South-Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource- SPEER

05/14/2024

Big news for clean energy: The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that utility-scale solar will drive roughly 60% of the anticipated 3% growth in total U.S. electricity generation in 2024. In Q1 alone, installed clean power capacity from all sources hit nearly 270 GW, which is enough to power 68 million American homes. https://ow.ly/14or50RC8Xs

05/13/2024

New webinar alert from the Community Efficiency Leadership Coalition (CELC)! Join us on 6/6 for an engaging session on "Heat Pump Rooftop Units: Underutilized Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Strategy for Low-Rise Commercial Buildings."

This webinar will describe the recently launched Commercial Buildings Heat Pump Accelerator by the U.S. Department of Energy, which aims to drive adoption of high-efficiency heat pump RTUs available today and develop next-generation cold-climate heat pump RTUs. Register here: https://ow.ly/5bTE50RBPlC

05/08/2024

🚨May's edition of the SPEER newsletter is live and packed with important updates. A few highlights from this month:

↳ Registration Open: SPEER's Annual Industry + Policy Workshop
↳ Upcoming Webinars & Recaps
↳ New SPEER Blogs
↳ New Oklahoma "Powering Forward" Newsletter
↳ PUC Questions for Comment: Review of Energy Efficiency Planning
↳ And much more!

Check it out here: https://ow.ly/Nu4w50RyPc9

05/02/2024

May has arrived, and another long, scorching summer looms over the state of Texas. With surging power prices already indicating the potential for grid stress, it’s time to prioritize and demand flexibility.

Already in mid-April, August power prices for Dallas soared to $168.70 a megawatt-hour, which was the highest level in five years for this time of the year,...

05/01/2024

Our friends at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) are conducting a Regional Code Adoption survey to collect essential data regarding the adoption of building codes and the implementation of regional amendments recommended by the Regional Codes Coordinating Committee (RCCC).

This initiative aims to standardize model building codes across North Central Texas, promoting uniformity and enhancing regulatory compliance. By participating in this survey, stakeholders can contribute to the development of more efficient and effective building regulations. The insights gathered will help streamline processes and ensure that local construction standards meet the highest levels of safety and efficiency.

We invite you to take a moment to complete this important survey, which should only take 10-15 minutes of your time. Thank you in advance! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H95K8WT

05/01/2024

We are excited to announce SPEER's first Oklahoma newsletter, "Oklahoma: Powering Forward." Here you will find energy & efficiency related news focused on developments both nationally and locally in Oklahoma. A few highlights from this edition:

↳ Oklahoma's 59th Legislature Activities
↳ Policy/Legislative Advocacy
↳ Climate Action Plan Adoption
↳ Upcoming Webinars + Resources
↳ And much more!

Dive in here: https://ow.ly/vB4N50RsrmT
And make sure you're up to date with SPEER news: https://ow.ly/8bQ350RsrmS

04/30/2024

This year's SPEER Industry + Policy Workshop will be held in Austin at the Archer Hotel on September 19-20th. Join us for insightful discussions and presentations encompassing:

- Consumer’s role in resiliency: shifting demand with policies and residential demand response programs
- Heat pump research insights & a deep dive into estimated energy requirements (EER) and their impact on heat pump adoption
- Navigating DERs policy implementation and VPP expansion
- Overcoming skill gaps in local governments as they prepare their communities for a clean energy future and build resiliency

Interested in sponsoring our rooftop happy hour reception or providing attendees with a company-branded custom welcome gift? We got you covered! If caffeine is more your thing we invite you to sponsor a coffee and snack break.

Take a look at our event page to browse sponsorship opportunities and save your spot. We look forward to seeing you in the fall! https://ow.ly/WqNk50RqPqy

https://ow.ly/ar0L50RqWYY

04/26/2024

"As an inaugural partner in the Better Buildings Commercial Heat Pump Accelerator, SPEER is demonstrating a commitment to leadership and collaboration,” said Maria Vargas, Director of U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative. “We are thrilled to work together on this important initiative to drive greater energy efficiency in our nation’s buildings.”

Press release: https://ow.ly/nzuQ50RhaYF
Accelerator website: https://ow.ly/ZQkl50RhaYC

04/25/2024

The U.S. Department of Energy Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) program is accepting applications for a new round of peer-learning cohorts which convene communities from across the country to spend 6 months learning from energy experts—and each other—about best practices, strategies, and tools for approaching a specific energy topic, including electrifying municipal fleet vehicles & programs for residential buildings.

The application is open until April 30, and the peer-learning cohorts will start in July. https://ow.ly/PswI50R8pXq

04/24/2024

Our friends at the UH Energy Texas Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (TIEEP) are hosting an Energy Forum focused on “Energy and Decarbonization: The Big Picture” on May 1st. They’ll examine major themes in the energy transition, including CCUS and hydrogen, and explore how they are being developed regionally in Houston and across the Texas Gulf Coast area. Learn more and register here: https://ow.ly/MWnl50Rnbxu

04/24/2024

This month's Policy newsletter is live! April's edition features important updates from the Oklahoma Legislature, highlights from Texas' IOU EEPR's, and much more.

↳ Oklahoma's 59th Legislature Activities
↳ IOU EEPR's Filed
↳ Senate Interim Charges Published
↳ Local Policy Actions
↳ Upcoming Events/Webinars

Check it out here: https://ow.ly/BeaT50Rm9H7

04/22/2024

Happy from SPEER! To celebrate, we are sharing ENERGY STAR’s new home improvement savings tool. Today let's continue our commitment to for a healthier planet, stronger grid, and lower utility bills! https://ow.ly/AMju50Rlb1k