Strong Energy Efficiency and Conservation Measures Should be Part of New Energy Economy, LLM Alum Leslie Weise Writes on Huffington Post

Leslie Weise, a 2005 DU LLM graduate and principal at Cleantech Business Solutions LLC, has written an interesting commentary about the "new energy economy" for Huffington Post, which is perhaps the premier U.S. news blog. She makes the point that the state of Colorado as well as the U.S. need "to support and implement strong policy measures based on the approaches of energy efficiency and conservation."

Ms. Weise goes on to state:

• There is significant untapped energy savings from efficiency related measures when one considers that typically over 90 percent of energy from electricity generation has been wasted by the time it is used in a home or building. Colorado is already making strides in improving its energy efficiency, as it recently upped its ranking from 24th to 16th in performance among the states. However, the full potential for these approaches to contribute in a lasting manner to the serious reform needed to confront the very real energy issues facing us has barely been tapped.

• Two key opportunities can be found in decoupling profits from energy sales to allow utilities to benefit from saving energy and establishing what are known as "time of use" rates for electricity based on when energy is consumed.

This is a thought-provoking piece that reminds all of us that improving energy efficiency can also play a key role in reducing America's carbon footprint. I would urge you to read it. Leslie is one of our graduates who is making a difference in the new energy economy.