EERE Network News
May 31, 2006
News and Events
New Wind Plants Planned for California, Colorado, Iowa, and Oregon
PPM Energy has 1,357 megawatts of wind turbines on order over the next two years and plans to use some of them in Colorado and Oregon. Other companies are planning large wind plants in California, Iowa, and Oregon, suggesting the rapid growth in the wind industry is far from over.
Northeastern States Offering Funds for Renewable Energy Projects
More than $13 million is currently available for renewable energy projects located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. A new report says that since 1998, state clean energy funds have committed nearly $400 million to 234 utility-scale renewable energy projects.
Hydrogen Fueling Stations Now Operating or Planned in 15 States
More than 50 hydrogen fueling stations are now operating or planned in the District of Columbia and 15 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.
Ethanol Industry Reaches Milestone of 100 Operating Plants
As of late May, there were 100 ethanol fuel plants operating in the United States. Combined, the plants can produce more than 4.7 billion gallons of ethanol per year. Another 33 plants under construction, plus 8 expansions of existing plants, will add another 2 billion gallons in annual ethanol production.
DOE Offers $7 Million for Solid-State Lighting Research
DOE has just awarded funds to five companies for their development of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic LEDs (OLEDs), two technologies that promise to revolutionize lighting. While commercial endeavors press ahead, DOE is also offering another $3.75 million for lighting research.
DOE Launches Energy Assessment at World's Largest Insulation Plant
A DOE Energy Saving Team is on the road again, headed for CertainTeed Corporation's fiberglass manufacturing plant in Kansas City, Kansas. So far, DOE has found more than 15 trillion Btu in possible energy savings—enough to supply 206,000 U.S. homes—in its visits to 48 industrial plants.
Site News
DOE's Regional Office Web Sites to Shut Down on June 1st
DOE is realigning and consolidating its six regional offices, and as of June 1st, their Web pages will be archived and removed from the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web site. If you manage a Web site that links to these Web pages, please remove or update your links.
Energy Connections
DOE Prepares for the North Atlantic Hurricane Season
DOE has taken a number of steps to prepare for the North Atlantic hurricane season, which starts on June 1st. Along with a near doubling of its specially trained response coordinators, DOE has taken steps to help federal, state, and local leaders work together in a crisis.
