New executive actions and initiatives to advance solar and energy efficiency projects include military-veterans solar job training, $68M USDA-funded rural projects, and stronger building codes.

Among the major actions, DOE’s Solar Instructor Training Network will launch a veteran’s job training pilot project at up to three military bases this fall to create at least 50,000 highly-qualified solar installers by 2020.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has committed $68M in 540 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects – including 240 solar projects – through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  September 18, 2014, the White House announced executive actions, public and private sector commitments, federal agency initiatives, and reports to advance solar deployment and energy efficiency.  The actions are expected reduce emissions by approximately 300 million metric tons and save consumers more than $10B on energy bills through 2030.   Additionally, 50 companies, states, communities, and multifamily housing leaders have committed to onsite solar deployment representing more than 35 MW and building energy efficiency improvements involving more than 400 million square feet.  The Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Solar Powering America will provide access to federal resources for solar deployment and track private sector commitments for distributed solar installation.

DOE actions include proposed conservation standards for commercial unitary air conditioners to save 11.7 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of energy over the lifetime of units shipped for 30 years, potentially the largest estimated energy savings for any DOE-issued efficiency standard.  They would avoid more than 60 million metric tons of emissions and save approximately $10B in consumer energy bills through 2030.  Actions to strengthen building codes include finalizing DOE’s May 2014 preliminary determination that the industry’s latest commercial building code – ANSI-ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013 – provides more energy savings than the previous standard.  They also include preliminary determination that the latest residential building code – 2015 IECC – provides the at least the same energy savings as the 2012 version.

With the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Planning and Development (CPD) office affirmation that Section 108 funding can be used for clean energy and energy efficiency projects, a new renewable energy toolkit – to be finalized in early 2015 – will be available for CPD grantees.  It will provide compliance information, tools, and capacity for integration of renewable energy components in a more efficient, cost-effective, and impactful manner through CPD funds.

The Corporation for National and Community Service’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program Guidance – to be released this month – will facilitate new VISTA projects and provide the program’s national programming priorities for the fiscal year. For the first time, energy efficiency and climate resilience will be among the factors used to select anti-poverty service projects in low-income communities.

Key solar reports include DOE’s updated Guide to Federal Financing for Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Deployment, which highlights solar financing programs.  DOE and Lawrence Berkley National reports describe the falling cost of solar across all sectors.  The Solar Foundation’s report highlights the progress of solar installations on schools.

Among other market-stimulating initiatives, the SunShot Catalyst business plan competition – aimed to cut solar soft costs with innovation – will accept applications through November 7.  As part of the Capital Solar Challenge launched in April to identify opportunities for solar deployment at federal locations, the General Service Administration (GSA) will host an Industry Day on October 23 to clarify its procurement approach.  Accelerate Energy Productivity 2030, a joint initiative of DOE, the Council on Competitiveness, and Alliance to Save Energy, allows for energy productivity dialogues and sharing of best practices to create a roadmap to grow the economy while reducing energy costs.

New private and public sector commitments to advance solar deployment – in response to the April Solar Summit – represent more than 850 MW of deployed solar.  In the financial sector, Connecticut’s Green Bank, the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, has approved financing for 16.8 MW of solar out of its 75 MW announced in May.  Goldman Sachs has catalyzed approximately $190M in the distributed solar sector out of the May target of $10B.  Citi’s major renewable energy transactions include $160M to fund 40 systems averaging 1.1 MW per project.

Among the new energy efficiency invest commitments, 28 new states, cities, multifamily housing, retailers, commercial real estate, and manufacturing organizations have committed to join the Better Buildings Challenge.  Five new state, local, and regional organizations have committed to join the Better Buildings High Performance Outdoor Lighting Accelerator.

The White House will host a roundtable in October, convening key solar industry players, to discuss on facilitating increased capital flows into the solar market through performance data collection, contract standardization, and risk assessment tools.

Originally published by EnerKnol.

Founded in 2011, EnerKnol provides U.S. energy policy research and data services to support investment decisions across all sectors of the energy industry. Headquartered in New York City, EnerKnol is proud to be a NYC ACRE company.