Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) Established to Administer Sustainable Energy Programs in the District
by Christopher H. Collins, LEED AP, Partner,
The "Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008" established a Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) to administer sustainable energy programs in the District of Columbia. The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) is in the process of selecting a private company to establish and operate the SEU, and that process is expected to be completed in the fall of this year. The SEU will design, implement, and administer sustainable energy programs, and will be responsible for providing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in order to reduce overall energy use and use of non-renewable energy sources. According to DDOE, "the SEU is expected to meet or exceed the following six performance benchmarks: (1) improve the energy efficiency of low-income housing; (2) reduce per-capita energy consumption; (3) reduce the growth rate of peak electricity demand; (4) increase renewable energy generating capacity; (5) reduce the growth rate of demand of the District's largest energy users; and (6) increase the number of green-collar jobs."
Initially, the SEU will focus on program research, design, and implementation of cost-effective commercial and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The SEU programs must meet performance benchmarks and other goals specified by DDOE. The SEU's performance will be monitored by DDOE and the SEU Advisory Board, which includes representatives of the building industry, among other sectors.
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