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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Mike Thompson (CA-01) and Chris Gibson (NY-20) announced on Thursday that they have joined together to introduce H.R. 4096, The Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy 2012 Act (STORAGE) in the United States House of Representatives.
The STORAGE Act would provide a tax credit to individuals and businesses when they invest in energy storage systems.
Energy storage systems allow businesses and consumers to keep excess energy generated when energy is in low demand and then use it during periods of peak demand, reducing consumers’ electricity bills, greatly enhancing the reliability of alternative energy sources, and making our electric grid more efficient and secure.
“When it comes to addressing American’s energy challenges, we need to use every tool in the box,” said Thompson. “These tax incentives will move us closer towards energy independence by making our electric grid more reliable, using energy more efficiently, reducing costs and creating jobs.”
Businesses and individuals would both be eligible for tax credits under the STORAGE Act. Businesses and factories that generate energy via large compressed air systems, flywheels, and large arrays of fuels cells and batteries would be eligible for a 20 percent tax credit.
Households and businesses that purchase energy storage systems for their property would be eligible for a 30 percent tax credit.
The tax credits would also help improve our alternative energy infrastructure. The current alternative energy electricity infrastructure is highly inefficient. Right now, alternative energy sources are often shut down if the energy cannot be used immediately.
Energy storage systems can help fix this problem by storing energy temporarily and delivering it when it is needed.
Energy storage systems also help cope with peak demand. By allowing consumers to store energy, rather than draw on the system during peak demand time, it can reduce the number of power plants that are needed.
A companion bill, S. 1845, was introduced in the United States Senate last fall by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa and Yolo.
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SACRAMENTO – “In recognition of the vital role California’s Division of Measurement Standards and our County Sealers play in protecting consumers and businesses throughout the state, I recognize March 1-7, 2012 as Weights and Measures Week in California,” Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. said in a letter announcing the designation.
Gov. Brown’s recognition supports the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Division of Measurement Standards and its partners, the county Sealers of Weights and Measures, as they celebrate National Weights and Measures Week.
Weights and measures inspectors play an essential role in our economic system by protecting buyers and sellers in virtually all sales of goods in the country.
Inspectors monitor routine transactions in commerce and keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies to ensure fairness in the marketplace.
“California’s150-year history of regulating weights and measures goes back to the Gold Rush,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “Our marketplace has evolved from measuring ounces of gold on the simplest of scales to evaluating intricate mechanical devices and highly sophisticated, software-based weighing and measuring systems. Regardless of the methods and machines, though, the goal remains the same: ensuring the accuracy of our transactions.”
Technological advancement has transformed the world of weights and measures. Gasoline stations and supermarkets employ state-of-the-art weighing and measuring equipment.
Railway cars and highway vehicles are weighed “in-motion.” Coal is weighed while moving rapidly across belt-conveyor scales.
Weights and measures officials also are challenged with the development of performance specifications and laboratory testing of evolving fuel sources such as ethanol, biodiesel, biobutanol and hydrogen. Regardless of the technology in place, inspectors are well-trained to secure accuracy and equity.
National Weights and Measures Week is declared by the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM), which is a professional, nonprofit association of state and local weights and measures officials, manufacturers, retailers and consumers.
In 1905, NCWM was formed to develop model standards for uniform enforcement from city to city and state to state.
The organization has set the example for bringing stakeholders to the table to develop and amend national standards to keep pace with innovative advancements in the marketplace.
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LAKE COUNTY – In partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Energy Training Center, the following free energy classes are being hosted by Lake County Energy Watch.
On Friday, April 27, “Auditing Electricity Use in Homes” will be held at the Best Western-El Grande Inn, 15135 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This class is designed for solar/PV designers, energy consultants, and contractors: electrical, residential, home performance contractors and more.
Topics for this class include audit protocols, power monitors and effective control strategies.
“Solar Electric Basics for Residential Customers” and “Solar Water Heating Basics for Residential Customers” will be held in Middletown Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. respectively.
Both of these classes will be held at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road.
These classes are designed for homeowners interested in learning the fundamentals of solar power and will also provide an overview of the design, specification and installation aspect of solar water heating systems.
Registration is required for all classes, and complimentary lunch will be provided. You may find the registration links and more information on the Lake County Watch Web page at www.energy.co.lake.ca.us , and select “Free Training Opportunities” on the left-hand side of the page, or you may register and find additional free training opportunities at www.pge.com/energyclasses .
Lake County Energy Watch is administered by PG&E using funding from California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Energy Watch partnerships are designed to help local governments and their communities lower their energy bills and enjoy a cleaner environment.
For more information about the Lake County Energy Watch program, contact Michalyn DelValle at 707-263-2221 or visit www.energy.co.lake.ca.us .
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The first week of March is National Weights and Measures Week, which is dedicated to recognizing the role and importance of the weights and measure officials around the nation.
Few people know that such officials exist, but everyone who purchases products that are sold by weight, volume, length or count benefits from the work of the weights and measures officials.
Not surprisingly, the practice of verifying the measure or weight of a product and the devices used to conduct the measurement is one of the oldest professions.
Since the first trading of goods from one person to another, there has been a need for a third party to certify that a measured or weighed commodity is what both parties agreed to.
The weights and measures official has become crucial to economic stability by enforcing measurement standards, developing testing procedures and certifying measurement equipment.
In Lake County, the Department of Weights and Measures is part of the Department of Agriculture. They work with the states’ Division of Measurement Standards (DMS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM).
A great example of how weights and measures officials are working to serve the public is found in the gold buying industry.
In today’s economy, many people are buying and selling gold in order to take advantage of record-high values.
As one might expect, there are also unscrupulous dealers taking advantage of the naiveté about how gold is valued and weighed.
These folks often set up shifting “storefronts” in hotel lobbies and private homes. They sometimes used fraudulent scales and purposely undervalue the gold that a person brings in to sell.
In an effort to prevent fraud in gold sales, the NCWM released an alert to consumers titled, “Gold Prices Create Seller Beware Market” which can be found at www.ncwm.net/sites/default/files/about/press/2011/11_10_24_Gold_Rush.pdf.
This alert provides critical information to consumers on how to determine the value of their gold before they get to the store.
Another critical area of weights and measures efforts continues to be the measure of gasoline and diesel fuels.
As prices continue to climb, weights and measures officials work to ensure that every gas pump is tested and held to strict tolerances of accuracy.
Beyond the device itself, samples of fuel are routinely collected and analyzed, price signs are verified, and required services are provided.
All of these measures are conducted to ensure that consumers can continue to buy their fuel with confidence.
As always, the Lake County Department of Weights and Measures is working hard to make sure that transactions in Lake County are fair and equitable.
This year, officials have inspected hundred of gas pumps, scales, propane meters and many other types of devices.
Additionally, officials have conducted dozens of site inspections at local businesses to ensure that check out registers continue to ‘ring-up’ the correct amount, preventing buyers from possibly being overcharged for the goods they purchase.
In Lake County, each citizen pays about 70 cents per year for the weights and measures program.
The Department of Weights and Measures can be reached at 707-263-0217.