EERE Network News
July 12, 2006
News and Events
DOE Provides $96.4 Million for Home Weatherization
In an effort to reduce energy bills for low-income families, DOE will award $96.4 million in weatherization grants to 19 states for energy audits and energy efficiency improvements in homes.
DOE Releases Plan to Advance Cellulosic Ethanol
DOE's new roadmap for developing cellulosic ethanol focuses on research for overcoming production challenges and using biotechnology advances to help make production and distrubution cost effective.
New York Offers $20 Million for Cellulosic Ethanol Pilot Plant
The State of New York wants to play a role in advancing the technology to convert woody and fibrous forms of biomass into ethanol, and it's ponying up $20 million to meet its goal. Grant applicants should not only have the ability to build a pilot plant, but should also be interested in scaling it up.
Missouri Requires 10 Percent Ethanol in Most Gasoline Sold
By 2008, if you buy gasoline in Missouri, it will probably contain about 10 percent ethanol, thanks to legislation signed into law in early July. The new law voids the requirement when ethanol costs more than gasoline and also exempts premium blends of gasoline.
New Science and Technology Facility Opens at NREL
The new Science & Technology Facility at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) opened on July 7th. The energy efficient facility will allow NREL and industry researchers to work together to advance energy technologies.
NREL Offsets All Its Energy Use with Renewable Energy Credits
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is currently offsetting all of its energy use through either on-site renewable power production or through the purchase of renewable energy credits. And that includes energy used by NREL vehicles and employee commuting and air travel.
Energy Connections
Two New Nuclear Plants Slated for Texas Gulf Coast
NRG Energy, an independent power plant developer, has announced plans to build two new nuclear plants in Texas within the next ten years. New nuclear plants are also being considered for Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, while an old nuclear plant will soon be restarted in Alabama.
