Energy Bill
July 24, 2008
On Tuesday, the DC City Council unanimously passed "The Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008." Sponsored by DC Councilmember Mary Cheh and eight other council members, the innovative and historic legislation establishes a sustainable energy utility that will be charged with reducing the city’s energy use, training District residents to perform energy-efficiency work (green-collar jobs) and helping low-income residents reduce their bills through energy efficiency. The proposed sustainable energy utility is based on successful models already in place in Vermont and Oregon.
The bill also increases the renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) levels. For the first time in the US, the bill mandatesannual ENERGY STAR benchmarking and disclosure for non-residential buildings starting with government buildings and later large private non-residential buildings. New York City is considering a similar bill.
Excellent CoStar Article (quotes Cool's Cliff Majersik)
Summary of Sustainable Energy Utility
State and Local Legislation Leveraging ENERGY STAR
July 1, 2008
The DC Council unanimously passed the full first reading of the Clean and Affordable Energy Act on July 1st. Introduced by Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, the bill seeks to reduce Washington D.C.’s energy usage while expanding the area’s access to renewable energy sources. The bill would provide for two new energy funds: the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund and the Energy Assistance Trust Fund. Councilmembers will vote on the second reading of the bill on July 15.
The Sustainable Energy Trust Fund will sponsor a contractor, titled the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) and selected by the District Department of Environment (DDOE). Duties of the SEU will include reducing energy and gas levels and developing renewable energy sources and green collar jobs. The bill strives to increase renewable energy usage to 20% by 2020. The DDOE will oversee the Energy Assistance Trust Fund, which will provide energy services to low-income residents.
The bill also mandates annual ENERGY STAR benchmarking for non-residential buildings, beginning with government buildings. Benchmarking provides a quantified energy efficiency score for a building, which can then improve its management and practices to better the score.
The Councilmembers passed three amendments before endorsing the bill. One amendment proposed submetering, the practice of billing tenants for individual energy use rather than by square footage. Submetering would encourage tenants to become more conscious about their energy use. The other two amendments slightly lowered the requirements for the Renewable Energy Portfolio.
The bill follows similar legislation already passed in Vermont and Delaware.
For more information about the original bill, view http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/images/00001/20071108120109.pdf or visit Councilmember Cheh’s site at http://www.marycheh.com/.