ASHRAE Government Affairs Update, 10/14/2016
Posted by GGAC1 on Oct. 24, 2016 / Subscribe 0
Non-US Government Affairs Activities
- Canadian Government Implements Nationwide Carbon Tax
- Paris Climate Agreement Set to Go Into Effect
US Federal Legislative & Regulatory Activities
- Congress Passes Continuing Resolution, Funding the Government through Early December
- DOE Launches the Better Communities Alliance to Ignite Clean Energy Action in Cities and Countries Nationwide
- DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program: 40 Years of Excellence
- Colorado Becomes First State to Go Solar with the Weatherization Assistance Program
GGAC Regional and Chapter Activities
- California, Massachusetts Tie as Most Energy-Efficient States
- Connecticut Adopts New State Codes
- Michigan to Update Energy Codes
- Minnesota Adopts New Energy Plan
- Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Near Minneapolis Linked to Cooling Towers
Non-US Government Affairs Activities
For additional information on non-US national-level government affairs activities please contact Mark Ames, ASHRAE’s Senior Manager of Federal Government Affairs, at [email protected].
Canadian Government Implements Nationwide Carbon Tax
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has given the country’s 10 Provinces and three northern Territories two years to begin implementing a comprehensive tax on carbon emissions as part of his government’s pledge to adopt strong new national policies to combat climate change. Trudeau recently outlined his plan Monday before the House of Commons, calling for an initial levy of $10 per metric ton of emissions in 2016 – about $7.60 in US dollars – that would rise in annual increments to $50 per ton by 2022. If a Province chooses to opt out of the carbon tax, the other choice is to adopt a cap-and-trade system if that plan can be shown to achieve broader limits on emissions.
Paris Climate Agreement Set to Go Into Effect
Last week bore witness to a historic development in the fight against climate change – 77 Parties representing 60% of global GHG emissions ratified the Paris Climate Agreement, vaulting over the final threshold requirement for moving the Agreement into the implementation phase. The requirement of 55 countries representing at least 55% of global emissions was met when the European Union and several of its members formally approved the Agreement on October 5. As a result of this action, the Agreement will go into force in early November, 30 days after the threshold was cleared.
The ratification has come faster than expected (many thought it would not occur until sometime in 2017), as a result of momentum from the US, China, and several other nations taking action. The next steps are for discussions to occur on implementation of the Agreement at the first meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1), which will be held in conjunction with COP22 in Marrakech, Morocco from November 7 – 18, 2016. The CMA is the organization that oversees and makes decisions related to implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement.
US Federal Legislative & Regulatory Activities
For additional information on Federal legislative, regulatory, and global government affairs issues please contact Mark Ames, ASHRAE’s Senior Manager of Federal Government Affairs, at[email protected].
Congress Passes Continuing Resolution, Funding the Government through Early December
Before returning home to their constituents, Congress passed, and President Barack Obama signed, a Continuing Resolution (H.R.5325), which provides funding for Federal government programs through December 9, 2016 at approximately the same levels as Fiscal Year 2016, which ended September 30. Full-year funding was also provided through this bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.
Members of Congress will need to decide how they want to proceed on funding the government through the remainder of FY 2017 when they return for their post-election lame duck session during the week of October 14. A likely scenario is the combination of the remaining 11 appropriations bills into a single omnibus funding measure, rather than a year-long Continuing Resolution.
DOE Launches the Better Communities Alliance to Ignite Clean Energy Action in Cities and Countries Nationwide
On September 26, DOE launched the Better Communities Alliance (BCA), a new collaborative effort to accelerate local clean energy progress across the country. The BCA was announced by the White House during Smart Cities Week, with over 60 inaugural partners of local governments, philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, and leading private companies to accelerate local clean energy progress across the country. The BCA will deliver new clean energy resources, technical assistance, and facilitate collaboration between public and private partners by making it easier for participants to connect and exchange ideas.
Charter partners included 34 local governments serving 40 million Americans that are committed to the BCA and working with DOE to accelerate local clean energy progress and bolster leadership. Local government partners will receive streamlined access to DOE clean energy resources, opportunities to apply for resources, access to forums for peer networking and expert dialogue, and Federal recognition of clean energy achievements.
The BCA also announced inaugural partnerships with 26 public and private organizations. The BCA affiliates will help identify specific opportunities for collaboration with DOE and local governments. Read the press release to see the full scope of this effort or visit the BCA website to join the alliance and strengthen your community.
DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program: 40 Years of Excellence
For the past 40 years, the Weatherization Assistance Program has led the nation in advancing technology, research, and applied scientific practices to make homes more energy efficient, cost effective, and safe for low-income Americans. On September 7, Congressional leaders joined the national weatherization network to commemorate 40 years of excellence in service by this program. US Department of Energy (DOE) officials, nonprofit leaders, and members of Congress attended the event, held on Capitol Hill. Representing DOE were David Friedman, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Dr. Franklin Orr, Undersecretary for Science and Energy; and AnnaMaria Garcia, Director of the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office.
Click here to read more about the event and some of the greatest accomplishments of the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Colorado Becomes First State to Go Solar with the Weatherization Assistance Program
Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has focused on advancing energy efficiency in the residential sector, but recent developments in the solar industry have allowed the program to integrate solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies into its weatherization services. In August, Colorado became the first State to complete installation of a rooftop solar PV array as part of its services.
Check out the EERE blog to see how this project offers a glimpse of what’s next in the field of weatherization and demonstrates what other States can do to expand services.
GGAC Regional and Chapter Activities
For additional information on State, local, and international government affairs, please contact Jim Scarborough, ASHRAE’s Manager of Grassroots Government Affairs, at [email protected].
California, Massachusetts Tie as Most Energy-Efficient States
California and Massachusetts tied for the top spot in the 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, published by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). This is Massachusetts' sixth consecutive year in first place. The Commonwealth shares the spot with California, which last held the title in 2010. The remainder of the top 10 are Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York (tied for fifth place), Oregon, Washington, Maryland and Minnesota.
The annual scorecard awards points to each State and the District of Columbia for policies, regulations and government-led initiatives they have put in place in six different categories. Maine, Michigan and Missouri were recognized as the three most improved States in energy efficiency.
Connecticut Adopts New State Codes
On September 27, the Connecticut Legislature's Regulations Review Committee unanimously approved with technical corrections both the proposed 2016 State Building Code and 2016 Fire Safety Code.
These approved updated State codes will be effective for all permit applications as of October 1, and incorporate the following:
- 2012 ICC International Building Code
- 2012 ICC International Residential Code
- 2012 ICC International Existing Buildings Code
- 2012 ICC International Mechanical Code
- 2012 International Plumbing Code
- 2012 ICC International Energy Conservation Code
- 2014 NFPA 70 - National Electric Code; 2009 ICC / ANSI A117.1 - Accessible and Usable Building and Facilities
- 2012 ICC International Fire Code
- 2012 NFPA Standard 101 - Life Safety Code
Michigan to Update Energy Codes
The Michigan Register, published October 1, 2016, gives notice that the State is updating its energy codes. In this revision the rules governing the energy efficiency for the design and construction of buildings and structures, not including residential buildings, shall be those contained in the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2013 Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. Michigan previously uses Standard 90.1-2007. With the amendments noted, Section 501.1, of the IECC and Standard 90.1-2013 are adopted into these rules by reference.
Please click here to see the rule in its entirety.
Minnesota Adopts New Energy Plan
A newly-released 2025 Energy Action Plan lays a path for Minnesota to meet or exceed its renewable energy and energy efficiency goals, while boosting the State’s economy.
Minnesota currently imports 72% of the energy it consumes, mostly fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The new report recommends ways to leverage opportunities over the next decade to reduce this dependence and increase Minnesota’s use of clean, affordable, reliable and resilient energy. The Action Plan is the result of a two-year project funded by a competitive grant awarded to the State by the US Department of Energy.
The Plan has five categories: Transportation, Energy Supply and Grid Modernization, Efficient Buildings and Integrated Energy Systems, Industrial and Agricultural Processes, and Local Planning and Action. Click here for additional information on and to download the 2025 Energy Action Plan.
Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak Near Minneapolis Linked to Cooling Towers
Investigators are focusing on seven cooling towers in a small, suburban community west of Minneapolis as they search for the cause of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that left 23 sick and one dead. The Minnesota Department of Health issued a health advisory after the outbreak in late September in Hopkins, MN. It says all of the cooling towers have been, or are being, cleaned and sanitized. The Department of Health added that it could not have properly assessed the risk from the cooling towers because it was not fully aware of the structures, which are not regulated, adding that it had to use Google Maps to locate the towers.
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