Sorry, that headline was just a cruel tease. In reality, it's Maryland -- under the superb leadership of Gov. Martin O'Malley -- NOT Virginia that is moving rapidly forward to slash its energy use and carbon emissions. Unfortunately, Virginia lawmakers remain in the vice grip of Dominion Power, whose motto really should be "Global Warming: It All Starts Here!" Unlike Virginia -- with the exception of cutting-edge leaders like Chap Petersen, David Englin and a few others -- Maryland is taking dramatic action to stave off climate catastrophe.
Maryland should force utilities to take aggressive steps to cut energy consumption, and the state should create a multimillion-dollar fund to give homeowners an array of incentives to use less power, Gov. Martin O'Malley's top energy advisers will recommend today.The blueprint, to be released by the Maryland Energy Administration, will offer 20 proposals to help O'Malley (D) deliver on his ambitious pledge to reduce the state's energy consumption by 15 percent in seven years and stave off rolling blackouts that experts predict could occur in three years.
Why on earth we can'd do this in Virginia is beyond me, except that Dominion Power is too powerful, and that we we've got a bunch of knuckle draggers in the House of Delegates, led by Neanderthal in Chief, Bill Howell. That's why we're not doing stuff like this:
Officials also want to establish a state fund to promote conservation programs and attract renewable energy companies. Money would come from an auction this summer of permits for carbon emissions. The auction will be held by a consortium of New England and mid-Atlantic states set up to reduce carbon dioxide pollution from coal-fired plants. Energy officials estimate the auction could generate from $40 million to more than $100 million for Maryland.The fund would help homeowners, particularly low-income customers, pay for furnaces, air conditioners and other appliances that use energy more efficiently but are more expensive than traditional models.
It also could offer a system of incentives to encourage consumers to buy energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs and install high-tech devices that shut down washing machines, dishwashers and air conditioners when demand for electricity soars on hot summer days. These "smart meters" also tell homeowners electricity prices a day in advance, giving the customers a chance to pay lower rates if they can move usage to off-peak times.
Unfortunately, thanks to the backward-looking, head-in-the-sand, bought-and-paid-for Virginia Republicans, it looks like our Commonwealth risks being left in the dust as "green jobs" and "clean tech" business goes to other states, like Maryland. Instead, Virginia Republicans are hell bent on sticking with the old model -- consume more, mine coal, blast the tops off of mountains, trash the environment -- that they've been stickin' with since their great great grandpappies been alive. The problem is that the world we live in today is NOT Bill Howell's grandpappy's world, it's not the world of Harry Byrd, and it's certainly not the world where we can pretend that the environment is inexhaustible. One thing that IS exhaustible, by the way, is our patience. Like the Antarctic ice, it's fading fast.
Why has it taken so long for Maryland to do this? Well they are being spurred primarily to avoid increases in their utility rates for its citizens and businesses, not because they feel sorry for the public in Wise County or the 500kv transmission proposals. Money is the route of all things, good and evil.
"Unfortunately, thanks to the backward-looking, head-in-the-sand, bought-and-paid-for Virginia Republicans, it looks like our Commonwealth risks being left in the dust as "green jobs" and "clean tech" business goes to other states, like Maryland"
Lowell, you and others really have to stop making comments like that. The old dog established Democrats in this state have been just as supportive of DVP and the financial donations prove it. I'm sorry, I don't believe it is constructive to shove this issue as though it is a GOP-inspired problem in our state. That politicizes the matter and splinters opposition. What this problem requires is a public undivided by political lines. You should look at the Meadow Brook to Loudoun 500kv opposition, where the pro-envir PEC joined with conservative Republicans and rural Virginians to set aside differences and developed a real substantive solution which is applicable statewide, including Wise Co. The odd thing about that was, the urban Democratic officials in NOVA who are the "intended" recepients of the electricity, were not behind the opposition! Some even spoke in favor of DVP. Click http://blog.washingtonpost.com... to read Connolly's statement. Moreover, Mt. Storm coal plant which would operate 24/7 when the line is installed, is upwind of NOVA, so go figure that one out.
Why stop dividing? Because both conservatives and liberals need electricity, both are needed to support the solutions, and leaders on both side of the aisle, as you can see from the words of Rep. Boucher, are not in tune with the public's most desired solutions.
Furthermore, with the like of comments like the following from Democratic officials in our state, I think the fact speak for themselves, left and right voters need to join and figure this out together if DVP is going to be derailed.
"I am very pleased by Dominion's selection of a site for the future development of a new clean-coal power generation plant in Wise County. I will work with Dominion to ensure all federal regulatory requirements are resolved as expeditiously as possible."U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Abingdon) May 16, 2006
Member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Chairman, House Subcomittee on Energy and Air Quality
Click here to understand what Wise County is truly up against. Wise County will need opposition from the left and from the right, in concert together to derail this proposal.
---------------------
The energy bill which passed the GA last year, requires DVP to reduce demand via DR 10% by 2020. The SCC just released its recommendation to the Governor and the GA
"...the picture of demand response (DR) in Virginia during the past three decades is one of missed opportunities. Although numerous states initiated aggressive and effective demand response programs in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Virginia continues to lag far behind.However, the need for action is more pressing now than ever. The multiple challenges of rapidly escalating
fuel and electricity prices, global climate change, deteriorating electric reliability in the mid-Atlantic region, and energy security risks provide a clarion call for prompt action.Moreover, new opportunities are now available to harness the potential for reductions in peak demand. These new opportunities are the result of: (1) development of new policies in the PJM90 market requiring the treatment of demand response on a par with supply-side options; (2) advances in telecommunications that allow for real-time communication among wholesale electric suppliers, retail suppliers, and customers; and (3) improvements in the affordability and functionality of demand response technology.
It is essential for the SCC to take advantage of new legislative authority granted in 2007 (as well as preexisting legislation enacted in 1976 requiring conservation of capital and energy resources) to meet these pressing needs and harness the new opportunities. The time is now to implement critical regulatory reforms that will spur reductions in peak load demand. The 2007 legislation provides another window of opportunity for action in the Commonwealth of Virginia to promote demand side management. Virginia ratepayers and the State's economy and environment will suffer if this opportunity is squandered."
There's no doubt that energy resources obtained from DR and EEC can be untapped more than the 2007 bill calls for.
I just wish when it comes to climate change, new energy, energy security, Meadow Brook-Loudoun, Wise County, etc., the first thing out of the mouths of environmentalists, liberal, as well as conservatives, is energy efficiency & conservation. Maryland and CA gets it.
---------------------
What can you do, in terms of EEC (aside from energy star appliances, programmable thermostats, insulation, etc.,) how about considering a smart switch for your outdoor a/c unit? If you are in NOVEC or any other state electric co-op, you can get one for free.
Click here http://www.novec.com/page.cfm?... to learn about NOVEC's load management program.
Click here http://www.novec.com/documents... for FAQ and how to enroll.
If you don't like the switch, you can also have it removed; but keep in mind, a/c usage is the major component which makes up the increase in demand during peak usage, and it is growth in peak demand which is the primary driver for grid expansion, aka Wise County and Meadow Brook-Loudoun.
Chap Peterson's bill should require Dominion adopt a program similar to NOVEC, and more proportional to is # of customers, not the puny 8,000 units being considered. This is a disgrace. FYI - The costs of these switches is charged to the utility customer base, no differently that the cost for a new transmission line or powerplant is.