President Obama announced a new executive regulation that has the potential to dramatically increase demand for residential energy efficiency and home performance services. The new EPA regulation will cut carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants by 30 percent over 2005 levels by 2030, allowing each state flexibility to develop a plan to cut emissions. Options include energy-efficiency and renewable technology and incentive programs, as well as creating or joining state cap-and-trade programs.

The bad: The U.S. Senate failed to pass the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (S. 2262) aka the Shaheen-Portman bill. Partisan wrangling tanked the bill which, if passed, would have increased energy efficiency in residential, commercial, and federally-owned buildings, while training workers to be adept at working in energy-efficient commercial buildings. 

The good: President Obama announced more than 300 private and public sector commitments to create jobs and cut carbon pollution by advancing solar deployment and energy efficiency. Click here to read more.