Energy Literacy Advocates Newsroom
Energy Literacy Advocates (ELA) is a non-partisan, non-profit, public education and advocacy group dedicated to improving the energy literacy of all sectors of our democracy in order to empower a comprehensive national energy policy that is responsible and sustainable. Stay tuned for updated energy news!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saudi Minister Touts $75 As Optimal Price for Oil

Labels: energy sources, oil price, oil supply, oil supply/demand, peak oil, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 12:11 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
US Government Releases Additional $550 Million in Energy Grants

Labels: economy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:56 AM
0 comments
Monday, September 21, 2009
White House Appoints Head of New DOE Agency

Labels: energy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 1:01 PM
0 comments
Thursday, September 17, 2009
New Renewables Project to Evaluate More Viable Biofuel

Labels: biofuels, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:16 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Executive Order Alters CA Renewables Policy Debate
The new mandate means California has the most strict state renewables policy.
Schwarzenegger's stance to lift protectionist measures contrasts that of other states, which have promoted protection of renewable industries within their territory.
For more coverage on this issue, click here.
What do you think - should states protect their renewable energy industries? Or should they broadly encourage renewable protection, regardless of where it comes from?
Labels: electricity, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 2:34 PM
0 comments
Friday, September 11, 2009
Renewable Energy Debate Offers Insights

Labels: electricity, energy sources, environment, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 12:23 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
China Plans Largest Solar Field in the World

First Solar is the largest manufacturer of solar cells, and will partner with China to install the cells in a 25 square mile blanket in Inner Mongolia.
The Chinese government has designated this area within Inner Mongolia as its renewable energy development zone, and hopes to eventually generate 12 gigawatts of renewable energy from solar, wind, biomass and other renewable sources.
The first production from this field, rated to be 30 megawatts, will begin in June 2010.
For more, click here.
Labels: electricity, energy policy, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:17 AM
0 comments
Thursday, September 3, 2009
New Geothermal Project Hits Major Snag
The project represents the first major initiative by the Obama administration to harness geothermal power. AltaRock was awarded $6.25 million in federal funding.
While geothermal energy can yield great results for energy, the process can hit snags like capstone, and geological anomalies. Additionally, studies are often conducted to determine if drilling in areas will increase earthquake risks.
To read more, click here.
Labels: renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 4:02 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
US Commerce Secretary Lays Gauntlet in Energy Race
Locke, along with other Obama administration officials and state governors, warned that China could win the race, taking jobs and business opportunities with it.
Michigan and Wisconsin, states suffering from loss of manufacturing jobs, have received large portions of federal grant money to stimulate new energy industries. Locke encouraged continued investment and business growth in that sector, despite economic uncertainty linked to proposed climate legislation, like the cap and trade measures.
To read more, click here.
Labels: economy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 2:00 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Funding Released for Renewable Energy Projects
Cash grants are awarded to companies pursuing funding for renewable energy projects, particularly in the fields of solar, wind and biomass. The grants are also part of the Obama administration's goal to double renewable energy production in the US over the next three years.
To read more, click here.
Labels: economy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:28 AM
0 comments
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wyoming to Get New Wind Farm

Labels: electricity, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:01 AM
0 comments
Monday, August 24, 2009
International Energy News: Power Europe via the Sahara?
The technology behind Desertec involves collecting energy from solar rays gathered in the Sahara desert and transmitting it via undersea cables to Europe. Supporters are promoting the project's non-carbon footprint and economic benefits for Northern Africa.
The project does face some opposition. Detractors are wary of investment in new technology in an unstable political region, and doubtful that intercontinental transmission of solar energy is more effective and efficient than local photovoltaic production.
To read more, click here.
Labels: climate change, electricity, energy sources, global warming, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 4:41 PM
0 comments
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Energy News from Around the World: Australia OKs Renewable Target

Labels: climate change, electricity, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 1:40 PM
0 comments
Thursday, July 30, 2009
New Federal Loans Released for Renewable Energy
Labels: biofuels, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:51 AM
0 comments
Monday, July 27, 2009
Developments in Alternative Energy: Harnessing the Power of the Sea

Labels: energy, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:40 AM
0 comments
Friday, July 24, 2009
Hydrogen Cars May See Renewed Funding

Labels: energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:26 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Some Big Oil Companies to Experiment with Biofuels

Labels: biofuels, energy sources, oil companies, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:26 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Government Funding Structure Hobbles Investment in Renewables
The ban has the effect of discouraging investment in renewable energy by private equity firms, according to the industry. Up to $10 billion could be at risk.
The grants issued by the federal stimulus bill offered up to 30% of the cost of renewable energy projects.
To read more, click here.
Labels: renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 7:58 AM
0 comments
Friday, July 17, 2009
New Study Evaluates Most Sustainable Renewables

Labels: efficiency, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 12:00 PM
0 comments
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Investment Announcement Signals Shift for "Big Oil"

Labels: energy, energy sources, oil companies, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:55 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Plans for World's Largest Wind Farm Halted

Labels: energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:32 AM
0 comments
Friday, June 26, 2009
American Clean Energy and Security Act Gets Boost from President

Labels: climate change, environment, global warming, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:30 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
New Energy Horizons: Biodiesel Update
MSN serves up a quick synopsis of biodiesel. To learn more, click here!
Labels: efficiency, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:03 AM
0 comments
Friday, June 5, 2009
Renewable Projects Receive Boost from USDA
The USDA announced it is accepting applications for grants and loan guarantees for farmers and rural small businesses. These grants are to install renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency developments and conduct feasibility studies. The funds are directed through Rural Development's Rural Energy for American Program. The maximum grant for renewable energy systems is 25% of eligible project costs.
Expected project enrollments include large and small wind turbines, grain dryers, geothermal systems, energy efficient refrigerators or freezers and methane digesters.
Labels: renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:34 AM
0 comments
Friday, May 29, 2009
New Federal Funding for Alternative Energy Released
"These centers will mobilize the enormous talents and skills of our nation's scientific workforce in pursuit of the breakthroughs that are essential to make alternative and renewable energy truly viable as large-scale replacements for fossil fuels," said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado will receive part of that funding, and will be home to a new multimillion-dollar Energy Frontier Research Center, the U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday. NREL's center is expected to receive $4 million annually for five years.
NREL officials will also participate in research conducted by six other Energy Frontier Research Centers.
Labels: energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:14 AM
0 comments
Friday, May 15, 2009
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Takes Another Step
“We will have the votes for passage of this bill next week,” predicted Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Several compromises have helped the bill reach this point. Revisions in the bill call for a 17 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020 - down from the original 20 percent reduction, but still higher than Obama’s initial target of some 15 percent.
Renewable energy targets have dropped from 17.5 percent by 2020 to 15 percent. The 15 percent target will be combined with a requirement to boost energy efficiency by 5 percent, for a total of 20 percent.
For more coverage on this bill, click here.
Labels: climate change, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:47 AM
0 comments
Thursday, May 14, 2009
U.S. Funding Pulled from Hydrogen Car
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles became a cornerstone of alternative energy funding research during the Bush administration. Obama's administration has embraced a different transportation view, turning instead to hybrid and electric vehicles.
To read more coverage and discussion of this issue in Reuters, click here.
Labels: automakers, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:48 AM
0 comments
Monday, May 4, 2009
Oil Executives Doubtful About Energy Independence
The survey, run by KPMG LLP’s Global Energy Institute, also revealed that a majority believed the U.S. will not be able to mass-produce viable alternative energy until 2015.
“The executives’ perceptions of energy independence mirror their views on the viability of alternatives in the near-term,” Bill Kemble, executive director of the institute, said in a statement.
While these statements may reflect industry bias, they also appear to reflect reality. Net imports of petroleum into the U.S. were about 57 percent of the total consumed last year. If the U.S. remains on projected oil consumption levels, that percentage will only fall to about 40 percent by 2030, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: oil companies, oil supply, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:33 AM
0 comments
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Expansion of Government Funding for Renewables Research
Obama's goal with these funds, Chu said, is to prepare the country to compete economically decades down the road, as well as meet the immediate challenges of climate change and energy demand.
In total, the stimulus package gave $39 billion to the Energy Department. The money is split between in grants, tax breaks and loan guarantees, with much of it going to renewable energy and conservation programs.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: efficiency, energy, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:00 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Next Big Energy Exporter: Kansas?
The study, run by Joint Coordinated Systems, calculated the state's maximum wind potential at 19 gigawatts by 2030 and projected 1 megawatt of power annually each from solar and bio-energy.
The study found tremendous potential to market Kansas energy to places such as Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and Georgia. This alternative energy exportation could create $23 billion in cumulative economic impact and 12,000 jobs from now through 2030.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: energy, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:13 AM
0 comments
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Obama heralds "new era of energy exploration in America" on Earth Day
"The nation that leads the world in creating new energy sources will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy," Obama said.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:26 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
New "Idea" for Transportation Future
Based upon the Rocky Mountain Institute's lightweight hyper-efficient vehicle concept, IDEA will be the name of the plug-in hybrid concept vehicle, due to be unveiled today in Washington, D.C.
The IDEA vehicle will get 100 mpge using a battery pack that is 40 percent smaller than other packs with similar range, with an EV-only range of 30 miles.
According to AutoBlog Green, the Bright Automotive group plans high-volume production of 50,000 units a year for the IDEA, beginning in late 2012.
To visit the Bright Automotive website, click here.
Labels: automakers, efficiency, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 7:17 AM
0 comments
Friday, April 17, 2009
Government Releases New Report on Biofuels
The renewable fuel standard calls for Americans to use 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022, up from the current 9 billion today.
The biofuels report argues that the nation needs to increase the amount of ethanol blended into gasoline, as well as make it easier for biofuels plants and pipelines to get government permits and make it easier to transport ethanol.
To read the full article in the New York Times, click here.
Labels: biofuels, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:08 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The New Frontier in Alternative Energy...From Outer Space?
In the few details revealed from the project, satellites in space will collect and store solar energy. Solar energy will later be beamed to Earth, where it will be collected by a station in Fresno, California. There it will be converted to electricity and distributed out on the power grid.
More details about the project are expected this summer.
Labels: energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:52 AM
0 comments
Friday, April 10, 2009
Corn-Ethanol May Not Be the Root Cause Behind Food Price Woes
While corn-based ethanol may have contributed 10 to 15 percent in the rise of food costs, the CBO said other factors, such as skyrocketing energy costs, had an even greater impact than ethanol on food prices during that period.
Roughly one quarter of corn grown in the United States is now used to produce ethanol, and overall consumption of ethanol in the country hit a record high last year, exceeding 9 billion gallons, according to the CBO. Nearly 3 billion bushels of corn were used to produce ethanol in the United States last year — an increase of almost a billion bushels over 2007.
Yet ethanol's impact on future food prices is uncertain, the report says, because an increased supply of corn has the potential to eventually lower food prices.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: economy, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 7:32 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Ethanol Producer Files for Bankruptcy
Chief Executive Ron Miller said in a statement that the company is challenged by a difficult market environment for an industry that suffers from poor operating margins.
To read an analysis done by The Wall Street Journal, click here.
Labels: economy, energy sources, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:33 AM
0 comments
Friday, April 3, 2009
Largest Public Utility Group Buys Into Renewables
The Tennessee Valley Authority board gave President and CEO Tom Kilgore authority to sign contracts totaling up to 2,000 megawatts of renewable and clean energy by 2011, with some of the power entering TVA's seven-state system as early as 2010.
To read the full article released in the Associated Press, click here.
Labels: economy, energy, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:30 AM
0 comments
Thursday, April 2, 2009
New Google Tool Maps Out Renewable Energy Conflict
The tool, available on Google Earth, shows renewable-power developers areas which are amenable or not recommended by pulling together maps of endangered species habitats, national parks and other forms of protected land. Areas not recommended for development are highlighted.
Find the new ecological Google Earth mapping tool at www.nrdc.org/PathtoGreenEnergy.
Labels: environment, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:31 AM
0 comments
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tesla Motors Unveils Plans for All-Electric Passenger Car
Tesla also plans to open a dealership in Chicago soon, the first of a seven this year. The Windy City showroom will be Tesla’s third and the first outside of the company’s home state of California.
Tesla burst onto the alternative vehicle scene and became famous for its high-performance, all-electric sports car, the Roadster.
To read the full article in Scientific American, click here.
Labels: automakers, energy, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:26 AM
0 comments
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Largest Independent Oil Refiner Buys Up Ethanol Plants
The purchase comes as a boost for the ethanol market. VeraSun filed for Chaper 11 bankruptcy in the fall of 2008, amidst economic woes. Valero plans for the plants include using the ethanol produced there to blend with traditional gasoline, satisfying the 10 percent blend requirement.
The Valero purchase of an ethanol plant is the first in the U.S. by a traditional refiner, pumping cash into the industry at a time of tight credit. It also signals a new alignment of traditional and renewable energy industries.
Given the economic travails facing renewable energy industries, the ethanol industry is additionally pressing the Obama administration to raise the 10 percent blend limit in most gasoline blends to as high as 15 percent to bolster demand for biofuels.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: biofuels, economy, oil companies, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 7:34 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Offshore Energy Regulation Settled
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar expressed relief at the settlement, which had threatened to entangle prospective renewable energy projects.
The FERC will have the primary responsibility to manage the licensing of wind, tidal and ocean current projects.
To read the full article in the Washington Post, click here.
Labels: energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:10 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 16, 2009
Saudi Oil Minister Advocates the Critical State of Fossil Fuels
These comments came after the latest OPEC meeting, where members agreed to hold production steady, given the tenuous state of the world economy.
In extolling the continued need for, and reliance upon, fossil fuels, Naimi additionally accentuated the issue of lagging technology in alternative fuels. "... there is no excuse to pin our hopes only on alternatives which today are just supplemental energies," he said. "Our immediate focus, then, must be to make fossil fuels cleaner and more efficient."
To read the full article in Reuters, click here.
Labels: energy, oil price, oil supply/demand, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:31 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 9, 2009
"New" Energy Faces Recession
Despite the $94.1 billion contained in the U.S. stimulus plan for "new" energy sources, industry consensus is that the infusion of public money will work only if alternative energy groups can also get private investment.
While measures like a cap-and-trade program on emissions, or a gas tax, would help spur on the renewable energy industries, the resultant increase in energy costs to the public might be untenable given the current economic environment.
To read the full Wall Street Journal report, click here.
Labels: economy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 7:18 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
EPA Issues Most Energy Efficient City Rankings
Los Angeles currently has 262 Energy Star ranked buildings. To be awarded the Energy Star designation, buildings must use at least 35% less energy than average buildings and emit 35% less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
San Francisco came in second in the country. Rounding out the top 10 in 2008 were Houston; Washington; Dallas-Fort Worth; Chicago; Denver; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Atlanta; and Seattle.
Labels: environment, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:36 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 2, 2009
USDA Signals Support for Domestic Biofuels
Vilsack also highlighted the cooperation between the USDA and the Department of Energy to forward research efforts and identify new feedstocks for biofuels. The two agencies are parterning in hopes to identify valuable fuel stocks which can alleviate the pressue on foodstocks. Last year, corn-based ethanol received heightened scrutiny, as it drove up food prices and presented ethical debates on food versus fuel production.
“My view is that we have the capacity and the ability to do both and need to do both. If we’re to meet the President’s instruction that he wants more energy production out of our farm fields and ranches, and if we are going to turn this economy around and become less reliant on fossil fuels, we’ve got to create more biofuel,” Vilsack remarked.
To read the entire article, click here.
Labels: biofuels, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:12 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Energy Crops Up in Obama's Speech
Obama touted "renewable energy investment as part of the 'foundation of lasting prosperity' and blasted past energy policy as an underlying factor behind the nation's economic woes."
"We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy," Obama said. "Yet we import more oil today than ever before."
The emphasis placed on developing alternative and renewable energy signals that, despite economic woes, Obama's team plans to move on the energy policy front.
To read the full article in The New York Times, click here.
Labels: energy policy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:57 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
T Boone Pickens in the Chicago Tribune
Pickens issued three imperatives:
•Build a more reliable and efficient electrical transmission grid to meet the demand for clean, renewable electricity.
•Develop "smart-grid" technologies that will save consumers money.
•Reduce our foreign-oil dependency and develop a clean, alternative transportation fuel infrastructure.
To read the full article in the Tribune, click here.
Labels: energy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:40 AM
0 comments
Monday, February 23, 2009
Partnerships in Renewable Energy: Israel & U.S.
Unique projects in the Israel agreement include cooperation with the first company in the world utilizing flue gas from coal burning power stations for algae cultivation, to produce biofuels. Israel is a leader on several renewable fronts, with the country projecting 20% of its energy will be solar generated by 2010.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:06 AM
0 comments
Friday, February 20, 2009
Framing the Peak Energy Debate
"Will we continue to use fossil fuels to the detriment of our planet and the human population? Or can we clean up our act in time to avoid calamitous change? That's the dilemma the world currently faces, yet in spite of efforts to transition to alterative energy sources, projections show that annual fossil fuel demand is likely to increase 45 per cent by 2030."
While focusing on the relationship between fossil fuel consumption and the climate, Kleiner also highlights the lack of information in the public domain, leading - in some experts' opionions - to the deepening of the energy crisis.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: climate change, energy, global warming, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 12:54 PM
0 comments
Monday, February 16, 2009
Renewable Energy Developments to Expand in UK
Britain generates about three gigawatts of energy from wind farms, enough to power more than 1.5 million homes. The government estimates the UK will need to generate about 28 gigawatts in this way to hit the 2020 target.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: energy, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:35 AM
0 comments
Friday, February 13, 2009
Stimulus Compromise Bill Contains Renewable Measures
Additionally, the bill slates $6 billion in loan guarantees for renewable energy projects such as wind or solar energy development.
This compromise version is under final debate in both the House and Senate.
To read a more in-depth report about renewable provisions within the bill, and some projected outcomes of the bill's impact, click here.
Labels: economy, election 2008, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:06 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Advancements in Our Energy Future: California Nears Deal on Solar Thermal Power
The deal represents a bright spot for the renewable energy industry, which has been pinched due to the economic downturn and the drop in the cost of oil.
Solar-thermal power uses heat from the sun to create steam to spin electric turbines, thus generating electricity for consumers.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: energy, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 1:17 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
L A Times: "Promise and Peril" of Energy Transition
"The stakes are high. If Obama succeeds, he could spark a domestic jobs boom and lead an international fight against climate change. If he fails, he could cripple existing industries and squeeze cash-strapped Americans with higher energy prices."
Comparing the efforts to transition America away from imported oil to the Manhattan Project and moon shot combined, the article offers an interesting comparison of the policy efforts to fast-track alternative energy in the U.S.
To read the article, click here.
Labels: election 2008, energy policy, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 12:14 PM
0 comments
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wind Power Gained in 2008; US Surpasses Germany
New wind farms have generated over 27,000 MW of electricity. Global wind energy capacity grew by 28.8% last year, even higher than the average over the past decade, to reach total global installations of more than 120.8 GW at the end of 2008. Over 27 GW of new wind power generation capacity came online in 2008, 36% more than in 2007.
The United States overtook Germany as the world's green superpower by installing 8,358 MW in 2008, a 50% increase over the previous year. 8,000 MW is enough wind energy to power two million homes in the US.
Additionally, renewables experts continue to watch China, as the nation doubled its green power output in 2008.
To read the full article on MSNBC, click here.
Labels: economy, efficiency, energy, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:06 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Stimulus Plan Predicted to Bolster Green Energy
Short term projects include funds to "weatherize" 2 million homes by improving things such as insulation and leaky windows, while also improving the efficiency of 75 percent of federal buildings. Another provision would pay for 3,000 miles of transmission lines to move electricity from wind farms and solar installations, many in the West and Southwest, to consumers in the rest of the country.
Finally, additional funds channeled to green energy industry are expected to put 460,000 Americans to work on energy projects and double the amount of alternative energy produced over the next three years.
To read the full NPR article, click here.
Labels: efficiency, energy, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:27 AM
0 comments
Friday, January 23, 2009
Energy Attachment to Stimulus Bill Clears House Panel
Other measures, like spending for power lines, efficiency projects, and a program to insulate low-income homes, are also included. Additionally, the measure would provide $8.4 billion in renewable energy loan guarantees, renewing and extending some existing programs.
The energy provision is a portion of the $825 billion economic stimulus measure. The broader legislation includes $550 billion in new government spending and $275 billion in tax cuts.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: efficiency, energy policy, energy sources, environment, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:25 AM
0 comments
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Mexico Inaugurates Renewable Energy Expansion
According to the Associated Press release, the winds that blow across the chosen site, a narrow isthmus between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, run between 25 to 36 kph (15 to 22 mph), a near-ideal rate for turbines.
One of the project partners, Spanish energy company Acciona Energia says the 2,500-hectare (6,180-acre) farm should generate 250 megawatts of electricity with 167 turbines, 25 of which are already operating.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 2:24 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama Reaffirms Commitment to Energy at Inaugural
President Barack Obama reaffirmed his commitment to revamping America's energy policy during his inaugural message. The newly elected president emphasized America's legacy of determination and responsibility in confronting a myriad of crises.
Obama cited energy as part of the current crisis, remarking that "each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."
Citing the aggressive application of renewables in America's new energy portfolio, Obama said "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."
To access the full text of President Barack Obama's inaugural speech, courtesy of ABC News, please click here.
Labels: election 2008, energy policy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 11:43 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sign of the Times: UAE Takes a Green Stance
According to the Associate Press, the United Arab Emirates are making strong pledges toward renewable energy use. The head of a green-energy project in Abu Dhabi says the oil-rich emirate plans to generate 7 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020.
Sultan al-Jaber says the initiative will create a renewable energy market worth $6 billion to $8 billion in Abu Dhabi.
Most, if not all, of the energy will come from solar power, another official involved with the project says.
To read the Associated Press release, click here.
Labels: oil companies, oil price, oil supply/demand, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:23 AM
0 comments
Friday, January 16, 2009
Nominee Salazar Touts Energy Agenda as Secretary of the Interior
Salazar emphasized the need for a balanced yet innovative approach to energy issues, promising to consider numerous options for energy independence, including offshore oil drilling and, under the right conditions, oil shale development on government lands.
While offering moderation on points like offshore drilling, Salazar emphasized his aggressive stance on energy independence for America. Renewable energy development -- a cause he championed as senator -- remains a main goal for Salazar, who also promised a balanced approach to energy and land-use policy.
Labels: election 2008, energy policy, energy sources, environment, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:29 AM
0 comments
Plans for 'Green' Infrastructure Could Take a Backseat
To reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, Obama has pledged to invest in green infrastructure, including a national electric grid and high-speed rail lines. According to the LA Times, at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Obama's Energy secretary nominee, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, said a nationwide grid would be "in the national interest" and said the country needed a "new way of doing business" to get it built quickly.
Besides economic road blocks, the infrastructure package also faces a lack of pre-planning and conflict over land rights. Still, proponents are hopeful that the plans will reappear in a bill later this year.
To read more about Obama's green infrastructure proposal, click here.
Labels: economy, energy, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:20 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 12, 2009
Analyzing Popular Consumption of Renewable Energy: New York Times and NREL Reports
Among trends revealed in the report are that decisions to buy green power for homeowners are founded upon an “emotional” response or commitment, where corporate America opts for green power as a business decision. Additionally, green power may be more expensive than traditional utilities for now, but for businesses it offers a key advantage: the ability to predict the price of electricity.
To access the full NREL and Applied Materials report, click here.
To read the New York Times article and summary of these findings, click here.
Labels: economy, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:35 AM
0 comments
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Practical Applications in Our New Energy Future: Continental Runs Biofuel-Powered Flight
"HOUSTON (AP) - Continental Airlines is the first U.S. commercial carrier to conduct a demonstration flight powered in part by alternative fuels.
The Houston-based company, the nation's fourth-largest airline, made the flight Wednesday with a Boeing 737-800 that left from Bush Intercontinental Airport, its large hub. The flight was expected to last about two hours and return to the airport around 3 p.m. EST.
Continental chairman and chief executive Larry Kellner said the goal of Wednesday's flight was to analyze technical aspects of using biofuels, including effects on the plane's engines. But he and others acknowledged it's likely several years, a decade perhaps, before biofuels make up a significant percentage of the fuel used by Continental and other major carriers."
Labels: biofuels, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:41 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New Creative Measures to Aid Energy Efficiency Projects
New projects, like the Sustainable Energy Financing District run by Berkley, California, designate neighborhoods and offer low-interest loans to complete efficiency or renewable energy projects.
Utility companies are also getting into the game. Through an addition to their utility or property tax bills, borrowers can repay loans over 20 or 30 years — typically with the money earned through energy savings or sales back to the grid.
To read the full New York Times feature, click here.
Labels: renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:38 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Lost Generation: Are the Big Three Automakers Failing to Capture New Audience Share?
Attributing the bulk of that lost confidence to the failure of "The Big Three" to innovate and deliver alternative fuel and high efficiency products, the authors postulate that "To secure Millenials’ support, however, the domestic automobile industry needs to be seen as a contributor in ending America’s dependence on foreign oil and improving our environment. Not only would such an approach assure the industry’s future profitability, it would also remake its image in a way that will appeal to both their future customers and the politicians they support."
To access the article, click here.
Labels: automakers, economy, efficiency, oil price, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 10:10 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Year in Review: Bumpy Road to Market for Renewables
Fairing best in 2008, wind and solar companies will enjoy extended benefits in 2009, thanks to an extension package tied to the $700 billion Congressional financial bailout. The real economic squeeze has caught biofuel companies, particularly those with publicly traded stocks, which lost up to 95% of their value in 2008.
Despite a sober market forecast, renewable companies continue to enjoy set market shares for 2009, due to government mandates on renewable energy usage. Joseph Muscat, Ernst & Young's Americas director of cleantech and venture capital, predicts that clean energy and renewables will be the first economic segment to experience significant rebound.
To read the full Associated Press synopsis, click here.
Labels: biofuels, economy, energy, renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 8:12 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Radical Change in Energy Department Predicted
Currently, the bulk of the $24 billion Deparment budget goes to mitigating issues surrounding nuclear weapons: maintaining the nation's nuclear weapons stockpiles, cleaning up sites used to produce those weapons, or dealing with non-proliferation issues. Only $4 billion is allocated for energy research and development, with only $650 million put towards renewable fuels.
While its role in supervising nuclear affairs will never be abandoned, the new agency is likely to reverse current spending trends, expanding the R&D budget, with particular focus on renewable fuels, while also focusing on greater conservation efforts. Additional agenda items will likely be laying out a role for the Department in curtailing greenhouse gas emissions.
To read the full article, click here.
Labels: biofuels, election 2008, energy policy, energy sources, renewables, u.s. energy policy
posted by Amanda Voss at 9:44 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
A Green Remake for the Great Race
This year, on its hundredth anniversary, the race highlights green technology vehicles powered by renewable energy or achieving hyper fuel efficiency. Early entries include a Ford prototype vehicle, a production hybrid-electric model, and a 1967 Aston Martin DB-6 Vantage, running on ethanol-85. For more on the race, entry guidelines and competitors, click here.
Find the full article on page 24 in the May 2008 edition of Automobile magazine (Vol. 23, No. 2).
Labels: renewables
posted by Amanda Voss at 2:41 PM
0 comments
Thursday, February 7, 2008
What Washington Can Learn From Montana
Read the article here.
Labels: energy policy, environment, oil prices, renewables
posted by Jamie Lang at 3:47 PM
0 comments

