DOE: $25 M for Solid State Lighting
The DOE announced that it will allocate $25 million to two Solid-State Lighting (“SSL”) funding opportunities to advance R&D and market adoption of SSL technology. TThis will be the seventh round of such funding that has been awarded in recent years.
Funding is subject to congressional appropriations and will focus on the following:
$15M for core technology projects demonstrating efficiency, performance, and cost targets. Selected projects will fill technology gaps or provide enabling knowledge or data.
$10 million for product development projects using existing technology or research to develop or improve commercially viable materials, devices, or systems, meeting certain performance parameters.
To view the complete SSL Core Technology Research (Round 7) funding opportunity, visit FedConnect, click on "Search Public Opportunities," and search on Reference Number DE-FOA-0000329.
To view the complete SSL Product Development (Round 7) funding opportunity, visit FedConnect, click on "Search Public Opportunities," and search on Reference Number DE-FOA-0000330.
For more information on DOE's Solid State Lighting Program, visit the Solid-State Lighting Web site.
News from the Sustainability Front
My partner Eric Grasberger and I were recently interviewed for an article in the Oregon State Bar Bulletin (October 2009) entitled "Advancing the New Economy: Oregon Lawyers Embrace Sustainability," by Barry Woods. The article, which we've summarized here, provides an interesting take on how lawyers at Stoel Rives and other law firms are integrating concepts of sustainability into their practices, their business and their personal lives. Eric, for example, is a leading green building lawyer and was inpsired by his experience to buy a LEED Gold certified home.
The article prompted Seattle partner Ken Odza to alert me to another sustainability event, which is a little off the topic of Renewable + Law but likely to be of interest to many who follow this Blog Ken, who is a food products litigator at Stoel Rives, has organized a series of three complimentary Webinars entitled "Bringing Environmentally Sustainable Food Products to Market." The first interactive session will discuss "Where to Start? Developing and Financing Sustainable Food Products" and will be held at Noon EDT/9am PST on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. Ken will moderate a panel of experts including Steven Rowe, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Darigold, Inc.; Karen Karp, President, Karp Resources, New York City; Monica Gelinas, Senior Consultant, Karp Resources, New York City; Duff Bryant, Corporate Finance Lawyer, Stoel Rives, Seattle; and Joel Dahlgren, Cooperative Finance Lawyer, Stoel Rives, Minneapolis For more information about these free Webinars, click here.
$52.5 Million for Concentrating Solar Power Research and Development
The U.S. Department of Energy (‘DOE”) today announced plans to provide up to $52.5 million to research, develop, and demonstrate Concentrating Solar Power systems capable of providing electrical power both day and night at low cost. This is a competitive funding opportunity which focuses on:
1. Research and development of concepts and components for a CSP system that enables a plant to produce low-cost electricity at least 18 hours of the day; and
2. Evaluation of the feasibility and development of a prototype complete CSP system capable of operating at least 18 hours per day while generating low-cost power.
The DOE will award money for research and development of solar systems that produce power at least 18 hours a day.Funding depends on continuing annual appropriations. DOE anticipates making up to 13 project awards totaling up to $52.5 million.
SHOW ME THE MONEY: $4.15 Billion Available for Smart Grid Projects
On June 25, 2009, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (“FOA”) to deploy over $4.15 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”) to be used to fund smart grid projects. These funds are being deployed through two FOAs. The first FOA provides $3.4 billion to support the Smart Grid Investment Grant (“SGIG”) program and is related to projects that further one or more smart grid functions as listed in Section 1306(d) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (“EISA”). The second FOA provides $615 million to support the Smart Grid Demonstration Program (“SGDP”) and is related to projects that demonstrate new and more cost-effective smart grid technologies.
For more information, see our latest client alert available by clicking here.
Show Me the Money: Minnesota, South Carolina, and South Dakota State Energy Programs Received $51.4 Million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
On June 24, 2009, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced more than $204 million in ARRA funding to ten states for their State Energy Programs (“SEPs”).
Here is a summary of how the monies will be used in Minnesota, South Carolina and South Dakota:
Minnesota has been awarded $21.7 million in federal stimulus funds for retrofitting existing public buildings and homes, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs and to develop new training opportunities. Minnesota’s SEP will award grants to small, medium, and large businesses to help provide for the design, financing and installation of various energy efficiency improvements and retrofits. The state will also administer grants to work with utilities to develop programs that leverage ARRA funds to promote energy efficiency with customers, such as low-interest loans and grants. After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Minnesota will receive more than $27 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $54 million. This money is in addition to the $132 million the state will receive for weatherization grants for low-income households.
South Carolina has been awarded $20.2 million in federal stimulus funds. South Carolina’s SEP will utilize the funding to provide grants and loans to improve energy efficiency in public school districts, public colleges and universities, and state agencies to reduce the burden of energy bills for taxpayers, while creating jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. South Carolina also intends to provide financial assistance to various industrial, commercial and small business entities to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. This financial assistance, along with education and training programs included in the SEP, will help create clean energy jobs in the state and make business and industry more economically stable. After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive more than $25 million in additional funding, for a total of over $50 million.
South Dakota has been awarded $9.5 million in federal stimulus funds. South Dakota’s SEP will use its funding to support the Energy Efficient Government program and to provide revolving energy loans to state institutions. The programs will promote energy efficiency efforts while reducing energy costs in state owned buildings, which will directly benefit state residents. The state’s energy office will administer the funds, provide technical guidance, and assure accountability and transparency for the state institutions who apply for the two programs. These programs coordinate with South Dakota’s energy goals to promote and encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative fuels. After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive more than $11 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $23 million.
My colleagues have blogged on the other seven states that received funds including: Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Utah, Connecticut, Washington and Arizona.
Show Me the Money: $204 Million for State Energy Programs in 10 States
U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $204 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in ten states, including Washington and Arizona. Under DOE's State Energy Program (“SEP”), states have proposed plans that promote energy savings, create or retain renewable energy jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These ten states have now received 50% of their total SEP funds and will get the remaining 50% provided that they meet reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones.
The Recovery Act appropriates a total of $3.1 billion to the SEP. Eligible categories include energy audits, building retrofits, education and training programs, increased use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles, among others. Besides encouraging technology innovation, DOE intends that the funds be used for activities that promote new jobs and stimulate the local economy.
My colleagues are blogging on the other 8 states that received funds today. Here is a summary of how the monies will be used in Arizona and Washington:
Arizona plans to initiate a series of novel programs aimed at providing support for local renewable energy manufacturers and products. Arizona plans to create a revolving loan program for small business owners who are looking for funds to improve the use of energy or install solar projects at their facilities, and to manufacturers of renewable energy or energy efficiency equipment and technologies. After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Arizona will be granted an additional $27 million, for a total of $55 million.
Washington will use its Recovery Act funds for two major programs: the Community-Wide Urban Residential and Commercial Energy Efficiency Program and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Loans and Grants Program Fund. Under these programs, Washington funds will be allocated to energy efficiency improvements and home weatherization, agricultural energy assessments, green job creation and to the development of a clean energy state policy. After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Washington will receive the other 50% of SEP monies of $30 million for a total of over $60 million.
Show Me the Money: Renewable Energy Financing in the Farm Bill
In an earlier blog, my colleague, Debra Frimerman reported about the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). REAP provides grants and loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems, make energy efficiency improvements and conduct feasibility studies for renewable energy systems.
REAP is a program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the "2008 Farm Bill"). The 2008 Farm Bill also includes numerous other programs to help develop renewable energy in rural areas and promote the production of sustainable feedstocks for renewable energy production. Please see this recent alert for specifics.
President Obama Directs USDA to Promote and Expand Biofuels
On, May 5, 2009, President Obama announced federal efforts to increase investment and use of advanced biofuels. The President signed a Presidential Directive establishing the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, ordering the Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) to implement financing opportunities from the Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (“FCEA”), and announcing additional Recovery Act funds for renewable fuel projects.
The Biofuels Interagency Working Group will be co-chaired by the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Biofuels Interagency Working Group will coordinate existing policies and identify new policies to support the development of sustainable next-generation biofuels production.
President Obama has directed the USDA to immediately begin restructuring existing renewable fuels investments in order to preserve industry employment and develop a comprehensive approach to accelerate the production of American biofuels. Further, the USDA has 30 days to begin deployment of renewable energy financing opportunities from the FCEA. Financing opportunities under the FCEA include loan guarantees and grants for research, development, construction and retrofitting of demonstration and commercial scale biorefineries.
President Obama also announced that $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (for more information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act please see Show Me the Money: The Law of the Stimulus) will be used to expand commercial biorefineries and jumpstart advanced biofuels research and development. The money will be divided as follows:
- $480 million for integrated pilot and demonstration scale biorefinery projects
- $176.5 million for commercial-scale biorefinery projects
- $110 million for fundamental research
- $20 million for ethanol research
Global Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuels
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels last week released Version 0.0 of its “Global Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuels Production.” This diverse group includes representatives from World Wildlife Federation, BP, Bunge, the Dutch Ministry of Housing and the Environment, the Forest Stewardship Council, the University of California at Berkeley and the World Economic Forum. They have been hard at work for the past year establishing an objective framework for enabling a true cost benefit analysis of biofuels that incorporates environmental, economic and social justice criteria. They welcome input into their process and have opened the document for six months of feedback which can be provided via www.bioenergywiki.net
Hopefully, this process will yield substantial success. As an early participant in the US biodiesel industry, I can attest that the benefits of biofuels appeared quite compelling and almost self-evident as compared to conventional petroleum fuel. Those in the industry with a strong interest in environmental issues typically considered corn ethanol and soy biodiesel as transition fuels that would establish the viability of a more diverse transportation energy portfolio by leveraging the existing farm economy. After market entry with these transition fuels, the road would be paved for superior feedstocks as we are witnessing today with cellulosic material, waste feedstock material and even algae.
In retrospect, the Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuels should have been founded a decade ago rather than last year. With an earlier start, such an organization might have achieved great progress in injecting some objective criteria into the “food vs. fuel” debate and propelled the industry in a more sustainable direction. In the absence of these criteria, some of the debaters have used these crucial (and emotional) issues to advance their own agendas and the biofuels industry has lacked the framework to establish its own best practices.
