Energy Efficiency Engine of Economic Growth in Canada
Other assessments of energy efficiency programs show large direct savings to consumers and growth in energy service jobs. By looking at the broader, macroeconomic impacts of those savings, Acadia Center’s modeling study shows that the energy savings generated by efficiency programs frees up money for new spending (in the residential sector) and promotes increased competitiveness and output among businesses and industry. This translates into significant economic growth and job creation potential.
RGGI A Successful Carbon Pricing Program
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cap-and-trade system in North America. The program has been in place since 2009 and regulates fossil fuel-powered electric generating plants in nine Northeast and mid-Atlantic states.1 The RGGI region had a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately $2.6 trillion in 2012—four times that of Ontario and almost 50% more than the entire Canadian economy in the same year
New Jersey and RGGI Potential Benefits of Renewed Participation
In late 2011 the Christie Administration announced New Jersey’s withdrawal from the program after three years of participation. As a result, New Jersey’s power plants are no longer governed by a limit on the amount of carbon pollution they can produce. At the same time, the state no longer receives any revenue resulting from the sale of pollution allowances required in participating states – limiting the state’s ability to invest in clean energy initiatives. As a result, the state is missing out on an opportunity to reduce energy bills and create jobs.
Cleaner Energy Alternatives to Tar Sands Imports
Analysis examines how the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states could displace refined petroleum products, specifically tar-sands-derived fuels used for heating and transportation, over a ten-year period (2013-2022), and the associated economic and GHG emissions impacts of doing so.
Pipeline Alternatives Assessment
In response to increasing reliance on natural gas for heating and electricity, New England states are proposing to publicly finance new, multi-billion-dollar natural gas pipelines in the region, but viable, potentially lower cost, and cleaner alternatives have not yet been sufficiently evaluated. Acadia Center offers this illustrative assessment to spur more transparent public discussion and debate on considering and utilizing all available options to meet our energy needs.
MEVI Mid-Year Report
This mid-year report briefly describes the background of MEVI, summarizes efforts towards early zero-emission-vehicles or ZEV-readiness and lists priority state actions underway and under consideration based on Task Force recommendations
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Performance To-Date and the Path Ahead
During five plus years of operations, RGGI has helped Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States achieve significant reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other dangerous pollutants from the electric power sector. At the same time the program has generated significant economic benefits in the region.
RI EERMC Annual Report 2014
Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council April 2014 Annual Report to the General Assembly, for the Council’s seventh year of operation. As required by R.I.G.L. § 42-140.1-5, this Annual Report includes a summary of the “activities of the Council, its assessment of energy issues, the status of system reliability, energy efficiency and conservation procurement and its recommendations regarding any improvements which might be necessary or desirable.”
EnergyVision
Envisioning a clear pathway towards meeting long term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets of 80% by 2050 has been a difficult and elusive task. Yet, an exciting convergence of technology advances and success in reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation points towards viable solutions that can be implemented now to be on the right path. It may seem counterintuitive, but the key is to rely more on decarbonized electricity to power transportation and buildings. Consider this hypothetical: if all gasoline powered cars on the road and all buildings heating with fossil fuels immediately switched to modern electric technologies like electric vehicles and high efficiency cold weather heat pumps, GHG emissions from these sources in the Northeast would be cut in half. With further efforts to transition electricity generation to renewable resources, emissions would continue to fall. Dramatic changes to our power grid, more decentralized and community energy approaches and redoubled efforts to maximize energy efficiency are needed to make this vision real.
Forecasting Distributed Generation Resources in New England
The key findings of this study include the following:
- The ISO forecasts that approximately 800 MW of solar PV will be installed in New England by 2021. It has not yet presented any estimates of other types of DG.
- Research shows that significantly more DG resources—mostly solar PV—are likely to be installed by 2021. Several states have already installed more DG than the ISO estimates will be installed by 2021, and the remaining states are planning to install significantly more DG than the ISO is predicting by 2021.
Prepared by Synapse for the E4 Group: ENE [now Acadia Center], Conservation Law Foundation, GridSolar LLC, Industrial Energy Consumer Group, Maine Public Advocate, Natural Resources Council of Maine