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EESI Welcomes Proposed EPA Limits on Power Plant Emissions
September 20, 2013---The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) welcomes the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft rules for restricting carbon pollution from new power plants, which were released today. These rules would mark the first federal carbon emission limits on power plants, which represented 40 percent of all energy-related emissions of greenhouse gases in 2012, according to the Energy Information Administration. Most of those emissions came from coal plants.
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South Carolina Co-ops Release Results of “Help My House” Energy Efficiency Pilot
Washington, DC, July 2013 - South Carolina's consumer-owned electric cooperatives (co-ops) have released the results of their "Help My House" Loan Pilot Program. The pilot provided loans to co-op member-owners to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. The loans are being repaid to the co-ops through participants' utility bills, in a process known as "on-bill financing." Billing data on the 125 participating South Carolina homes indicates a 34 percent reduction in energy use (1.35 million kWh) in the year after the work was completed, an average savings of $288 per home after loan payments.
EESI One of Only Five Top-Rated Environmental Non-profits in D.C.
Thanks to the many fantastic reviews written by our wonderful supporters, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is proud to announce that it is one of only five environmental non-profits in Washington, D.C., to have won the coveted 2012 Top Rated Award from GreatNonprofits. Only 1 percent of eligible nonprofits win this accolade every year, and 2012 was the second year EESI made the cut. GreatNonprofits is currently gathering reviews for the 2013 Top-Rated Award. Reviews are due by October 31, 2013 (to review EESI, please click here).
Department of Energy Unveils ‘Energy 101’ Framework
March 12, 2013—In an effort to help address the array of energy challenges facing the country, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the University of Maryland, and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) have developed 'Energy 101', a unique, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary model framework born out of DOE's desire to introduce college students to energy literacy and sustainability and to encourage them to pursue energy careers. The partners will offer a webinar on April 10, 2013, for faculty, administrators and other interested parties to learn about the 'Energy 101' framework and how it uses group projects, DOE's Energy Literacy Principles (essential energy concepts for all citizens, from K-to-Gray), and educational modules to help students make informed choices about energy production, energy use, and sustainable development. Webinar participants will be able to ask questions at the end of the presentation.
EESI Joins Call for Bipartisan Action After Obama’s State of the Union Speech
February 12, 2013—In tonight's State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama emphasized the need to keep the economy on the right track as it regains its strength and creates new jobs. He also reiterated the critical need to address climate change, after a year which saw record heat, drought, and weather extremes in the United States: "For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change."
EESI Earns Top 4-Star Rating For Sixth Consecutive Time
Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is the largest charity evaluator in America and its website attracts more visitors than all other charity rating groups combined.
Initial Findings on South Carolina’s “Help My House” Pilot Released
The pilot was launched in 2011 by the Central Electric Power Cooperative, the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, and eight South Carolina co-ops, with technical and policy support from EESI. The comprehensive energy retrofit approach is projected to yield an average energy savings of more than 11,000 kWh/year per home. Though the average loan was for $7,200 over a 10-year term, the net financial benefits are expected to be immediate, particularly during energy-intensive summer and winter months. The 35 percent projected energy savings from this meter-based on-bill financing pilot is substantially higher than the savings achieved by many traditional utility rebate-based residential retrofit programs. Further, 96 percent of interviewed participants said that they were satisfied with the program and found their homes to be more comfortable. The pilot homes are undergoing a yearlong measurement phase to confirm projections. In conjunction with these preliminary results, EESI has released fact sheets about the pilot program and a general overview of on-bill financing.
EESI-CCAP Report: Preparing Transportation Infrastructure for Increased Climate Risk
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) are pleased to announce the release of their joint report, Climate Adaptation & Transportation: Identifying Information and Assistance Needs (view the report's summary here).
Winner Announced for Geothermal Environmental Stewardship Award
EnergySource LLC received the award for its Hudson Ranch 1 project in Imperial Valley, CA. The Hudson Ranch 1 power plant is designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 30 percent compared to an average geothermal plant and set a new standard in minimized water use. The company has also been actively engaged in the protection of biological resources. Where burrowing owls have been impacted by the construction of Hudson Ranch 1, EnergySource has used proven passive relocation techniques and is monitoring the owls until nearby construction ends.
Nominees Announced for Geothermal Environmental Stewardship Award
“It’s our duty as an association to highlight the efforts of companies and individuals that are advancing geothermal energy by leading the innovation, development and promotion of the industry through community engagement, education, and job creation,” said GEA’s Kathy Kent. “We look forward to honoring all of these nominees at our awards dinner at the GEA National Geothermal Summit.”
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