NASEO works on a wide variety of issue areas and programs, coordinated by NASEO staff with guidance from State and Territory Energy Offices through a variety of Committees, Task Forces, and Advisory Groups.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides billions of dollars to states, local governments, and energy providers to modernize the grid, build needed electric transmission, enhance energy system resilience, expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and advance building energy efficiency, smart manufacturing, carbon capture and utilization, renewables, and other important energy actions. NASEO is developing technical assistance and resources for State Energy Offices and their partners as they plan for historic energy infrastructure deployment.
Provides strategic direction for activities in the residential, commercial, and public buildings sectors and guides efforts to support building energy efficiency and resilience.
Directs activities related to the production, distribution, and consumption of electricity, as well as natural gas and renewables. Examines state, regional, and federal initiatives that affect energy sector reliability, resiliency, and affordability, and facilitates the efficient use of domestic resources.
Environmental considerations are central to state energy planning, policies, and investments. Climate, human health, and natural resource impacts from emissions, effluents, wastes, and site development are channeling energy system innovation and investments. While environmental concerns have constrained energy-related economic development in some areas, they have driven new development, innovation, and economic opportunity in others.
Addresses energy financing mechanisms and tools, such as bonds, revolving loan funds, loan loss reserves, and Energy Savings Performance Contracting, and property assessed clean energy programs.
The U.S. energy economy accounts for millions of jobs – and they’re expected to keep growing. Technology and policy innovation in the energy sector has created vast economic development opportunities for state and local governments and private sector job creation across the country.
Improving energy security across the electric grid, petroleum products, natural gas, and other critical energy resources and infrastructure is a core activity of the State Energy Offices and NASEO. These issues include physical and cybersecurity policies and actions, as well as preparing for and responding to energy supply disruptions associated with natural disasters. Every State Energy Office has a State Energy Security Plan which is the foundation of each state’s and the nation’s approach to energy security.
The NASEO Energy Equity Committee convenes State and Territory Energy Offices, NASEO Affiliate members, industry stakeholders, and experts for discussions and best practice exchanges.
Highlights Congressional and Administration energy policy and legislation and related budget and appropriations actions.
Permitting and Siting
Permitting and siting energy projects are among the most challenging barriers to deploying new energy projects. So called soft costs that are barriers to energy projects include permitting, zoning compliance, grid interconnections, financing and taxes, , and new project identification. State and federal coordination on streamlining siting and permitting and related barriers to deployment are critical to meeting our nation’s growing electricity demand.
Rural Energy
Navigating and addressing rural and remote energy issues is a key priority for State Energy Offices as they seek to advance their states’ energy affordability, resiliency, reliability, and economic development goals.
Solar Energy is one of the fastest growing energy resources in the country, accounting for nearly one-third of new electric generating capacity in 2020. Solar can also be applied in many ways on different scales: on-roof residential, shared community solar, commercial or industrial applications, or large utility-scale projects.
The United States and individual states have many reasons to encourage a strong innovation and commercialization system for emerging technologies, including for energy technologies. New technologies can create new industries and improve the productivity and competitiveness of existing ones. These then can drive income and employment growth to benefit communities, states, and the nation.
Leads efforts to accelerate the use of domestic resources and improve air quality in the transportation sector. Focuses on natural gas, electric and hybrid-electric, hydrogen, biodiesel, hydrogen, and biofuel vehicles and infrastructure.