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The Truth About Clean Energy Jobs: Efficiency Has Created 330,000 Jobs in Two Decades | ThinkProgress

Jeff Green — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:31:14 +0000

James Dixon, chairman of the National Association of Energy Service Companies, has a good op-ed in Politico on clean energy jobs. Recent news reports might have you believe the rise of the clean energy economy is a myth. Not true. Just look at energy efficiency’s economic impact. Since 1990, the energy service industry has provided $50 billion in energy savings, $25 billion in public infrastructure improvements and created roughly 330,000 jobs. Energy efficiency is an economic winner. This is not wishful thinking – it’s based on actual market experience. I have seen how energy efficiency, a key component of our expanding clean and green economy, saves taxpayers billions of dollars, creates U.S. jobs and sparks the kind of energy innovations America needs.

via The Truth About Clean Energy Jobs: Efficiency Has Created 330,000 Jobs in Two Decades | ThinkProgress.

NYSERDA Announces New $3 Million Residential Appliance Rebate Program to Begin Sept. 2, 2011

Jeff Green — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:30:38 +0000

NYSERDA Announces New $3 Million Residential Appliance Rebate Program to Begin Sept. 2, 2011

High-efficiency refrigerators and clothes washers will qualify

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced a new $3 million rebate program specifically for the purchase of high-efficiency ENERGY STAR^® refrigerators and clothes washers. The program begins Sept. 2, 2011.

Rebates of $350 will be available for high-efficiency refrigerators and $250 for high-efficiency clothes washers that meet Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) super-efficiency levels. Super-efficient appliances use significantly less electricity than the federal standard and are at the upper end of ENERGY STAR efficiency levels. Super-efficient clothes washers also use less water than standard washing machines. Visit www.cee1.org for more detail about super-efficient refrigerators and clothes washers.

According to CEE, the refrigerator is the single biggest power consumer in most households, accounting for about 15 percent of residential electricity usage.

Rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for completed applications, which will be available at www.NYSApplianceRebates.com or by calling 1-877- NY-SMART (877-697-6278). Purchases made before September 2, 2011 are not eligible for rebates. The program will continue until funding runs out.

The new rebate program, supported by federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and approved through the U.S. Department of Energy for use by New York State, is called “Buy Green, Save Green NYS High-Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program.” Unlike the “New York State Great Appliance Swap-Out,” which ran from February 2010 until those funds ran out in March 2011, the new program does not provide rebates for freezers or dishwashers and does not provide rebates for recycling.

“We’re focusing on appliances where we can make the biggest energy efficiency gains,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “Our last appliance rebate program helped consumers save money on energy costs and provided a needed boost to retailers across New York, while reducing the environmental impact of older appliances. We are very pleased that New York residents took full advantage of this program, which supported Governor Cuomo’s goals for improving New York State’s environment and decreasing energy usage. We expect the new program to be just as successful.”

During “New York State’s Great Appliance Swap-Out,” which provided more than $16 million in rebates, 165,148 households participated across the state, and 169,866 appliances were replaced with 57,365 ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. ENERGY STAR appliances are up to 30 percent more efficient than standard models on the market.

More than 1,000 retailers across New York State participated, promoting the sale of ENERGY STAR products.

Participating households statewide replaced, purchased and recycled as follows:

Refrigerators – 80,638 replaced with 57,365 energy-efficiency models; 71 percent of old ones recycled
Clothes washers – 82,616 replaced with 60,453 energy-efficiency models; 73 percent of old ones recycled
Freezers – 4,242 replaced with 2,679; 63 percent of old ones recycled
Dishwashers – 2,370 replaced with 1,142; 48 percent of old ones recycled

Appliance Swap-Out figures by region are available here.

The funding described here was provided from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program. The State Energy Program provides grants to states and directs funding to State Energy Offices from technology programs in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. States use grants to address their energy priorities and to adopt emerging renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. SEP is distributing $3.1 billion of funding to the states and U.S. territories under the 2009 Recovery Act.

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, offers objective information and analysis, innovative programs, technical expertise, and funding to help New Yorkers increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. NYSERDA professionals work to protect our environment and create clean-energy jobs. NYSERDA has been developing partnerships to advance innovative energy solutions in New York since 1975.

Media and nuclear energy: Interlocking industries

Left of the Hudson — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:58:00 +0000

This article was first posted at Left of the Hudson: Progressive News and Views for Rockland County by Left of the Hudson.

By Patrick Morrison, Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting

While the Fukushima nuclear disaster has gotten plenty of attention on network programming, the debate has consistently overlooked the most fundamental question of whether nuclear power can be harnessed safely (FAIR Blog, 3/14/11). In asking why this question remains muted, a look at their boards of directors reveals that all three major broadcast networks share at least two members with companies that produce or transmit nuclear energy.

With nuclear powerhouse General Electric as co-owner of NBC, it’s not surprising that GE‘s CEO Jeffery Immelt and CFO Keith Sherin both sit as directors on the network’s board. But it’s not the only network whose board has nuclear energy connections: ABC‘s directors include a representative from Halliburton as well as from Edison Mission Energy. Not to be outdone, CBS, a former subsidiary of the energy giant Westinghouse, seats three board members from the nuclear energy industry’s Southern Company, NSTAR and Consolidated Edison.

Can nuclear power be harnessed safely? The livelihood of these network board members depends on answering the question in the affirmative.

Nan Hayworth’s attempt to kill jobs fails; Orange County energy project is saved

Flo Greenwood — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:05:51 +0000

This article was first posted at take19.org by Flo Greenwood.

Despite Congresswoman Nan Hayworth actively conspiring to kill it, the Taylor Biomass Project will get Federal loan guarantees of $100 million and create hundreds of jobs in the Lower Hudson Valley. Taylor Biomass President James Taylor says that the alternative energy project, which turns waste otherwise headed into landfills into electricity, will now proceed full throttle.

90 anti-frackers demonstrate outside governor’s chambers

Julia Reischel — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:17:26 +0000

This article was first posted at Watershed Post - News, arts, environment and culture from around the Catskills. by Julia Reischel.

The Times Union’s Capitol Confidential blog reports that scores of protesters chanted “No Fracking Way” in the War Room of the Capitol building in Albany yesterday, in a show of force that probably reached Governor Andrew Cuomo’s ears in the next room over. Reporter Rick Karlin notes that these protestors came from one particular demographic:

These folks were older and whiter than the protesters who’ve been marching for a Millionaire’s Tax and against school cuts, but they were plenty energetic.

See a video that the blog posted here.