Advanced Energy Perspectives

The Center for the New Energy Economy recently held it’s third annual “Natural Gas Symposium – Doing Energy Right” Conference. Kicking off the conference was a discussion moderated by former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter with CEO of GE, Jeffrey Immelt and Noble Energy CEO Chuck Davidson.

In April, Advanced Energy Economy convened industry leaders in energy efficiency from around the country for a meeting in Austin, TX. The purpose was to identify state policy initiatives that had the greatest potential for growing their segment of the advanced energy industry.   The product of this discussion is the new report “Reducing Energy Waste in the United States: Conclusions from AEE’s Industry Policy Forum on Energy Productivity.”

When we talk about energy efficiency, generally we think of efficient lighting, appliances, HVAC systems, insulation, etc. While advanced energy encompasses these demand side measures, it also includes innovations in energy generation, management, and delivery. There is mounting evidence that the massive amount of energy that is wasted, before it reaches the end user as well as after, is a drag on the economy – and the potential for boosting economic productivity by reducing that waste is enormous.

Recently states have been hearing pushback from utilities on some standard energy policies that have been adopted around the country. Net metering, for example, has been criticized by utilities as excluding a subset of customers from paying a portion of the costs of utility infrastructure that is embedded in rates. Energy efficiency standards have been targeted for similar reasons. Last week, we looked at recent stories in the media describing traditional utilities as “dinosaurs” or in a “death spiral.”

Driving would be so much easier if the car drove itself. Also safer and more efficient – no falling asleep at the wheel; no tailgating drivers creeping up on you, or fender-benders that cause traffic tie-ups. Also, no more jack-rabbit starts and slam-on-the-brakes stops, which waste fuel. So far, they’re just in the testing phase, but driverless cars could be the future of personal transportation, and a few states are getting ready for them.