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April 3
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has ordered Idaho Power Co. to
immediately form an Energy Efficiency Group in order to outline and implement
long-term conservation programs by May 2. The Commission had ordered the
company to form a group last November.
February 26
The California "Summer of 2001 Conservation Report" has been
released. The report discusses the programs that helped the state cut
overall energy use by 6.7 percent and summer peak use by 10 percent.
February 25
President Bush Promotes Energy
Efficiency Through Technology.
January 17
BPA announces that the Pacific Northwest saved
85 megawatts in 2001.
December 31
The California Energy Commission has released a new report on "Emergency
Conservation and Supply Response 2001." The report concludes
"The peak electrical demand for the summer was 48,597 megawatts, which
occurred on August 7, 2001. This peak was 12,528 megawatts less than the
peak predicted plus 7 percent reserve in a 1-in-10 summer. While the state
experienced about average temperatures this past summer, the success in
averting blackouts was largely due to the efforts to reduce demand and
increase supply. The efforts of individual Californians to conserve
electricity were particularly dramatic."
December 11
Montana Governor Lights Holiday Christmas Tree with Energy Efficient Lights.
October 2
The California ISO is urging continued conservation as plants begin to go
off-line for fall maintenance cycle. There could be as much as 9,300 MW
off-line at the end of October.
September 2
Data from the California Energy Commission shows that Californians continued
to reduce peak demand during August 2001.
August 1
A DOE study shows efficient appliances yield dramatic energy and water
savings. The study of actual home appliance use (energy efficient clothes
washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and other products) was conducted in
50 volunteer homes in Wilsonville and Lafayette, Oregon.
According to data from the California Energy Commission, the state's
electricity consumption was down 11 percent in July compared with a year
ago. See the California Energy Commission's analysis of consumption for
July.
July 31
President Bush has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to
only purchase products that use no more than one watt in their standby power
consuming mode.
July 17
In a comprehensive review of DOE's R&D efforts to advance
energy-efficient and fossil-fuel technologies, a committee of the National Research Council
found these programs have yielded significant economic, environmental, and national security
benefits. Three energy-efficiency programs, costing approximately $11 million, produced nearly three-quarters of this benefit.
Nearly one in three Californians have slashed their power use by 20
percent or more from a year ago, qualifying for a state-backed 20 percent refund on
their electricity bills.
July 9
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality will
vote on legislation encouraging conservation and promoting energy efficiency
this week. The Subcommittee will meet on Tuesday for opening statements on
the "The Energy Advancement and Conservation Act of 2001."
It may be a little warmer inside Mesa, Arizona city buildings, but officials
say higher air-conditioning settings and other energy-saving processes have already reduced energy usage by 9 percent overall from mid-May to mid-June.
Energy usage dropped even further at the Mesa City Plaza and police buildings (17 percent) and in the Mesa Community Center (22
percent). The City Council also has treated city workers to a relaxed dress code
throughout the week this summer.
July 6
Arizona now has a comprehensive plan to reduce energy use in state
government, Governor Jane Dee Hull said today. The plan is designed to decrease electricity consumption in all buildings
and offices owned or leased by state agencies and especially to decrease electricity consumption during peak-demand periods from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
July 3
A plan by scientists and several of the state's utilities to reduce electricity
usage by turning down the voltage on the state's power grid has received the endorsement of Gov. Gray Davis.
July 1
California Governor Davis announces the state conserved 12 percent in June
compared to last year. While overall electricity use continued its downward trend, electricity used during peak times also declined by 14
percent.
June 21
Utah Gov. Michael O. Leavitt today announced the creation of a proactive statewide energy conservation effort. Called
"PowerForward," the program is a collaborative, statewide effort among the state of Utah, the media, and public and private utility companies aimed at increasing awareness of energy issues and encouraging conservation.
June 18
The Salt River Project is preparing to pay consumers to relinquish control of their thermostats during times of peak energy
consumption. Under a pilot program being rolled out by SRP later this summer, 300 to 500
customers will be given special radio-controlled thermostats that can be remotely adjusted by the utility.
Gov. Gary Locke has asked the federal government to study whether extending daylight-saving time would save significant
amounts of energy without damaging the economy in some unforeseen way.
June 14
The Fresno (Calif.) Chamber of Commerce officially announced its new Rapid Response Program, which focuses on small and medium businesses and
offers them
free consultants' services to identify ways to hold down energy costs.
June 13
In a major address at the Montana Energy Forum, an upbeat Montana Governor Martz urged Montanans to join state efforts to reduce energy consumption by 10% saying, "There is no greater way for Montanans to be a part of the solution than to conserve energy."
June 7
Arizona Gov. Jane Hull unveiled an advertising campaign Wednesday to rekindle the flame of energy conservation in
Arizona, asking people to turn up thermostats and take other simple steps. If it works, the voluntary program will reduce demand for electricity this summer by 250 megawatts, enough to supply about 200,000 homes, as well as lower costs for utilities and reduce the chance of rolling blackouts.
June 6
To better track the energy savings, Montana plans to develop a system
that monitors reduction of electricity use on a daily, monthly and annual
basis for each state-owned building.
Southern Nevada Water Authority will launch a $200,000 advertising campaign on Friday that emphasizes that pumping and treating water for residents and businesses consumes vast quantities of
electricity. The authority has run ads to encourage water conservation in the past, but this is the first time it has connected water and power conservation.
June 4
Californian
residents used 11 percent less electricity this May compared to last year. Overall peak demand for electricity use dropped by 10 percent in May compared to one year ago.
June 1
Southern Idaho is sitting atop some of the largest reserves of geothermal
energy in the nation, and experts say tapping that resource could take a
significant bite out of escalating power bills.
An environmental group on Thursday announced a door-to-door summer campaign to talk 250,000 Californians into energy
conservation. The California Public Interest Research Group wants to encourage citizens statewide to reduce electricity use and urge their elected officials to expand solar, wind and geothermal power.
May 31
Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Administrator Christine Todd Whitman toured
the Arizona Public Service Solar Test and Research Center (STAR) in Tempe, a
development and test site for solar electric generation technology.
Following their tour of STAR, Hull and Whitman toured Desert Vista High
School, an energy efficient school in Tempe.
More than two dozen large businesses and public institutions have
cut their energy use by 11 percent and collected $1.7 million as a reward under a special credit program offered by
Eugene, Oregon's municipal utility.
May 30
Eastern Washington public utility Franklin PUD will reduce its share of BPA
power by 9.5 average megawatts for one year. Another Washington State PUD, Pend Oreille,
will reduce its share of BPA
power by 4 average megawatts through March 2003.
May 23
AZ Gov. Jane Hull is urging Arizonans to cut down electricity use - or at least shift when they use it.
Some employees in Clovis City, Calif., will work 10-hour days Monday through Thursday between June 11 and Aug.
24. City Council members unanimously approved a proposal Monday night that will cut the city's energy bills while keeping the doors of city hall open for extended hours from Monday to Thursday.
May 19
Governor Davis, several elected officials, and members of the California Conservation Corps
(CCC) in 11 different cities statewide, walked through neighborhoods, distributing compact fluorescent
light bulbs and information on conservation measures for residential households. The
PowerWalk was created when the Governor signed AB 29X
which provided $20 million for the creation of the Mobile Efficiency Light Brigade
(PowerWalk).
May 17
The Utah Public Service Commission (PSC) this week approved Utah Power's proposed energy conservation program to reward customers who cut their electricity use 20 percent with an extra 20 percent off their monthly
bills. At the same time, though, the PSC ordered the utility to expand the program. It wants Utah Power to offer financial incentives to consumers who cut their electricity usage 10 percent or more.
May 16
A new program from Pacific Gas and Electric Company
will let large
industrial customers retrieve information on their previous
day's energy consumption and control their usage with the click of a button
- all from their desktop computer.
May 15
Governor Jane Dee Hull today released the state's
"Smart Energy Usage" plan to reduce energy consumption and reduce peak demand in state
facilities. Governor Hull signed an executive order asking state employees to take a
number of steps to lessen energy use, including turning off computers and lights when not in use.
May 14
As energy costs head skyward, office building managers from California to New York are scrambling to
conserve. They're shutting off lights and elevators, turning down air conditioners, and asking tenants to use
energy- efficient laptop computers and turn off coffee makers and photocopiers at night.
May 9
Nevada Governor Guinn announced a statewide energy conservation plan.
He said information on how to cut electric costs is now available on the state's Internet site or by calling the Public Utilities Commission.
May 7
DOE scientists found many ways U.S. could save
energy.
Governor Gray Davis today unveiled a new Web site designed to help consumers, businesses, manufacturers, farmers, cities and counties make use of energy rebates and other programs that will help the state reduce electricity use by 5000 megawatts this summer.
May 4
DOE prepares an action plan that calls on federal facilities in California
to take additional steps to reduce energy use particularly during peak hours.
President Bush's news conference announcing energy
conservation actions in California. President Bush issues directive to federal agencies to save
energy.
April 30
Governor Gray Davis today announced that local governments are partnering with the State of California by committing to energy conservation in record
numbers.
April 27
California Governor Davis announces that energy use in state buildings has
been reduced by 20 percent this year.
April 25
Governor Davis released a released a list
of energy conservation contacts and resources for businesses.
April 20
Solectron, which makes electronics for companies that outsource their manufacturing, is
among the first companies to take advantage of Calif.'s new $25 million Cool Savings
Plan. California legislators are hoping cool roofs will soon be the craze here by offering businesses
rebates of 10 cents a square foot for roof replacement. If all commercial air conditioned buildings in California switched to reflective roofs, it would result in an estimated 300
megawatts to 500 megawatts of power savings at peak usage times.
City officials are expected Tuesday to announce a program aimed at encouraging the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power 1.4 million ratepayers to conserve electricity this
summer. According to reports, the incentives will consist of customers receiving cash credits on their utility bills when they reduce their electricity use.
April 18
Under a plan submitted to regulators on Tuesday, residential
customers within PacifiCorp's five-state territory would earn a 20 percent
credit on their bills for each month they reduced electricity use by 20
percent. The program would apply to June, July, August and September,
and cutbacks would be judged against energy use in the same month of 2000.
Murray City, Utah, is rewarding customers who cut back on
their electricity this summer. The Kill-a-Watt
Dragon program program, if users cut down on power usage in at least
four of their bills from May through September, compared with the same
months last year, they can get credits to their October bills. If users cut
down 5 percent, they get a 10 percent reward for each goal-achieved month's
power-related charges. If energy use is down by 10 percent, customers get 20
percent off each goal-achieved month's charges.
April 16
The State of Nevada
has released its Energy Conservation Plan (NECP) for State government.
The Plan establishes guidance for State agencies in planning for energy conservation and future energy requirements.
Governor Gray Davis today named S. David Freeman as his chief energy advisor to lead the drive to implement energy conservation programs he signed into law last
week. Freeman will work with businesses, local governments, and citizens to direct the "20/20" program that offers consumers 20 percent off their summer electric bills if they cut their electricity use by 20 percent from June through September. He also will lead the Governor's efforts to coordinate the implementation of an historic $850 million
initiative to promote aggressive conservation this summer and beyond. The new laws include programs to promote energy-efficient household appliances; high efficiency lighting in commercial buildings; and agricultural energy efficiency programs.
April 13
Independent task force urges new conservation
measures. Report presented to White House Energy Policy Development Group headed by Vice President Dick
Cheney.
The Department of Energy keeps new rules for energy efficient clothes
washers and water heaters.
April 12
New solar generators recently installed in Glendale, Gilbert and Prescott, along with units installed in recent years in Flagstaff, Yuma and Scottsdale,
brings
Arizona Public Service's solar generating capacity to about 1 megawatt. That's still only a fraction of the energy produced by conventional power plants, but APS plans to double its solar production by year's end.
April 11
California Governor Davis signs energy conservation
legislation. The bill provides over $500 million in conservation initiatives and incentives and
also includes $105 million for renewable and other clean distributed generation projects.
April 9
Seattle City Light planners underestimated consumer interest in
free light bulbs that save energy.
The deal: a pair of spiral-designed compact
fluorescent bulbs at no cost to all residential customers. The reaction: Instead of the 30 percent that planners estimated, 41 percent are saying yes.
April 5
Portland General Electric is including coupons to purchase high-efficiency
compact fluorescent light bulbs.
April 4
BPA and northwest utilities are mailing coupons to purchase energy efficient
compact fluorescent light bulbs.
April 3
Texas agency believes that state government would save $100,000 a day -- or $36.5 million a year -- if managers retrofit their buildings with the latest energy-saving materials and
technology.
April 2
Despite soaring prices for electricity, the big hotel-casinos don't plan to reduce their dazzling wattage outside. But
they are cutting energy use
indoors.
March 30
Gov. Judy Martz today ordered all state agencies to incorporate conservation strategies in the operations of their
buildings, and set a ten percent reduction in electricity as their goal.
The fourteen energy conservation strategies included in the Governor's executive order include reviewing all main heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems for efficient operations, setting guidelines for work area temperatures, and turning off all non-essential lighting.
Fines or no fines, NW must conserve. 'Hot tub police' aren't needed yet, but electricity hogs need to clean up their act.
California
leads a forced march on conservation. High tech and low tech
solutions being examined to conserve electricity.
California legislature
debates bills aimed at energy conservation. Lawmakers propose everything from loans for schools to free insulation in bid to reduce consumption this summer.
March 29
Faced with the largest electricity rate increase in state history and the certainty of ''rolling blackouts'' when air conditioners crank up this summer,
Silicon Valley firms are pulling out the stops to conserve
energy.
Schools and other big employers across Ventura County,
California say they had begun considering ways to conserve energy--ranging from turning out the lights to switching to an alternative energy
source--but said that Tuesday's rate hike of as much as 46% by the Public Utilities Commission is prodding them to act quickly.
March 28
Oregon Governor Kitzhaber has announced an energy conservation and
facility-siting package. The package would both direct energy conservation
investments in state and public buildings and change energy facility siting processes to allow for quicker construction of new temporary and permanent
power plants.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is offering incentives for two
programs to increase the efficiency of air conditioning systems. LADWP will
fund about half the cost for servicing a residential or commercial air conditioning system and will cover the cost difference between a
conventional air conditioner and a super energy efficient unit.
The Northwest Power Planning Council is calling for additional conservation
measures, temporary emergency generation, and demand exchange programs as
the region faces the driest year on record. Reducing spill over the dams, which is necessary to protect endangered fish, is also very likely this
summer. The Council will discuss these and other options at its April 4 meeting in Boise, Idaho.
March 23
Pacific Gas and Electric will offer rebates for energy efficient
light bulbs, refrigerators, clothes washers and dishwashers. The company has also
launched a customer education campaign to make
customers aware of the urgent need for energy conservation and the likelihood of power outages throughout California in the coming months.
March 22
Lawrence Livermore Lab tests device that would shut down applicances that
draw the most power, such as air conditioners, but leave lights on during
rolling blackouts.
March 20
Governor Gray Davis today announced that the California Energy Commission has signed 12 grants and contracts totaling almost $9.2 million to install "energy smart" technology in commercial and industrial buildings throughout the state.
March 19
Nevada's major casinos are planning to cut power usage by 20 percent in light of the power crisis plaguing the western United States.
Utah Power is offering to pay its irrigation customers to shut off their pumps during the upcoming irrigation season as a way to save on electricity use.
Portland
Oregonian publishes Seattle City Light's list of top 10 residential and
commercial users of electricity in effort to spur conservation.
March 18
Montana Gov. Judy Martz said Friday she will tell state agencies to reduce their use of power and will request conservation by all Montanans to help deal with the energy crisis in the
state. Martz said she hopes for a reduction of 7 percent to 10 percent in power use by state government.
March 14
California ratepayers will receive a 20
percent rebate on their summer electric bill if they cut back their electricity
use by 20 percent over last summer's levels under a new initiative unveiled
by Governor Davis today.
March 13
Washington Governor Locke takes another step in energy conservation
campaign.
March 7
Governor Davis releases implementation
plan for executive order requiring business to conserve energy by reducing their
after-hours outdoor lighting.
March 6
Arizona Governor Hull has issued an executive order requiring that all new
schools in Arizona "incorporate energy saving devices into their major repair and construction projects." The School Facilities Board, which
oversees the Students FIRST school construction and repair program, immediately approved the new guideline endorsing efficient energy
management. The state expects to spend about $1.7 billion to bring Arizona's 1,220 schools up to standard. The executive order is the
Governor's first step in enacting the energy conservation agreement signed with other western governors.
March 5
California has reduced its energy demand by eight
percent. According to the California Energy Commission, state businesses and residents reduced
electricity demand by 2,578 megawatts in February.
February 22
Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn announced state
energy conservation measures today. Gov. Kempthorne signed an executive
order to implement 14 measures to reduce energy consumption in state government
facilities and issued a directive to streamline the permitting process.
Gov. Guinn released the Nevada Energy Protection
Plan. The plan includes a wide-ranging conservation strategy, a
re-examination of utility divestiture, a plan to accelerate the construction of new power plants and
transmission lines.
Energy conservation plans have previously been announced by the Governors
of California ,
New Mexico,
Oregon ,
and Washington.
February 16
The Bonneville Power Administration has announced a new $200-million
energy conservation and renewable resource development program. Regional utilities
that buy power from BPA and choose to participate will get a discount on their wholesale power bill if they agree to invest in conservation measures
or renewable resources. There are also other BPA conservation programs adding up to $465 million funding, including conservation augmentation,
demand exchange, and funding for the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and other utilities to implement a region-wide compact fluorescent lamp
rebate programs this spring.
February 1
California Governor announced an $800-million energy conservation
program,
including appliance rebates, incentives to reduce commercial lighting and a
public media campaign. The Governor also announced he has signed an
executive order, in consultation with state and local law enforcement
officials, directing reductions in outdoor retail lighting by March 15,
2001.
January 9
Governors
from nine Western states today announced they will work together on emergency,
short-term energy conservation
measures to free up electricity supplies to avert
shortages in many states and mitigate future higher energy prices, not only
during cold snaps this winter, but also this summer and over the next few years.
The agreement was one of the five points adopted at an emergency electricity
meeting held by governors on December 20. Click here for the press
release and here for the five-point plan.
Gov. Locke orders state agencies to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent
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