NEEP News
NEEP speaks with the Delaware Journal
April 29, 2009: Delaware News Journal, "State of State reflects hard times." NEEP's Executive Director, Sue Coakley, comments on Delaware's intent to pursue a 15% reduction goal for electricity consumption and peak demand by 2015 - including efficiency programs, building energy codes, and development of a statewide energy efficiency policys.
Gov. Jack Markell [recently] promoted his CORE Prosperity agenda, which includes focusing on energy efficiency to save money, generate jobs and protect the environment; establishing a federal-stimulus-funded job training program; streamlining the business-licensing process to a single, statewide license; and supporting small-business development through the low-interest LIFT loan program.
Markell said he would seek legislation requiring a 15 percent cut in per capita energy consumption and a 15 percent reduction in peak electricity demand by 2015. He also said his administration will propose new, energy-efficient building codes and require consideration of conservation or renewable energy sources before new conventional supplies are considered, as well as energy-conservation investments for state buildings.
New Jersey's Energy Master Plan, adopted in October, calls for a 20 percent reduction by the year 2020 -- a goal that could cost more than $6 billion, while saving consumers more than $16 billion, Susan Coakley, executive director of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership, said.
"Delaware is actually surrounded by states which have already made this commitment," Coakley said, "which is actually very good news, because retailers and service providers already are gearing up to respond."
The entire article can be purchased here.
