Comments on: TVA, Southeast Score Largest Exemptions from House RES http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/ Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:45:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Confirms Analysis of Renewable Electricity Standard | Eco Friendly Mag http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Confirms Analysis of Renewable Electricity Standard | Eco Friendly Mag Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:58:27 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-67 [...] has no energy efficiency mandate because none of its utilities qualify to be regulated under the CERES. The CERES has little or no impact on North Carolina and several [...] [...] has no energy efficiency mandate because none of its utilities qualify to be regulated under the CERES. The CERES has little or no impact on North Carolina and several [...]

]]> By: Steve Fortuna http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Steve Fortuna Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:32:49 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-65 There is no rationale for the exemptions other than political expediency and fear mongering that a RPS will raise some energy prices (already artificially low in the Southeast due to subsidies). It's political horse-trading at its most pernicious, none of it based on science or on creation of new green jobs. It's the creation of lawyers working for $Billion corporate clients who will change grudgingly or not at all until there is a substantial risk of carbon taxes penalties. I feel sorry for Henry Waxman.....he's a good guy with good intentions but he can't control the back room maneuvering. The lady from SC makes a good point - you can't always trust the states' tax credits and RECs will be there when you need them. In Georgia, the 35% state tax credit for renewables is capped at a pitifully low $4 M and grants at $2.5M, and you apply AFTER you spend the money without any window or accountability into the process. They could reject your application and you would have no way to know if they had reached a cap or not. We need transparency and the ability to earmark state incentives on a project by project basis, or else you are taking a gamble that you will get back some of your renewable investment through credits/grants. Some states are trying to reneg on funding, diverting those funds to deficit reduction or other line items. There is no rationale for the exemptions other than political expediency and fear mongering that a RPS will raise some energy prices (already artificially low in the Southeast due to subsidies). It’s political horse-trading at its most pernicious, none of it based on science or on creation of new green jobs. It’s the creation of lawyers working for $Billion corporate clients who will change grudgingly or not at all until there is a substantial risk of carbon taxes penalties. I feel sorry for Henry Waxman…..he’s a good guy with good intentions but he can’t control the back room maneuvering.

The lady from SC makes a good point - you can’t always trust the states’ tax credits and RECs will be there when you need them. In Georgia, the 35% state tax credit for renewables is capped at a pitifully low $4 M and grants at $2.5M, and you apply AFTER you spend the money without any window or accountability into the process. They could reject your application and you would have no way to know if they had reached a cap or not. We need transparency and the ability to earmark state incentives on a project by project basis, or else you are taking a gamble that you will get back some of your renewable investment through credits/grants. Some states are trying to reneg on funding, diverting those funds to deficit reduction or other line items.

]]> By: Patti Smith http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Patti Smith Sat, 30 May 2009 16:39:21 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-56 My husband and I are building a new home and trying to be energy efficient AND take advantage of all tax credits, etc. We have 2 problems in this pursuit. 1. We took advantage of a Federal Tax Credit for Geothermal Heating cooling back in the late 70's and loved our geothermal heat, but even after our state senator (Ohio) at that time confirmed that we qualified, the IRS, several years later, forced us into a class action lawsuit which we lost and we had to pay attorney fees and back taxes for this AND penalties. We now no longer trust our government's promises of tax rebates, deductions, credits etc. How do we know they are not going to go retroactive and disaalow these credits later again? 2. Is there a website that lists credits succinctly for Energy Star Appliances? Did not find DSIREUSA.org effective since you must look up each appliance seperately at a different location. Trying hard in S. Carolina. Thanks. My husband and I are building a new home and trying to be energy efficient AND take advantage of all tax credits, etc.
We have 2 problems in this pursuit.
1. We took advantage of a Federal Tax Credit for Geothermal Heating cooling back in the late 70’s and loved our geothermal heat, but even after our state senator (Ohio) at that time confirmed that we qualified, the IRS, several years later, forced us into a class action lawsuit which we lost and we had to pay attorney fees and back taxes for this AND penalties. We now no longer trust our government’s promises of tax rebates, deductions, credits etc. How do we know they are not going to go retroactive and disaalow these credits later again?

2. Is there a website that lists credits succinctly for Energy Star Appliances? Did not find DSIREUSA.org effective since you must look up each appliance seperately at a different location. Trying hard in S. Carolina. Thanks.

]]> By: Jesse Jenkins http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Jesse Jenkins Fri, 29 May 2009 23:39:17 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-55 John, could you email me with your analysis/assumptions (if you've got a spreadsheet, that'd be great). I'm very interested in how you came up with this and factored in the exemptions, because that's currently missing from my analysis. jesse[at]thebreakthrough[dot]org. Thanks, and nice work here. John, could you email me with your analysis/assumptions (if you’ve got a spreadsheet, that’d be great). I’m very interested in how you came up with this and factored in the exemptions, because that’s currently missing from my analysis. jesse[at]thebreakthrough[dot]org. Thanks, and nice work here.

]]> By: Jesse Jenkins http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Jesse Jenkins Fri, 29 May 2009 23:26:31 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-53 I've completed a similarly distressing analysis of the now severely weakened RES in the Waxman-Markey bill, which you can find here: http://thebreakthrough.org/blog/2009/05/climate_bills_renewable_electr.shtml I'm curious about your post though: is there a specific exemption for TVA you are referring to, or are you just estimating the impact of the existing exemptions (for electricity load served by hydropower, I'd assume) that apply to TVA? TVA falls above the 4 billion kWh/year threshold right, so they aren't entirely exempted from the requirement. Thanks for clarifying. Jesse Jenkins Director of Energy and Climate Policy The Breakthrough Institute http://thebreakthrough.org I’ve completed a similarly distressing analysis of the now severely weakened RES in the Waxman-Markey bill, which you can find here:

http://thebreakthrough.org/blog/2009/05/climate_bills_renewable_electr.shtml

I’m curious about your post though: is there a specific exemption for TVA you are referring to, or are you just estimating the impact of the existing exemptions (for electricity load served by hydropower, I’d assume) that apply to TVA? TVA falls above the 4 billion kWh/year threshold right, so they aren’t entirely exempted from the requirement. Thanks for clarifying.

Jesse Jenkins
Director of Energy and Climate Policy
The Breakthrough Institute
http://thebreakthrough.org

]]> By: Brad Johnson http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Brad Johnson Fri, 29 May 2009 22:15:51 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-52 John -- where's that map from? Can you mail me the source? Thx. The justification for the exemptions was essentially logrolling. John — where’s that map from? Can you mail me the source? Thx. The justification for the exemptions was essentially logrolling.

]]> By: John Wilson http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-50 John Wilson Thu, 28 May 2009 13:19:32 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-50 Well, unfortunatly, I am unsure what the rationale might be. For the smallest utilities, it makes sense to exclude them because the administrative burden of compliance could outweigh any benefits of compliance. But this threshold is much higher than that, so I really can't say why so many utilities are being exempted. Well, unfortunatly, I am unsure what the rationale might be. For the smallest utilities, it makes sense to exclude them because the administrative burden of compliance could outweigh any benefits of compliance. But this threshold is much higher than that, so I really can’t say why so many utilities are being exempted.

]]> By: susan tompkins http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-49 susan tompkins Thu, 28 May 2009 12:42:44 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-49 John: I am most interested in your ans. to Brian's query about the Waxman Bill. Please clarify these exemptions. What is the effect on NC ratepayers in plain language . Thank you! Susan Tompkins Charlotte John:
I am most interested in your ans. to Brian’s query about the Waxman Bill. Please clarify these exemptions.
What is the effect on NC ratepayers in plain language .
Thank you!
Susan Tompkins
Charlotte

]]> By: Brian Miles http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2009/05/26/tva-res-exemption/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Brian Miles Thu, 28 May 2009 00:42:44 +0000 http://blog.cleanenergy.org/?p=1204#comment-48 John, I haven't been following Waxman-Markey closely. Can you explain the rationale for having exemptions to begin with. Is this a cost-control measure? Thanks. John,

I haven’t been following Waxman-Markey closely. Can you explain the rationale for having exemptions to begin with. Is this a cost-control measure?

Thanks.

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