The National Electricity Delivery Forum was held in Washington D.C. on the 20th and 21st of February, 2008. The conference was co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. The author attended the full first day session.

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We have all seen the headlines that appeared recently with the signing into legislation of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. While many of us are still confronting the realities of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, this new legislation has an even more important impact on the electric power community.

The headlines that emerged from the enactment of the new legislation revolved around mandates for improvements in automobile mileage, more use of ethanol, efficient light bulbs and efficient buildings. That is all well and good and represents meaningful progress toward at least a measure of energy independence. However, little attention was given to Title Nine, hidden in the latter sections of the 300-plus page bill, signed into law in December, 2007. This new legislation includes some notable and progressive items including a statement of purposes for the Energy Independence Act as set forth in the preamble:

To move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to
increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase
the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and
deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy
performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

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Over the past few weeks, Newton-Evans Research in the person of the author has been represented at two Washington D.C. energy-related conferences dealing with energy policy issues. The U.S. Energy Association (USEA) was the sponsor of the Fourth Annual State of the Energy Industry conference held at the National Press Club on January 16^th (link to video opens in a new window). USEA was also a co-sponsor for the February 5^th Powering Our Low Carbon Future conference along with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Three more upcoming Washington conferences also appear to merit our attention and we will be reporting on each of these conferences.

Next week, I will report to our readers following the 2008 National Electricity Delivery Conference sponsored by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC). Early in March, Newton-Evans will report from the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. In early April, the Department of Energy�s Energy Information Administration (EIA) will sponsor its Annual Energy Conference and Newton-Evans will be represented as well at this important DoE analyst conference.

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