Carbon emissions

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is awarding more than $155 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 41 industrial energy efficiency projects across the country. These awards include funding for industrial combined heat and power systems, district energy systems for industrial facilities, and grants to support technical and financial assistance to local industry. The industrial sector uses more than 30 percent of U.S. energy and is responsible for nearly 30 percent of U.S. carbon emissions.    » read more »

November 2, 2009 -- Broomfield, Colo. – NOAA scientists took off Saturday on the second phase of a mission that, when complete, will provide a detailed view of how carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are distributed globally. Monitoring the increasing levels of greenhouse gases and black carbon aerosols in the atmosphere is crucial to understanding human-caused climate change.

“Missions such as this one are critical to understanding the impacts of greenhouse gases and particulates,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The data collected are also essential to help verify if policies to reduce these heat trapping pollutants are having their intended effect.”    » read more »

Senator Akaka impressed with Silo House entry in "Solar Decathlon"

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Three Hawaii high school graduates were part of a Cornell University team which designed, built, and operated a unique environmentally friendly home entered in the 2009 Solar Decathlon, a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy that brings 20 college and university teams to the nation's capitol for a competition to create the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka visited the students and toured the home, which was transported from Ithaca, New York and placed on the National Mall for the duration of the contest.    » read more »

NASA Solar Power Facility, Smithsonian Chiller Plant Earn Real Property Innovation Awards

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — The nation’s largest solar power generation facility and a new, energy-efficient chiller plant earned top recognition today from the U.S. General Services Administration during its 13th annual Achievement Awards for Real Property Innovation.

The event, at the American Institute of Architects headquarters in Washington, recognized cutting-edge innovation in federal real property management.    » read more »

Clean Renewable Energy Bonds Awarded to More Than 800 Recipients Nationally

October 27, 2009 --
WASHINGTON -- As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to spur renewable energy production, the U.S. Department of Treasury today announced the allocation of $2.2 billion in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) for 805 recipients across the country.

Funded by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), these energy bonds help government agencies, public power providers, and cooperative electric companies obtain lower cost financing for clean energy development projects.    » read more »

Innovative geothermal projects are funded in support of project deployment, technology development, and data collection

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $338 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies.

These grants will support 123 projects in 39 states, with recipients including private industry, academic institutions, tribal entities, local governments, and DOE’s National Laboratories. The grants will be matched more than one-for-one with an additional $353 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds.    » read more »

Grants for Innovative Projects will Harness Oregon's Resources

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Continuing efforts to advance alternative energy resources and break our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced nearly $40 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of geothermal energy technologies in Oregon.

“This funding will literally help to bring Oregon’s geothermal energy potential to the surface,” Wyden said. “It will create and sustain jobs improving alternative energy technology to better tap into Oregon’s unique set of renewable energy resources.”    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner announced today that the U.S. Department of Treasury will award $29 million in bonds to American Municipal Power, Inc., for financing of a solar energy project in the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. When completed, this solar project could provide up to six-megawatts of daily power for the regional transmission grid.    » read more »

NV gets nearly one-third of national grant funds, estimated to create nearly 1,100 jobs

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced today that Nevada will receive nearly 1/3 of $338 million in grants coming from the Economic Recovery package.The Silver State will receive more than $90 million for 25 projects to advance geothermal energy technology.

The funding is expected to create nearly 1,100 Nevada jobs while making geothermal power an even more readily available source of clean energy in our state.Of the funding being allocated, 20 projects in Nevada will receive $72.4, while an additional five projects being run by Reno-based companies outside Nevada will receive $20.5 million.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson welcomed an announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy that a Lincoln company will receive $5 million to install a ground source geothermal heat pump demonstration project in Lancaster county. The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“Today’s announcement by the Department of Energy represents a dramatic expansion of US geothermal capacity,” said Nelson. “The Lincoln demonstration project will help jump-start this new industry while increasing our use of renewable sources of energy.”    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today praised the release of $4,414,494 to two Connecticut Corporations and the University of Hartford for domestic geothermal energy research. The grant will be used for a number of research projects ranging from testing costs of future use and development of geothermal energy to research and development of new technologies to locating and drilling into deep hot rock formations, to convert the heat to power. The funds were released by the U.S. Department of Energy as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold released the following statement after a Feingold amendment based on his Energy and Technology Advancement (ETA) Act, passed the Congress. The measure, which helps the government partner with private enterprises to develop energy technologies and is a part of his E4 Initiative to create jobs and boost Wisconsin’s economy, now heads to the president’s desk for his signature:    » read more »

Carper Amendment in Interior Appropriations Bill Directs the EPA to Study Black Carbon Emissions to Improve Public Health & Reduce Global Warming

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – A plan to help reduce black carbon emissions, authored by Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), was included in the final Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2996), which passed the Senate this evening by a vote of 60-40.

The Carper provision directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the environmental impact of dangerous black carbon, and to determine the most cost-effective ways to reduce its emissions to improve public health and reduce global warming.    » read more »

Statement of Lisa P. Jackson Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Legislative Hearing on the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

10/27/2009 -- Chairman Boxer, Ranking Minority Member Inhofe, and members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify about the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

I last appeared before this Committee on July 7. Since then, this Administration has, under President Obama’s leadership, taken unprecedented steps to decrease America’s dependence on oil, put our nation in the lead of the 21st Century energy economy, and reduce the greenhouse-gas pollution that threatens our children and grandchildren.    » read more »

Clean Renewable Energy Bonds Awarded to More Than 800 Recipients Nationally

October 27, 2009 --
WASHINGTON--As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to spur renewable energy production, the U.S. Department of Treasury today announced the allocation of $2.2 billion in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) for 805 recipients across the country.

Funded by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), these energy bonds help government agencies, public power providers, and cooperative electric companies obtain lower cost financing for clean energy development projects.    » read more »