LETTER REPORT ON LEGISLATION TO CONTINUE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN PROMOTING NATIONAL ENERGY OBJECTIVES

• NCJ Number: 66828
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: US Comptroller General
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE U.S. COMPTROLLER GENERAL ADVOCATES THE CONTINUATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION BILL S. 1280 FOR INVOLVING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN PROMOTING NATIONAL ENERGY OBJECT OBJECTIVES, BUT WITH SOME REVISIONS.

Abstract

A REVIEW OF EXISTING STATE ENERGY PROGRAMS SHOWS LIMITED SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING GREATER LEVELS OF ENERGY CONSERVATION. THE FAULT LIES PARTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) FOR NOT PROVIDING TIMELY AND ADEQUATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THUS, THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING CERTAIN MEASURES FOR THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP ACT, S 1280 TO ASSIST STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP AN OVERALL STATE ENERGY PLAN. THE CHANGES WOULD CONSOLIDATE THREE FEDERAL ENERGY GRANT PROGRAMS AND ALLOW FOR DIRECT FUNDING OF INNOVATIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES. A PLAN WOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER THE ACT FOR A PROGRAM OF CONSERVING DEPLETABLE RESOURCES AND USING RENEWABLE RESOURCES. ALSO RECOMMENDED IS MORE DOE ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR ESTABLISHING THERMAL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS, A PROCESS WHICH SHOULD HELP STATES TO IMPLEMENT BUILDING ENERGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. FURTHERMORE, THE PROPOSED ACT ENCOURAGES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION ETHIC WITH OBJECTIVES AS A CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ACT. THESE OBJECTIVES MUST RELATE TO CHANGING OVERALL PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT ENERGY CONSERVATION THROUGH LONG-RANGE PLANNING AND CONCERTED FEDERAL CONSERVATION. STATE ENERGY PLANS SHOULD INCLUDE PROJECTIONS OF ENERGY SUPPLY PROBLEMS AND EMERGENCY ENERGY SUPPLY PLANS THAT ARE COORDINATED WITH DOE AND NATIONAL OBJECTIVES. THE PROPOSED ACT SHOULD REQUIRE STATES TO FULLY CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES WHEN PLANNING FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING FACILITIES. FINALLY, THE PROPOSED BILL SHOULD REQUIRE EACH STATE TO PROVIDE $1 FROM NON-FEDERAL SOURCES FOR EACH $5 FROM FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE STATE FOR PROGRAMS, A REQUIREMENT THAT COULD INCREASE STATE INCENTIVE TO ASSURE THAT PROGRAMS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT. (MHP)