EERE Network News
April 15, 2009
News and Events
U.S. Government Accelerates its Purchase of Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
The U.S. General Services Administration will draw on $285 million in economic stimulus funds to purchase 17,600 new, fuel-efficient vehicles by June 1. The purchase will help U.S. automakers while allowing the federal government to reduce its use of gasoline.
DOE Launches the Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance
DOE has drawn together a voluntary partnership of commercial real estate owners and operators that will work to reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings. The Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance will act as a national forum to share best practices in energy efficiency.
Architect Group Names Top Ten Green Buildings for 2009
This year's top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green building design are located in six U.S. states, plus Victoria, British Columbia, and Beirut, Lebanon. The buildings combine energy-saving strategies with onsite energy sources, including solar, wind, and biomass energy.
FERC, Interior Department Sign Agreement on Offshore Renewable Energy
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the U.S. Department of the Interior have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that spells out how the two agencies will work cooperatively to lease and license renewable energy projects on the U.S. outer continental shelf.
U.S. Wind Power Industry Increases Employment by 70% in One Year
With the addition of 10 new U.S. manufacturing plants in the past year and the expansion of 17 existing facilities, the U.S. wind power industry now directly employs 35,000 more people than it did a year ago. With 30 new manufacturing plants on the drawing boards, that number is only expected to increase.
Mercedes-Benz Offers Hybrid with Lithium-Ion Battery at a $12K Premium
Mercedes-Benz is selling a hybrid vehicle in Germany at a premium of $12,156, even though it uses a lithium-ion battery pack to store its energy. That's not terrifically higher than the premium charged for some U.S.-built hybrids, which employ standard nickel-metal-hydride battery packs.
Energy Connections
EIA Expects Gasoline Prices to Rise Moderately by Summer
Families in the United States that plan to hit the road this summer should expect to pay around $2.23 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). That's about $1.60 less per gallon than we were paying last summer.
