With The Clean Power Plan, EPA Has Given Up On Cooperative Federalism

Originally posted in Forbes/Opinion 4 Mar 2015 | By Stephen Heins The idea of “cooperative federalism” began with the New Deal in the 1930s when it came to include a division of responsibilities among the states and the federal government agencies of electric power and distribution. By the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the EPA set [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:54:11-05:00March 4th, 2015|Categories: Energy, Environment, Original Heins|Tags: , |Comments Off on With The Clean Power Plan, EPA Has Given Up On Cooperative Federalism

State Moves Into Top 10 in Energy Efficiency

Embed from Getty Images 14 Oct 2008 | by Stephen Heins In an October report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the state of Wisconsin moved into the top 10 on the "2008 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard." In addition, Wisconsin should further improve its ranking now that the Citizens Utility Board and Wisconsin [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:16-05:00October 14th, 2008|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on State Moves Into Top 10 in Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency and Emission Trading Schemes (2008 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency at Asilomar)

26 May 2008 | by Steve Heins, Orion Energy Systems ABSTRACT  Properly designing a greenhouse gas commodity market to trade allowances or offsets presents a serious challenge to policy makers, commodity brokers and sectors that are affected by the cost and profit potential that a market brings. In order for any commodity market to be successful, [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:34-05:00May 26th, 2008|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on Energy Efficiency and Emission Trading Schemes (2008 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency at Asilomar)

Decoupling: Divorcing Electricity Sales from Revenues Creates Win-Win for Utilities and Customers

Originally published © 2007 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry   27 May 2007 | by Stephen Heins and Joel Sandersen, Orion Energy Systems ABSTRACT Current regulatory mechanisms have created incentive structures that discourage utilities from implementing energy efficiency, demand side management and other load reducing programs for their customers. These disincentives are driven by [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:34-05:00May 27th, 2007|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on Decoupling: Divorcing Electricity Sales from Revenues Creates Win-Win for Utilities and Customers

Let’s Shine a Light on Energy Efficiency While We Argue About Oil

Originally posted by Energy Central March 22, 2006 | By Stephen Heins We applaud the leadership of Senator Rob Cowles and Assemblyperson Phil Montgomery as they have marshaled the recommendations of Gov. Doyle's Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables into a very robust energy bill, with a portfolio of short-term, mid-term and long-term solutions designed [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:35-05:00March 22nd, 2006|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: , |Comments Off on Let’s Shine a Light on Energy Efficiency While We Argue About Oil

Energy efficiency and the spectre of free-ridership: is a kilowatt saved really a kilowatt saved?

1 Feb 2006 | by Stephen Heins Applying a "best practices" analysis to the sacred cow of "free-ridership" as it relates to public benefits and utility energy-efficiency programs yields some important results. This analysis is all the more important, because energy efficiency with a measurement, verification, and sustainability protocol is emerging as the single best investment [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:35-05:00February 1st, 2006|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on Energy efficiency and the spectre of free-ridership: is a kilowatt saved really a kilowatt saved?

Free All Wisconsin Utilities to Make Money Helping Customers Save Energy

Originally posted by Energy Central December 20, 2005 | By Stephen Heins Why does Wisconsin continue to reward electrical consumption, generation and marginally competitive solutions in an era when we are in a major construction phase for new power plants and transmission infrastructure? Yes, construction of new power plants and transmission lines may be inevitable, but [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:35-05:00December 26th, 2005|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on Free All Wisconsin Utilities to Make Money Helping Customers Save Energy

Wisconsin’s New Energy Efficiency Bill. A Step Forward or A Continuation of Out-Dated Thinking?

Originally posted by Energy Central November 15, 2005 | By Stephen Heins We applaud the very positive features of the new Energy Bill proposed by Representative Phil Montgomery and Senator Rob Cowles. With the upward pressure on energy costs for both oil and electricity, the timing of the new bill could not be better. This is [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:35-05:00November 15th, 2005|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on Wisconsin’s New Energy Efficiency Bill. A Step Forward or A Continuation of Out-Dated Thinking?

California Gets its Energy Policy Affairs in Order: Energy Action Plan II is Blueprint for Optimization and Cooperation

Originally posted by Energy Central September 19, 2005 | By Stephen Heins Now that California is in the last stages of adopting its Energy Action Plan II, it is an opportune time to discuss the comprehensive solutions being enacted there. First and foremost, California has been able to conduct a thorough discussion of energy policy and [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:54:12-05:00September 19th, 2005|Categories: Energy, Environment, Original Heins|Tags: , |Comments Off on California Gets its Energy Policy Affairs in Order: Energy Action Plan II is Blueprint for Optimization and Cooperation

Nevada’s Energy Bill Gets Clean Power Right

Originally posted by Energy Central August 30, 2005 | By Stephen Heins Now that the dust has started to settle on Nevada’s Assembly Bill 03, which was signed into law by Governor Kenny Guinn on June 17, 2005, I would like to review its most forward-looking provisions. This then is another article about “best practices” for [...]

By |2017-04-03T22:51:35-05:00August 30th, 2005|Categories: Energy, Original Heins|Tags: |Comments Off on Nevada’s Energy Bill Gets Clean Power Right