Energy Efficiency: A Powerful Resource 2013 U.S.-CHINA LEGAL EXCHANGE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE — P.R.C. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE

Seth Kaplan

Vice President for Policy and Climate Advocacy

Conservation Law Foundation

December 6, 2013

skaplan@clf.org

(617) 850-1721

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“Markets vs. Planning”: It is a spectrum, not either/or

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If two men are trading wood (energy) and one man is using his spear to change the deal then a third man (a regulator)

needs to step in to maintain fair dealing. Regulation defines the market.

And sometimes

(in a shortage for

example) then

regulator may

become planner and allocate the

supply of wood

(energy)

The Ancient Caveman Energy Market

The Future: A mix of centralized & decentralized power: Efficiency is a common thread

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Original Graphic courtesy of Alan Friefeld of Viridity Energy

Edison’s Pearl Street Station Photographic Services of the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.

Demand can be managed to reduce peak, as well as by generating locally and by becoming

more efficient

ISO-NE – the Operator of the New England Grid is first in the U.S. to Factor State Energy Efficiency Efforts into System Planning

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When you harness

both markets and government mandated

and planned programs –

you can have a very big impact

Don’t Underestimate Size of the Resource: Efficiency is the “Magic Orange”, squeeze, put aside, come back later squeeze again

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Wasted energy

And Don’t Underestimate the Power of Competition

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Efficiency takes many forms and has many benefits . . .

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