EERE Network News
October 31, 2007
News and Events
NREL Pursues a New Green Building, Increased Renewable Energy Use
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman oversaw the groundbreaking of a new LEED Platinum building at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is also developing a biomass facility that will offset natural gas usage and a 5 acre solar power site.
DOE Seeks Clean Energy Entrepreneurs to Work at Three National Labs
Do you work at a venture capital firm involved in renewable energy and energy efficiency? Are startups old hat to you? If so, Uncle Sam (actually, the U.S. Department of Energy) wants you!
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Dominate the Tokyo Motor Show
The Tokyo Motor Show always features some wacky designs that will never see the light of day, but this year's show is also heavy on hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. Some of them even look real enough to suggest that we might see them in production someday soon.
Dutch Nuon Team Wins the Australian Solar Car Race
The solar car from the Netherlands-based Nuon Solar Team cruised to a first-place finish in the Panasonic World Solar Challenge, which drew to a close on October 28th. Averaging 56 miles per hour, the car bisected the continent of Australia in only 33 hours of driving.
NASA Faces a Torn Solar Array and Worn Joint on the Space Station
Have you ever had someone say, "Be careful not to tear it!" as you pull something delicate out of a box, only to do just that? Then perhaps you can relate to astronauts on the International Space Station, who are now wondering how to mend a ripped solar array.
Change a Light Bus Tour Boosts Pledges to Nearly One Million
DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on October 23rd that nearly 1 million U.S. residents have pledged to change more than 2.6 million light bulbs to more efficient versions
Energy Connections
Wildfires Create Transmission Emergency in Southern California
The wildfires that struck southern California in late October caused a loss of life and property and forced half a million people to evacuate, but they also had a severe impact on the state's electrical grid. At one point, a single transmission line was serving the San Diego area.
