A large group of NEPPA members came to Washington, DC, last week, as part of APPA's Legislative Rally. NEPPA members met with members of their six-state Congressional delegation to deliver key messages on the following issues, among others:
- Increase Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) Accountability;
- Encourage FERC to mandate Joint Ownership of Transmission;
- Extend and modify the Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program;
- Increase appropriations for the Renewable Energy Production Incentive Program (REPI);
- Support for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Funding;
- Encourage Congress to take into account the Northeast regional effort when designing federal Greenhouse Gas (GHG) legislation;
- Request Congress to "grandfather" state laws, when developing a federal Renewable Portfolio standard (RPS), to avoid requiring utilities to comply with two sets of standards; and
- Urge co-sponsorship of the S. 822 the Feinstein-Snowe Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives Act (EXTEND)" which provides tax incentives to developers of energy efficient residential and commercial building, as well as the House counterpart.
An effort to introduce legislation regarding more accountability for RTO's is underway. Members from Vermont and Maine have approached their key members of Congress to see if they will champion such an effort. In addition, efforts to have key Senators request the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on RTO Accountability are also under consideration.