EERE Network News
January 05, 2011
News and Events
President Obama Signs Bill Extending Energy Efficiency, Renewable Provisions
President Obama has signed a bill that temporarily extends for one year various energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives. A key portion is Section 1603 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides cash assistance to energy producers in place of tax credits.
DOE Makes $184 Million Available for Advanced Vehicle Research
DOE has announced that it is accepting applications for up to $184 million to accelerate the development and deployment of new efficient vehicle technologies.
DOE Intends to Fund $50 Million in Cost-Competitive Solar Energy Technologies
To develop cost-competitive solar technologies, DOE intends to fund up to $50 million in testing and demonstrations.
DOE and DOI Propose Solar Energy Zones in Six Western States
DOE and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) have announced a comprehensive environmental analysis that identifies proposed "solar energy zones" on public lands in six Western states that are most suitable for environmentally sound, utility-scale solar energy production.
EPA, Corps of Engineers Grant Permits for Cape Wind Project
Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have granted permits for the Cape Wind project, a proposed 130-turbine wind farm in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts.
DOE Finalizes Two Loan Guarantees for Giant Renewable Projects
DOE has finalized partial loan guarantees for two major renewable projects: the $1.3 billion, 845-megawatt Caithness Shepherds Flat wind farm in eastern Oregon and Abengoa Solar Inc.'s $1.45 billion, 250-megawatt Solana solar project in Arizona.
DOE Guarantees $17 Million Loan for New York Energy Storage System
DOE has finalized a $17.1 million loan guarantee using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the AES Westover facility in upstate New York, site of the first battery-based energy storage project to get the DOE loan guarantee.
California Board Green Lights Cap-and-Trade Program
The California Air Resources Board has endorsed a cap-and-trade regulation, marking a significant milestone toward reducing California's greenhouse gas emissions under its Assembly Bill 32, Global Warming Solutions law.
Energy Connections
EIA: U.S. Power Grid to Rely More on Renewable Energy, Natural Gas by 2035
Federal tax credits and state requirements will help renewable energy gain a growing share of U.S. power production over the next 24 years, according to a new report from DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Also, producing more natural gas from shale will spur growth in that resource.
