Check out the below federal webinars advertised through EPA’s State and Local Climate newsletter! It’s looking like AB 802’s benchmarking and energy disclosure implementation is going to leverage EPA Portfolio Manager, and the Portfolio Manager 101, 201, and 301 webinars might be a good opportunity for a refresher, or an introduction, to the online platform. Other great resources include serving low-income communities, navigating DOE’s new weatherization center, and renewables integration in California.
To subscribe directly to EPA’s State and Local Climate newsletter, visit the State and Local Climate webpage.
For more events, check out the SEEC Calendar.
EPA Webcasts
April 13, 2:00-3:30 PM (EDT) – Solar for All: Making It Happen in Low-Income Communities. This is the third webcast in the multi-part series highlighting efforts by state and local agencies, non-profits, and utilities to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) to low-income households. This 90-minute webcast will provide a nationwide overview of community solar (shared solar) and roof-top solar programs available to low-income households and will feature case study discussions by solar energy policy experts to illustrate the opportunities, challenges, and benefits of providing low-income households access to solar energy. Register
ENERGY STAR Webcasts
April 6, 13, 20, 27, times vary – Ask the Expert. This is an open Q&A format. There is no focus topic or demo. Come to “Ask the Expert” with your questions. Register
April 14, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – How to Apply for the ENERGY STAR. Learn about applying for ENERGY STAR Certification in Portfolio Manager. Understand the value of the ENERGY STAR certification, see the step-by-step process of applying, and gain tips to help your property get from application to award. Register
April 19, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Portfolio Manager 101. Learn about the core functionality of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Attendees will learn how to: navigate Portfolio Manager; add a property and enter details about it; enter energy and water consumption data; and generate template performance reports to assess progress. Register
April 19, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades. U.S. school districts are using the Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades (the Guide) to ensure the protection of occupant health and safety during energy efficiency upgrades. Join this session to learn how to take a proactive approach to protecting IAQ while boosting energy efficiency and cutting operating costs. Hear from the experts about best practices, first-hand lessons learned, and step-by-step guidance for completing safe and successful upgrades.
The session will include: (1) a quick overview of the Guide and the accompanying Energy Savings Plus Health Checklist Generator (XLS), a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that helps you create a custom verification checklist for both your building upgrades and concurrent IAQ assessment protocols for each step of the upgrade process; and (2) a case study from our guest speaker, Tom Schneider, Director of Facilities and Operations, North Penn School District, PA, who successfully implemented energy efficiency measures while protecting and improving indoor air quality and occupant health in several of the District’s buildings. The webinar will conclude with an open Q&A session with our presenter, Kudret Utebay, The Cadmus Group, Inc. on behalf of EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, and Mr. Schneider. Register
April 20, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Portfolio Manager 201. Continue to learn about EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, with a deeper dive into more advanced functionalities such as: editing property data; correcting and updating property use details; using the data quality checker; and sharing property data. Register
April 21, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Portfolio Manager 301. With a good background on the basic functionality of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist. Register
DOE Webcast
April 28, 1:30-2:30 PM (EDT) – How to Navigate the New and Improved State and Local Solution Center. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office (WIP) recently updated its State and Local Solution Center website. The redesigned website provides resources to advance successful, high-impact clean energy policies, programs, and projects. By championing state and local leadership, addressing specific market barriers, and promoting standardized approaches, the Solution Center aims to help states, local governments, and K-12 schools take clean energy to scale in their communities. Come learn how to navigate the portal and find resources on how to develop a clean energy plan, design and implement clean energy programs, pay for clean energy, and access and use energy data. Register
National Adaptation Forum Webcast
April 26, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Bridging the Gap: Mainstreaming Climate Equity and Climate Justice. More information about this webinar will be posted in the National Adaptation Forum website in the coming weeks. Register
NREL Webcast
April 14, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Grid Integration: Exploring Renewable Energy Integration in California. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is hosting a webcast series to discuss their work on the grid integration of renewable resources. In this webcast:
Greg Brinkman discusses the Low Carbon Grid Study: Analysis of a 50% Emission Reduction in California, which concludes that the state can achieve a 50 percent reduction from 2012 CO2 levels by 2030 in the electric sector under a wide variety of scenarios and assumptions. We find that enhanced flexibility measures dramatically improve system performance across several key operational and economic metrics, including production costs, emissions, curtailment, and impacts on the operation of gas generation and imports.
Paul Denholm presents findings from Overgeneration from Solar Energy in California: A Field Guide to the Duck Chart. The iconic duck chart illustrates the ramp rate and range needed in conventional power systems to fully utilize solar energy. Without the flexibility to accommodate changes in solar generation, power systems could experience “overgeneration” and curtailed renewable energy. Denholm discusses how curtailment rates can be decreased by changing grid operational practices.
Josh Eichman discusses key findings from Operational Benefits of Meeting California’s Energy Storage Targets. The study explores adding storage to a system with 33 percent and 40 percent renewable penetration in California using production cost simulations as well as market revenue models. Register
RAP Webcast
April 20, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – The ABCs of RTOs. While utilities may own their own generating stations and power lines for distributing electricity to their customers, much of the operation of these assets occurs through their participation in a regional transmission organization (RTO), sometimes called an independent system operator (ISO). RTOs operate the transmission grid over a multi-state region on behalf of utilities—ensuring greater system reliability and reducing costs. As part of this process, RTOs “dispatch” power plants to start running as electricity demand increases, and they stop the plants when demand decreases. Typically, RTOs dispatch plants based on cost (lowest cost first), regardless of where in the multi-state region they may be located. As a result, overall cost and emissions implications can be complex, and may take little account of state borders. In this webinar, learn about: the evolution of RTOs; how RTOs work today; the cost and emissions implications of their operations; and how state policy decisions may affect these regional entities. Register