EERE Network News
June 30, 2004
News and Events
Western Governors Launch Clean Energy Initiative
Western governors have set preliminary goals of increasing the efficiency of energy use in the West by 20 percent by 2020 and developing 30,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2015. "Clean energy," as defined in the resolution, includes renewables as well as clean coal and advanced natural gas.
Innovative Solar Manufacturing Plant Opens in Canada
Canada's first full-scale solar cell manufacturing plant uses innovative Spheral Solar technology, in which silicon bead are bonded within sheets of aluminum foil. Meanwhile, U.S. company Evergreen Solar has doubled its manufacturing capacity, and a solar power company is moving to New York.
New 106.5-Megawatt Wind Power Plant Planned for Oklahoma
Oklahoma is slated to receive its largest wind power plant yet, a 106.5-megawatt facility near Weatherford, about 70 miles west of Oklahoma City. But construction of the wind plant is contingent upon the extension of the federal production tax credit for wind energy.
Demonstration Projects to Generate Hydrogen from Renewable Energy
New projects proposed for Maine, Illinois, and Iowa intend to use solar and wind power to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen will be used to fuel vehicles and to generate heat and power for buildings.
Energy Star Campaign Encourages Energy Saving at Home
The Energy Star program has launched a new multi-year campaign to encourage people to save energy in their homes. Although the campaign contrasts simple ways to save energy at home with zany ideas for saving fuel in a car, there are, of course, many accepted ways to save fuel, as well.
Site News
DOE Biomass Program Yields A New Integrated Web Site
The Biomass Program, one of 11 energy programs in the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), has produced a new Web site that effectively combines information about biomass power, biomass fuels, bioproducts, and other biomass energy technologies.
Energy Connections
DOE: Six Energy Technologies will Address Climate Change
According to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, the key energy technologies to address climate change include hydrogen, clean coal, safe nuclear power, fusion, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Secretary Abraham spoke before a climate change conference on June 24th.
