EERE Network News
February 28, 2007
News and Events
DOE Seeks a Fast Track to New Energy Efficiency Standards
DOE has requested congressional authorization to greatly speed up its process for setting energy efficiency standards, with the goal of bringing more efficient products to market sooner.
New Nationwide Effort Promotes a Switch to Energy Star Lights
The new 18seconds movement is a diverse group of organizations and individuals emphasizing that a simple, 18-second task—replacing a conventional incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent lamp—can dramatically cut energy use and benefit the environment.
"Green Grid" Consortium Takes Aim on Data Center Energy Use
"Green Grid," a new consortium of companies involved in data center infrastructure, plans to take a holistic view of the computing ecosystem in its efforts to advance energy efficiency. Facing a growing power demand, utilities are also coordinating their efforts on data center energy efficiency.
Five Western States Agree to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington have agreed to develop a regional target for greenhouse gas emission reductions and to develop a market-based program to achieve the target, such as a cap and trade system.
Minnesota Enacts the Country's Strongest Renewable Requirement
Minnesota has passed a bill that requires most of the state's utilities to draw on renewable energy for 25 percent of their power needs by 2025. The new law also requires Xcel Energy, which provides half of the state's power, to meet 30 percent of its power needs with renewable energy by 2020.
U.S. Clean Energy Conferences may be Preludes to a Global Conference
The American Council on Renewable Energy is one of the presenters of the Power-Gen Renewable Energy & Fuels conference, which comes to Las Vegas in early March, but also plans to coordinate an international conference in 2008. A slew of clean energy conferences are coming up soon.
Energy Connections
New Nuclear Power Plants Considered for Michigan and Texas
Detroit Edison is preparing a license application for the construction and operation of a new nuclear plant in Newport, Michigan, while Exelon is planning to apply for a license for a new plant in Texas. Meanwhile, DOE is funding studies of 11 potential sites for spent nuclear fuel recycling facilities.
