Chris Neme

 

Principal 802-363-6551 cneme@energyfuturesgroup.com

Biography

Chris Neme is a Co-Founder and Principal of Energy Futures Group (EFG). He specializes in analysis of markets for energy efficiency measures and the design of programs and policies to promote them. Over his 20+ years in the energy efficiency industry, Chris has conducted analyses of efficiency potential in five states; led utility-stakeholder “collaboratives” in six states; led or supported the development of Technical Reference Manuals for deemed savings in eight states/provinces, defended expert witness testimony before regulatory commissions in ten different jurisdictions; and reviewed or developed efficiency programs and policies in more than 20 different states, several Canadian provinces and several European countries. Chris has published a number of papers and reports on a wide range of efficiency program and policy topics, led several different training courses on the elements of good efficiency program design, recently served as Co-Chair of NEEP’s EM&V Research and Evaluation Committee and is currently assisting NEEP in managing an emerging technologies project.

Education

  • M.P.P., University of Michigan, 1986
  • B.A.., Political Science, University of Michigan, 1985

Experience

2010-present

Principal (and Co-Founder), Energy Futures Group, Hinesburg, VT

1999-2010

Director of Planning & Evaluation, Vermont Energy Investment Corp., Burlington, VT

1993-1999

Senior Analyst, Vermont Energy Investment Corp., Burlington, VT

1992-1993

Energy Consultant, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana

1986-1991

Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Clean Air Policy, Washington, DC

Selected Projects

    • Natural Resources Defense Council (Midwest). Critically review efficiency plans, distribution system plans, and demand response plans filed by Illinois, Michigan and/or Ohio utilities. Draft and defend regulatory testimony on critiques. Represent NRDC in stakeholder-utility processes governing plan and goal development and related policies. Provide technical support to collaborative efforts with utilities to design and launch non-wires alternative pilot projects. Supported development of Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act. (2010 to present)

 

    • New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Serve on management team responsible for statewide delivery of New Jersey Clean Energy Programs. Lead strategic planning; support regulatory filings, cost-effectiveness analysis & evaluation work. (2015 to present) Served on management team for start-up of residential and renewables programs for predecessor project. (2006-2010)

 

    • E4TheFuture. Co-Authored 2017 National Standard Practice Manual for assessing cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency and other distributed resources. Assisting state regulators and others in understanding and applying the Manual. (2016-present)

 

    • Regulatory Assistance Project – U.S. Provide guidance on efficiency policy and programs. Lead author on strategic reports on achieving 30% electricity savings in 10 years, using efficiency to defer T&D system investments, & bidding efficiency into capacity markets. (2010 to present)

 

    • Ontario Energy Board. Serve on provincial gas DSM Evaluation Committee, advisory committee on gas efficiency potential study and advisory committee on carbon price forecast. (2015-present) Served on predecessor utility-stakeholder evaluation committees. (2000 to 2015)

 

    • Green Energy Coalition (Ontario). Represent coalition of environmental groups in regulatory proceedings, utility negotiations and stakeholder meetings on DSM policies (including integrated resource planning on pipeline expansions) and utility proposed DSM Plans. (1993 to present)

 

    • New Hampshire Consumer Advocate. Filed expert witness testimony on the merits of including a non-wires alternative pilot project in the state’s efficiency program plans. (2018)

 

    • Southern Environmental Law Center. Critically reviewed and filed expert witness testimony on Duke Energy efficiency program plans and past year savings claims. (2018)

 

    • Green Mountain Power (Vermont). Support development and implementation of GMP’s compliance plan for Vermont RPS Tier 3 requirement to reduce customers’ direct consumption of fossil fuels, with significant emphasis on strategic electrification strategies. Also led development of forecast of strategic electrification potential. (2016 to 2018)

 

    • Toronto Atmospheric Fund. Helped draft an assessment of efficiency potential from retrofitting of heat pumps into electrically heated multi-family buildings. (2017)

 

    • Regulatory Assistance Project – Europe. Provide on-going support on efficiency policies and programs in the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries. Reviewed draft European Union policies on Energy Savings Obligations, EM&V protocols, and related issues. Drafted policy brief on efficiency feed-in-tariffs and roadmap for residential retrofits. (2009 to 2017)

 

    • Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. Helped manage Regional EM&V forum project estimating savings for emerging technologies, including field study of cold climate heat pumps. Led assessment of best practices on use of efficiency to defer T&D investment. (2009 to 2015)

 

    • Ontario Power Authority. Managed jurisdictional scans on leveraging building efficiency labeling/disclosure requirements and non-energy benefits in cost-effectiveness screening. Supported staff workshop on the role efficiency can play in deferring T&D investments. Presented on efficiency trends for Advisory Council on Energy Efficiency. (2012-2015)

 

    • New Hampshire Electric Co-op. Led assessment of the co-op’s whole building efficiency retrofit, cold climate heat pump and renewable energy programs. (2014)

 

    • National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and Michigan Public Service Commission. Assessed alternatives to first year savings goals to eliminate disincentives to invest in longer-lived measures and programs. (2013)

 

    • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Led residential & renewables portions of several statewide efficiency potential studies. (2001 to 2010)

 

    • Ohio Public Utilities Commission. Senior Advisor developing a new TRM. (2009 to 2010)

 

    • Vermont Electric Power Company. Led residential portion of efficiency potential study to assess alternatives to new transmission line. Testified before Public Service Board. (2001-2003)

 

    • Efficiency Vermont. Served on Sr. Management team. Supported initial project start-up. Oversaw residential planning, input to regulators on evaluation, input to regional EM&V forum, development of M&V plan and other aspects of bidding efficiency into New England’s Forward Capacity Market (FCM), and development and updating of nation’s first TRM. (2000 to 2010)

 

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