NATIONAL NEWS
The President’s Plan for America’s Energy Security
The White House
President Obama delivered a
speech Wednesday at Georgetown University outlining his plan for America’s
energy security and committing to reduce oil imports by one-third by 2025.
In his speech, the President announced the release of a
Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, which outlines a comprehensive
national energy policy. The administration prepared a
fact sheet, which details several elements of the plan.
Budget Deal May be Near for FY’11 Federal Spending
Congressional leaders appear to be nearing a budget deal that would avert a
government shutdown on April 8, 2011, as House and Senate leaders seem to have
agreed on a $33 billion reduction from current levels. The news came from
Vice President Biden who stopped short of declaring a deal, saying there was
much left to negotiate. It remains unclear whether the cuts will come from
an across the board reduction or a combination of such a reduction and specific
program reduction or elimination.
Funding Opportunity: DOE Partners with Other Agencies to Launch Joint Program to
Establish Proof of Concept Centers Across U.S.
The U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy joined with the U.S. Commerce Department's
Economic Development Administration (EDA) and its Office of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship announced the opening of the $12 million i6 Green Challenge,
which will also be conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science
Foundation, and Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology and
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The funding will support awards for six teams
around the country with the most innovative ideas to drive technology
commercialization and entrepreneurship in support of a green innovation economy,
increased U.S. competitiveness and new jobs.
EPA
Grants for RE-Powering America's Land
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Through its RE-Powering America's Land: Siting Renewable Energy on
Potentially Contaminated Land and Mine Sites initiative, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from states, tribes, regional
governments, and communities that want to evaluate the potential development of
renewable energy on potentially or formerly contaminated properties. This
evaluation will be in the form of a feasibility study conducted by the
Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that will
determine the best renewable energy technology for the site, the optimal
location for placement of the renewable energy technology, potential energy
generating capacity, the return on the investment, and the economic feasibility
of the renewable energy projects. The purpose of the technical assistance is to
reuse sites, improve communities, create jobs, develop partnerships, decrease
the use of greenspace for siting renewable energy, and increase the amount of
renewable energy generated. Proposals are due to EPA Friday, May 20, 2011 and
may be submitted to matthews.lura@epa.gov.
Trade Groups Rally in Support of Loan Guarantee Program
Environment & Energy Daily
Trade groups for the biofuels, wind, solar and geothermal industries sent a
letter this week to congressional leaders urging them to maintain funding
and support for the DOE program that backs investments for renewable energy
projects that might otherwise not get private funding.
Senate Panel to Take up Hydropower, Water use Measures
Environment & Energy Daily
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources panel will convene Thursday, March 31
to discuss three measures that address hydropower and the impact of energy
development on water resources. The committee's third legislative hearing this
Congress will focus on two bills to boost hydropower in the United States and on
the water section of the broad energy bill that passed out of the committee in
2009.
House Panel to Explore Energy Potential on Tribal Lands
Environment & Energy Daily
The House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs on will explore
ways to spur the development of vast energy potential and jobs on tribal lands
on April 1. In addition to standard environmental reviews from agencies
including the Interior Department and U.S. EPA, energy projects on tribal lands
must often receive real estate appraisals from Interior's Bureau of Indian
Affairs, an additional regulatory step that often discourages outside
investment.
EIA
Releases Latest Residential Energy Consumption Survey
On March 28, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released the
latest update to its Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) in which they
report that while Americans have more energy-efficient appliances in their homes
the efficiency gains are partly offset by more consumer electronics. The new
data is the first release of 2009 data from the RECS which EIA has conducted
periodically since 1979.
EIA tripled the number of households contacted in the 2009 RECS and expanded
the household data series to include twelve more States: Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Michigan, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Arizona,
Missouri, Wisconsin, and Colorado.
STATE NEWS
Delaware Company Wins Right to Negotiate with Interior Department for Offshore
Wind
Delaware Online
NRG Bluewater Wind has won the exclusive right to negotiate with the federal
government to build an offshore wind farm off Delaware. The decision is the
first formal step along a gamut of environmental and permitting reviews that
company officials expect will culminate in a landmark renewable-energy project
supplying enough power to support at least 54,000 homes. The decision by the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement marks the first
time that it has begun lease negotiations with a wind-power developer under new
federal rules, and comes nearly three years after Bluewater signed a 25-year
supply contract with Delmarva Power.
Maryland University Switches on Solar Farm
Delmarvanow.com
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) held a “Flip the Switch”
media event to celebrate the completion of the 2.2 MW photovoltaic system. The
array is comprised of 7,800 panels and is the largest of its type in Maryland.
SunEdison financed and built the solar farm at no cost to UMES or the state of
Maryland. In return, UMES will purchase the power produced from the solar farm
at long-term predictable rates to offset the university's demand from the energy
grid.
High Gas Prices Convince Wyoming to Test Natural Gas Vehicles
trib.com
Rising gasoline prices helped convince the 2011 Wyoming Legislature of the
need for the state to consider natural gas-fueled motor vehicles. State funding
totaling $200,000 will allow two state agencies to retrofit existing vehicles or
to buy new ones capable of running on natural gas or a combination of natural
gas and gasoline this year.
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