ESC New Briefs - July 2006
A BIG THANK YOU TO OSRAM SYLVANIA -------
Osram Sylvania has blazed a trail for Energy Services Coalition
sponsorship by pledging multiyear financial support. Osram Sylvania
recently contributed its first year donation to the ESC to help further
our mission and accomplish the many great things we want to do. For
details of their donation, see
http://www.energyservicescoalition.org/news/2006-01-09.pdf.
If you know of anyone who is interested in donating to the ESC or
sponsoring an event or project -- ensure that the great work fostered by
the ESC continues -- contact a board member about the benefits you'll
receive. Or go to our web site and click on "Corporate Donations":
http://www.energyservicescoalition.org/membership/index.html.
Your board of directors will be meeting in Seattle, WA on September
the 9th prior to the NASEO annual convention. Board meetings are always
open to all ESC members and this is no exception. Strategies will be
developed, plans made and new offices elected. Please contact Dale Hahs
at daleh@customenergy.com if
you’d like to attend so we can insure appropriate arrangements can be
made. Should you wish to attend the NASEO annual meeting, registration
can be found at NASEO.org.
STATE AND ESC STATE CHAPTER NEWS…
The Energy Services Coalition continues its "march" across the
nation, bringing into the fold many new state chapters. Much effort has
been put into creating a state chapter in Virginia. We are also
continuing discussions with Ohio, New Mexico, and South Carolina to
encourage formation of state chapters.
If you would like to start a state chapter in your state, contact an ESC
board member. It's exciting and rewarding to participate in the growth
of an industry with so many benefits to our economy, our environment,
and our nation's security.
Connecticut – State Selects Banc of America Leasing for
Financing Energy Projects
In March 2006, the State of Connecticut selected Banc of America
Leasing, an affiliate of Bank of America, to provide up to $150 million
in financing for companies participating in the state’s new programs
that offer incentives for energy-saving distributed resources projects.
The program, created through recently enacted legislation, uses
federally mandated energy congestion charges collected by the state’s
two utilities to reduce the effective interest rate of the loans to
companies who participate in the program. The State of Connecticut
Department of Public Utility Control will be managing the program. The
program will provide financing for various energy projects that use
equipment or services to reduce energy consumption or operating costs as
permitted by applicable Connecticut statutes. Projects may include
automated energy control systems and related hardware; improvements or
retrofits to electrical, lighting and auxiliary systems; heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system modifications or
replacements; energy recovery systems; cogeneration systems; renewable
energy generation systems; and installation, training and monitoring of
the equipment or systems. Requests for funding will be considered
through December 31, 2006 or until a total of $150 million has been
financed through the program, whichever occurs first. Banc of America
Leasing will underwrite each financing transaction according to its
standard policies and procedures. For more information, see
www.bankofamerica.com.
Florida – Governor Jeb Bush Signs Energy Legislation
(contributed by Hunter Barnett)
On June 19, 2006, Governor Jeb Bush signed into law a four-year, $100
million plan to diversify the state’s fuel supply and promote energy
conservation and efficiency. It is anticipated that this Act (passed as
Senate Bill 888) will reduce Florida’s dependence on imported oil, spur
economic growth, and increase Florida’s investment in cleaner,
alternative energy sources, such as solar, hydrogen and biofuels. Known
as the Florida Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act,
this bill takes the first comprehensive step toward a diverse, reliable
and secure energy future by reducing regulatory barriers to expedite
electric generation capacity and providing rebates, grants and tax
incentives to drive the development of alternative fuel technologies.
The Act increases energy efficiency by reducing consumer costs, provides
that the Solar Energy System Rebate Program can reduce initial costs for
pollution-free photovoltaic and solar thermal technology installations
on residential and commercial buildings, provides for a tax holiday
(October 5-11, 2006) giving a sales tax exemption for the purchase of
energy efficient products; and invests in cleaner fuels to diversify
Florida’s energy supply and economy. Matching funds for grants for
research and demonstration projects associated with the development of
alternative fuel vehicles, renewable energy systems and other ‘next
generation’ energy technologies, including hydrogen, solar, biodiesel
and ethanol are available. The Act also creates the Florida Energy
Commission, a nine-member panel that will advise the Legislature on
state energy policy based on the guiding principles of reliability,
efficiency, affordability, and diversity. For more information about the
Florida Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act and the
State’s energy initiatives, see
www.FloridaEnergy.org.
CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
- FEMP: Join the ESC at Energy 2006. Chicago, Illinois.
August 6-9, 2006. For more details, see
http://www.energy2006.net/.
- AEE: The Association of Energy Engineers show.
Washington, D.C., September 13-15, 2006. For more details, see
https://www.aeecenter.org/Shows/. Anyone wishing to
participate can also contact ESC Member Larry Leetzow (Magnaray
International) at 941-755-2111 or
larry@magnaray.com.
- Alabama: "Making Capital Improvements Without Using
Capital Dollars". Embassy Suites Hotel Conference Center,
Montgomery. August 22, 2006. Registration: $25/public, $50/private.
Register online on the ESC web site (www.energyservicescoalition.org)
or at the event. For additional information, contact Larry Knox at
334-353-7556 or
larry.knox@adeca.alabama.gov.
- Kentucky: "Energy Awareness Conference". Sponsored by the
Kentucky ESC and the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center. Clarion
Hotel, Louisville. September 20, 2006. Registration: $25/public,
$50/private. Continuing education credits available. Go to the ESC
web site to register:
www.energyservicescoalition.org.
OTHER NEWS…
National Association of Energy Services Companies (NAESCO)
(contributed by Terry Singer)
Key Dates – Mark Your Calendars:
* * * * * * * *
We would like to hear from you! We know there are many
things going on, so please share with us! Anything happening with your
state ESC chapter or breaking news in your state, PLEASE SEND IT TO US!
E-mail
esc@energyservicescoalition.com -
include in the subject line of the e-mail “ESC News Briefs”. THANKS!!!!
Also feel free to pass the link to this News Brief on to other folks you
know -- spread the word! |
