Texas was among the first states to adopt a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), calling in 1999 for 2,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy generation by 2009. Announcing that the state is on track to meet that target by the end of 2005, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed Senate Bill 20, strengthening the RPS, in August 2005. According to the new requirements, Texas will generate 5,880 MW of renewable energy by 2015, representing about 5% of demand. The legislation also sets a goal of reaching 10,000 MW by 2025. For details, see www.dsireusa.org.

In July 2005 the Illinois Commerce Commission adopted Governor Rod Blagojevich’s sustainable energy plan, including a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requiring the state’s electric utilities to meet 2% of their electricity needs with renewable sources by the end of 2006. The requirement will increase by 1% each year until it reaches 8% in 2012. An efficiency component of the plan requires utilities to create new programs that will reduce growth in electricity demand 10% by 2007 and 25% by 2015. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have now adopted renewable portfolio standards.

August 22, 2005, marks the first day of classes for the new American College of the Building Arts. In 1998 the School of Building Arts opened in Charleston, South Carolina, hoping to reverse a steady decline in the availability of craftsmanship training. Since the South Carolina commission on higher education licensed the school as a college in 2004, it has changed its name and refocused on protecting the nation’s building heritage and contributing to significant structures of the future. In addition to fulfilling liberal arts general education requirements, students at the college will major in architectural metal, architectural stone, carpentry, masonry, plaster working, or timber framing to receive either an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in applied sciences. More information about the college is online at www.buildingartscollege.us.

As of September 1, 2005, Green Building Services will no longer be a division of Portland General Electric (which, in turn, is owned by the bankrupt Enron 
Corporation), but will be an independent, employee-owned company. The new company will continue with its current work, including consulting on LEED projects, reviewing LEED submissions for the U.S. Green Building Council, and providing other green building support services. The company will be moving into new offices in downtown Portland, Oregon. It also has a branch office in New Haven, Connecticut. The company is online at www.greenbuildingservices.com.

Through the new Massachusetts Green Communities™ initiative, MassHousing and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) are working with the nonprofit Enterprise Foundation to build 1,000 green affordable homes throughout the state. The Enterprise Foundation will provide up to $75 million in private equity to developers, from the sale of low-income housing tax credits, and $500,000 in grants and loans for the predevelopment, acquisition, and construction of projects that meet green building criteria. In addition, MassHousing will provide $125 million in mortgage financing, and MTC will offer $8.5 million toward the purchase of renewable energy systems, including solar panels, wind turbines, small hydropower systems, and fuel cells. “Combining affordable housing and environmentally friendly smart growth isn’t just about dollars and cents,” said Governor Mitt Romney, “it’s about promoting common sense.” For details on Massachusetts Green Communities, visit www.greencommunitiesonline.org/massachusetts/. For more information on the Enterprise Foundation and greening affordable housing, see

EBN

Vol. 14, No. 3.

Air Quality Sciences, Inc. (AQS) has expanded its product evaluation services to include commercial cleaning products and processes. “The very products and processes that are used to keep indoor environments clean may also contribute to indoor pollution,” says AQS, pointing out that the synergistic effects of mixing various cleaners can be especially problematic. AQS tests the volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of products using environmental chamber technology. For more information, see the report “Cleaning Products and Processes: Partnering for Healthier Indoor Environments” at www.aerias.org.

New labels demarcating “FSC Pure,” “FSC Mixed Sources,” and “FSC Recycled” products (see

EBN Vol. 14, No. 2) took effect for all FSC certificate holders on July 1, 2005. The labels are available in several languages to serve different markets. For more information, visit www.fsc.org or e-mail trademark@fsc.org.

In July 2005 New York became the latest state to develop energy efficiency standards for products not covered by federal regulations. (The Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed in August, established several federal standards; see Bush Signs Energy Policy Act of 2005.) New York’s Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Standards Act of 2005 requires the secretary of state and the president of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop standards for a range of products, including ceiling fans, furnace air handlers, commercial washing machines, commercial refrigerators and freezers, torchiere lighting fixtures, and large air-conditioning equipment. The standards are anticipated to save more than 2,000 gigawatt hours of electricity each year—enough to power 350,000 homes. Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maryland, and New Jersey have adopted similar standards.

King County, Washington, home to Seattle, is encouraging builders and developers to incorporate green strategies into their projects. Administered by the King County Department of Development and Environmental Services and the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, the new incentives include assistance during the permit review process, green building and low-impact development consulting, and cost-sharing and fee discounts for the use of low-impact, best-management practices. Details are online at dnr.metrokc.gov/dnrp/press/2005/0623EarthHeroes.htm.

The City of Bellingham, Washington, is requiring all publicly funded new and renovated buildings larger than 5,000 ft² (470 m²) to meet LEED^® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Bellingham joins the state of Washington, which became the first state to have a legislated requirement for LEED certification, also Silver, in April 2005 (see EBN Vol. 14, No. 4).