EERE Network News
August 19, 2009
News and Events
Treasury, DOE Offer $2.3 Billion in Tax Credits for Energy Manufacturers
DOE and the U.S. Department of the Treasury have launched a new program to award $2.3 billion in tax credits to manufacturers of equipment for clean energy systems.
DOE Funds Clean Energy Projects on Tribal Lands and in Alaskan Villages
DOE will award of up to $13.6 million in multi-year funding to 36 Native American tribes and Alaskan villages for new clean energy projects. The awards will advance renewable energy installations and energy efficiency projects on tribal lands.
DOE Awards $119 Million to Five States, D.C., and American Samoa
DOE has delivered more than $119 million in Recovery Act funds to American Samoa, the District of Columbia, and the states of Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota, and Wyoming for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
DOE Delivers $66 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Weatherization
DOE delivered more than $66 million in Recovery Act funds to Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, and Hawaii on August 13, allowing those states to expand their weatherization assistance programs. The programs improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families.
First Commercial U.S. Solar Power Tower Launched by eSolar
The first U.S. commercial facility employing "power tower" technology was unveiled in early August in California. The facility employs a field of mirrors to concentrate the sun's heat onto a receiver, which is mounted at the top of a central tower.
U.S. Wind Power Industry Fights Headwinds in Second Quarter
U.S. wind power capacity continued to grow in the second quarter of 2009, but at a slower rate than in the first quarter. And with a slowdown in wind turbine manufacturing, companies supplying parts for wind turbines have put a freeze on hiring and have even furloughed workers.
Energy Connections
Hurricane Season Off to Late Start, Expected to be Below Normal
After a quiet June and July, three tropical storms emerged in the Atlantic basin in mid-August, with one hitting the Florida panhandle and another expected to build to a Category 3 hurricane. Despite the sudden flurry of activity, the current Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be below normal.
