EERE Network News
July 01, 2009
News and Events
DOE Sets New Lighting Standards and Invests in Efficient Buildings
President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced new energy efficiency standards for lighting on June 29, as well as DOE's investment of $346 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to develop and deploy energy-efficient technologies in buildings.
President Obama Approves the Billion-Dollar "Cash for Clunkers" Act
If your gas-guzzling vehicle is on its last leg, but you've been putting off buying a new, more fuel-efficient car, new federal rebates of up to $4,500 might be the incentive you need to head to your local dealer. That's the thought behind a new federal program that runs from July 1 to October 31, or until the money runs out.
DOE Awards $454 Million for Clean Energy in 18 States
The states of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington. and West Virginia have received $454 million in Recovery Act funds through DOE's State Energy Program.
DOE Delivers $304 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Weatherization
DOE has delivered more than $304 million in Recovery Act funds to Georgia, Illinois, and New York, allowing those states to improve the energy efficiency of 85,000 homes of families with low incomes.
DOE Offers $32 Million to Upgrade Existing Hydropower Facilities
Hydroelectric power plants throughout the United States are producing power with outdated technology, providing an opportunity to increase power production while enhancing the environmental performance of the hydropower facilities. DOE is offering $32 million in Recovery Act funds to help make that happen.
Interior Department Expedites Solar Energy Development in the West
The Interior Department has identified 24 large tracts of public land that could potentially host utility-scale solar power plants. The agency is studying the environmental and resource suitability of the tracts, located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, with the intent to speed the development of solar power facilities in the West.
Labor Department Offers $500 Million for Clean Energy Job Training
The U.S. Department of Labor has released five solicitations for grants that will improve and expand the training opportunities for people seeking work in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The application due dates for the grants run from August through October.
Energy Connections
BP: Developing World Now Consumes More Energy than Developed Countries
While energy consumption for the United States contracted by 2.8% in 2008, China increased its energy use by 7.2%, tipping the scales for energy consumption toward developing countries for the first time. That's just one of the conclusions of the 2009 BP Statistical Review of World Energy, released on June 10.
