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Congressman Steve Israel represents New York’s 2nd Congressional Districts and serves on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. Israel is considered a leader on U.S. energy security, reducing dependence on foreign oil, lowering energy costs, and creating an innovative clean technology economy. He has led on bills to finance the installation of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

Through a case-study approach, the CalCEF Innovations report serves as a playbook for uncovering EE financing options, including the aggregation of individual projects, technologies and service offerings into inventive, larger and more attractive retrofit investment opportunities.

See the full story.

Download the CalCEF report on “Energy Efficiency Paying the Way: New Financing Solutions Remove First Cost Hurdles”.

Building Energy Performance Info ™
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“The persistent monitoring provided by Agilewaves, translates into real, measurable, and more important, on-going energy efficiency gains”, noted Vandenberg. “We help building owners identify the hidden opportunities for efficiency that drives reduced costs of operation and maintenance.” See full article.

CaliforniaFIRST Announcements Coming
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The high upfront cost of clean energy has stopped countless commercial and residential property owners from installing solar systems or undertaking major energy efficiency retrofits. To address this challenge, a growing list of California counties and cities are signing on to the CaliforniaFIRST program, and will begin offering local programs for property owners in the summer of 2010. See full article.

The key component of CaliforniaFIRST is a new green financing program, called Property Assessed Clean Energy or PACE. By participating in a PACE program, property owners can make energy efficiency improvements and pay for them over long periods of time, while they simultaneously enjoy major energy bill savings.

The Bay Area is particularly active with CaliforniaFIRST programs under development by Belmont, Berkeley, Campbell, Colma, Daly City, Hillsborough, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Monte Sereno, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Mateo, San Francisco and South San Francisco. Watch for announcements as additional California cities initiate their programs.

See the details on PACE for Property Owners.

Maryland Energy Administration
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Via its EmPOWER Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Loan Fund, the Maryland Energy Administration plans to help Maryland businesses improve the energy performance of their facilities. See full article.

“These loans will allow Maryland’s commercial and industrial businesses to implement energy efficiency solutions that not only save money and spur new job creation, but also help our State to achieve the EmPOWER Maryland goal of reducing energy consumption by 15 percent by the year 2015,” remarked Governor O’Malley. “Today marks one more success for the families and workers of Maryland, as we strive to become a more Smart, Green and Growing State.”

Maryland businesses can now qualify for up to $500,000 for electric efficiency projects, and $750,000 for combined electric and gas/fuel oil efficiency projects with a minimum $35,000 for energy efficiency projects. Eligible types of energy efficiency projects may include, but are not limited to building weatherization, lighting technology upgrades, HVAC replacements or upgrades, and commercial refrigeration equipment upgrades.

“The Maryland Energy Administration has a wealth of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs available to all sectors in our State,” commented MEA Director Malcolm Woolf. “The Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Loan Fund is yet another solid resource for Maryland businesses interested in increasing their energy savings and going green.”

Businesses interested in the program are encouraged to download a project loan application at: www.energy.Maryland.gov/incentives/business, and to contact Jesse Fulton, the energy efficiency manager for this program at jfulton@energy.state.md.us or by phone at 410-260-7184 with any questions. Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a first come-first served basis. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of other financial incentives offered to commercial and industrial businesses through their utility’s EmPOWER energy efficiency programs.

Maryland EmPOWER Program: See the details.

Facilities Management News
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Agilewaves has announced the release of the Building Optimization System (BOS) for energy efficiency retrofits in existing buildings. The system provides real time feedback on energy and non-energy resources for built environments, according to Agilewaves. See full article.

See the details.