EERE Network News
March 25, 2009
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News and Events
DOE Offers $2.4 Billion to Support Next-Generation Electric Vehicles
President Barack Obama announced that DOE is offering up to $2.4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to support next-generation plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and their advanced battery components.
DOE Offers $535 Million Loan Guarantee to Solyndra, Inc.
DOE is offering to guarantee a $535 million federal loan to Solyndra, Inc. to support the construction of a 500-megawatt solar panel manufacturing plant in California. The loan guarantee is the first to be issued through the DOE Loan Guarantee Program and uses funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Solar Energy Grew at a Record Pace in 2008
The total U.S. solar energy capacity increased by 17% in 2008, according to an industry report, and that includes 342 megawatts of solar power. But that lands the United States in third place behind Spain and Germany, which together installed more than 4,000 megawatts of solar power last year.
Georgia Power Wins Approval to Switch Coal Plant to Biomass Power
Georgia Power Company has earned approval to convert a coal-fired power plant to burn wood chips instead. The power plant will generate 96 megawatts of renewable energy by mid-2012, demonstrating the significant potential for biomass power in the Southeast.
Federal Energy Regulators Propose Priorities for Smart Grid Standards
As the United States begins to shift its power delivery system over to a smart grid, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission wants to be sure we maintain grid security and reliability, while also making room for renewable energy, demand response, energy storage, and electric vehicles.
Energy Connections
Insurance Regulators Require Disclosures of Climate Change Risks
New disclosure rules for U.S. insurance companies will force them to take a hard look at issues like sea level rise and the frequency of severe weather events. That, in turn, is likely to raise their customers' awareness of the consequences of climate change.