EERE Network News
January 23, 2008
News and Events
DOE Offers $30 Million for Developing Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles
DOE announced on January 17th that it is offering $30 million over the next three years for companies to design and build plug-in hybrid vehicles and then test them in fleets located in geographically diverse areas.
Detroit Auto Show Features New Hybrid and Diesel Models
Saturn introduced the 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show, setting records both for wordiness and for the speed of upgrading its hybrid. Honda also plans to introduce new hybrids, while both it and Toyota will soon join European automakers in pursing clean diesels.
Porsche to Offer a Hybrid Version of its Four-Door Panamera
Porsche AG is introducing a new four-door sports vehicle next year, but promises to add a hybrid version on some far-off future date. The Porsche Panamera hybrid will consume about 30% less fuel, boosting its fuel economy to 26 miles per gallon. Porsche engineers probably call that "fuel sipping."
Sales of Compact Fluorescent Lights Jump to 20% of the Market
The sales of Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lights nearly doubled last year.
U.S. Wind Power Capacity Surged Up 45% in 2007
The U.S. wind energy industry had a banner year in 2007, increasing its installed capacity by 5,244 megawatts, or 45%, according to the American Wind Energy Association. The trade group estimates that wind power will provide about 1% of U.S. power needs in 2008.
Drilling Complete on Australian Hot Dry Rock Project
Over the past five years, Geodynamics, Limited definitely found out that drilling more than 13,000 feet down into hard and extremely hot rock can be a challenge. The company has finally overcome its difficulties, successfully drilling a well into an underground reservoir it created back in 2003.
Energy Connections
2007 Ranks Among the Warmest Years on Record
2007 was either the second-warmest or fifth-warmest year on record for the globe, but regardless of how you rank it, it joins 7 other years among the past 10 as the hottest years on record. That makes the past decade a clear record-breaker in terms of global temperatures.
