EERE Network News
May 11, 2005
News and Events
DOE Funds Five Research Projects to Boost Mining Efficiency
DOE is contributing $1.88 million to five research and development projects that aim to reduce energy use and lower costs in mining operations. Universities in Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia are leading the five projects.
Washington State Adopts New Renewable Energy and Efficiency Laws
New laws in Washington State will pay incentives for producing power from renewable energy, create tax credits for solar power companies, set energy efficiency standards for 12 products, provide a sales tax exemption for alt-fuel vehicles, and set greenhouse gas limits on vehicles.
Montana Laws Set Requirements for Renewable Energy and Ethanol
Montana has adopted a law requiring its public utilities to draw on renewable energy for 15 percent of their power by 2015. The law also requires 150 megawatts of renewable energy to be customer-sited. A separate law will require nearly all gasoline in the state to be blended with ethanol.
Ormat Breaks Ground on New Geothermal Plant in California
Ormat Technologies, Inc. is building a new 10-megawatt geothermal power plant at its Heber complex in California's Imperial Valley and will also upgrade the existing plants there. The company has also signed a new power purchase agreement for its geothermal projects in California.
Large Wind Power Plant Moves Ahead in Idaho
The race is on to build the first large wind power plant in Idaho. Invenergy, LLC is preparing to build Idaho's largest wind plant, a 64.5-megawatt project, but a 10.5-megawatt facility may be completed first. Wind projects are also underway in California, Nebraska, New York, and Oklahoma.
EPA: Ten U.S. Corporations to Cut Greenhouse Gases
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 5th that 10 corporations in its Climate Leaders program have set goals for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the companies are using renewable energy and energy efficiency to cut their emissions.
Energy Connections
Studies Find More Solar Energy Reaching Earth's Surface
A new study co-authored by DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) indicates that the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth has increased about 4 percent in the last 10 years. While the news could be good for solar energy production, PNNL says the trend could hasten global warming.
