Comments for ELPR http://elpr.org William & Mary: Environmental Law & Policy Review Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:43:56 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Notes Selected for Volume 35 Publication by Dusty http://elpr.org/2010/04/11/notes-selected-for-volume-35-publication/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Dusty Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:59:28 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=1006#comment-401 We had some really difficult choices to make. I'd like to personally thank all of the Note Writers for doing an outstanding job. We had some really difficult choices to make. I’d like to personally thank all of the Note Writers for doing an outstanding job.

]]> Comment on Renewable Portfolio Standards, Renewable Energy Certificates, and the Rest by ivan gold http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/renewable-portfolio-standards-renewable-energy-certificates-and-the-rest/comment-page-1/#comment-397 ivan gold Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:52:50 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=901#comment-397 The latest climate change edition of the Economist makes clear that it's too risky not to take such action as the potential result of global warming can't be precisely predicted. Proposed Federal RPS legislation would permit individual states to maintain stricter standards if they choose. There is no question that wealth transfers betwen states and regions will occur. Legislative attempts to mediate these transfers only will disguise the real economic price of changing the present treatment of GHG emissions asd an externality (i.e., not included in prices). The latest climate change edition of the Economist makes clear that it’s too risky not to take such action as the potential result of global warming can’t be precisely predicted.
Proposed Federal RPS legislation would permit individual states to maintain stricter standards if they choose. There is no question that wealth transfers betwen states and regions will occur. Legislative attempts to mediate these transfers only will disguise the real economic price of changing the present treatment of GHG emissions asd an externality (i.e., not included in prices).

]]> Comment on Renewable Portfolio Standards, Renewable Energy Certificates, and the Rest by ivan gold http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/renewable-portfolio-standards-renewable-energy-certificates-and-the-rest/comment-page-1/#comment-396 ivan gold Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:46:13 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=901#comment-396 Existing state RPS standards regulate about 20% of the nation's total 2008 CO2 emissions, and about 24% of electric sector CO2 emissions. Reducing those emissions by 10-20% by 2020 would be a significant step. And, the mechanisms are in place now. Assuming any federal RPS which would affect approximately 40% of total US CO2 emissions would take at least two years to implement, i.e., not before 2013 at the earliest. The state programs are the best GHG reduction programs inplace now. infrastructure changes to make 17% of energy from renewables by 202, may be difficult, but I think, certainly worth the effort. Existing state RPS standards regulate about 20% of the nation’s total 2008 CO2 emissions, and about 24% of electric sector CO2 emissions. Reducing those emissions by 10-20% by 2020 would be a significant step. And, the mechanisms are in place now. Assuming any federal RPS which would affect approximately 40% of total US CO2 emissions would take at least two years to implement, i.e., not before 2013 at the earliest. The state programs are the best GHG reduction programs inplace now. infrastructure changes to make 17% of energy from renewables by 202, may be difficult, but I think, certainly worth the effort.

]]> Comment on Green Building Red-Lighted by Homeowners’ Associations by Bao Crusoe http://elpr.org/2009/05/20/green-building-red-lighted-by-homeowners-associations/comment-page-1/#comment-395 Bao Crusoe Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:17:10 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=335#comment-395 You would not believe how long ive been looking for something like this. Browsed through 7 pages of Google results and couldnt find anything. One search on Bing. There this is.... Really have to start using it more often! You would not believe how long ive been looking for something like this. Browsed through 7 pages of Google results and couldnt find anything. One search on Bing. There this is…. Really have to start using it more often!

]]> Comment on Dominion: New Directions in Energy by Pisces http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/dominion-new-directions-in-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-393 Pisces Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:55:26 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=903#comment-393 Energy management is front line news, not a new idea. Rebates for hoteliers, whose energy cost is second to payroll work diligently to control costs. Energy companies offer rebates to lower initial costs and sell based on a five to seven yr. payback. Sounds great, until Dominion hits the switch and sends a surge to gain more income when the equipment and user work in harmony. New energy products result in surcharges if enough energy is not used in the home. The same applies to natural gas. Rate increases were approved on or about the same time as the energy star rebate to consumers became available. Now the consumer pays a fee for conserving energy. If your home meets your energy budget, do not change what is not broken. The savings costs more out of pocket every month. Read, Read, and watch your bills. Do not simply write a check. Example: High efficiency home and owners take a month vacation, the energy bill increases 30%. How is that possible? The legislature approved the change in billing. Energy management is front line news, not a new idea. Rebates for hoteliers, whose energy cost is second to payroll work diligently to control costs. Energy companies offer rebates to lower initial costs and sell based on a five to seven yr. payback. Sounds great, until Dominion hits the switch and sends a surge to gain more income when the equipment and user work in harmony.

New energy products result in surcharges if enough energy is not used in the home. The same applies to natural gas. Rate increases were approved on or about the same time as the energy star rebate to consumers became available. Now the consumer pays a fee for conserving energy.

If your home meets your energy budget, do not change what is not broken. The savings costs more out of pocket every month. Read, Read, and watch your bills. Do not simply write a check. Example: High efficiency home and owners take a month vacation, the energy bill increases 30%. How is that possible? The legislature approved the change in billing.

]]> Comment on Clean Power, Green Jobs: How Renewable Electricity Standards Can Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment by Dusty http://elpr.org/2010/01/30/clean-power-green-jobs-how-renewable-electricity-standards-can-boost-the-economy-and-protect-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Dusty Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:01:36 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=944#comment-345 Mr. Deyette's discussion of Green jobs was really encouraging in the current economy. Mr. Deyette’s discussion of Green jobs was really encouraging in the current economy.

]]> Comment on Promoting Locally-Owned Renewable Electricity Generation and Effective Energy Efficiency Investments for Households: the Case for Feed-In Tariffs and Property Assessed Clean Energy Bond by Megan Gary http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/promoting-locally-owned-renewable-electricity-generation-and-effective-energy-efficiency-investments-for-households-the-case-for-feed-in-tariffs-and-property-assessed-clean-energy-bond/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Megan Gary Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:24:38 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=911#comment-343 Mr. Slocum mentioned that utility companies are reluctant to accept feed-in-tarriffs because it would enable and incentivize individual households to generate power, encroaching on the utilities' business. Would a net-metering system be a better approach then? My understanding is that net-metering is similar to FITs only there is a cap on how much energy consumers can sell back to power companies. Mr. Loomis said power companies in IL's net-metering system pay consumers for excess power in credits toward their future use rather than cash. Those things would seem to reduce power companies' reticence to empower individual households and buildings to generate power. If energy consumers actually participate in a net-metering system this seems like a great solution to several of the problems all the speakers have mentioned. It could help participating states diversify power sources and increase use of renewable energy, get individuals involved in generating renewable power and reducing their own consumption of power, use transmission lines already in existence, and get around political obstacles. Mr. Slocum mentioned that utility companies are reluctant to accept feed-in-tarriffs because it would enable and incentivize individual households to generate power, encroaching on the utilities’ business. Would a net-metering system be a better approach then? My understanding is that net-metering is similar to FITs only there is a cap on how much energy consumers can sell back to power companies. Mr. Loomis said power companies in IL’s net-metering system pay consumers for excess power in credits toward their future use rather than cash. Those things would seem to reduce power companies’ reticence to empower individual households and buildings to generate power. If energy consumers actually participate in a net-metering system this seems like a great solution to several of the problems all the speakers have mentioned. It could help participating states diversify power sources and increase use of renewable energy, get individuals involved in generating renewable power and reducing their own consumption of power, use transmission lines already in existence, and get around political obstacles.

]]> Comment on Dominion: New Directions in Energy by Dominion: New Directions in Energy « Earth4energy http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/dominion-new-directions-in-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Dominion: New Directions in Energy « Earth4energy Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:50:14 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=903#comment-340 [...] Today found this great post, here is a quick excerpt : Mark Webb, Dominion Resources Services, Inc. Mark Webb, Director of Policy and Business Evaluation Alterative Energy Solutions of Dominion Resources Services, Inc., spoke this afternoon on Dominion’s “New Direction in Energy”. Read the rest of this great post Here [...] [...] Today found this great post, here is a quick excerpt : Mark Webb, Dominion Resources Services, Inc. Mark Webb, Director of Policy and Business Evaluation Alterative Energy Solutions of Dominion Resources Services, Inc., spoke this afternoon on Dominion’s “New Direction in Energy”. Read the rest of this great post Here [...]

]]> Comment on Dominion: New Directions in Energy by Patrick C. Henry II http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/dominion-new-directions-in-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-339 Patrick C. Henry II Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:58:29 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=903#comment-339 Mr. Webb's vision of the future, specifically the development of consumer choice programs to reduce overall energy consumption is quite appealing. However, the technology he seems to describe appears to already be within grasp, why haven't these programs already been implemented? (at least past the initial "pilot program") Mr. Webb’s vision of the future, specifically the development of consumer choice programs to reduce overall energy consumption is quite appealing. However, the technology he seems to describe appears to already be within grasp, why haven’t these programs already been implemented? (at least past the initial “pilot program”)

]]> Comment on Dominion: New Directions in Energy by Kevin http://elpr.org/2010/01/29/dominion-new-directions-in-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-338 Kevin Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:47:02 +0000 http://elpr.org/?p=903#comment-338 Mr. Webb's discussion regarding Dominion Power's approach to renewable energy was very interesting and informative. Wind power clearly plays a major role in renewable energy efforts. However, it will be interesting to see how local governments respond to the aesthetic concerns of citizens associated with windmills and the threat of decreased property values, which has often hampered efforts to expand the use of wind energy in the state. Mr. Webb’s discussion regarding Dominion Power’s approach to renewable energy was very interesting and informative. Wind power clearly plays a major role in renewable energy efforts. However, it will be interesting to see how local governments respond to the aesthetic concerns of citizens associated with windmills and the threat of decreased property values, which has often hampered efforts to expand the use of wind energy in the state.

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