ACEEE NEWS RELEASE
UTILITIES,
EFFICIENCY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS JOIN
TO PROPOSE NEW EFFICIENCY STANDARD FOR ELECTRIC TRANSFORMERS
Proposal
to DOE Accelerates Energy Savings, Other Benefits
For
further information contact:
Ed Legge, EEI, 202/508-5074
Jenny Powers, NRDC, 212/727-4566
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
February 20, 2007
Washington, D.C.--
The nation's investor- and municipally owned electric utilities,
in another indication of energy efficiency's growing value to America's
economy, today joined with environmental and energy efficiency organizations
to recommend significantly higher efficiency standards for the estimated
41 million distribution transformers now serving the electricity
system.
Once
in place following a gradual phase-in, the new transformers are
expected to save 26 billion kilowatt hours annually, or roughly
equivalent to the electricity used by 2.3 million U.S. households
in 2005. That will in turn reduce annual emissions from electric
power plants by 15 million metric tons, about equal to the average
annual emissions of 2.7 million automobiles.
The
proposal for higher efficiency standards marks the first-ever agreement
on appliance standards from America's investor-owned and public-power
electric utilities and major energy efficiency and environmental
groups. The recommendations were made jointly to the U.S. Department
of Energy by the Edison Electric Institute and the American Public
Power Association, representing the utilities, and the Natural Resources
Defense Council, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
the Alliance to Save Energy, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project.
The announcement
was made during the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners'
(NARUC) Annual Winter Committee Meetings. NARUC's membership this
week will be considering a resolution supporting the standards.
The agreement
comes at a time when the DOE is evaluating the efficiency of liquid-filled
transformers, the metal boxes or cylinders found on utility poles
across the United States that serve the crucial function of reducing
voltage to the levels needed to provide electricity to homes and
businesses. In 2006, the DOE proposed new efficiency standards for
these transformers, but concerned efficiency and environmental groups
believed those standards did not take full advantage of current
technology.
The result
was an unprecedented collaboration with the utility groups that
led to the recommendation to the DOE announced today. The Department
is expected to issue its final decision on transformer efficiency
by this September.
Representatives
of these groups praised the collaborative effort and the strong
message it sends about the importance of energy efficiency in all
phases of the electricity production and delivery cycle.
"Achieving
increased energy efficiency through technological advancement is
vital to reducing emissions, and we are pleased to be joining with
these influential organizations to take the lead on this issue,"
said Thomas R. Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute.
"This collaborative effort is a terrific start toward increased
efficiency throughout our nation's economy and an excellent example
of what we can accomplish if we work together."
"We have
technology on the market today that will dramatically reduce global
warming emissions and enhance energy efficiency across the nation,"
said Ashok Gupta, Natural Resources Defense Council's Air &
Energy program director. "EEI and APPA, on behalf of America's
investor-owned and public power utilities, recognize that taking
advantage of these innovations is not only good for the environment,
but a smart business move, too. Businesses and consumers across
the nation are moving towards increased efficiency; now we just
need the federal government to follow."
"We must
practice what we preach. As an industry, we encourage our customers
to use energy wisely," said Alan H. Richardson, president and
CEO, American Public Power Association. "This partnership effort
demonstrates by example that we are serious about energy efficiency
in our own operations. Efficient use of energy saves money for our
customers and is a critical component in the climate-change equation.
More efficient use of electricity in most cases reduces emissions
and in all cases postpones the need for new generation."
"The American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is pleased to see the utility
industry joining with public interest groups in a major step forward
for energy efficiency. Transformers are a key link in the electricity
grid, and this improved standard will improve reliability as well
as save energy." said Bill Prindle, Acting Executive Director
of ACEEE.
"The Alliance
to Save Energy is proud to join the utility industry and other efficiency
advocates in urging DOE to adopt stronger energy-efficiency standards
for transformers," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
"The organizations backing a higher standard recognize the
urgency of ensuring that equipment and appliances are as energy-efficient
as possible to save energy and money and to avoid unnecessary emissions
from power plants. The standards that we are jointly recommending
to DOE will accomplish all of these nationally important objectives."
"NEEP
is proud to be part of this agreement," said Susan E. Coakley,
the organization's executive director. "Our organization is
built upon collaboration, and this collaboration on distribution
transformers highlights the common ground that is energy efficiency.
Whether an advocacy group or a utility, all of the involved parties
recognize the value of utilizing available technology to deploy
a product that is both high performing and highly efficient. And,
in the end, everyone wins because of the significant energy savings
that will be realized."
The recommended
standards would be phased in beginning in 2009 with an initial increase
in efficiency and continuing with an even higher standard beginning
in 2013. On a cumulative basis, the standards will save about 425
billion kilowatt hours and cut carbon dioxide emissions by more
than 200 million metric tons over 28 years.
#####
Edison Electric
Institute (EEI) is the association of United States shareholder-owned
electric companies, international affiliates, and industry associates
worldwide. Our U.S. members serve 97 percent of the ultimate customers
in the shareholder owned segment of the industry, and 71 percent
of all electric utility ultimate customers in the nation. They generate
almost 60 percent of the electricity produced by U.S. electric generators.
The
American Public Power Association (APPA) serves the nation's more
than 2,000 not-for-profit, community- and state-owned electric systems.
Public power systems serve 44 million people in 49 states, or about
15 percent of all electricity customers. They own about 10 percent
of the nation's generating capacity.
The Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a national, nonprofit organization
of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to
protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC
has 1.2 million members and online activists nationwide, served
from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San
Francisco and Beijing.
The Appliance
Standards Awareness Project (ASAP) is dedicated to increasing awareness
of and support for energy-saving appliance and equipment efficiency
standards. Founded in 1999, ASAP is led by a steering committee
that includes representatives from the environmental community,
consumer groups, utilities and state government.
The Alliance
to Save Energy (ASE) is a coalition of prominent business, government,
consumer and environmental leaders who promote the efficient and
clean use of energy worldwide to benefit the economy, environment,
and national security.
Northeast
Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. (NEEP) is a regional nonprofit
organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to promote energy
efficiency in homes, buildings and industry in the Northeast U.S.
through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase
the use of energy efficient products, services and practices, and
that help achieve a cleaner environment and a more reliable and
affordable energy system. For more information, please visit http://www.neep.org/.
|
