EERE Network News
December 09, 2009
News and Events
President Obama Proposes Home Energy Retrofit Program for Job Creation
President Obama has proposed a new program to reward homeowners with rebates for making their houses more energy efficient. At the same time, the president called for additional federal investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
DOE and USDA Award $564 Million to Biorefinery Projects
Seeking to spur the biomass industry, DOE and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are awarding $564 million in Recovery Act funds to 19 biorefinery projects in 15 states. The efforts, including advanced biofuels, bioproducts, and power from biomass feedstocks, will also get $700 million in private and non-federal funds.
DOE Launches Save Energy Now LEADER Program with 32 Companies
DOE has combined with 32 leading industrial companies to kick off the Save Energy Now LEADER Program, a voluntary effort under which the charter members pledged to make significant improvements in industrial energy efficiency over the next decade.
ARPA-E Offers $100 Million for Biofuel and Battery Research Projects
DOE is tapping Recovery Act funds for its second round of grants under the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E. This round focuses on new approaches to biofuels and electric vehicle batteries, as well as carbon capture technologies.
Commerce Department to Speed Review of Green Technology Patents
The U.S. Commerce Department has begun a one-year pilot program to accelerate the review process for patents related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other environmental technologies. The pilot program will apply to the first 3,000 applications for which a petition is filed.
DOE to Prohibit Energy Star Labels on Certain LG Refrigerators
DOE has banned certain LG French-door refrigerator-freezers from using the Energy Star label, effective on January 2, 2010. The action came after independent labs determined that these models were not meeting the voluntary Energy Star standards for energy efficiency.
Energy Connections
EIA: U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Decreased by 2.2% in 2008
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) has found that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions dropped 2.2% in 2008 and are likely to drop even more in 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared greenhouse gases as a pollutant, just in time for international negotiations in Copenhagen.
