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SPEER's Industry & Policy Workshop: Registration Open!

Registration is open! Join us on September 19-20th in Austin, Texas for SPEER’s Industry + Policy Workshop. We'll be joined by energy experts and leaders to:

• Understand the economic impact of renewable energy on the grid, consumers and landowners
• Review heat pump research and insights
• Examine DERs and policy implementation
• Find solutions to pressing energy issues in our region
• Much more!

Head over to our registration page to save your spot and browse sponsorship opportunities!

Secure your spot as the Headline Sponsor and make a lasting impact at our conference. Your organization will not only receive top-tier exposure but also the honor of delivering the Welcome Remark to set the tone for our event. We also invite you to kick off our reception on night one by sponsoring the Happy Hour! Want to provide all attendees with a welcome gift or sponsor lunch? Contact us! The sponsor's logos will be featured prominently on all conference materials, including the website, brochures, banners, and promotional emails.

Your sponsorships are incredibly important to us and help continue the sustaining efforts of our organization as we educate and support energy efficiency across the Texas and Oklahoma region. With your support, we can further our mission and initiatives. The SPEER team looks forward to seeing you in the fall.

*Registration rates will increase by 50% after July 31, 2024!

Upcoming Webinars

Affordable Home Energy Shot™ Summit 

June 5 at 9:30 AM CST

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will virtually convene stakeholders to discuss the Affordable Home Energy Shot™—an ambitious initiative to reduce the upfront cost of upgrading a home by at least 50% while reducing energy bills by 20% within a decade. Nearly one in four households nationwide experience high energy burdens; as a result, more than 20% fell behind on their energy bills in 2022. These trends disproportionately impact lower-income residents who live in older homes that often lack adequate insulation and energy-efficient appliances.

Heat Pump Rooftop Units: Underutilized Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Strategy for Low-Rise Commercial Buildings

June 6 at 10:00 AM CST

Learn about the Commercial Buildings Heat Pump Accelerator recently launched by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) which aims to drive the adoption of high-efficiency heat pump RTUs available today and develop next-generation cold-climate heat pump RTUs.  Join us for our upcoming webinar to:

• Gain a better understanding of the key barriers and opportunities for HP RTUs
• Learn about several case studies where building owners have adopted HP RTUs
• Understand how the Accelerator can support and amplify the work they’re doing

Speakers:

• Jim Young - Associate Director: Guidehouse
• Rachel Lebendinsky - Consultant: Guidehouse
• Saad Saleem - Senior Consultant: Guidehouse

New SPEER Member!

SPEER is thrilled to welcome our newest member, LG Electronics! As a global leader in technology, LG Electronics is dedicated to creating innovative solutions for a better life. We are excited to have LG on board as we continue our mission to advance energy efficiency in our region. Learn more about SPEER membership and consider joining us!

Noteworthy

TEPRI’s June Energy Opportunities Speaker Event

As we confront the challenges of high energy burden, housing quality, and their intersection with the built environment and climate, it's vital to prioritize decarbonization efforts, enhance energy affordability, and promote health equity. 

Join our friends at TEPRI on June 13th at the University of Houston as they host an in-person Energy Opportunities Speaker event focused on "Dynamic Innovations in Energy Efficiency”. Keynotes include Dr. Robert D. Bullard, the "father of environmental justice" and recipient of the 2024 Time Magazine Earth Award, and Donnel Baird, founder of BlocPower and recipient of TIME’s 2022 “Dreamer of the Year” award. Speakers will share innovative pathways to enhance energy efficiency, bridge the energy divide, and promote environmental justice in Texas. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with leading experts and stakeholders in a critical conversation on building a more sustainable and equitable energy future. Learn more and register here. 

Need to Catch Up?

Missed last week’s policy newsletter? Browse past issues of our newsletters and subscribe to other distribution lists here. 

Regional Energy Democracy Initiative (REDI) Program Announcement

DOE’s Office of Energy Justice and Equity Regional Energy Democracy Initiative (REDI) is a groundbreaking program aimed at empowering communities in the U.S. Gulf South region. With a commitment of $5 million, the REDI pilot is designed to provide capacity building and technical assistance for communities in the region to maximize the benefits derived from the clean energy investments made by DOE.

DOE aims to foster collaboration between minority-serving institutions, community-based organizations, and public and private partners to design and implement community benefits that prioritize equity and climate investments. Learn more.

Job Opportunity

TX PACE Authority is hiring a Director for PACE Transactions! Learn more and apply here.

AESP FLEX Online Courses

AESP is helping you elevate your expertise with FLEX's premium quality online courses. Demand flexibility is the coordinated manipulation of energy consumption and production across grid devices on a massive scale while maintaining livability and comfort standards, and now AESP & the Department of Energy offers free, online courses designed for energy efficiency leaders focused on exploring water heaters, lighting, HVAC systems, and cutting-edge distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar, battery storage, and EVSE.  We need to maximize the value of flexible loads as both a grid asset and a customer asset! Expand your knowledge and learn more now.

What We're Reading

States should enact energy use caps to lock in efficiency gains - Energy News Network



Guest commentary: Offshore wind is just what Gulf anglers need - The Daily News (Galveston County)

Nearly 9 in 10 Houstonians want the city to lead the world's energy transition, Rice survey finds - Houston Chronicle

Batteries saved Texas consumers $683M during 2-day January freeze: Aurora Energy Research - Utility Dive