ASERTTI News
Mark Your Calendars: 2010
Energy Outlook Conference, February 1-4, 2010
ASERTTI and NASEO will host the 2010 Energy
Outlook Conference in Washington, DC from February
1-4 at the Fairmont Hotel. Please
click here to visit the event website for more
information. Online registration will be available
soon.
Department of Energy and
National Labs Release New Data on Commercial
Building Energy Goals
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the DOE
national laboratories are releasing technical
support documents that suggest how to achieve 50%
energy savings in four key commercial building
sectors. This is taking place less than two years
after launching the Net-Zero Energy Commercial
Building Initiative, which aims to achieve
marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings by
2025. Please
click here for the full story and links to the
four available technical support documents.
Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy
Jobs and American Power Act Summary and Overview
The U.S. Committee on Environment and Public
Works prepared both a summary and overview of the
"Clean Energy Jobs and America Power Act"
legislation. To view the summary, please
click here. For the overview, please
click here. To link directly to the committee
website to view the original press release, the full
text of the legislation, and all summary documents,
please
click here.
DOE and NREL Announce Open PV
Mapping Project
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced
the beta release of the Open PV Mapping Project. The
Open PV Mapping Project is a collaborative effort
between government, industry, and the public that
will develop a comprehensive database of
photovoltaic (PV) installation data for the United
States. The project is the largest installation
database with over 50,000 entries. For the full
story and a link to the project's website, please
click here.
Bold, Transformational Energy
Research Projects Win $151 Million in Funding
The U.S. Department of Energy announced major
funding for 37 ambitious research projects –
including some that could allow intermittent energy
sources like wind and solar to provide a steady flow
of power, or use bacteria to produce automotive fuel
from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. The $151
million in funding is being awarded through the
DOE's recently-formed Advanced Research Projects
Agency-Energy ("ARPA-E"). ARPA-E's mission is to
develop nimble, creative and inventive approaches to
transform the global energy landscape while
advancing America's technology leadership. This is
the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E,
which is receiving total of $400 million under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. To view the
full press release and additional information on the
projects selected, please
click here.
President Obama
Announces $3.4 Billion Investment to Spur Transition
to Smart Energy Grid
President Barack Obama announced the largest
single energy grid modernization investment in U.S.
history, funding a broad range of technologies that
will spur the nation's transition to a smarter,
stronger, more efficient and reliable electric
system. The end result will promote energy-saving
choices for consumers, increase efficiency, and
foster the growth of renewable energy sources like
wind and solar. The $3.4 billion in grant awards
are part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act, and will be matched by industry funding for a
total public-private investment worth over $8
billion. Applicants state that the projects will
create tens of thousands of jobs, and consumers in
49 states will benefit from these investments in a
stronger, more reliable grid. To view the full
press release and additional information about the
grant awards, please
click here
CEMP Stations to Serve as
"Remote Community Alert System" Demonstration Sites
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) recently awarded ASERTTI
member, the Desert Research Institute (DRI), a
two-year grant to use four Community Environmental
Monitoring Program (CEMP) stations as demonstration
sites for the Remote Community Alert System of the
Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act. The
CEMP stations are monitoring facilities of the
National Nuclear Security Administration, Nevada
Site Office (NNSA/NSO). Please
click here to read the press release.
SMUD Releases Request for
Offers for Carbon Offsets
ASERTTI member, the Sacramento Municipal Utility
District (SMUD), recently released a Request for
Offers (RFO) for 50,000 tonnes of carbon offsets
meeting the rigorous quality standards of the
Climate Action Reserve. Proposals will be due
mid-November 2009. The carbon offsets will be used
to meet customer demand for SMUD's voluntary carbon
offset program. The program, started in 2007, has
more than 1,400 residential members, and will be
expanding to commercial customers in early 2010. As
a result, the RFO is intended to result in the
procurement of approximately 50,000 tonnes of CO2
equivalent offsets. SMUD intends to help fund such
emissions reduction projects using the revenues
collected from participants in the carbon offset
program. For more information and to view the full
press release, please
click here. |
