EERE Network News
August 31, 2005
News and Events
DOE Offers $4 Million for Solid-State Lighting Research
DOE has launched two solicitations for research in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic LEDs (OLEDs): one for most research organizations and one for DOE national laboratories. Each solicitation totals $3.75 million over three years, and responses for both are due on October 18th.
DOE Provides $4.7 Million for Automotive Technology Education
DOE will award $4.7 million to eight universities, helping them to establish graduate engineering programs that focus on advanced automotive technologies. The universities are located in Alabama, California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Transportation Department Proposes New Fuel Economy Standards
The U.S. Department of Transportation expects the country to save 10 billion gallons of gasoline in the years to come because of the department's proposed new fuel economy standards. The proposed rule applies to light trucks and sets six different fuel economy standards based on vehicle size.
Oregon Moves to Implement Greenhouse Gas Standards for Cars
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski set a process in motion on August 29th that will lead to new greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles sold within the state. The new standards will follow standards set last year by California and will lead to consistent standards for the entire West Coast.
DOE National Laboratory Expert Notes Energy Benefits of Ethanol
Recent studies reach conflicting conclusions about how much energy is required to produce a gallon of ethanol, but a researcher at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory says it doesn't really matter, since ethanol substantially reduces petroleum use.
GM to Debut Front-Wheel-Drive, Six-Speed Transmissions in 2006
General Motors Corporation will include a new front-wheel- drive, six-speed transmission on the 2007 Saturn Aura to deliver a four percent improvement in fuel economy. By 2010, GM intends to produce 3 million cars featuring the new six-speed transmission.
Site News
National Corn Growers Association Launches EthanolFacts.com
Ethanolfacts.com is a comprehensive source of ethanol information links and includes basic facts about ethanol and its benefits to U.S. consumers. The site specifically addresses questions about the economic, environmental, and energy benefits of using ethanol as fuel.
Energy Connections
Hurricane Katrina Shuts Refineries and Oil and Gas Production
While Hurricane Katrina resulted in a tragic loss of life and property in the Gulf Coast states, the hurricane also significantly impacted the production of oil and the refining of oil into gasoline and other products. To address the problem, DOE is prepared to draw on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
