EERE Network News

February 09, 2011

News and Events

DOE, Department of Interior Announce Offshore Wind Initiatives

DOE and the U.S. Department of the Interior have unveiled a coordinated strategic plan to accelerate the development of offshore wind energy, including new funding opportunities for up to $50.5 million.

President Sets Better Buildings Initiative for Energy Efficiency

Following his call in his State of the Union for clean energy advances, President Obama has proposed a "Better Buildings Initiative" to make commercial buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade.

DOE's SunShot Seeks Cost-Competitive Solar Energy by 2020

DOE has announced additional details of its new "SunShot Initiative," which aims to reduce the total costs of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy systems by about 75% before the end of the decade so that PV systems are cost competitive with other forms of energy.

DOE Invests $27 Million in U.S. Solar Manufacturing and Advanced PV

As part of DOE's "SunShot" initiative, the agency has announced that it is investing up to $20.3 million in projects to strengthen the U.S. solar manufacturing industry, improve manufacturing efficiencies, and reduce costs. DOE has also awarded $7 million in photovoltaic incubator program funding.

Market-Driven High-Efficiency Commercial Air Conditioners Boosted

DOE has joined with the private sector to support market-based efforts to develop and deploy next-generation high-efficiency air conditioners for commercial buildings.

DOE Offers Loan Guarantee to Boost Advanced Biofuels

DOE has announced a conditional commitment to Diamond Green Diesel, LLC, for a $241 million loan guarantee. The guarantee will support the proposed joint venture to build a 137-million gallon per year renewable diesel facility in Louisiana.

Energy Connections

WWF: Clean Energy Could Meet Most Global Energy Needs by 2050

A concerted world effort to use energy efficiently and to shift to electric energy technologies powered primarily by renewable energy could wean the world off its use of most fossil and nuclear fuels by 2050, according to a new report from WWF.