By Erin Cosgrove | Wed, August 30, 2023
Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating the one-year mark of the passage of the IRA. Now, it‘s time to start implementing two of its biggest investments - the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) and the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA). Combined, HOMES and HEEHRA will result in over $8 billion dollars in investment in efficiency and electrification in homes across the…
By Erin Cosgrove | Fri, July 28, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released guidance for $150 million in formula funding for the State-Based Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants (Contractor Training Program). The Contractor Training Program provides funding to state energy offices to train, test, and certify energy efficiency and electrification contractors. The funding is not just for IRA programs, but also to…
By Erin Cosgrove | Wed, May 24, 2023
In April, Connecticut became one of a handful of states to start implementing performance-based rates. Performance-based rates (PBR) align utility profits with public policy goals by changing how utilities invest and make money. In past blogs, we have explored how states can use metrics to pivot program design to include climate and equity goals, and this blog will look at how states can…
By Erin Cosgrove | Wed, April 19, 2023
Virtual power plants (VPPs), an aggregation of distributed energy resources, provide a deeper integration of demand flexibility and renewables on our energy grid, which can offer cleaner and more affordable power. They operate by aggregating distributed energy resources (DERs) to meet grid needs and optimize consumer energy usage. By aggregating the power of several DERs, a virtual power plant…
By Erin Cosgrove | Mon, March 27, 2023
The Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund presents a unique opportunity for state energy offices to not only invest in long term energy efficiency financing programs, but also provide grants to small businesses and low-income residents to improve the comfort of their buildings and install more efficient technology. The application deadline is May 26, which means states still have time to take…
By Erin Cosgrove | Wed, February 22, 2023
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) present an unprecedented opportunity to grow efficiency and electrification across the United States. They also represent an extraordinary amount of work and coordination for our state energy offices, regulators, energy efficiency businesses, and other stakeholders. To take advantage of the full funding available, states…
By Erin Cosgrove | Mon, December 19, 2022
On November 30, 2022 the Massachusetts Commission on Clean Heat (Commission) issued its final report. The report included recommendations to implement a first-of-its-kind statewide building decarbonization clearinghouse and adopt new, innovative regulatory frameworks that accelerate the adoption of clean heat technology.
The Commission was a result of the recommendations from the state's Clean…
By Erin Cosgrove | Mon, November 21, 2022
Welcome to the newest installment of a new blog series called Turning Policy into Performance. In this series, we'll take a look at how states can implement decarbonization and climate goals with energy efficiency programs.
On October 21, 2022 the U.S. Department of Energy provided guidance for WAP recipients to include two non-energy impacts (NEI) in the cost-benefit analysis – the social cost…