California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an
executive order that will expedite the approval of renewable
energy projects in the state. The governor also put the
wheels in motion to require utilities to draw on renewable
energy for 33% of their electricity supply by 2020.
Next year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
will require most U.S. refiners, importers, and blenders of
gasoline will need to displace 10.21% of their gasoline with
renewable fuels such as ethanol. The percentage increased
significantly because of the expected drop in gasoline demand.
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Utah, Idaho, and Oregon have significant geothermal energy
resources, even though only three geothermal power plants
have been built in the three states. To encourage more
development, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will
offer nearly 200,000 acres for lease in December.
Wind power capacity in the United States is expected to
increase several-fold over the next decade, and the North
American Electric Reliability Corporation is concerned that
utilities won’t build transmission lines fast enough to meet the
growing energy supply.
The slumping economy has caused oil prices to drop off
significantly since this summer, and consumers will benefit
not only at the pump, but also when they pay this winter’s
heating bills. The decrease in energy demand will also help to
reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have
released an updated version of the National Action Plan
Vision for 2025: A Framework for Change, which lays out a
proposed energy efficiency action plan for state policy
makers.
Under the terms of a newly announced agreement between
DOE and LG Electronics, USA, Inc. LG will voluntarily suspend
10 LG refrigerator models, as well as comparable
Kenmore-brand “TRIO” French door models, from the Energy
Star
program and will offer consumers a free, in-home
modification to make the models more energy efficient.
Under the terms of a newly announced agreement between
DOE and LG Electronics, USA, Inc. LG will voluntarily suspend
10 LG refrigerator models, as well as comparable
Kenmore-brand “TRIO” French door models, from the Energy
Star
program and will offer consumers a free, in-home
modification to make the models more energy efficient.
Participants in NREL’s 21st Industry Growth Forum learned that despite current market conditions, the prospect of long-term national support for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D and the recognition of how “green collar” jobs can drive economic recovery generate an enthusiasm for clean energy’s prospects that most industries would envy.
Participants in NREL’s 21st Industry Growth Forum learned that despite current market conditions, the prospect of long-term national support for renewable energy and energy efficiency R&D and the recognition of how “green collar” jobs can drive economic recovery generate an enthusiasm for clean energy’s prospects that most industries would envy.
Boulder County, Colorado, will soon offer financing for
homeowners and businesses that want to install energy
efficiency improvements or renewable energy systems. The
measure mimics a similar program in Berkeley, California,
that is now being launched as a pilot program.
Voters in California have approved a measure to issue nearly
$10 billion in bonds to help finance a new high-speed electric
rail system, which will connect such far-flung cities as San
Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento. Across the country,
voters passed more than 20 transportation measures.
Missouri’s investor-owned utilities will have to draw on
renewable energy for 15% of their electricity supply by 2021,
after the state’s voters approved the Missouri Clean Energy
Initiative, or Proposition C. The proposition gained approval
from two-thirds of the state’s voters.
A recent report on world carbon markets anticipated that the
markets would exceed $100 billion in value by the end of this
year, but a recent 20% drop in the price of carbon emission
allowances makes that milestone appear increasingly unlikely
to be achieved this year.
