Conservation

November 5, 2009 -- SOUTH PORTLAND – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today joined Gil Sperling, head of the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, to talk about Maine’s successful weatherization efforts and ways to collaborate with other public and private partners to expand the State’s energy efficiency goals.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $38 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 4 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states – Alaska, Kansas, Utah and West Virginia - will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

11/3/2009 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The installation of 121 fans in 29 buildings across base is expected to reduce energy use and cost of heating systems operation during colder months.

The project, which has a maximum cost of approximately $86,000, is estimated to have a payback time of slightly more than 8 months and save the base more than $1 million over 10 years, according to Christian Thurner, 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental engineer.

The project received funds from the Air Force Productivity Enhancing Program as a Fast Payback Capital Investment, or FASCAP project, meaning the investment was less than $250,000 and had a payback time of less than two years.    » read more »

New Industry and Advocate Agreement to Boost Streetlight Efficiency; Save Electricity and Money

WASHINGTON (November 3, 2009) -- A breakthrough agreement between electrical manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, will create the first national standards for street lights, parking lot lights and other outdoor lighting. The standard will save electricity and money for consumers, taxpayers and local governments.    » read more »

Increased Funding is Good News for America’s Wildlife, Waters and Lands

October 29, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the House and Senate cleared a $32.2 billion Interior and Environment appropriations bill for the 2010 fiscal year. The $4.7 billion increase over 2009 funding levels will improve conservation efforts across the board and give agencies the resources they need to take on new climate change initiatives. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Today, lighting equipment manufacturers and energy efficiency organizations announced agreement on a legislative package that would create new minimum efficiency standards for many types of outdoor lighting products. If enacted by Congress as new legislation, the agreed-upon new standards would reduce U.S. lighting energy use by about 24 to 42 billion kWh annually, equivalent to the annual output of 3 to 6 new 1000 MW power plants (the typical size of a new nuclear unit).    » read more »

Company Utilizing New Manufacturing Practices and Technologies

November 2, 2009 -- Abbott Park, Illinois (NYSE: ABT) — Abbott announced today that it is saving 1 billion gallons of water annually since launching a comprehensive, global effort in 2004 to preserve natural resources through reducing use of water in the production of its nutrition and other health care products.

In 2004, the company set out to achieve a reduction in water use compared to its 2004 baseline by the end of 2011, when normalized to sales.    » read more »

November 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) today announced that significant federal funding for three important land conservation initiatives in New Hampshire has secured final approval. The measure includes $2.5 million for the Silvo O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, $2.4 million for Cardigan Highlands and $1.375 million for the Mahoosuc Gateway/Success Township Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) project.    » read more »

Legislation, crafted in part by Congressman Rothman, funds infrastructure investment, land conservation and cleaner air and water in New Jersey

October 29, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Conference Report, which was co-authored by Congressman Rothman and fellow members of the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced that yesterday, the House and Senate Conference Committee for the FY2010 Interior Appropriations bill, “Approved an historic $475 million down payment for the restoration of the Great Lakes.” The legislation, which the House and Senate will soon vote on for final approval, would fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which was requested by the President and shepherded through Congress by Obey who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

Federal Funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund to Increase by $178 million in Fiscal Year 2010

October 30, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – The Fiscal Year Interior Appropriations bill, which Congress passed last night and which the President is soon expected to sign into law, includes $453 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), an increase of $178 million from last year.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U. S. Representative Neil Abercrombie today announced that the City and County of Honolulu is receiving $3,863,700 for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The block grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to help communities improve their energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create green jobs locally.

“Ultimately, this helps families save money on utility bills,” said Rep. Abercrombie, “because the more energy efficient Hawaii’s communities are, the smaller our overall energy demand and the less fuel we’ll need to generate electricity.”    » read more »

Federal Dollars Will Clean Up Great Lakes, Reduce Beach Closures, Boost Economic Development & Tourism

October 29, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the 2010 Interior Appropriations will include $475 million for President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up the Great Lakes and Rochester’s beaches and allow the area’s tourism and fishing industry to thrive.    » read more »

Washington, DC -- October 28, 2009 -- Following her meeting with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a contribution of $125 million for the first phase of a Signature Energy Program in Pakistan aimed at increasing electricity output and conserving wasted energy and money.

The funding will be aimed at repairing generation facilities, improving the overall effectiveness of local utilities providers, replacing inefficient tube well pumps and promoting energy efficiency.

The six projects announced by Secretary Clinton today will begin reducing the frequency of electricity blackouts, that interfere with commerce and have plagued the Pakistani economy.

These six projects include:    » read more »

Investment will create green jobs and help Hoosier consumers conserve energy, lower utility costs

October 27, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh today announced that Indiana will receive more than $39 million in economic recovery funds to modernize local electrical grids and accelerate Indiana’s transition to a more efficient electric system.

Smart grids are modernized electricity grids that deliver power from suppliers to consumers in a way that saves energy and lowers consumer costs for using electricity during non-peak hours. Bayh announced the funding for Auburn, Carmel and Indianapolis today under The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.    » read more »