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Congress Passes Energy Legislation

In mid-December, Congress approved a far-reaching energy bill (H.R. 6) and sent it to President Bush, who signed the legislation into law on December 19. In addition to increases in the fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles and a more aggressive renewable transportation fuel standard, the legislation includes:

• Energy-efficiency provisions. The law includes more stringent efficiency standards for a wide variety of appliances; initiatives to strengthen building codes for commercial buildings; higher energy-reduction goals for federal government buildings; and permanent reauthorization of the energy savings performance contract program. The bill also requires state regulatory commissions to hold proceedings to consider removing disincentives to utility investments in energy efficiency.

• PHEV and battery incentives. The law includes incentives, such as grants and loan guarantee programs, to encourage the development and production of more efficient batteries and electric drive transportation technologies, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

• CCS provisions. The law establishes a more aggressive and expanded federal RD&D program for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies, including authorization for large-scale testing of sequestration systems, an assessment of onshore capacity for carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage, development of a framework for managing carbon sequestration on federal lands, and the promotion and export of U.S. clean and efficient energy technologies to foreign countries.

• Smart grid provisions. The law includes federal encouragement of the deployment of smart grid technologies, including smart grid technology demonstration projects with utilities and authorization of federal matching funds for smart grid investment costs, as well as a requirement that state regulatory commissions consider allowing utility recovery of smart grid investments, including a reasonable rate of return.

Hot Topic: Electric Output

Buoyed by strong economic growth and much higher than normal cooling degree day totals, electricity output in 2007 totaled 4,100,612 gigawatthours (GWh)—a 2.8-percent increase over year 2006 totals. This marks the first time that electric output eclipsed the 4,000,000 GWh level for a given year, according to the Edison Electric Institute’s Weekly Electric Output (WEO). 

Seven of the nine EEI regions showed gains in electric output in 2007, with the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions showing the largest year-on-year increases at 6.4 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.  The South Central and Pacific Southwest regions decreased only slightly in 2007.

With electricity demand at an all-time high—and projected to increase 40 percent by 2030—America’s electric companies are working harder than ever and are taking smart steps now to invest in America’s electric future.

Make Your New Year An Energy-Efficient One

Tired of the same-old New Year’s resolutions? This year why not try something new and resolve to be more energy-efficient? It can help you lower your monthly energy bill and can reduce your home's impact on the planet. 

Here are 10 energy-savings tips that are easy and cost little or nothing. You can start today.

1. Give your furnace or heat pump a tune up, especially if it's been more than two years since the last one.
2. This winter, keep the thermostat set at 68 degrees when someone is home, and 60 degrees when the house is empty or during the overnight hours.  Installing a 'setback' thermostat can do this for you automatically.
3. Clean or change the furnace filter every month.
4. Set the water heater temperature to 120 degrees—check it with a thermometer underneath a faucet.
5. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets.
6. Wash only full loads of clothes, and use cold water.
7. If you're considering a major new appliance, buy one that has earned EPA's ENERGY STAR label.
8. Make it a habit to turn off lights and appliances when no one is using them.
9. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs in fixtures that are on more than two hours a day.
10. Preheat the oven only when called for, and then only for 10 minutes maximum.

Test Your Energy Smarts

Which product uses more electricity—a 32-inch LCD TV, a Sony PlayStation 3, or a Nintendo Xbox 360? See below for the answer.

Based on tests done by CNET, the Sony PlayStation uses 197 Watts of electricity and the Nintendo Xbox 360 uses 187 Watts. A 32-inch LCD TV uses 116-147 Watts, depending on the manufacturer.

Take Our Poll

Check out the latest feature on our Web site: our monthly poll! Visit the site and take this month's poll about climate change. You can also sound off on our climate change discussion board.

Remember to visit the site each month to answer a new poll question.

Take our poll today!