2010 ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard Cites

2010 ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard Cites State Leaders

October 20, 2010

States across the country made strides in energy efficiency, according to the 2010 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released on October 13 by the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Among the highlights in the fourth edition of the scorecard are: a near doubling of state energy efficiency budgets from 2007 spending levels from $2.5 billion to $4.3 billion; the adoption or active consideration by more than half the states of energy efficiency resource standards that establish long-term, fixed efficiency savings targets; and a one-year doubling of the number of states that have either adopted or have made significant progress toward the adoption of the latest energy-saving building codes for homes and commercial properties.

California retained its first place ranking for the fourth year in a row, outperforming all other states in its level of investment in energy efficiency across all sectors of its economy. Massachusetts again placed second. The four most-improved states were Utah (up 11 spots from 2009 to number 12), Arizona (up 11 spots to 18), New Mexico (up 8 spots to 22), and Alaska (up 8 spots to 37). California, Massachusetts, and Washington have implemented transportation-specific greenhouse gas reduction targets while several other states have adopted policies to encourage the creation of compact and transit-oriented communities.

The fourth edition of ACEEE's State Energy Efficiency Scorecard examines six energy efficiency policy areas: utility and public benefits programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes; combined heat and power; state government initiatives; and appliance efficiency standards. See the ACEEE press release, the complete report online, and the Energy Scorecard Web site.

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Scott's Contracting
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http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
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First Solar Power Tower on U.S. Public Lands

Interior Department Approves First Solar Power Tower on U.S. Public Lands

October 13, 2010

The Ivanpah solar project will rely on solar power tower technology, which employs a field of flat mirrors to concentrate the sunlight on a receiver, mounted at the top of a central tower . Credit: BrightSource Energy

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved on October 7 the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, the first large-scale solar energy project on U.S. public lands to use "power tower" technology. Proposed by BrightSource Energy, the project could produce up to 370 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power 111,000 to 277,500 American homes. Located in San Bernardino County, California, the project is expected to generate approximately 1,100 new jobs. The DOI decision authorizes Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to offer BrightSource a right-of-way grant to use the public lands for 30 years if all rents and other conditions are met. The site is in Southern California's Mojave Desert, near the Nevada border.

The Ivanpah project uses innovative technology that, when completed, will include three solar thermal power plants. The technology employs mirror fields to focus solar energy on power tower receivers near the center of each array. Steam from solar boilers in the towers drive a turbine that generates electricity for the transmission grid. Construction of all three project phases is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013. To lessen its environmental impact, BLM reduced the size of the project by more than 15%, from 4,073 acres to 3,471 acres; it also reduced the number of heliostats (solar mirrors) from 214,000 to 173,500.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, renewable energy developers whose projects begin construction by the end of 2010 can apply for payments of up to 30 percent of the eligible costs of the project. Also under the Recovery Act, DOE awarded BrightSource $1.37 billion in conditional loan guarantees for this project. See the DOI press release and an fact sheet on Ivanpah.

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Snake Oil Awards and Koch Industry

Dear Scotts Contracting,

Thanks for casting your vote for Koch Industries in the 2010 Snake Oil Awards. You've joined thousands of supporters in shining a spotlight on the fossil fuel industry's dirty tricks.

But it isn't enough just to crown a winner -- we need to spread the word about the vile tactics and outright deceptions of big polluters and climate deniers.

You can make that happen. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about the Snake Oil Awards: ask them to vote for Koch Industries before November 5 at midnight.

http://acp.repoweramerica.org/snakeoil-voteKoch

Thanks for standing up to the snake oil salesmen,

Dave Boundy
Campaign Manager
Repower America

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Earth Dance: Eco Friendly Invitation in St Louis

EarthDance:

Come join us at their party Saturday night!

PESTO FESTO!

Pesto Festo is EarthDance's premier fundraising celebration of the year and includes live music, local food, live art, a silent auction,
The EarthDance Mission Awards, and much more.

Located at the historic Savoy in Ferguson, Missouri, on Nov 6th, it is a confluence of community and an opportunity to give thanks for the year's harvest. Much of the food that will be served at Pesto Festo is even grown by EarthDance farm apprentices just 1 mile from the event!

St. Louis Earth Day's Recycling on the Go program is assisting EarthDance in making the event near zero waste. Festo-goers will dance to the tunes of the Maple Jam Band, bid on "live" art created right before their eyes, and meet this year's incredible
EarthDance Mission Award honorees!

For more details, visit www.pestofesto.org

Buy Tickets

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com