EERE Network News
August 03, 2005
News and Events
U.S. Joins Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development
The United States is teaming up with Australia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea to promote the development of clean energy technologies. The effort will include technologies such as energy efficiency, biomass energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, wind power, and solar power.
University of Michigan Wins the North American Solar Challenge
After traveling 2,500 miles using nothing but solar power, the University of Michigan squeaked in for the win just ahead of the University of Minnesota. The winner of the North American Solar Challenge required just under 54 hours to run the course, for an average speed of 46.2 miles per hour.
Texas More than Doubles its Renewable Energy Requirement
By 2015, Texas will draw its power from nearly 6,000 megawatts of renewable energy, thanks to a bill signed into law on August 1st. Although an existing law resulted in mostly wind power projects, the new law sets aside 500 megawatts for renewable energy projects other than wind power.
New York State Sets Efficiency Standards for Appliances
New York has become the sixth state to set its own efficiency standards for a variety of household appliances and electronic equipment. The law sets standards for items not covered by federal efficiency standards and is expected to save nearly 2,100 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year.
Northwest Alliance to Promote Efficient Commercial Buildings
The Northwest's BetterBricks program, which encourages the use of energy efficiency in commercial buildings, will be funded for the next three years to the tune of $18.6 million. The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance expects the program to cut energy demand by 31 megawatts by 2015.
Energy Connections
Asia's Growth to Help Boost World Energy Use 57 Percent by 2025
What's in store for the world's energy use over the next 20 years? According to a new DOE report, energy use will grow 57 percent, carbon dioxide emissions will increase 60 percent, and oil production will increase 42 percent. The report projects oil prices dropping to $31 per barrel by 2010.
