EERE Network News
November 15, 2006
News and Events
Washington State Voters Mandate Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Election day resulted in a new Washington State requirement for utilities to maximize energy efficiency and to use renewable energy for 15 percent of their power supply by 2020. A successful ballot measure in Boulder, Colorado, will also encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy.
International Energy Agency Points the Way to a Clean Energy Future
The world is heading toward an energy future that is "dirty, insecure, and expensive" says the International Energy Agency, but government policies and measures could easily put the world on a sustainable path. A new report from the Rand Corporation reaches similar conclusions.
DOE Research Project Yields New Low-Speed Wind Turbine Blade
A new 90-foot wind turbine blade has an unusual shape that is meant to reduce stress on the turbine while capturing energy from low-speed winds. Knight & Carver worked with DOE's Sandia National Laboratories to design the new blade, which Knight & Carver will test for strength in December.
Geothermal Power Continues to Grow Rapidly in 2006
The latest survey from the Geothermal Energy Association finds about 58 new geothermal energy projects under development in the United States. Geothermal power projects are under development in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.
Waste-to-Energy Projects Gain Momentum in the United States
New U.S. projects are drawing energy from landfill gases, wastewater, wood waste, manure, car parts, and wastes from breweries, dairies, beef processing plants, and auto plants. The projects are located in Alabama, California, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Wal-Mart Approves of LED Lights but Remains Unsure About Wind Power
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has completed one year of testing at its experimental stores in Colorado and Texas and has already decided to install light-emitting diode (LED) lights in the freezer cases of all its new stores. The company is less sure about its wind turbines, but it still holds out hope.
Energy Connections
Oil Companies Plan to Modify and Expand U.S. Refineries
BP, Marathon Oil, and Chevron are all planning projects to significantly expand their U.S. refineries. BP and Marathon are also planning to modify some of their refineries to accommodate the heavy crude oil produced from Canadian tar sands.
