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Maryland Governor O’Malley Signs Landmark Geothermal Heat Pump Bill

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (D) signed the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard - Geothermal Heating and Cooling bill (SB 652) into law, making Maryland the first state in the nation to allow utilities to claim credits for the installation of geothermal heat pumps. The measure passed the state legislature on April 13.

The legislation makes GHPs an accepted technology for utilities to use toward earning Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) under the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).

Geothermal heat pumps address one of the biggest consumers of U.S. energy – buildings. Buildings account for more than 70 percent of the nation's electricity usage, and geothermal heat pumps have the potential to reduce energy use by as much as 40-70 percent in a typical building.

On signing of the measure, GEO President Doug Dougherty said, "We applaud Governor O'Malley, the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland Public Utility Commission and the legislature for their collective vision in recognizing geothermal heat pumps as a renewable source of energy with the new GHP law."

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Chairman's Message

Tom HuntingtonAt its meeting on April 6, Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) leadership unanimously elected WaterFurnace CEO Tom Huntington as Chairman of the Board. In the following editorial, he lays out his vision for the association.

First, let me say how honored and excited I am to assume my new role at GEO. I'm blessed that in both my professional roles I help promote something I'm truly passionate about. It's inspiring to see that same passion reflected in so many of our members. We, as an industry, have a lot to be excited for. A number of legislative and economic factors are converging that have the potential to lift the industry to new heights.

Clean energy legislation and financial incentives are accelerating the widespread adoption of geothermal heat pump technologies and GEO remains dedicated to helping create those opportunities. Governments around the country have started to acknowledge that geothermal heat pumps can provide as much benefit through power conservation, as wind and solar can provide through clean generation.

Going forward, you'll see the association increasingly focus on state level activities in addition to our advocacy role at the federal level. We're working to create a future where energy efficiency will be embraced at all levels of government and geothermal heat pump technology will be a standard solution.

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GEO Secures Funding in Senate for GHP Program and On-Bill Financing Initiative

In late April, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2013. Thanks to the leadership of Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the legislation encourages DOE to provide no less than $10 million "to support research, development, and strategic deployment of geothermal heat pump (GHP) technology."

"This is a big win for the GHP industry," said GEO President Doug Dougherty. "It builds on the work we did with our House and Senate champions to include language in last year's funding bill that requires DOE to develop a strategic plan to promote our technology."

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Iowa Passes Geo Tax Incentive Bill

Before the Iowa Legislature adjourned on May 9, it passed SF 2342, a measure that among other things provides a state tax credit for residential geothermal heat pump (GHP) installations equal to 20% of the federal residential energy efficient property tax credit. It can be used for tax liability for 10 years or until depleted.

Considering the federal GHP tax credit of 30% for residential installations, the Iowa GHP credit is equivalent to 6% of system cost. Once the bill is signed into law by the Iowa governor, it would be applic-able to any new or refitted construction or installation of a geothermal heating or cooling system on or after July 1, 2012, on property classified as residential.

The Iowa Geothermal Association (IGA) was instrumental in gaining the bill's passage. According to IGA Executive Director Ron Marr, "An important part of the bill is a property tax exemption for 10 years on additional appraised cost of real estate by installing geo systems." Installing a GHP in an Iowa residence increases the property tax about $300-$350 per year on the dwelling, he said.

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GEO Talks About Maryland's GHP Bill

In preparation for a cover story to issued in late-May or early June, Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News asked Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) President Doug Dougherty a number of questions about passage of a bill amending Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to include the thermal renewable energy contribution of geothermal heat pumps (GHPs). His answers provide insights about the importance that GEO places on state and local action to build the industry.

What is your reaction to the passing of this bill?

Passage of the Maryland GHP legislation is a big win for our industry. We applaud the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland Public Utility Commission and the Maryland legislature for the collective vision they had in recognizing GHPs as a renewable source of energy. Passage of this legislation provides another option for compliance with the state's renewable energy purchase requirements for public utilities. The legislation is the first of its kind in the United States, and GEO will use it as a model for the nearly 40 other states that have mandated Renewable Portfolio Standards.

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GEO Groundswell of Support

In recent months, the Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) has effectively lent its support to several local initiatives by state-based geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry organizations. GEO is dedicated to growing the installation and use of GHPs across the nation.

 "GEO places a high value on its relationships with state geothermal heat pump (GHP) associations and coalitions, which are instrumental in promoting GHPs from a local perspective," said GEO President Doug Dougherty.

"Our goal is to affiliate with like-minded organizations covering all 50 states, working with them to engage state energy administrations and gain 'buy-in' by electric utilities," he continued. "Over the long-term, that will be the key to our overall success, as these grassroots organizations successfully represent the interests of the GHP industry."  Following are brief updates on GEO involvement with GHP industry activism at the state level.

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GEO Supports California GHP Bill

In a March 29 letter to Chairman Steven Bradford and Members of the California General Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee, Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) President Doug Dougherty expressed the association's and industry support for AB 2339, the Renewable Thermal Energy Deployment Act, which directs the California Public Utilities Commission—in consultation with other agencies and stakeholders—to evaluate policies, develop sufficient infrastructure and adopt rules to overcome barriers to the wide-spread deployment and use of geothermal and solar heating and cooling technologies.
    "GEO is the national trade association representing the geothermal heat pump (GHP) industry.  We stand in full support of Assembly Bill 2339 and its mandate that requires the California Public Utilities Commission to identify and address barriers to more widespread installations GHP technologies.
    "Buildings consume 73% of the nation’s electricity. GHPs are among the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost effective systems available for heating and air conditioning. A GHP is a distributed technology that captures a thermal form of renewable energy from the Earth, and it is available everywhere.
    "GHPs save 40 to 70% of energy consumption by buildings of all sizes, which would go
a long way toward helping California meet its visionary carbon emission reduction goals. With current federal tax credits and other incentives, payback for the consumer (depending on the structure) can be in some cases be immediate, and certainly no longer than 3 to 5 years.  At the same time, increased installations of GHPs would create a variety of well paid jobs across the state.
    "GHPs should be included in California energy policy, and GEO believes that AB 2339 is a good start in recognizing GHPs for the environmental and economic benefits that they offer to your state and its citizens."  See the proposed legislation here.