Posts Tagged ‘Energy Efficiency’
Virginia Legislature Ends with Modest Progress on Solar
Guest post by Virginia writer and lawyer Ivy Main: Advocates of enlightened energy policy march into session every January bright-eyed and optimistic, only to become mired in the slough of despond. We watch the best bills die, while bills we thought too backward to survive the light of day flourish like an invasive species. Yet even in Virginia, the past few years have produced glimmers of hope that suggest a slowly shifting mindset among legislators.
Powering Our Communities as an Olympic Event and Utilities as the Competitors
Our plans and achievements are be measured against our past performance and our potential. Take Olympic figure skating: the judges might remark, “That’s the best she’s ever skated!” or “He would have to beat his personal best by twelve points to medal.” But what about assessing how an electrical utility performs?
Bringing New Power to the Old Dominion in 2014
Around Virginia, folks share a belief in making electricity safer, more reliable, and more price-stable. Most people we talk with are already aware of our utilities’ current reliance on coal, but they’re often dismayed to learn that Dominion Virginia Power would keep solar and wind development at a marginal scale in Virginia for another 15 years.
Introducing Energy Savings for Appalachia
Energy Policy Director Rory Mcilmoil writes about AV’s innovative new campaign, Energy Savings for Appalachia, which is promoting home energy loan programs to help residents finance the cost of home energy improvements, and introduces the new Energy Savings Action Center.
Read MoreWith Important Energy Efficiency Programs Intact, Farm Bill Awaits Obama’s Signature
The U.S. Senate sent the Farm Bill sent to President Obama for his signature this week, ending a 17-month standstill on the nearly $1 trillion bill. In addition to designating funding for farm subsidies, crop insurance, and nutritional programs, the bill contains exceedingly important programs to expand energy efficiency in rural communities across the country.
Common Sense, Nonsense, and a Climate Fight in the Making in Richmond
The 2014 session of the Virginia General Assembly is underway, and state lawmakers are wasting no time. Legislation this session falls into two categories: the bright ideas that bring Virginia closer to a future of safe and reliable clean energy, and the downright crazy bills that do the opposite and must be stopped. Here is the breakdown.
Hannah Wiegard: Binge-watching “Doctor Who” and Bettering Virginia’s Energy Options
I joined Appalachian Voices to help steer Appalachian Power and Dominion Virginia Power toward clean energy. Over the recent winter break, I got a jump on this massive undertaking in what may seem an unusual way: by becoming utterly engrossed in a “Doctor Who” marathon. I maintain that it was time well-spent in the fight for clean energy sources and efficiency for the Old Dominion.
A Successful First Energy Savings Session in Sugar Grove, N.C.
On Jan. 9, Watauga County residents left the Sugar Grove Community Center equipped and inspired to make their homes more energy efficient. We’re excited to continue hosting Energy Savings Information Sessions throughout western North Carolina and East Tennessee.
However Long Overdue, Our Energy Efficiency Opportunity Is At Hand
Today’s Bloomberg View editorial bears a headline at once forehead-slapping simple and frustratingly complex: Energy Efficiency Is Long Overdue. “On a global scale, we humans are becoming more energy efficient with each passing year,” the Bloomberg piece begins. “Even so, we’re exploiting only a fraction of the technological opportunities to use energy more cost-effectively.”
Read MoreOn Heels of USDA Energy Efficiency Loan Program, Appalachian Voices Launches the Energy Savings Action Center
On Dec. 4, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP), a new loan program that will provide at least $250 million to rural electric cooperatives each year to develop or expand energy efficiency loan programs for residential and business customers. To encourage rural electric cooperatives across Appalachia take…
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