Plan helps shape the region’s energy future by aligning utilities and energy efficiency organizations in the Northwest on a shared, decade-long vision
Northwest energy efficiency experts have developed a Regional Strategic Market Plan that they hope will increase future commercial energy savings by improving cooperation among the region’s program operators.
The Regional Portfolio Advisory Committee (RPAC) of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) unanimously approved the Commercial and Industrial Lighting Strategic Market Plan after strong regional collaboration among its members, state-level representatives and leading lighting experts. Co-chairs Stephen Bicker of Tacoma Power and Fred Gordon of Energy Trust of Oregon provided leadership in developing the regional market plan.
“We are all working in a common space. Planning together at this level not only improves collaboration, it helps us address some shared pain points and simplifies our lives,” stated Stephen Bicker, Senior Conservation Resources Manager of Tacoma Power. “And, taking a longer-term view helps us collaboratively shape the future of efficient lighting.”
Regional Strategic Market Planning is a collective process among Northwest utilities, NEEA and other regional energy efficiency organizations. The purpose is to align the region on longer-term goals in specific markets and maximize cost-effective, long-term energy efficiency opportunities to benefit utility customers.
Market and technology trends are pointing to a changing role for program operators. As energy-efficiency opportunities become more diverse, cooperation is an increasingly important tool to achieve the maximum benefits possible.
“The commercial lighting market is changing rapidly,” said Fred Gordon, Director of Planning and Evaluation at Energy Trust. “The market tends to focus on innovation and profitability, not always energy efficiency. The commercial and industrial lighting plan will guide the region in ensuring utility customers have access to effective and energy-saving lighting options as the market continues to evolve.”
With the regional market plan for commercial and industrial lighting approved, energy efficiency organizations and utilities can better work together to promote awareness and adoption of efficient lighting, open standards for advanced lighting control systems and share useful data to get the maximum benefit for the Northwest.
The next steps for the Commercial and Industrial Lighting Plan include establishing a steering committee to oversee the regional market plan and beginning implementation of specific strategies outlined in the plan.
This regional market plan is the first of four regional strategic market plans slated for development under NEEA’s five-year business plan. Later regional market plans will focus on consumer products, commercial construction and residential construction.
The regional commercial and industrial lighting strategic market plan is available at conduitnw.org/regionalstrategy.
About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of more than 13 million energy consumers. NEEA is dedicated to accelerating both electric and gas energy efficiency, leveraging its regional partnerships to advance the adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices.
Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to power more than 900,000 homes each year. As the second largest resource in the Northwest, energy efficiency can offset most of our new demand for energy, saving money and keeping the Northwest a healthy and vibrant place to live.
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