Energy Feeds

The Energy Department has announced that more than one
thousand fuel cells were deployed as a result of support from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Eight automakers have demonstrated a fast-charging
technology for electric vehicles (EV) that can recharge
compatible systems in as few as 15 minutes.

The Energy Department's Max Tech and Beyond competition
challenges university students to design highly efficient
appliances and commercial equipment.

Air Force Energy Assessment Team, Jan 2010Over the past few months, the Air Force Facilities Energy Center (AFFEC)  has provided a running review of current Air Force energy efforts in the form of the very excellent Energy Express.

The Energy Department has announced up to $2.5 million in
funding is available this year to demonstrate and deploy fuel
cell electric vehicles for transporting passenger baggage at
major U.S. airports.

U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has
turned on a 50-megawatt solar energy plant near Las Vegas,
Nevada, the first large-scale solar energy facility on U.S.
public lands.

An Energy Department-supported pilot project that will
generate electricity from Maine's ocean tides could be a
game-changer for America's tidal energy industry at-large.

CHICAGO (May 3, 2012) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that, for the first time, McDonald’s USA, LLC Oakbrook, Illinois, has made its list of the Top 50 green-powered organizations. McDonald’s is number 11 on the 2012 list. It made a commitment to match 30 percent of its electricity use at company-owned restaurants in 2011 and 2012 with renewable energy certificates from U.S. wind sources

The Energy Department has announced a three-part plan to
help implement the Clean Energy Education and
Empowerment (C3E) Women's Initiative aimed at attracting
more women to clean energy careers and advancing their
leadership positions.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released an
annual progress report highlighting the rapid progress made
in some renewable energy technologies, but noting limits for
others.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
awarded more than $1 million in grants to 15 university and
college teams that participated in the eighth Annual National
Sustainable Design Expo.

(Boston, Mass. – April 27, 2012) – Next week is Air Quality Awareness week – a cooperative effort amongst EPA, state environmental agencies, and the National Weather Service, to remind everyone to protect their health by paying attention to local air quality

Steropes was the Cyclops who gave lightning to Zeus

The Energy Department has announced that $9 million is
available this year to help utilities and grid operators better
forecast the power produced by U.S. solar energy plants.

The Energy Department has announced that up to $9 million
is available for funding about 50 small businesses to advance
innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy
technologies.

The Energy Department and Ameresco, Inc. have marked
the successful operational startup of a new $795
million biomass-fueled cogeneration facility at DOE's
Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. The facility
was built under the largest energy savings performance
contract in U.S. history.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an updated list of the Top 50 Green Power Partnership organizations voluntarily using clean, renewable electricity from resources such as solar, wind, and low-impact hydropower. Intel Corporation tops the list as the largest single user of green power, followed by Kohl’s Department Stores and Microsoft Corporation. Combined, the Top 50 partners are using more than 15 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually

Great article in Forbes on how a former Director of the CIA sees how we can break OPEC’s lock on oil prices.  And OPEC itself.  A panel sponsored by the Carbon War Room and put together by Suzanne Hunt featured Navy energy maven, Kate Brandt discussing the effect of Navy policy on biofuels prices.  In 2010, the Navy bought 20

Chad Lowe in SF SentinelJust finished up at the at the International Biomass Conference and Expo in Denver.  Over a thousand participants and dozens of companies were on hand to learn about and display the latest in biomass/biogas technologies and techniques. 

(DALLAS – April 18, 2012) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, has claimed a top spot in EPA’s sixth College and University Green Power Challenge for 2011-2012. The EPA tracks and recognizes collegiate athletic conferences with the highest combined green power purchases in the nation. Purchases of green power help spur the development of the nation’s green power market and reduce harmful air pollution

The Energy Department has announced up to $5 million is
available to
assess increased hydropower production. It also released a
report showing that
there is enough potential capacity to provide more than 12
gigawatts at existing U.S. dams that aren't equipped to
produce power.

The Energy Department has announced a $30 million
research competition for improving the performance of
energy storage devices, including Defense Department
hybrid modules.

The U.S. wind industry grew 31% more in 2011 than it did
the previous year, according to an annual report from the
American Wind Energy Association.

Not Actual TARDEC ScientistsBig week in DOD energy last week with announcements from the White House and Warren, MI. The pronouncements from the Potomac to the shores of Lake St Clair charted DOD’s course for infrastructure, transportation and operational energy.  First, to the outskirts of the Motor City. 

Denver ranks 11th on list of cities with the most Energy Star buildings in the United States
Cities cut energy costs while increasing efficiency, protecting health, reducing pollution
DENVER (April 11, 2012) – Denver ranked 11th on the annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings for 2011 released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Salt Lake City makes list of top 25 cities with the most Energy Star buildings in the United States
DENVER (April 11, 2012) – For the first time, Salt Lake City made the list of top 25 cities with the most Energy Star buildings in the country - ranking 24th

City ranks rank in top 20, cutting over $20 Million in energy costs SAN FRANCISCO – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings for 2011. Phoenix has moved up four slots from last year and now ranks 13th in the nation. In Phoenix, 143 Energy Star certified buildings have helped save $20.6 million annual utility bills with 21.4 million square feet of green buildings

ATLANTA – Today, the city of Miami was listed as 1 of 25 cities with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification in 2011. Energy Star labeled buildings in Miami achieved significant reductions in their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions

ATLANTA – Today, the city of Charlotte was listed as 1 of 25 cities with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification in 2011. Energy Star labeled buildings in Charlotte achieved significant reductions in their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions

PHILADELPHIA (April 11, 2012) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings. For the third year in a row, the District of Columbia metropolitan area has the second highest number of commercial energy-efficient buildings earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR. “Commercial building owners in D.C

WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings for 2011. The list of 25 cities is headed by Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Houston, Dallas, Riverside, Calif. and Boston

The Energy Department has offered up to $15 million in
funding
to demonstrate
biomass-based oil supplements, or "bio-oils," that can be
blended with petroleum.

U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $13.1 million
to fund 11 projects under Federal Transit Administration's
National Fuel Cell Bus Program that advances hydrogen fuel
cell power for transit buses.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has
announced that 30 of its federal buildings are participating in
a challenge to achieve deep energy savings.

[Thanks to my friend and Academy classmate Chris Davis (USAFA '85) for the heads-up on this recent Air Force news, and also to the folks at the SGSB for allowing this cross-post.]

The Obama Administration, DOE, Illinois, Michigan,
Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and various federal and
state agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding
streamlining offshore wind development in the Great Lakes.

DOE has offered up to $10 million in funding to promote
zero-emissions cargo transportation vehicles.

The Building Performance Institute, Inc., with DOE backing,
will introduce in June four new home energy professional
certifications for the U.S. weatherization workforce.

From DEB's FutureWatch desk, we bring you tales of 1.9 Gigajoules, and the potential to power all the world's grids sans fossil fuels. Bring on better electricity storage, and we may get to worry about other things in the future besides energy. There's security in that.You may call me a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. Dan is too. As well as the folks at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. See what you think. Andy

The Obama Administration has offered up to $35 million over
three years to support biomass research in a joint program
with DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Nine major utilities have joined the Green Button program,
providing 15 million households with access to data about
their energy use.

Helped by a Recovery Act program, small businesses in San
Antonio, Texas, have discovered that upgrading to energy
efficient lighting can save them money on their energy bills.

In the energy sector, the price of a barrel of oil isn't the only thing that's highly volatile. The future is too.Here's a LINK to a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal where energy gurus Daniel Yergin and Vinod Khosla debate how quickly cleantech will begin to substantially supplant fossil fuels in the US.This is Yergin responding to a question about the future, starting with a look back to the very recent past:

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Kansas City, Kan., March 27, 2012) - The National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA) has agreed to pay $700,000 in penalties to the United States and the State of Kansas, and perform a series of injunctive relief actions, to settle violations of federal environmental laws and the Kansas State Implementation Plan at its petroleum refinery and underground storage facility in McPherson County, Kan. As part of a consent decree lodged yesterday in U.S

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
recognized the 2012 Energy Star award winners while
kicking off the 20th anniversary of the program designed to
save consumers money and promote energy efficient
products.

A Center for Climate and Energy Solutions-led group has
recommended strategies to connect plug-in electric vehicles
to the U.S. grid.

ATLANTA – As a part of the celebration of Energy Star's 20th anniversary, three organizations in North Carolina were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2012 Energy Star award. This award was given because of their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency

ATLANTA – As a part of the celebration of Energy Star's 20th anniversary, two organizations in Georgia were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2012 Energy Star award. This award was given because of their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency. Award for Excellence
Hoshizaki America, Inc

ATLANTA – As a part of the celebration of Energy Star's 20th anniversary, two organizations in Florida were honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2012 Energy Star award. This award was given because of their outstanding leadership and commitment to protecting America’s environment through superior energy efficiency

(Seattle – March 15, 2012) Today, EPA is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program. For two decades, ENERGY STAR has helped millions of Americans and thousands of businesses save money, and protect the climate. Over the past 20 years, with help from ENERGY STAR partners, American families and businesses have saved about 230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon pollution

Yesterday I reintroduced the Operational Energy Strategy (OES) and gave a peek into the targets established in that document.

The much anticipated Operational Energy Strategy Implementation Plan hit (floated to?) the street this past Friday, 9 March 2012.  The SecDef took the time to put his name on this one, so that might explain its timeliness.  The diminutive document lays out short, mid and long term goals and objectives but is best considered in terms of its timeline.  This is a long post so I will break it down over a couple of day.  Bottomline up front: It has an appropriate sense of ur

DOE has launched the next phase of its Bright Tomorrow
Lighting Prize competition to create energy-saving lighting
products.

Four major firms have joined DOE's National Clean Fleets
Partnership, a public-private initiative aimed at reducing
gasoline and diesel use.

A Milwaukee manufacturer is using robots to make solar
panels as a result of DOE State Energy Program funding.

PHILADELPHIA (March 12, 2012) - Attention licensed home inspectors, lead risk assessors, health and housing advocates, property managers, pest management professionals and environmental health practitioners. The Essentials for Healthy Home Practitioners Course, a free, two-day training course sponsored by EPA will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 13 and 14 at the American Public Health Association (APHA), 800 I Street NW, Washington D.C. in the main floor conference area

DOE has offered $180 million in funding as part of a planned
six-year initiative to support four offshore wind energy
installations.

DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)
has issued a $150 million open funding announcement for
early stage projects that would not otherwise attract private
investment.

Ford Motor Company has announced that its new Focus
Electric has been U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)-certified as having a combined rating
of 105 miles per gallon equivalent.

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Kansas City, Kan., March 6, 2012) - The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing (CRRM) has agreed to pay a civil penalty of more than $970,000 and invest more than $4.25 million on new pollution controls and $6.5 million in operating costs to resolve alleged violations of air, Superfund, and community right-to-know laws at its Coffeyville, Kan. refinery

Original Art Work by Marshall RamseyFor 30 years, my father never voted.  He was a career soldier from a family of career soldiers.  Until 1969, when he retired from the U.S Army, he held the belief that a soldier should not vote for the Commander-in-Chief.  It was not “seemly”.  Once he retired,  he not only voted but actively campaigned for a presidential candidate.  It was not

DOE has launched a new $3 million research program that
will allow teams from industry, universities, and national
laboratories to collaborate on lowering the cost of solar
energy.

DOE will provide funding for biofuels
and natural gas research to help develop alternative vehicle
technologies.

The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has released a draft plan to identify areas
in Arizona suitable for wind and solar energy projects on
disturbed public lands.

WASHINGTON -
As prepared for delivery. Thank you for inviting me to testify on the President's Fiscal Year 2013 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency. I'm joined by the Agency's Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Bennett. EPA's budget request of $8.344 billion focuses on fulfilling EPA's core mission of protecting public health and the environment, while making the sacrifices and tough decisions that Americans across the country are making every day

Late Friday afternoon the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force sent out an all points bulletin on a "Draft Solicitation for Renewable and Alternative Energy Power Production".  They pointed out that this was really an Army Corps of Engineers deal, but the AEITF is sounding the trumpet. In their roll out meeting last year, the AEITF promised movement early this year.  So far so good. But this is not the solicitation.

ATLANTA - The Talladega County School District in Alabama was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Energy Star Leader that improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more. Nationally, EPA’s Energy Star program helped 90 leading organizations achieve President Obama’s goal by providing them with a proven energy management strategy, which includes a focus on ongoing performance measurement and whole-building improvement

ATLANTA - Six organizations in North Carolina were recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Energy Star Leaders that improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more. Nationally, EPA’s Energy Star program helped 90 leading organizations achieve President Obama’s goal by providing them with a proven energy management strategy, which includes a focus on ongoing performance measurement and whole-building improvement

This week the Association of the United States Army held their Winter Symposium in south Florida.  Yes, Florida!  Way to go AUSA!  Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I was invited by senior leadership from AUSA to moderate a panel on operational energy.  I immediately agreed and started packing my sunscreen.  A couple of days later I got a call from a more senior AUSA member of leadership to disinvite me to moderate, although they did offer to pay my cover charge if I came anyway.  When I agreed to

WASHINGTON –The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that nearly half of the organizations recognized as Energy Star Leaders have improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more. Last year, President Obama announced a nationwide call to action to improve the energy performance in buildings across the nation by 20 percent by 2020

DOE and the U.S. Department of Commerce are offering up
to $1.3 million for clean energy training programs.

DOE has highlighted a new GE manufacturing facility in
Louisville, Kentucky, that will produce high-efficiency water
heaters designed with the help of a DOE national laboratory.

A number of leading companies are using fuel cells in their
businesses to advance sustainability goals, according to a
new DOE report.

Make sure you packed a lunch before you start this post.  Follow me down the rabbit hole and, hurry.  We are already late!

I have just returned from Phoenix,  Arizona where I believe I was witness to a portend of biblical proportions, “Cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria!” (Thank you, Dr. Venkman).   In an auditorium of a satellite campus of Arizona State University, I observed a Colonel of Operations, who actually knew the first name of a Colonel of Acquisition!

DOE has offered more than $12 million to fund solar energy
innovation through its SunShot Incubator Program.

The global wind industry installed more than 41,000
megawatts and grew by 21% in 2011, according to the Global
Wind Energy Council.

WASHINGTON – Today the Obama Administration proposed a FY 2013 budget of $8.344 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This budget reflects a government-wide effort to reduce spending and find cost-savings, and is $105 million below the EPA’s enacted level for FY 2012

ATLANTA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will present ENERGY STAR awards to 17 Montgomery Public Schools. During the event, district officials will also provide an outline of their energy saving activities and results. WHO: Carol Kemker, Deputy Director, Air, Pesticides and Toxic Management Division, U.S

DOE has highlighted its partnership with the Volvo Group to
use cutting-edge trucking technologies that will boost the U.S.
auto and manufacturing industries.

DOE has released a study showing that the popularity of
energy-efficient lighting products in the United States has
increased
over the past decade.

DOE has reached into top university talent pools to help
advance its SunShot Initiative.

Jesse Berst's SmartGridNews.com site recently featured a short article announcing the formation of SPEER (which stands for South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource), as well as outlining its objectives, which include initially:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized two Department of Defense (DoD) facilities with the Energy Star Combined Heat and Power (CHP) award for taking an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single source. By using CHP technology, the award winners demonstrated leadership and a commitment to protecting people's health and the environment while reporting annual energy savings of $6.8 million

Environmental News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Kansas City, Kan., Feb

Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced the 20
teams, representing 13 states and Washington, D.C. plus 3
foreign countries, that will
compete U.S. Department of Energy Solar
Decathlon 2013, which will be held in California for the first
time.

Voting is underway in DOE's "America's Next Top Energy
Innovator" challenge. A public vote and expert review will
select the top start-up companies.

The Clean Energy Trust has announced the 16 semifinalists
for its first student clean energy challenge.

Second part of Annie Snider's excellent piece on Energy Security is here.  Annie continues the discussion of energy security haves and have nots.  Lots more have nots than haves, but, once again, the Devil Dogs of the USMC have it about right.  If the utility controls a renewable source inside the gates, guns and guards, it is NOT energy security.  If the commander owns the switch, it is energy security.

(Seattle – Jan. 25, 2012) zHome – the ultra-sustainable, 10-unit townhome development in Issaquah, WA that is redefining the future of housing – is also the first community in the Nation in which every home has earned the WaterSense label for new homes

Senator Schumer at NY Biogas PlantIt takes a fair bit to P.O.  Senator Chuck Shumer, but the nascent Army Energy Initiatives Task Force has done just that.  Three years ago, a nonprofit group, Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership, was awarded the rights to develop a project supported by an enhanced use lease at Watervliet Arsenal in upstate New York.  Part of the plan is to build a non-intermittent, 24 hour a day biomass-fed power plant that would also generate

Environmental News NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY (Kansas City, Kan., Jan

This is the follow up to yesterday's post.....read on.

A hearty holiday hello to you, dear reader. Lacking any snow in Boston, I decided to head north for a short vacation in between Christmas and New Years and ended up, quite happily, in a winter-wonderland version of Montreal.Dan Nolan and I talked a lot as this year unfolded about whether we were seeing signs of progress, or merely activity (like a dozen or so conferences) with little direct benefit to the war fighter or the nation.

Here is the latest scoop on SPIDERS from the field:.   The Smart Power Infrastructure Demonstration for EnergyReliability and Security (SPIDERS) energy security micro-grid government andindustry partners conducted their Start of Work meeting for Phase One at JointBase Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) in Oahu 13-14 DEC 11.   After a challenging acquisition process andwith widely expressed industry concerns, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)technical managers and acqui

Saw Daniel Yergin yesterday and will be posting on that excellent experience soon, but before I forget, wanted to put this in front of you.If you're one of the several thousand regular readers of the DEB (and maybe other blogs too), then you probably have a good feel for what separates a blog from a standard online news article or newspaper for that matter.

Back in September we wrote a post or two on the latest thinking on US and global energy futures from energy market guru Daniel Yergin. In today's Wall Street Journal he had a bit more say re: Energy Security that I think you'll find both helpful and promising. First, the ...Bad NewsYergin: It is true that the U.S. is still importing a larger share of its oil than it was in 1973, at the time of the first oil crisis.

Former Under Secretary of the Navy and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, James Woolsey once commented on a pronouncement by a retired Admiral regarding DOD energy efforts being a fad. He equated Admiral's specious argument as “like the 13th chime of a clock – it is not only bizarre in and of itself, it calls into question everything that issues from the same source”.

In the earliest days of this blog one of my best sources for clarity was former International Energy Agency (IEA) senior analyst Sohbet Karbuz. This man knows more about the way global energy markets function, and more about the ways DOD participates in them, than perhaps anyone on the planet.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering holiday gift-giving tips that will help support a healthy environment this season and all year long

Not to be confused with the Luc Besson 90's sci fi flick, The Fifth  Element, the Fifth Fuel is neither film nor fuel. Nor is it fossil or renewable.

575 tried, 27 succeeded. That's less than a 5% acceptance rate ... tougher than getting into Harvard or MIT I think. But well worth the effort, if some of these energy, energy efficiency and energy security strategies pan out.OSD has just announced its list of approved test bed pilot projects, each one targeting an aspect of facilities energy use improvement. Categories include objectives with terse titles like:

(Boston, Mass. – Nov. 17, 2011) – The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) have joined forces to promote the Federal Green Challenge Initiative in New England federal facilities

(Boston, Mass. – Nov. 17, 2011) – Staples, Inc., based in Framingham, Mass., and State Street Corporation based in Boston, Mass., have recently been recognized by EPA as one of the nation’s leading purchasers of Green Power for 2011

PHILADELPHIA (November 16, 2011) - - Attention home improvement contractors and practitioners

(ATLANTA – Nov. 15, 2011) – On Wednesday, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming will recognize the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Fla. as the winner of EPA’s 2011 Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings

We've all seen the numbers before. The short version is goes like this: DOD dwarfs Walmart when it comes to number of square feet of buildings owned, maintained, powered, heated and cooled in the USA and elsewhere.The amount of energy consumed by the world's largest fleet of buildings is enormous, as is the amount of energy wasted due to inefficiencies of every conceivable kind.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) have signed an agreement that will create a common platform for measuring and assessing the energy performance of commercial buildings in both countries

Environmental News NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY (Kansas City, Kan., Nov. 7, 2011) - EPA officials will attend the annual National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Trade Talk event at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Nov. 10

WASHINGTON – Healthcare organizations spend $7.4 billion in energy costs each year. To improve energy efficiency, thousands of hospitals rely on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star tools to help track consumption and prioritize facilities for energy upgrades

WASHINGTON – With summer around the corner, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program today issued its annual list of ideas to help the public cut cooling costs, protect their health and stay comfortable at home

An Austin, Texas, utility once again led the annual
rankings of green power programs conducted by DOE's
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. And, the Big Ten
conference took top honors in the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's annual college Green Power
Challenge.

In two years, DOE's Loan Programs Office has issued
loans, loan guarantees, and conditional commitments
for loan guarantees to 28 clean energy projects.

The SCI-Arc/Caltech team in the U.S.
Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 has a
truly "out of the box" approach to the design of the
home. The team wrapped its polygonal home in a skin
that acts as what the team refers to as "outsulation."

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing action plans developed by 20 electric utility facilities with 70 coal ash impoundments, describing the measures the facilities are taking to make their impoundments safer

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a complaint to the owners and operators of several upstate New York gasoline stations for violating federal regulations governing seventeen underground storage tanks

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun
signups for the first Biomass Crop Assistance Program
project area, which will promote feedstocks for
bioenergy. This initiative, in Missouri and Kansas, will
help spur the development of next-generation biofuels.

A team led by a SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
researcher has made a key step toward advancing a
clean energy economy. The scientists have engineered a
cheap, abundant way to make hydrogen fuel from
sunlight and water.

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has moved to simplify right-of-way
applications for lands with wind and solar energy
development potential by publishing new rules to allow
the applications to segregate renewable lands.

One of the newest teams to the U.S. Department of
Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 this year is Purdue
University's team, which started with just four students
in 2009 but has grown to a group of 200 people.

Late last month, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) cut the ribbon on a transportable, plasma waste to energy system at Hurlburt Field in the Florida Panhandle. Terry Yonkers, the ASAF for Installations, Environment and Logistics is quoted as saying, "This is the first waste-to-energy project of this technology to go into an air base. It has been a long time in the making.".

The Abiquiu Low-Flow Turbine Hydropower Project in
New Mexico started operations on April 21. The project
received a $4.5 million Recovery Act grant from DOE's
Wind and Water Power Program and was the first
Recovery Act-supported hydropower project completed.

Four Texas-based manufacturing plants are adopting
robust energy efficiency standards as part of an energy
management certification program led by DOE's
Industrial Technologies Program.

To encourage school systems to cut expenses through
energy efficiency and green building measures, the U.S.
Department of Education has launched a Green Ribbon
Schools program. The first winners will be announced
next year.

(New York, N.Y.) Puma Energy Caribe, LLC has agreed to clean up the former Caribbean Petroleum Refining facility in Bayamon, Puerto Rico and address environmental conditions at 147 gas stations throughout Puerto Rico under two agreements proposed today by the U.S

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program launched the 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has honored four individuals or businesses from Puerto Rico with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements protecting public health and the environment

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it has honored 14 individuals, organizations or businesses from New York with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements protecting public health and the environment

WASHINGTON — One year ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenged the manufacturing industry to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities by 10 percent or more within five years

DOE and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) have selected lenders to participate in a
pilot program to help homeowners pay for home energy
efficiency improvements.

Residents of St. Peters, Missouri, are seeing improvements in
their community thanks to a $512,800 DOE Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grant.

The American Institute of Architects named the new
Research
Support Facility at DOE's National Renewable Energy
Laboratory one of its Top Ten Green Projects for
excellence
in sustainable design and reduced energy consumption.

WASHINGTON - The U.S

(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today signed an agreement with Reckson Real Estate, one of Westchester County’s largest commercial real estate owners, to reduce the environmental impacts of the buildings it manages

PHILADELPHIA (April 20, 2011) – In a special Earth Day signing ceremony held today, Philabundance joined the growing ranks of organizations from across the mid-Atlantic region to enroll in U.S. EPA’s Sustainability Partnership program

Two of DOE's national laboratories will join with The Dow
Chemical Company to research ways to improve cool roof
efficiency by more than 50% over existing technologies.

A California concentrating solar power (CSP) project that will
create an estimated 1,000 jobs and avoid more than 710,000
tons of carbon dioxide annually has received a $2.1 billion
conditional loan guarantee from DOE.

Using a DOE Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant,
King County, Washington, has been able to make an array of
public and commercial energy efficiency upgrades, including
the installation of electric vehicle charging stations.

DOE and Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) to strengthen their collaboration on research and
deployment of clean energy technologies.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has approved a
construction and operations plan for the Cape Wind offshore
wind power project in Nantucket Sound. Construction could
begin by fall.

Today in sunny San Antonio, the ASA, IE&E dropped the seventh veil and revealed the names of the 17 Army/Joint installations selected for the Net Zero Energy, Water and/or Waste contest. With over 100 applicants in the three categories, the winners are as follows (drum roll please):

WASHINGTON - For the first time, the Big Ten conference has surpassed the Ivy League conference as the top athletic conference in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) College and University Green Power Challenge

Project among 22 nationwide receiving funds to fight climate change (Denver, CO – April 14, 2011) Armed with half a million dollar grant from EPA, La Plata County (Colo.) will reduce over 5,800 metric tons of greenhouse gases a year through a comprehensive community climate program

Every now and then the Cavalry Scouts out there come across a great piece of intel and share same. I have a special place in my heart for Cavalrymen. I like to say that I was raised by them, but that I am ok now.

2011 Energy Star Award winners announced (ATLANTA – Apr.13, 2011) – Nineteen Energy Star partners in the southeast were honored by the U.S

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its first
Clean Energy Progress Report at the Clean Energy
Ministerial. The report says that notable successes in
deployment of clean-energy technologies are being
overshadowed by continued hunger for fossil fuels.

A unique collaboration between DOE's National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Russian scientists has
developed the Ultra-Accelerated Weathering System (UAWS),
which simulates the harmful effects of decades of sun
damage on outdoor products like coatings and paints in just a
matter of months.

On April 6, President Obama held a town hall meeting just
outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Gamesa
Technology Corporation. While the wind turbine factory has
put the city on the map for wind power, Philadelphia is also a
leader in energy efficiency.

Florida International University students knew they had to
come up with something that would effectively function in the
tropical, variable climate of Miami for the U.S. Department of
Energy Solar Decathlon 2011.

WASHINGTON – Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) April 16 and 17 for Earth Day on the National Mall. With more than 40 interactive exhibits, kids and adults can have eco-fun with hands on activities, art, music and storytelling

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing 30 Sunrise Senior Living communities as the first senior care facilities to earn EPA’s Energy Star for superior energy performance

In the spirit of the “open kimono” the Army opened up last week to reveal…..another kimono. On 5 April the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Ms. Katherine Hammack and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy and Partnership held a bloggers roundtable.

President Obama has announced a new National Clean Fleets
Partnership designed to help large companies reduce diesel
and gasoline use in their fleets. The effort is part of the Clean
Cities initiative under the DOE Vehicle Technologies Program.

Ahead of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
2011, we are profiling each of the 20 teams participating in
the competition. For our second profile, we spoke with
Appalachian State University's faculty advisors Jamie Russell
and Chad Everhart about The Solar Homestead, their team's
entry into the competition.

Gwinnett County, Georgia, is taking some of the grossest
stuff on Earth and turning it into some of the greenest stuff
on Earth. The county's unique "Gas to Energy"
system will turn gases from digesting biosolids, fats, oils,
greases, and other high-strength industrial wastes into
energy.

WASHINGTON - The U.S

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from states, tribes, regional governments, and communities that are interested in the development of renewable energy on current and formerly contaminated properties

Martha Stewart created an empire by inviting Americans into
her home to show how one small improvement could
dramatically transform a room or how tweaking an old recipe
could surprise your palette. Martha Stewart, however, is not
an engineer—so why would she take a personal
interest in BetterBuildings, a DOE program to reduce energy
waste in homes and businesses?

The first solar district in the United States went online in
March when water heated by 144 solar collectors atop St.
Paul, Minnesota's convention center flowed to local homes
and businesses. DOE's Solar America Communities program
supported the project with $1 million in American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act Funds.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) is beginning the
process to offer the first commercial wind power lease off
Delaware's coast under DOI's "Smart from the Start" Atlantic
Offshore Wind program. DOI announced the decision after
determining that there's no competitive interest for wind
energy development in the area.

In honor of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
2011—which challenges 20 collegiate teams to design,
build, and operate solar-powered houses that are
cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive—we are
profiling each of the 20 teams participating in the competition.

As the provider of laundry and dry cleaning services for
Disneyland Resort's costumes and hospitality supply items,
L&N Costume and Linen Service knows about both quantity
and quality. Now, with the help of the Gas Technology
Institute (GTI) and DOE, this forward-looking enterprise is
embracing new, clean energy technologies as well.

The 1908 Model-T Ford was the first vehicle designed to run
on ethanol, which Henry Ford termed "the fuel of the future."
Today, about 8 million flexible fuel vehicles on our roads can
run on either gasoline or gasoline blended with up to 85%
ethanol (E85).

While green beer is usually limited to St. Patrick's Day,
Manhattan Beer Distributors in New York City will now be able
to deliver in a more sustainable way year-round. As part of
an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act award through
DOE's Clean Cities program, the distributor purchased its first
diesel-electric hybrid delivery vehicle.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced its
2011 list of 19 priority projects for developing renewable
energy on national public lands. The priority list includes nine
solar projects, five wind projects, and five geothermal
projects throughout the western United States.

WASHINGTON – The U.S

Ames Laboratory researcher and Iowa State University
professor L. Keith Woo is on the search for catalysts that lead
to more efficient, safer, and cleaner chemical reactions that
work at lower pressures and temperatures and create less
waste.

Wind Tower Systems was founded in 2002 to find new ways
to make land-based wind turbines easier to assemble. The
company received early funding through a DOE Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant, which catalyzed
investment from the California Energy Commission and
private sources.

Researchers at DOE's BioEnergy Science Center have
achieved a significant advance in next-generation biofuels by
using bacteria to convert plant matter directly into isobutanol,
a potential replacement for gasoline.

DOE has launched two new fellowship programs designed to
attract the best and brightest scientific minds in the United
States to work on advanced renewable energy and energy
efficiency technologies.

PHILADELPHIA (March 15, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that more buildings than ever have earned the EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010

Mar 16: Here come the Marines! Further coverage in Journal today.------------------------

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010

http://energy.defense.gov/The times they continue to change. Three years after the release of the 2nd DSB report on energy, we've not only got an ASD for Operational Energy, but the organization has a web site and Twitter account.There's not much "there" there yet, but the existence of a site with links to the social media world means a heck of a lot as DOD moves out on energy strategy issues.

As prepared for delivery. Chairmen Whitfield and Shimkus, Ranking Members Rush and Green, and Members of the Subcommittees: Thank you for inviting me to testify about President Obama’s budget request for the Environmental Protection Agency

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy was recently at Harvard explaining what the military is doing to reduce energy use in theater.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the completion of updates to the Energy Star requirements for televisions and cable and satellite boxes

Building on previous cooperation, DOE and the U.S.
Department of Defense have announced new collaborative
steps to strengthen national security through the continued
development of advanced clean energy technologies.

Increasing global investment in geothermal power could
result in a 134% increase in total geothermal capacity
between 2010 and 2020, according to a new report by Pike
Research.

The 81st Geneva International Motor Show, running through
March 13, is spotlighting electric vehicles (EV) and alternative
vehicles with more than 40 manufacturers scheduled to
present their EVs and hybrids in the annual event in
Switzerland.

DOE announced that it has finalized a $96.8 million Recovery
Act supported loan guarantee to a 23-megawatt geothermal
power project in southeastern Oregon, which will use a new
technology that could expand geothermal
development.

DOE and Masdar, Abu Dhabi's renewable energy initiative,
will collaborate to test the performance of specially coated
solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. The modules were
developed by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The number of solar panels, wind turbines, and methane
digesters on U.S. farms and ranches has increased
significantly over the past decade, according to a U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey.

In an interview with bloggers last October, Katherine Hammack, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Environment and Energy announced that the Army would be taking a holistic approach to the concept of Net Zero. It was recognition that one can’t consider energy without considering the other two key commodities that impact it: water and waste.

WASHINGTON – In response to federal court orders requiring the issuance of final standards, the U.S

Stimulus funded electrical resistance heating system will speed cleanup by more than 120 years
SACRAMENTO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Jared Blumenfeld, U.S

SoloPower, Inc. is getting a $197 million conditional loan
guarantee to support a building retrofit and equipment
installation for a thin-film solar panel manufacturing facility in
Oregon, DOE has announced.

Although President Obama's fiscal year (FY) 2012 proposed
budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture decreased to
$23.9 billion, the budget still invests $6.5 billion to support
renewable and clean energy.

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 23, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md

President Obama has unveiled a $29.5 billion budget request
for DOE for fiscal year (FY) 2012, including $3.2 billion for the
DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE).

DOE has announced that it has finalized a $343 million loan
guarantee, supported by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, to develop the One Nevada Transmission
Line, which will carry 600 megawatts of electricity including
renewable energy power.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has selected
Basin Electric Power Cooperative to receive a $204 million
loan guarantee funded by USDA Rural Development's Rural
Utilities Service in support of a wind farm in central South
Dakota.

Manufacturers of new cars and light trucks around the world
can boost their average fuel economy from the 30 miles per
gallon recorded in 2005 to 60 miles per gallon by 2030,
cutting their carbon emissions in half, according to the
International Energy Agency (IEA).

Nice piece in the Jan/Feb 2011 issue of Air Force Facilities Energy Center Newsletter (COE and NAVFAC, please send link to yours!). The only programmed money the Services have specifically for energy projects is the DOD Energy Conservation Investment Program, part of the Military Construction Budget.

Arizona Public Service lauded for saving Native American jobs, environment SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a supplemental proposal to reduce emissions from the Four Corners Power Plant

Following his call in his State of the Union for clean energy
advances, President Obama has proposed a "Better Buildings
Initiative" to make commercial buildings 20% more energy
efficient over the next decade.

As part of DOE's "SunShot" initiative, the agency has
announced that it is investing up to $20.3 million in projects
to strengthen the U.S. solar manufacturing industry, improve
manufacturing efficiencies, and reduce costs. DOE has also
awarded $7 million in photovoltaic incubator program
funding.

DOE has announced a conditional commitment to Diamond
Green Diesel, LLC, for a $241 million loan guarantee. The
guarantee will support the proposed joint venture to build a
137-million gallon per year renewable diesel facility in
Louisiana.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing two companies for innovative new products that recycle wasted energy and turn it into usable electricity in homes or small buildings

Just got word that the U.S. Marine Energy Assessment Team (MEAT) Report is on the street and available here. According to the source, the MEAT Team mission was one of a series of actions driven by the Commandant (CMC) and the Marine Corps to address its energy challenges.

Declaring that current challenges present this generation's
"Sputnik moment," President Obama has called for
high-profile energy goals—including a target of producing
80% of U.S. electricity from clean energy sources by
2035—during his 2011 State of the Union address.

Electric vehicles continue to expand their markets to meet
consumer demand, and one model became the first EV to win
industry honors in Europe.

According to the new , global
energy use will increase by nearly 40% by 2030, driven
mainly by increased energy use in developing countries. But
use of renewable energy will grow at a faster rate of 8.2%
per year, thereby tripling its share of the world's energy
supply.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its list of the top 50 partner organizations using the most renewable electricity to help reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and protect people’s health

WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and representatives from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrapped up a two-day trip to El Paso and San Antonio, Texas

"The fact is that energy is what enables us to be decisive on the battlefield," said Col. Paul E. Roege, special assistant to the energy director at the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC).

DOE and the U.S. Department of Commerce have formed a
new agreement to further collaboration between the agencies
on renewable energy modeling and weather forecasting.

DOE has started two new initiatives to promote tribal energy
development and continue strengthening the partnership
between DOE and tribal nations. Up to $10 million will be
available for clean energy projects, and DOE's Tribal Summit
will be held May 5.

More than 300,000 low-income homes have been weatherized
under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, DOE has
announced, marking the halfway point of the Administration's
goal.

World oil markets are growing tighter and are expected to
continue to do so for two years, driving up prices for crude
oil and motor fuels, according to DOE's Energy Information
Administration (EIA). Crude oil is expected to average $93 per
barrel in 2011 and $98 per barrel in 2012.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today waived a limitation on selling gasoline that contains more than 10 percent ethanol for model year (MY) 2001 through 2006 passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light pickup trucks

New investment in global clean energy reached a record $243
billion in 2010, driven by clean energy spending in China and
by expansion of offshore wind and installations of rooftop
photovoltaics in Europe, according to Bloomberg New Energy
Finance.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced that
it is advancing $182.4 million in "new
starts"
funding for seven transit projects already under construction
in New York, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Northern
Virginia.

The world's first electric vehicle circuit race series, the
EV Cup, will launch in summer 2011, with seven races,
including one planned for the United States.

BG(R) Steve Anderson will tell you that the cleanest, cheapest, most secure electron is the one you don’t use. As the former senior logistician for GEN Petraeus in Iraq, Steve was instrumental in finding energy efficient ways to lower demand, thus reducing convoys and casualties.

Got a note from folks in the know regarding the ExFOB. We recently mentioned the deployment of a Marine company outfitted with renewable energy systems. First reports are in and they are good! Please see the below. Well done, Marines!

Nice piece in the Military Officers Association of America's January 2011 magazine. This periodical reaches out to the active duty and retired military community with information on current issues. Good to see that they are recognizing DOD's efforts in Energy Security. Well done!

DOE's Argonne National Laboratory has announced a licensing
agreements with LG Chem, Ltd, and General Motors Company
for use of Argonne's
patented cathode material technology in lithium-ion battery
cells.

Ford Motor Company has unveiled the Focus Electric, marking
the carmaker's first rechargeable passenger car, which is
scheduled to launch in late 2011 and to compete with the
Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf.

Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have granted permits for
the Cape Wind project, a proposed 130-turbine wind farm in
Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts.

(Boston, Mass. – Jan

President Obama has signed a bill that temporarily
extends for one year various energy efficiency and renewable
energy incentives. A key portion is Section 1603 of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides
cash assistance to energy producers in place of tax credits.

To develop cost-competitive solar technologies, DOE intends
to fund up to $50 million in testing and demonstrations.

DOE has finalized partial loan guarantees for two major
renewable projects: the $1.3 billion, 845-megawatt Caithness
Shepherds Flat wind farm in eastern Oregon and Abengoa
Solar Inc.'s $1.45
billion, 250-megawatt Solana solar
project in Arizona.

The California Air Resources Board has endorsed a
cap-and-trade regulation, marking a
significant milestone toward reducing California's
greenhouse gas emissions under its Assembly Bill 32,
Global Warming Solutions law.

Followers of mainstream news will report hearing nothing good from Iraq lately. Just the usual smattering of terrorist bombs in Baghdad and beyond, and accounts of slow-moving government incompetence.

In the process of operational and logistics planning, military planners have a plethora of tools available to determine troop strength, enemy intentions, supply requirements, etc. When the decision is made at a forward operating base to transition from unit equipment supported operations to contractor supported, the tools available are very limited. There is the CENTCOM Sandbook and the LOGCAP contract.

DOE has announced that it is accepting applications for up to
$30 million in total funding for small-scale process integration
projects that support the development of advanced biofuels.

DOE has announced the first industrial plants in the country
to be certified under the Superior Energy Performance
program, a new market-based industrial energy efficiency
program designed to save money and reduce energy use.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced
that $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funds originally
designated for Wisconsin and Ohio will be redirected to 14
other states.

Forty bundles of fuel fall from a United States Air Force Globemaster III aircraft over Afghanistan, Dec. 8, 2010. The aircraft is assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andy Kin

WASHINGTON - With cold weather setting in across the United States, homeowners are looking for ways to heat their homes while reducing their energy bills to save money. The average family spends $2,200 a year on energy bills, nearly half of which goes to heating and cooling. The U.S

The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board has decided
to begin construction of a high-speed rail corridor in the
Central Valley. The line will eventually
link Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Iberdrola Renewables has announced the start of
construction at its 26.8-megawatt Lakeview Biomass
Cogeneration Plant in Lakeview, Oregon.

DoD Energy leadership, in and outside the institution, are of continued interest to the public at large. The impact of the Department’s efforts are recognized and appreciated. Two recent interviews on NPR’s Science Friday with Ira Flatow featured Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus (pictured) and BG(R) Steve Anderson.

In 1958 the U.S. Navy began the design and construction of a system intended to monitor satellites tracking U.S. ship movement. In 2004 the program was transferred to the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force Space Surveillance Fence (or Space Fence) is part of the Space Surveillance Network (SSN).