EERE Network News
August 23, 2006
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News and Events
California Approves Legislation for Million Solar Roofs Plan
Californians served by municipal utilities will soon be able to earn significant rebates on solar power systems, thanks to new legislation signed into law on August 21st. SB 1 also allows more customers to sell power back to their utility and requires solar power as an option for housing developments.
Increased Solar Silicon Production Chases Demand
A Washington State plant producing solar silicon will nearly double its production capacity, a move echoed by silicon suppliers around the globe. The buildup in capacity is an attempt to meet the growing demand for solar cells—an attempt that won't succeed in this decade, says one report.
First Geothermal Plant in Alaska Starts Power Production
A 200-kilowatt power plant in Alaska is not only the first in the state, it's also the first to use geothermal water that is far from boiling. To make the project feasible, a team of experts drew on refrigeration technology. The plant is located at a hot springs resort that makes full use of its geothermal resource.
BLM Approves 200-Megawatt Wind Project in South-Central Idaho
A planned wind project in Idaho will be located on 4,500 acres of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), making it the largest wind project on federal land in a quarter century. The Interior Department is also helping to install wind power on Alaska's Aleutian islands.
Seven Northeast States Set Rules for Greenhouse Gas Reductions
A new model rule for implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the Northeast will allow the seven participating states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont—to take steps to adopt the program.
USDA Proposes 20 Biobased Product Categories for Federal Purchases
New proposed rules spanning 20 product categories could create a significant market for about 1,500 biobased products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The federal government must give purchasing preference to these biobased products to help cut U.S. petroleum use.
Energy Connections
Despite Slow Start, NOAA Predicts an Active Hurricane Season
This time last year we were on our 11th named storm and fifth hurricane, the one named Katrina. So what's up this year, with only three named storms and no hurricanes? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says don't let your guard down, the storms are on their way.