DOE Hosts First Energy Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee Meeting
December 01, 2010
United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu welcomed 20 members of the Efficiency and Renewables Advisory Committee (ERAC) to U.S. Department of Energy headquarters yesterday for the group’s first meeting. Formed to provide formal review and input on the direction of DOE’s clean energy portfolio of projects and initiatives to the Secretary of Energy, ERAC includes clean energy leaders from a variety of fields, including: academia, local government, venture capital, project developers, and utilities. Relying on their experience in energy, environment, and technology development, the group will help the Department identify and address challenges to clean energy deployment and market acceptance, including focusing on research and development projects, project finance approaches, and long-term strategies. The Committee also welcomed its newest member: Mayor of the City of Philadelphia Michael Nutter.
The Federal Advisory Committee process allows the Department and its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to formally engage the private sector to solicit the best available advice on a wide variety of issues relating to EERE’s portfolio. The full committee will meet at least twice per year, while smaller working groups and subcommittees will meet more frequently. Working groups and subcommittees report directly to the full committee, which has the responsibility of submitting findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the Department.
Mayor Michael Nutter has now also joined the Committee. As Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter has spearheaded clean energy deployment projects, including a successful LED municipal lighting initiative. The City of Philadelphia’s Navy Yard has also been selected by the DOE as the site for the Building Technologies Innovation Hub, where a multi-disciplinary team from across the region will be working to identify, develop, and spur adoption of innovative and energy saving technologies for new and existing buildings.
Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. For more information on the Committee and its activities, visit the ERAC Web site.
