Integration of Energy Efficiency/Renewable 

Energy and Air Quality

Clean Air Act Advisory Committee

November 17, 2011

1
Contents

►Draft roadmap on incorporating energy 

efficiency/renewable energy policies 

(EE/RE) and programs into State and 

Tribal Implementation Plans (SIPs/TIPs)

►Overview of the soon to be re-issued 

(and re-named) Ozone Flex Guidance

►Overview of efforts to quantify impacts of 

EE/RE policies and programs

2
Roadmap Introduction

►Historically, past EPA guidance has yielded 

few examples of EE/RE integration in SIPs

► Variety of reasons 

►OAR priority to provide a range of tools and 

information to assist agencies with 

incorporating EE/RE into SIPs/TIPs

►Foremost is the:

► “Roadmap for Incorporating Energy 

Efficiency/Renewable Energy Policies and 

Programs into State Implementation Plans/Tribal 

Implementation Plans”

3
Reasons to Take Advantage of EE/RE 

Policies and Programs in Air Plans

►From 2006 to 2010, states increased their 

investments in electric EE programs significantly, 

committing over $4 billion of ratepayer 

resources

►As of 2009, 30 states and DC had adopted 

renewable portfolio standards

►Greater need for emissions reductions to meet 

NAAQS

►More transparent and rigorous information 

available about the impacts of EE/RE

4
Purpose of the Roadmap

►Overcome past obstacles and 

issues by:

►Clarifying existing EPA EE/RE guidance

►Providing additional information on needed 

SIPs/TIPs documentation

►Providing streamlined approaches and 

options

►Addressing questions and issues state, tribal, 

and local agencies should consider

5
What’s in the Roadmap

►Step-by-step flowchart to guide 

pathway selection around several 

key questions

►Detailed background and other 

information on:

► Existing EPA EE/RE related SIP guidance

► U.S. electric system

► EE/RE policies and programs in the states

► EE/RE emissions quantification approaches

► Case examples of where EE/RE has been incorporated 

in SIPs 

6
What’s in the Roadmap

►Detailed information on 

documentation needed for four 

pathways available for EE/RE in 

SIPs/TIPs:

►Baseline emissions projection pathway 

►SIP/TIP control strategy 

►Emerging/voluntary measures

►Weight of evidence determination

7
Moving Forward – Next Steps

►Issuing next version of manual in 

January

►Revised based on comments 

►Document is living and will be updated in 

the future as needed

►Directed at agencies preparing SIPs/TIPs

►Will encourage states to use EE/RE 

manual as EPA re-issues a new version 

of the Ozone Flex Guidance

8
Why Should Areas be Interested in 

Reducing Ozone in the Near Term

► Provides cleaner air and public health protection sooner

► Responds to state/local government concerns about 

how to stay out of nonattainment

► For the 2008, 75 ppb ozone standard:

► Make progress in areas close to the standard

► For any future revised ozone standard after the 2014 

review:

► Could better position some areas to avoid a future 

nonattainment designation

► If eventually designated, could result in a lower classification

► Program framework, technical, and other assistance

► Early stakeholder group formation and involvement

9
Updating the Existing Program

►Eligibility: 

► Attainment areas, including areas violating

► Maintenance areas

►Streamline program elements:

► Letters of intent and commitment but no MOU 

unless area wants one

► No periodic reporting

► Encourage inclusion of information on emissions 

inventories and modeling

10
Updating the Existing Program

►Delete contingency measure 

requirements

►Include discussion of attainment and 

RFP baseline calculations and how to 

factor in early reductions

11
EE/RE Manual – Ozone Flex 

Connection

►Implement EE/RE (and other) measures 

in the near term to reduce emissions to 

help areas remain in attainment

►Manual will direct Flex areas to 

relevant portions of the manual (e.g., 

quantification methods)

►Will provide list of EE/RE policies and 

programs for Flex areas to consider

12
Contact

►EE/RE roadmap contact: 

► Chris Stoneman

► EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

► Stoneman.chris@epa.gov

► 919/541-0823

►Ozone Flex contact:

► Laura Bunte

► EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

► Bunte.laura@epa.gov

► 919/541-0889

13