.naseo.org/events/annual/2008/presentations/index.html.

NASEO supports the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC)

The EECC is a unique, broad-based alliance of longstanding energy efficiency advocates who have adopted the goal of boosting residential energy efficiency by at least 30% over current model energy codes. Click here to learn more about the EECC's Thirty Percent Solution - The Energy Driving More Efficient Homes.

Past news briefs can be found in the News Archive.