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Regional Energy management

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Regional Energy management

Regional Energy Management Program

Texas is the fastest growing state in the nation. San Antonians alone used 23 million megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity in a single year. As Texas continues to grow, the importance of implementing energy efficiency and providing AACOG services for 13 counties will be of the upmost importance to securing best energy practices.

The Texas Health and Safety Code §388.005(c) requires political subdivisions in 41 nonattainment or affected counties to establish a goal to reduce electricity consumption by at least five percent each state fiscal year. In 2019, the 86th Legislature passed Senate Bill 241, extending the timeline for this requirement to seven years beginning September 1, 2019. Each political subdivision must submit a report annually to the State Energy Conservation office (SECO) regarding the entity's progress toward meeting the five percent annual reduction goal. The deadline to submit the report for 2022 energy usage is March 3, 2023.

Nonattainment areas are those counties (or portions of counties) that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for at least one of six criteria pollutants, including ground-level ozone. "Affected counties" are those that are close to nonattainment areas, that may otherwise be at risk of being designated nonattainment in the future, or that have large or numerous sources of emissions. Of the counties in the AACOG service area, local government entities in Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, and Wilson Counties are required to report energy usage to SECO.

SECO Energy Resources

Other Energy Resources
  • Benchmark Energy STAR Portfolio Manager: Benchmarking is the tool utilized to measure and access your buildings energy performance and helps identify opportunities to cut waste.
  • SPEER Energy Adoption Toolkit: South Central Partnership for energy efficiency as a resource offers resources to support in the adoption of new energy codes for local governments.
  • City Efficiency Leadership Council (CELC): CELC is part of SPEER’s Local Government Program which is a collaborative network engaging in partnerships and resource exchange to best adopt and expand best energy management practices in the public sector.
  • Energy and Building Market Assessment Tool: Commercial PACE application: A user guide provided by the Department of Energy to give a detailed analysis to state and local governments about their potential energy reductions and cost savings based on the type of retrofit and building stock.
  • Texas A&M Building Performance Assessment Center: The Department of Energy supports Texas A&M's Engineering program which provides eligible small and commercial buildings, less than 100,000 square feet, access to building energy usage assessments. Through this assessment commercial properties have potential to understand energy cost reductions and savings.
  • Texas A&M Industrial Assessment Center: The Department of Energy supports the IAC program allowing manufacturing plants a no cost industrial assessment. Through this assessment Industrial buildings can better understand potentials for energy cost reductions and savings.
Funding Opportunities
  • Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE): The PACE Program assists in providing low-cost, long-term financing for water and energy efficiency and conservation improvements to commercial and industrial properties.
  • Federal and State Incentives for Renewable Energy Efficiency: Collective database of information on incentives state and federal for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) efficiency. Incentive types can include but are not limited to tax credits, deductions, rebates, grants, low-interest loans, and more.
  • Master Lease Program: A lease revenue financing program through the Texas Public Finance Authority (TPFA) that finances capital equipment acquisitions and other potential programs.
  • Energy Savings Performance Contracting: Financing option guide for K-12 schools comprehensive energy upgrades including multiple measures aimed to achieve significant energy savings.
Events/Trainings

Introduction to Energy Management: Buildings and Fleets

Date: March 28, 2023 Time: 10:00-12:00PM CST

Join us to learn more about our new Regional Energy Management Program where we will be promoting different programs to assist local governments with reducing operating costs by implementing energy efficiency solutions. We will discuss AACOG' s Clean Cities Program which promotes energy efficiency for fleets.

Presenters: Lyle Hufstetler Natural Resources Project Administrator AACOG

Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8369166280798554710

View Recorded Webinar here:

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