EERE Network News
May 17, 2006
News and Events
Energy Secretary Lauds New Ethanol Fuel Pumps in Indiana
Meijer, Inc. plans to add ethanol fuel pumps to 20 of its supermarkets in Indiana, a commitment that drew a visit and accolades from Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. The Secretary also visited the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where all the race cars are currently using 10 percent ethanol.
Company Proposes 500-Megawatt Wind Plant off the Texas Coast
Offshore wind power is not yet a reality in the United States, but among the serious proposals now on the books, the largest yet is for a wind plant off the coast of Texas. Superior Renewable Energy signed a multi-million-dollar lease with Texas for the right to use nearly 40,000 submerged acres.
Three Geothermal Power Plants Moving Ahead in Nevada
Roughly 80 megawatts of new geothermal power capacity are currently in various stages of development in Nevada. The projects include a 26-megawatt plant and a 15- to 25-megawatt plant in western Nevada, plus a 30-megawatt plant in northern Nevada.
Kauai Pursues Biomass and Wind Power and Solar Water Heating
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative recently chose three companies to develop renewable energy projects on the island, including two biomass power plants and one wind power plant. The utility is also offering no-interest loans to its customers when they buy solar water heating systems.
Hybrid Sales Doubled in 2005 but are Varied Thus Far in 2006
Registrations for new hybrid vehicles in 2005 represented more than one percent of all new vehicle registrations in the United States, according to R.L. Polk & Company. But in 2006, supplies are limiting sales of some hybrid models, while consumers are apparently losing interest in others.
DOE Conducts Energy Assessments at Alabama Industrial Plants
Alabama rarely makes news for energy efficiency, but since the state has its share of heavy industry, it has drawn three visits from DOE's Energy Saving Teams in recent weeks. DOE's two latest energy assessments are at a copper tubing plant in Decatur and a catalyst and zeolite plant in Mobile.
Energy Connections
Twelve Sites in Seven States Vie for FutureGen Project
A DOE project to develop a carbon-neutral coal plant is drawing a lot of interest, as 12 sites have been proposed in seven states: Illinois, Kentucky, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. DOE and its partner, the FutureGen Alliance, will choose a site by late summer 2007.
