EERE Network News
June 24, 2009
News and Events
Clean Energy Emphasized at the Americas Energy and Climate Symposium
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new Low Carbon Communities Program for nations throughout the Americas at a mid-June meeting of energy ministers and other government leaders in Peru. Several nations in the Americas are also establishing regional centers to promote clean energy.
DOE Awards $8 Billion in Loans for Advanced Vehicle Technologies
DOE has released its first Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loans to Ford, Nissan, and Tesla. The loans will help Ford convert factories in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio to produce fuel-efficient cars, while Nissan and Tesla will manufacture electric vehicles in Tennessee and California, respectively.
DOE Delivers $453 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Weatherization
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia received more than $453 million in Recovery Act funds on June 18, allowing those states to dramatically expand their weatherization assistance programs. The funds will go toward energy efficiency upgrades of the homes of 165,000 low-income families.
DOE Awards $49 Million for Clean Energy in Michigan and Iowa
DOE is awarding more than $49 million in Recovery Act funds to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Michigan and Iowa, as part of DOE's State Energy Program. The two states have now received half of the Recovery Act funds available to them under the program.
Offshore Wind Power Leases Issued for Delaware and New Jersey Coasts
The U.S. Department of the Interior has officially started to issue leases for offshore wind power, as the agency issued its first five exploratory leases on June 23. The leases will allow for data collection at five proposed wind power sites off the shores of Delaware and New Jersey.
Report: Demand Response Could Cut U.S. Peak Power Demand by 20%
Despite a constant projected growth in electricity use over the next decade, the peak power demand in the United States could be held essentially steady, according to a new report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Achieving that feat would involve the widespread use of "smart" meters and utility rates that go up with increasing demand.
Energy Connections
Copenhagen Report: "Climate Inaction is Inexcusable"
A new summary report on climate science warns that sea levels are projected to rise a meter by 2100, the ocean is warming faster than expected, and natural carbon sinks are becoming less effective. But addressing the problem is not out of reach, if the world acts now to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
