Energy and Environmental Policy and Legislation

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Energy and Environmental Policy and Legislation

District Energy Systems Integrated with Combined Heat and Power — Analysis of Environmental and Economic Benefits
(U.S., Policy, USA)

FVB Energy developed a comprehensive analysis of the energy, environmental and economic impacts of district energy systems integrated with combined heat and power (CHP). The report provides background on district energy and CHP technologies, describes the benefits of district energy and CHP and discussed barriers to implementation. The report includes a quantitative analysis of district energy and CHP efficiency, emissions and economics, and provides recommendations for policies and programs to increase implementation.

Energy and Environmental Policy and Legislation
(U.S., Policy, USA)

FVB Energy provides ongoing government affairs and legislative services to this association representing the international district energy industry. Mark Spurr, Vice President of FVB Energy, has served as legislative director for the International District Energy Association since 1990, advocating energy and environmental policies and programs to encourage the development and expansion of district energy and combined heat and power (CHP) systems. In this role he has successfully worked extensively with the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and White House staff to advocate:
• tax incentives to encourage CHP and district energy
• recognition of district energy and CHP as elements in the U.S. strategy for reducing emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases
• changes in air pollution regulation to recognize and reward emission reductions achieved through district energy and CHP
• funding for district energy and CHP programs and initiatives

Promotion and Recognition of DHC/CHP Benefits in Greenhouse Gas Policy and Trading Programs
(U.S., Policy, USA)

FVB Energy completed an analytical and advocacy project for the International Energy Agency focused on recognition of the emission reduction benefits of district energy and combined heat and power (CHP) in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trading systems. CHP systems generate electricity and thermal energy for industrial facilities or district energy networks, with substantially higher energy efficiency compared to separate generation of electricity and thermal energy. The value of total GHG emission reductions resulting from CHP have a potentially significant value compared to the capital costs of implementing CHP. However, CHP and district energy have characteristics that emission trading scheme designers, project proposers and emissions traders must address if the emission reduction benefits are to be fully recognized in an emissions trade. Emissions trading issues for CHP arise in the context of both cap-and-trade systems as well as project-based trading mechanisms.
In this project, FVB Energy:
• developed analyses and presentations on the GHG emission reduction benefits of district energy and CHP
• developed recommendations for design of GHG trading programs such that the emission reduction benefits of district energy and CHP are recognized and rewarded
• developed other policy recommendations to advance district energy and CHP
• communicate the information and recommendations to district energy organizations and policy-makers to encourage both reliance on district energy as a GHG reduction strategy and appropriate design of GHG trading programs