BCSE-NASEO Views on Disaster Response and Preparedness

Transcription

1 BCSE-NASEO Views n Disaster Respnse and Preparedness This dcument represents views frm a number Business Cuncil fr Sustainable Energy (BCSE) members and the Natinal Assciatin f State Energy Officials (NASEO) regarding initiatives that shuld be undertaken by Cngress t upgrade the natin s aging energy infrastructure and built envirnment, with a specific fcus n disaster respnse and preparedness. BCSE is a calitin f cmpanies and trade assciatins frm the energy efficiency, natural gas and renewable energy sectrs. It includes investr-wned utilities, public pwer, independent pwer prducers, prject develpers, equipment manufacturers, and envirnmental and energy market service prviders. As a diverse calitin, nt all members endrse r take a psitin n the issues discussed in this dcument. NASEO is the nly natinal nn-prfit assciatin representing the gvernr-designated energy fficials frm each f the 56 states and territries. Frmed by the states in 1986, NASEO facilitates peer learning amng state energy fficials, serves as a resurce fr and abut state energy ffices, and advcates the interests f the state energy ffices t Cngress and federal agencies. Objective Federal and state gvernment tax incentives, funding and market cnditins shuld advance electric grids, pwer supplies and building stck that are reliable, mre resilient, agile, cst effective, cybersecure, and envirnmentally sund. Statutry Changes Cngress shuld enact the Huse-passed, H.R. 3050, the Enhancing State Energy Security Planning and Emergency Preparedness Act f 2017, which wuld prvide states with federal financial assistance t implement, review, and revise their energy emergency plans, imprve energy emergency preparedness and cperatin with federal agencies, and place a greater emphasis n cybersecurity acrss the energy sectr. The bill wuld allw states t leverage federal resurces, knwledge, and expertise t build strnger partnerships with public and private stakehlders t imprve energy emergency preparedness and respnse. 1

2 The Supplemental Apprpriatins Bill fr disaster assistance in the aftermath f the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires (P.L ) requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) t issue guidance n Staffrd Act refrms that allw disaster relief funds t be used t repair buildings and structures t standards beynd their pre-disaster cnditin. FEMA is required t issue guidance n what mitigatin steps will qualify the state fr higher cst-share f future disaster relief funding. Cngress shuld prvide versight t ensure this guidance is issued in a timely manner and shuld cnsider these changes fr future disasters. This may include statutry refrms t the Staffrd Act t enable a rebuilding effrt that can utilize the full suite f energy technlgies fr a new and imprved grid (distributed generatin, etc.) and an imprved building stck that can withstand future catastrphic events. By way f cmparisn, a Nvember 2017 reprt frm the Natinal Assciatin f Regulatry Utility Cmmissiners (NARUC) n Natural Gas Access and Expansin 1 addresses the benefits and pprtunities fr access and expansin f natural gas lines while existing gas lines are being replaced. The reprt prpses lgistical and financial slutins t expand natural gas distributin lines and prvides a summary f recent natural gas expansin activities by state. Cngress shuld encurage privately financed pilt prjects fr the military, the hspitality industry, first respnders, and missin critical facilities such as state and lcal gvernment buildings, schl and university buildings, hspitals, nursing hmes, plice statins, and shelters. Examples include prjects and wrk with the Defense Department in Alabama, Flrida, Texas, Clrad, and Hawaii 2. Criteria fr use f these funds shuld include prviding cntinuity f electric peratins during extreme events, reducing lng-term perating csts, prmting ecnmic develpment and having sme match with public r private funds. Other legislative vehicles shuld be cnsidered including draft legislatin frm Senatr Shaheen (NH) T amend the Hmeland Security Act f 2002 and the Energy Plicy and Cnservatin Act t require the Secretary f Energy t carry ut certain prgrams t imprve the resilience f energy systems. Direct DHS in cnjunctin with ther relevant agencies and industry t create a plan fr deplyment f nn-fuel distributed energy resurces fr disaster relief and recvery, particularly fcused n critical facilities. State and Lcal Prgrammatic Changes The Department f Energy shuld reexamine building and energy cdes t encurage high perfrmance and zer energy buildings t address physical and thermal-perfrmance 1 On the web at 2 Fr further infrmatin please see Air Frce Office f Energy Assurance activities 2

3 characteristics, and ther vulnerabilities in buildings, t ptimize their ability t withstand catastrphic events and the ptential fr grid-building integratin t allw fr lad shifting. Peer t peer mentring amng state and lcal fficials, builders, and technlgy experts shuld be encuraged t leverage expertise. Technical assistance shuld be prvided thrugh states s that best practices can be shared and the expansin f energy-saving and resilient building practices can be facilitated. Utility regulatins and standards shuld be reviewed t prevent inadvertent radblcks t the establishment f cmmunity infrastructure micrgrids where apprpriate. Financing Cngress shuld cnsider a cmbinatin f direct spending, bnding, and public private partnerships that incrprate third-party financing and public funds, such as Energy Savings Perfrmance Cntracts (ESPCs), Utility Energy Savings Cntracts (UESCs), energy-as-a-service 3, micr-grids, and Pwer Purchase Agreements 4 A business supprted envirnment shuld exist t attract investment A reliable cunterparty with whm t sign cntracts is needed fr utility, gvernment, and quasi-gvernment entity cntracts Cntracts shuld be awarded cmpetitively A new federal tax credit bnd fr infrastructure with an emphasis n energy efficiency and resilience in public buildings and facilities shuld be created. The Resilient Efficient Cmmunity Bnd (RECB) wuld prvide lw-cst financing t public issuers t invest in technlgies that increase the issuer s energy resilience capability. The RECB prgram wuld be administered by the U.S. Department f Treasury and wuld allw fr public issuers (states, cities, cunties, territries, Indian tribal gvernments r any plitical subdivisin theref) t qualify fr prjects that supprt critical energy lads in public buildings, facilities, and infrastructure. Resilience 3 The US Air Frce Office f Energy Assurance is wrking in the area f energy as a service 4 Bth NJ and RI have infrastructure-riented energy banks (vs green banks) perated by the state. In the case f NJ it is targeted t resilience and was created fllwing hurricane Sandy. Supprting state develpment f financing entities fcused in this area utilizing sme type f federal bnding, funding, incentives etc wuld be beneficial. 3

4 Shrt-term and lng-term spending packages and tax credit bnds shuld aim t encurage investment in smart and advanced technlgies particularly in missin critical facilities that can serve the shrt-term and lnger-term needs f the affected cmmunities and businesses using the fllwing criteria: Resilient Shuld have islanding capabilities frm the main grid during a pwer utage Shuld have cntrls and tw-way cmmunicatins t prevent utages at individual electrical substatins and prtect critical infrastructure Shuld include cyber security strategies and prtectin T the extent pssible, prjects shuld be built t withstand future threats frm extreme weather events (e.g., micrgrids, strage, undergrunding, cmbined heat and pwer, SCADA, and sftware management smart inverters, etc.) Shuld address fuel diversity and ptential supply interruptins Shuld cnsider resilient c-benefits in nn-energy cmmunity and facility services, including, but nt limited t waste management (including disaster debris) steam/heat supply, space fr shelter and essential cmmunity services, and material and equipment staging Have lw water needs Advance sustainable waste management practices Be cst effective ver the lifetime f the prject Technical Recmmendatins t Ensure Rebuilding is Mre Resilient Replace dwned electric lines with higher efficiency transmissin wires which maximize inputs f natural gas and the entire prtfli f renewable energy resurces, including bimass, waste, gethermal, hydrpwer and marine, slar, wind and waste heat. The new transmissin wires need t have additinal capacity where renewables are likely t be intercnnected. Substatins and distributin grids shuld incrprate increased lps and architectures which include: smart switching, and bi-directinal sectinalizers and reclsers t maximize smart cntrls and ther energy efficiency measures, distributed renewable energy and distributed natural gas generatin -- s that electric pwer can be islated and directed twards critical needs during the varius stressrs n electric grids. Effrts shuld be made t integrate micr-grids and cmmunity renewable grids, where applicable, t enhance further resilience and access t energy when certain prtins f the grid are disabled. And special attentin needs t be planned fr and supprted t ensure that shared public infrastructure can be peratinal at all times thrugh n-site energy generatin that d nt have extended fuel delivery chains r which have lcally surced feedstck, relying mre 4

5 heavily n n-site renewable energy, municipal renewable infrastructure, and natural gas alng with energy strage. 5 Leverage the resilience expertise and lessns learned frm island and remte cmmunities and states such as Hawaii and Alaska. Utilize a public-private apprach that engages state and lcal gvernment experts and private sectr experts t prvide island and remte cmmunities with technical assistance, input, and ideas n a peer-exchange basis t ensure innvative technlgies and appraches used in ther states are leveraged. Advance transprtatin system resilience thrugh inclusin f prpane, natural gas, electricity, and ther alternative fuels in sme emergency and disaster recvery fleets. A number f states and cities are taking steps t diversify sme critical vehicle fleets t ensure capabilities during petrleum disruptins. Similarly, New Jersey has taken steps t utilize micr-grids fr sme mass transit applicatins that may need t functin fr evacuatins during emergencies. Weather Frecasting Existing prgrams and data frm the federal gvernment n weather trends, frecasting, and resilience shuld be cmpiled and made available t cmmunities. Studies frm private sectr weather services predict higher amunts f strms, and strms with mre intensity fr the United States. Apprpriate entities within the Executive Office f the President, including the Cuncil n Envirnmental Quality, Office and Management and Budget, and Office f Science and Technlgy Plicy, shuld use infrmatin n strm intensity and frequency t engage with the private sectr t help identify risks facing cmmunities, and craft apprpriate federal respnses. Such respnses culd include establishing a dialgue with the private sectr, a strategy t identify, priritize, and guide federal investments t enhance resilience against future disasters. Preparing fr Cyber Security Risks Preparedness and mitigatin measures emphasizing cmbined heat and pwer (CHP), strage, energy efficiency, etc., ffer mre rapid restratin fllwing cyber events if prperly applied. 5 Of nte, pst-superstrm Sandy, Camden, New Jersey invested in a micrgrid pilt prject, which utilizes varius technlgies t take critical municipal infrastructure like water treatment facilities ff grid. 5