Energy Efficiency News – May 14th

Internal

Pulse Energy launched the Pulse™ Platform: a comprehensive energy information software platform to serve a utility’s entire commercial customer base.
Source: Pulse Energy

In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson gave a preview of his keynote address to the New Cities Foundation next week. The international convention, hosted in Paris, will hear about the city’s work with leading technology companies, including Cisco Systems and Vancouver-based Pulse Energy.
Source: The Globe and Mail

Utilities

Hydro-Québec has released its 2011 Sustainability Report, the tenth anniversary of the publication. The utility invested $217 million into energy efficiency in 2011, resulting in savings of 989 GWh.
Source: Hydro-Québec

Chelan County PUD’s CFO, Kelly Boyd, told regulators that a heavy runoff forecast will keep the utility in the black, even as market prices for its surplus power are almost too low to cover the cost of production. Runoff from mountain snowfall is expected to hit 118% and 120% of average in the Columbia River and Lake Chelan respectively.
Source: The Wenatchee World

Institutions, Cities & States

Oklahoma passed a law directing state agencies and colleges to achieve 20% energy conservation by 2020. The Oklahoma State Facilities Energy Conservation Program takes effect in August 2012, and is estimated to save the state $500 million over the next decade.
Source: NewsOK

Microsoft will implement an internal carbon tax for all of its 100-plus global offices. The fees, starting on July 1st, will be used to purchased carbon offsets and allow the company to declare itself carbon-neutral.
Source: Huffington Post

Oracle Chairman Jeff Henley is making a $50 million gift to the University of California at Santa Barbara’s Institute for Energy Efficiency. $30 million will go towards a new base of operations, Henley Hall, and the rest directly to the College of Engineering.
Source: AllThingsD

International

The International Energy Agency released its 2012 Tracking Clean Energy Progress report, measuring global growth in such projects. One of the report’s key recommendations is to unlock energy efficiency’s potential through further and stronger efficiency standards.
Source: International Energy Agency

EU leaders are still attempting to pass its Energy Efficiency Directive, mandating a 20% consumption cut by 2020. Member nations have signed up to the directive, but it must be cleared by the three branches of European government before it becomes legally binding.
Source: UPI

The Queen’s speech in the UK included plans for a new Energy Bill, which will include low-carbon generation incentives and an emissions cap for coal-fired plants. The government is attempting to stimulate around 200 billion GDP in low-carbon investment over the next decade.
Source: Wall Street Journal

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