Tag: energy efficiency

California State Senators Announce Legislation To Support Clean Energy and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Yesterday, California legislators publicly announced a suite of bills to push forward the state’s ambitious clean energy and carbon reduction goals.  California Climate Leadership, a coalition of state senators, including Kevin De León, Ben Hueso, Mark Leno, Fran Pavley, and Bob Wieckowski, discussed the legislation at a press conference shown here.  SB 350, SB 185, … Continue Reading

New Report Ranks Power Utilities by Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Performance

In a first-of-its-kind report announced this morning, Ceres and Clean Edge ranked the nation’s largest electric utilities and local subsidiaries on their renewable energy sales and energy efficiency savings. The report focused on three clean energy indicators: renewable energy sales; cumulative annual energy efficiency; and incremental annual energy efficiency.… Continue Reading

Qualification and Application Checklist for New DOE Loan Guarantee Solicitation for Renewable Energy and Efficiency Projects

Late last week, the United States Dept. of Energy (“DOE”) Loan Program Office issued a final solicitation for projects seeking loan guarantees titled “Federal Loan Guarantees for Renewable Energy Projects and Efficient Energy Projects.”  Issued under the DOE’s Section 1703 Loan Program (named for Section 1703 of Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of … Continue Reading

Upcoming Energy Efficiency Conference in Portland

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB), in partnership with the Univeristy of Oregon School of Law, will be presenting its 2nd Annual Policy conference on Energy Efficiency: The Next Generation on Friday, October 26, 2012, at the University of Oregon’s White Stag Block (70 NW Couch Street).  The all-day conference will focus on energy efficiency in the … Continue Reading

LEED Avoids Class Action, Energy Savings Claim Left Untested

There’s big news in the battle between consultants in the green building industry and the U.S. Green Building Council (“USGBC”). Following almost a year of litigation, it appears that the USGBC may have defeated a $100 million class action lawsuit brought by engineers and designers, according to a court order issued last week. The plaintiffs’ complaint filed … Continue Reading

Utah Energy Initiative Task Force Issues Draft Plan

On June 8, 2010, Utah Governor Gary Herbert launched a formal planning process for the Utah Energy Initiative.  Over the past several months the members of the Utah Energy Initiative Task Force and various subcommittees have conducted public hearings and a series of meetings to gather input for purposes of drafting a 10-year strategic energy plan.  … Continue Reading

Smart Grid Oregon Announces Its First Policy Conference–November 9, 2010

Following on the heels of a September 2010 report by GTM Research forecasting that the smart grid market in the U.S. will grow more than 70%, from $5.6 billion in 2010 to $9.6 billion by 2015, Smart Grid Oregon today announced the new organization’s first conference to be held on November 9, 2010 at the … Continue Reading

Show Me the Money (and the Light): $37 Million for Solid State Lighting

  The Department of Energy today announced the award of more than $37 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to 17 projects supporting solid-state lighting core research, product development, and domestic manufacturing. Solid-state lighting, which uses light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) and organic light-emitting diodes (“OLEDs”) instead of incandescent bulbs, has the potential to be ten … Continue Reading

Show Me the Money: $47 Million for Efficiency in IT & Communications

  Today Energy Secretary  Chu announced that the Department of Energy will award $47 million for 14 nation-wide projects  that will support the development of new technologies improving energy efficiency in the information technology (IT) and communications sectors – specifically, data processing, data storage, and telecommunications industries. The increase in energy consumption in these sectors is a direct corollary … Continue Reading

Show Me the Money: $454 Million in Energy Efficiency Retrofits

  The Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced a new $390 million energy upgrade program under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (“EECBG”) Program that could save $100 million annually in utility bills. DOE is looking for community-scale retrofit projects that will have a significant, long-lasting impact on energy consumption and which can be replicated in … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: Washington State Issues Final Guidance for Competitive Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides $3.2 billion for energy efficiency and conservation block grants. Most of this money has been allocated directly to various local governments. Washington has an additional $6.4 million available through a competitive grant program. Washington’s competitive grant program is administered through its Department of Commerce. Today, the Department of Commerce has announced … Continue Reading

Show Me the Money: State Energy Programs for Seven States and Territories Awarded $119 Million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“Recovery Act”)

On August 14, 2009, the Department of Energy ("DOE") State Energy Program ("SEP") announced that more than $119 million in funding from the Recovery Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects has been awarded to Alabama, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota and Wyoming. Here is a summary of how the … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: $66 Million for State Weatherization Assistance Programs

Today, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced more than $66 million in Recovery Act funding to four states for their weatherization assistance programs. The funding will help weatherize over 26,000 homes, lower energy costs, reduce pollution, and create green jobs across the country. Here is how the funds will be used in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut and … Continue Reading

$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 … Continue Reading

Show Me the Money:$300 Million Rebate for Purchases of Energy Efficient Appliances

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run rebate programs for consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR® qualified home appliances.   The new funding will be awarded according to a formula to states and territories that … Continue Reading

Show me the Money: $7.5 Million Available to Develop Commercial Energy Efficiency Training Programs

On June 26, 2009, the Department of Energy ("DOE") released a funding opportunity announcement ("FOA") to deploy $7.5 million in Recovery Act funds to further its goals of reducing energy consumption and achieving net zero-energy buildings (defined as buildings that produce as much energy as they consume).  In order to reach these goals, DOE recognizes that a … Continue Reading

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 … Continue Reading

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 … Continue Reading

Apply Now for REAP Grants and Loan Guarantees

The USDA announced today that it is accepting applications under 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 funds are available in the following amounts: Grants for … Continue Reading

Governor Kulongoski’s Climate Change Agenda Unveiled

Earlier this week, I attended Climate Solutions’ Business Briefing on the Governor’s Proposed Climate Change Policy. Hosted by Gerding Edlen, the briefing offered a snapshot of the Governor’s legislative agenda for 2009 and beyond, and gave the sustainable business community the opportunity to offer feedback on what needs to happen to move the plans forward. The … Continue Reading
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