EERE Network News
September 28, 2005
News and Events
California Approves $2 Billion for Energy Efficiency
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved $2 billion in funding over the next three years for energy efficiency and conservation programs throughout the state, an effort the commission calls the most ambitious in the history of the U.S. utility industry.
Ford to Offer Hybrid Versions of Half its Lineup by 2010
In terms of hybrid sales, Ford Motor Company currently lags behind Toyota and Honda, producing only 24,000 Ford Escape Hybrids per year. But that should quickly change, as the company plans to produce 250,000 hybrids per year by 2010. Ford is also producing a large number of flex-fuel vehicles.
Netherlands' Nuon Solar Team Leads the World Solar Challenge
There's a great likelihood of a three-peat at the World Solar Challenge, as the Nuon Solar Team was little more than 300 miles from its goal on Tuesday night. The 1,870-mile solar car race down the middle of Australia has been dominated in recent years by the high-tech team from the Netherlands.
National Solar Tour Comes to 43 States and D.C. on October 1st
Homes, businesses, schools, and libraries throughout the country will open their doors to visitors on the weekend of October 1st. The National Solar Tour, organized by the American Solar Energy Society, is now in its tenth year. Look for a solar tour near you!
Solar Panels and Biodiesel Aid in Hurricane Recovery Efforts
When there's no power and fuel is hard to find, solar-powered lights and charging stations prove their worth, as people in Mississippi and Louisiana are finding out in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Meanwhile, biodiesel helped fuel an effort to deliver 15 tons of supplies to southeast Louisiana.
DOE Draft Plan Examines Technologies to Cut Greenhouse Gases
A new draft plan from DOE's Climate Change Technology Program aims to provide strategic direction for about $3 billion in federal spending. The plan includes plenty of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, but also includes carbon sequestration, clean coal, and nuclear power.
Site News
EERE Renews its Web Site for Consumer Energy Savings
Looking to save energy or use renewables in your home or workplace? The updated Consumer Web site from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) could be just the ticket. The new Web site is chock-full of updated information and links to supporting material.
Energy Connections
Energy Impacts from Hurricane Rita Remain Uncertain
Hurricane Rita had a smaller impact on Texas refineries than feared, but the disruption is still substantial, and its impact on offshore oil production is not yet clear. Amid rising gas prices, President Bush has called for fuel conservation and noted his readiness to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
