California's passage of two aggressive climate bills offers good news for microgrids, since they can act as levers to help the state reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Once again, the state has led the climate change battle, this time with last week's passage by the state legislature of the two bills, SB 32 and AB 197. The bills aim to reduce … [Read more...]
Community Energy Storage Storage for Cleaner, Lower-Cost Electricity
More and more utilities, equipment manufacturers, and others are working to develop energy storage in households and businesses that can help make the electricity grid cleaner and cheaper. And many of these are eager to share their experiences and insights, as shown by the enthusiastic response to the “Community Storage Initiative,” which has … [Read more...]
New Study Concludes Getting 50% of NY's Electricity from Renewable Sources by 2030 is a Net Win
NRDC's Jackson Morris looks at the low cost and high value of procuring 50 percent of New York's electricity from renewable sources. In December, when New York Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the state's Public Service Commission (PSC) to create a Clean Energy Standard (CES) that ensures New York gets 50 percent of its electricity from renewable … [Read more...]
Glass Half-Full or Half-Empty for Energy Efficiency Now that the Clean Power Plan Has Been Delayed?
NRDC's Dylan Sullivan details why the 'glass' for energy efficiency is not only half full but may be overflowing, despite the recent court stay on the U.S. Clean Power Plan. Is energy efficiency's glass half-full or half-empty after the U.S. Supreme Court's recent stay of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), which limits power plant carbon dioxide … [Read more...]
California Sets World's Strongest Energy Efficiency Standards for Small Directional Light Bulbs
NRDC's Noah Horowitz explains new light bulb energy efficiency standards in California that are expected to cut the state's annual electricity bill by more than $400 million. The California Energy Commission (CEC) made history again today when it set minimum energy efficiency standards for small diameter directional light bulbs used for accent, … [Read more...]
Surprise (Or Not): Saving Energy Saves Energy
What do you say to those who claim that saving energy is a waste of time because of the rebound effect? NRDC's David Goldstein and Sierra Martinez explain research that shows saving energy does in fact save energy. Stanford and Berkeley researchers recently found that energy-saving devices, like more efficient electrical appliances and better … [Read more...]
Energy Efficiency Progress at America's Utilities: The Year in Review
America's utilities have more than doubled their investment in energy efficiency in just seven years. NRDC's Ralph Cavanagh offers details about their progress. America's utilities are now our nation's most important investors in smarter use of electricity and natural gas, helping all of us reduce both energy bills and pollution. NRDC's advocacy … [Read more...]