EPA Draft CO2 Regulations Provide Flexibility, But Greater Role For Demand Response And Smart Grid Needed

Washington /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) applauded the flexibility shown today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the agency's release of draft regulations to address CO2 emissions, and for its recognition that there are a number of ways to introduce greater efficiency into the nation's electricity system and help reduce such emissions.

"The draft regulations released today show extreme flexibility in setting targets," said Dan Delurey, Executive Director of ADS. "And more importantly, they provide states with substantial flexibility in how they put together plans to meet those targets.  

"We are surprised, however, to see that demand-side efficiency is described in the regulations as only being 'end-use' efficiency. States, utilities, and technology companies know that traditional end-use efficiency is not the only way to reduce usage and thus emissions. With the use of demand response and smart grid technologies and practices, it is possible to manage peak load, and for efficiency to be dynamic and dispatchable on a 24/7 basis. It can thus play a greater role in optimizing our electricity system and reducing emissions. It may even be possible to consider using demand response as a dynamic emissions reduction tool."   

Delurey added, "The regulations do mention transmission upgrades as an option that states can consider, but it is the distribution system where greater savings are possible, and where states have jurisdiction to effect change.

"The demand response and smart grid community looks forward to commenting on the draft regulations and helping states understand the importance of considering DR and smart grid as part of Building Block 4 of the draft regulations," said Delurey.

About the Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid 
The Association for Demand Response & Smart Grid (ADS) is a nonprofit organization, originally formed as the Demand Response Coordinating Committee (DRCC) in 2004. ADS is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization consisting of professionals and organizations involved in demand response and smart grid. It provides services to meet the needs of its members that help them in the conduct of their work and in the attainment of their personal, corporate and governmental objectives. ADS seeks to establish and grow a demand response "community" of policymakers, utilities, system operators, technology companies, consumers, and other stakeholders.

More information on ADS can be found at: www.demandresponsesmartgrid.org.