EERE Network News

February 07, 2007

News and Events

DOE Requests $1.2 Billion for Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy

President Bush's budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 includes $1.236 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a 6.3 percent increase over FY 2006 appropriations. DOE's budget for the Office of Science also includes $75 million for three Bioenergy Research Centers.

DOE Budget Includes Loan Guarantees for Biofuels and Renewables

President Bush's proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 would allow DOE to provide guarantees for up to $4 billion in loans for projects that promote biofuels and up to $1 billion in loans for projects using renewable power generation systems.

USDA Farm Bill Proposal Includes $1.6 Billion for Renewable Energy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to include $1.6 billion in new funding over the next 10 years for renewable energy research, development, and production. While much of the funding will go toward biofuels, the funds also support renewable energy and efficiency projects.

Proposed USDA Budget Provides $397 Million for Energy Projects

The proposed Fiscal Year 2008 budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) allows for $15 million in grants and $195 million in loan guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The budget also includes substantial funding for biofuels research.

Reports: Efficiency and Renewable Energy Could Address Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a summary of its Fourth Assessment Report, which concludes that humans are very likely causing climate change. With the United States on track to meet its greenhouse gas intensity goals, two reports examine a more aggressive approach.

Energy Efficiency Group Names the Year's "Greenest" Vehicle

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has named the Honda Civic GX as the greenest car of the year. The natural-gas-fueled vehicle beat the competition by having the lowest combination of pollutant emissions, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Connections

Energy Prices Dip and Recover in EIA's Short-Term Outlook

The latest "Short-Term Energy Outlook" from DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) notes that crude oil and natural gas prices dropped steeply during a recent warm spell, but the current cold spell has lifted them back up. Still, the EIA has lowered its projected oil prices through 2008.