1. Charlie_Rogers
   Board Secretary
   

   This week in Olympia (From Carrie Dolwick of NW Energy Coalition)

   Tuesday 2/16 is the cut-off for bills to pass out of their house of origin. All action will be on the floor on Monday and Tuesday. We are working hard to get energy efficiency standards for TVs and energy efficiency financing passed before the deadline.

   On Wednesday committee action starts up again. Bills have till Tuesday 2/23 to get out of the policy committee of the opposite house. Committee schedules will be changing depending on what bills pass out of the house of origin. There are a few things already scheduled.

   Wednesday - 02/17/10
   8:00 am
   Technology, Energy & Communications Jt. w/ Community & Economic Development & Trade
   House Hearing Rm B
   John L. O'Brien Building

   Public Hearing: 2SSB 6515 <http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6515> - Refocusing the department of commerce, including transferring programs.

   1. Energy Policy - Part IX.
   2. Energy Facilities Site Evaluation Council - Part VI.
   3. State Building Code Council - Part VIII.

   Anyone wishing to testify on Parts IX, VI, and/or VIII of 2SSB 6515 should plan to participate in this segment of the public hearing. This segment will adjourn at 8:30 AM.

   ESSB 6468 - Coordinating the weatherization and structural rehabilitation of residential structures. (If measure is referred to committee.)
   Support

   SSB 6692 - Allowing certain counties to participate and enter into ownership agreements for electric generating facilities powered by biomass. (If measure is referred to committee.)

   3:30 pm
   Environment, Water & Energy
   Senate Hearing Rm 4
   J.A. Cherberg Building
   Olympia, WA

   Public Hearing:

   1. SGA 9265 <http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=9265> - Tom Karier, Member, Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
   2. SGA 9260 <http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=9260> - Ted Sturdevant, Director, Department of Ecology.

   Posted 6 months ago #

2. David Bangs
   President
   

   Hello - Here's more clarity on the next Energy Efficiency Finance Act hearing. Wednesday at 8:30am in the House TEC (Technology, Energy and Communications) hearing.

   I'm planning on going down:

   From: Carrie Dolwick [mailto:carrie@nwenergy.org]
   Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 4:24 PM
   To:
   Subject: ESSB 6656- a bill passed *Needs work

   Thank you for supporting SSB 6656 - Implementing a pilot program for energy conservation services

   A bill passed out of the Senate today –Good news, it removes the citywide vote to set up the program; bad news, we lost the superior lien position which is even more of a threshold piece of the bill. Now the lien is not superior to any liens that came before the energy conservation services lien. This is a big problem and guts the core piece of the bill -we must restore the superior lien if this pilot moves forward.

   The adopted bill is attached with a one-pager for your use (note: the one pager is about a program with the superior lien piece).

   • This bill creates a Western Washington pilot project that allows municipalities to set up revolving loan programs for energy efficiency projects that save will create thousands of jobs, and save homeowners and businesses money. The loans are repaid on a utility or property tax bill, using money saved through the upgrades. Up-front financing is the missing link to accomplish widespread energy efficiency upgrades to reduce pollution, create jobs, and save consumers money.

   • Without such programs, Washington is disadvantaged in the competition for federal Department of Energy money to accomplish energy efficiency. The Feds don't want to fund job creation and then have it dry up because a state does not have the infrastructure in place to sustain those jobs going forward. This bill will help Washington better compete for that critical federal funding.

   • We must restore the superior lien abilities in this bill. The superior lien is critical to make the program work. In order to access the low-cost, patient capital that is necessary to support an energy efficiency financing program, investors demand security on their investment. In response concerns raised by the FHFA, Barclays capital recently issued the following statement: To summarize our opinion, based on our understanding of key rating agency criteria and recent bondholder investment trends, we strongly believe that the seniority of the PACE loan lien to that of a first mortgage lender is crucial to structuring a capital markets financing acceptable to both the rating agencies and to investors and to growing the relatively new market.

   • For additional information, including the story of a laid-off construction worker who is ready to go to work in energy efficiency as soon as there's more demand, see Sightline Institute's blog post: http://ericdeplace.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/a-success-story-waiting-to-happen-financing-retrofits-for-all/

   The hearing is scheduled for THIS WEDNESDAY, 2/17 at 8:30 AM. We need people to testify, please let me know if you are available. The hearing is in House TEC.
   House Hearing Rm B
   John L. O'Brien Building
   Olympia, WA

   See the committee members below. If you have a relationship with any of them, please contact them via email, phone or in person to communicate your support for the bill and the necessity for restoring the superior lien position. Talking points are attached. Pass it on.

   Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

   Thanks.

   --
   Carrie Dolwick
   Policy Associate
   NW Energy Coalition
   (206) 621-0094; cell (206) 769-8353
   http://www.nwenergy.org

   Posted 6 months ago #

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