Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan announced that the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), the Alliance’s wholly-owned subsidiary created to advance energy efficiency in the Southeast, will become a standalone entity on January 1, 2014. Callahan made the announcement about the future of SEEA during the Alliance’s EE Global Forum held in Washington, D.C.

"When the Alliance started SEEA in 2006, the Southeast lagged behind the rest of the country in advancing energy efficiency policy and actions," said Callahan. "Today, SEEA is a best-in-class organization that is making a difference home by home in more than a dozen communities across the region, driving policy in many state legislatures, and helping to cut energy use in businesses and industrial plants across the Southeast."

During the SEEA announcement at the international forum, Callahan recognized other efficiency organizations that were started with the Alliance’s assistance including the European Alliance to Save Energy (EU-ASE), the Australian Alliance to Save Energy (A2SE), and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy in India.

Commented SEEA President Mandy Mahoney, "SEEA has worked hard to make a strong impact for energy efficiency across the Southeast. This is an important milestone for the region, one that highlights considerable progress toward an economically vibrant, energy secure and environmentally sustainable Southeast.

"Recognizing there is still much work to be done, we look forward to a strong ongoing partnership with the Alliance, and to the continued teamwork and collaboration of all our valued partners. Today is a proud moment for the Alliance whose support we appreciate, for SEEA, and for the many organizations who share our vision of an energy-efficient Southeast."

According to a 2009 report by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the South accounts for 44 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption. If the region could achieve the substantial energy efficiency improvements that have occurred in many other parts of the country, this would significantly reduce carbon emissions across the region, improve air quality, and reduce the need for building new power plants.

In April, the Alliance and SEEA boards approved the spin-off after determining that SEEA had built a track record of success that solidified its reputation as a leader, and had secured the vital member support necessary to succeed as a standalone organization. SEEA counts these accomplishments among its many successes:

SEEA remains the third-most productive of the Department of Energy’s 41 BetterBuildings Neighborhood Program grant recipients nationwide, reflecting innovative practices in marketing and outreach, workforce training, retrofit finance and more. As of the end of March 2013, the programs had reached 28,055,953  kWh of energy savings and $2,096,606 in utility cost savings. SEEA also manages the State Energy Programs for Virginia and Alabama.

 

SEEA’s policy team has built strong partnerships that led to the passage of building

codes legislation in Alabama, South Carolina and Mississippi. The team also helped the State of Mississippi craft its first comprehensive statewide energy plan, and supported the Louisiana Public Service Commission in its efforts to work toward statewide energy-efficiency rules. Through ongoing support from the Energy Foundation, the Department of Energy and the Hewlett Foundation, SEEA continues to champion codes implementation efforts across the Southeast.

SEEA’s Associate Member program provides unique networking, educational and business development opportunities for a range of private sector organizations, service providers, academics, consultants and others. In addition to its growing membership, SEEA successfully launched the Utilities of the South Coalition, and in partnership with the Alliance, continues a variety of industrial sector efforts funded through the U.S. Department of Energy and Georgia Institute of Technology.

In 2012 the Alliance and SEEA co-sponsored EE Global in Orlando, and this year SEEA is participating in the D.C.-based event to share its successful strategies alongside other regional energy efficiency organizations.