Materials for calls in 2007-2008

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To provide opportunities for states to engage in peer exchange and learn about the latest programs and policies that promote clean energy, EPA created the State Clean Energy-Environment Technical Forum. The Forum explores analytical questions and attempts to resolve key issues surrounding state clean energy efforts, such as measuring air quality benefits, electricity demand reductions, cost savings, economic development and energy security improvements. Growing concern about climate change has only increased the interest of states in the latest clean energy technologies and how to best advance the adoption of clean energy in all sectors of the economy. Organized as a monthly discussion among state energy, environmental, and public utility commission officials, the Technical Forum features peer exchanges and expert presentations.

To supplement the discussions, EPA provides targeted technical support. This takes various forms, including executive briefs describing the policy or programs to be discussed, fact sheets, overviews of the barriers to be examined, summaries of success stories, where to go for more information, relevant data and tools, and sample emission quantification or quantification protocols.

How the Calls Work

Technical Forum calls occur every month, usually on the second Thursday from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Keystone Center (www.keystone.org), an independent facilitation organization, works with EPA staff to design and facilitate the discussion to maximize learning and information exchange. For each Technical Forum call:

• Participants receive a comprehensive briefing packet prior to the call;
  
  
• State leaders describe their success stories and identify specific areas in need of further discussion;
  
  
• Additional experts share data, insights, and analytical results;
  
  
• Call participants discuss how to resolve analytical issues and leverage shared input into related follow-up calls and activities; and
  
  
• Participants receive a summary of the discussion and responses to follow up questions.
  

Topics covered in the past year include:

• Using co-benefits to advance clean energy programs;
  
  
• Urban heat islands, clean energy, and air quality;
  
  
• Energy efficiency and peak electricity demand;
  
  
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles;
  
  
• Energy efficiency as a resource in forward capacity markets;
  
  
• Helping localities advance state energy goals;
  
  
• Energy efficiency in affordable housing; and
  
  
• Integrated gasification and combined cycle plants and carbon sequestration.
  

The Technical Forum also hosted a sub-series of three calls focused on renewable energy options as part of the Renewable Portfolio Standards Collaborative, as well as a State Roundtable on Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Set-Asides. Similar in-depth, targeted efforts are anticipated in the 2007-2008 Forum series, based upon state interest.

Upcoming Topics

Based on feedback from participating states, tentative topics for the coming year include:

• State emerging technology programs;
  
  
• Utility incentives to advance clean energy;
  
  
• Paths to zero load growth;
  
  
• The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and clean energy;
  
  
• Energy efficiency portfolio standards design and implementation; and
  
  
• Advanced metering.

EPA’s Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership Program

EPA’s Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership Program directs the Technical Forum with input and assistance from related EPA clean energy programs. The Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership Program is a voluntary program designed to help states review and adopt available policies and programs that effectively integrate clean energy into a low-cost, clean, and reliable energy system. The Program provides tools and analyses to advance state efforts that improve air quality and public health; increase cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy; reap economic benefits; and lower greenhouse gases. For more information, see www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/stateandlocal/index.htm.

For More Information

If you would like to become a participant, please contact: Julia Miller at (202) 343-9341 or miller.julia@epa.gov

For 2007-2008 agendas and presentations, click here.

Agendas and presentations from prior Technical Forum calls can be found at:

www.keystone.org/html/documents.html (all calls)

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