EERE Network News
July 25, 2007
News and Events
North American Countries to Cooperate on Appliance Standards
The energy ministers from the United States, Canada, and Mexico have agreed to align their energy efficiency standards for seven energy-using products and to cooperate on motor vehicle fuel efficiency, standby power consumption, and energy science and technology.
Energy Star Program Tightens Requirements for Computers
Computers manufactured on or after July 20th will have to meet tough new energy performance criteria to earn the Energy Star label, including energy-use criteria in three operating modes. Most computers will also have to be shipped with their energy management features enabled.
Maryland Removes Utility Disincentives for Energy Efficiency
The Maryland Public Service Commission has "decoupled" utility revenues from electricity sales for the state's regulated utilities, thereby removing a huge disincentive for the utilities to promote energy efficiency. A similar approach has proven successful in California and Oregon.
Georgia and Michigan in Race to Convert Wood to Ethanol
Although Georgia and Michigan both aim to be the first state with a commercial wood-to-ethanol facility, Georgia is clearly in the lead, as a company plans to break ground this summer. A smaller facility is now being built in Louisiana, while a Florida project will produce ethanol from citrus peels.
Growing Wind Industry Yields New Plants in Four States
A new wind blade facility has just opened in South Dakota, while another one is planned for Arkansas. A wind tower manufacturing plant is slated for Oklahoma, while a small wind turbine manufacturer is planning to expand in Kentucky. The projects are all the result of a rapidly growing industry.
FERC Aims to Simplify Licensing for Wave and Tidal Pilot Projects
A number of companies have been developing wave and tidal energy technologies, but those that want to build pilot projects in the United States have faced a considerable licensing hurdle from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). But FERC is planning to make it easier.
Energy Connections
Report: Energy Efficiency, Diversity are Keys to Our Future Energy Needs
A new report from the National Petroleum Council emphasizes energy efficiency as an essential near-term energy resource, while warning that the world should not continue to rely on expanded energy production from conventional sources of oil and natural gas.
