Energy Sector Law and Policy
This tab includes laws and policies for avoiding or reducing climate change impacts in the energy sector, including best practices and legal and policy analysis.
Resources are automatically presented by rating, but can be sorted by date or title. Apply additional filters to narrow the list by resource type, impact, jurisdictional focus, state, or region.
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October 2015
Enhancing Community Resilience through Energy Efficiency, produced by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, evaluates the effectiveness of energy efficiency as a resiliency strategy. This report aims to aid local governments, businesses, and community decision makers in assessing risk, and integrating energy efficiency into resilience planning.
Authors or Affiliated Users: David Ribeiro, Eric Mackres, Brendon Baatz, Rachel Cluett, Michael Jarrett, Meegan Kelly, Shruti Vaidyanathan
Resource Category: Solutions
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2015
California’s SOMAH and MASH programs provide an example of how financial incentives can be used to support installation of solar energy photovoltaic (PV) systems on multifamily affordable housing properties. Assembly Bill 693 provides financial incentives for the installation of PV systems, prescribes criteria for participation in the incentive program, sets targets for installation of solar PV systems, identifies various required elements for the Program, and gives direction to the California Public Utilities Commission on the administration of the Program. The SOMAH program's goal is to encourage the installation of 300 megawatts (MW) of solar power to benefit affordable housing units by 2030. This program is funded through GHG allowance auction proceeds and is administered by nonprofits and electric utilities. Eligible building owners and tenants can receive solar credits through a virtual net energy metering system. The program provides direct economic benefits by allowing low-income renters to receive energy produced on the roof of their housing unit, which lowers monthly utility costs and helps “disadvantaged communities” reap the benefits of the growing California solar industry.
Resource Category: Funding
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2015
In 2015, Connecticut recognized that its standard solar incentive program for homeowners, the Residential Solar Incentive Program (RSIP), had successfully promoted residential solar development, but was serving very few low-income homeowners. To increase low and middle income (LMI) homeowner access to credit for solar, the Connecticut Green Bank (which was established by the Connecticut General Assembly), developed a model for providing these homeowners with cost-effective residential solar power and energy efficiency, and applied it to a partnership with solar provider PosiGen Solar (PosiGen). The Green Bank's Solar For All program provides financial support to PosiGen, which uses this financing to build solar panels on LMI homes. PosiGen retains ownership of the panels, benefits from the solar rebates provided under the RSIP, and leases the solar panels to homeowners. Homeowners benefit financially by avoiding large upfront payments for their solar systems, and by reducing electricity costs. Additionally, all PosiGen customers receive efficiency upgrades. The average PosiGen customer in Connecticut receives a net annual financial benefit of $450. For the first six years of solar panel operation, PosiGen owns and benefits from the Renewable Energy Credits – the excess power created by the panels. Ownership of these credits is then transferred to the Bank, which makes back some of the money it spends on the RSIP.
Resource Category: Funding
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ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Climate Resilient Communities (CRC) Program is the first comprehensive, national climate adaptation program tailored to local governments. The CRC works with cities, towns, and counties to increase their resilience to climate change impacts, and in the process save money and create safer, healthier communities.
Resource Category: Solutions
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March 2015
What Cities Should Do: A Guide to Resilient Power Planning is a series of guidelines and best practices for cities and towns preparing for widespread power outages from severe weather events. According to the authors, cities should have resilient power plans for critical public and private facilities in order to protect their most vulnerable citizens - but few cities have focused on risks and mitigation strategies associated with extended grid power outages for critical assets. This paper calls for a systematic approach to protect critical facilities with resilient power solutions, including solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage, combined heat-and-power (CHP), and fuel cells systems.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Lew Milford, Robert Sanders
Resource Category: Solutions
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January 16, 2015
In July 2014 President Obama launched the Build America Investment Initiative to increase infrastructure investment and spur economic growth. In January 2015, as part of that Initiative, the U. S. Treasury Department and Department of Transportation have issued a set of Recommendations of the Build America Investment Initiative Interagency Working Group, with a focus on expanding public-private collaboration in U. S. infrastructure development and financing. Some of the priority strategic opportunities addressed in the report include increasing infrastructure resilience where new infrastructure investments present opportunities to “increase the nation’s climate preparedness and ecosystem resilience by incorporating projected future climate conditions into their placement and design.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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January 2015
After visiting more than 30 communities across the U.S. that are preparing for climate change, two enterprising young authors identify six big lessons from ongoing adaptation work in this report released by the Georgetown Climate Center.
Authors or Affiliated Users: Allie Goldstein, Kirsten Howard
Resource Category: Solutions
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November 17, 2014
As part of his Climate Action Plan, in November 2013, President Obama issued Executive Order 13653 - 'Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change,' creating The State, Local, and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. The Task Force was directed to advise the Administration on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide in achieving climate change resilience. The Task Force members, which include governors, mayors, county officials, and Tribal leaders from across the country, met throughout the year and used their first-hand experiences in building climate preparedness and resilience in their communities to inform their recommendations to the Administration.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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September 16, 2014
This study from the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate finds that governments and businesses can reduce their carbon emissions and improve economic growth. ‘Better Growth, Better Climate’ describes how rapid technological innovation and new investment in infrastructure are making it possible to mitigate climate change while improving economic performance.
Resource Category: Solutions
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July 16, 2014
On July 16, 2014, President Obama announced this series of new climate change initiatives from across federal agencies - based on the recommendations of the State, Local and Tribal Leaders Task Force on Climate Preparedness - to help state, local, and tribal leaders prepare their communities for the impacts of climate change by developing and rebuilding more resilient infrastructure.
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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