Posts tagged energy report
Power-Saver Loans Available for Energy Upgrades
Apr 22nd
Low-Cost Loans Available for Energy Improvements
A Department of Energy and US Housing Department joint pilot program will grant low-cost loans to people who want to make energy-efficient improvements on their homes. Up to $25,000 in “Powersaver loans” will be given to families to fund projects such as installing insulation, duct sealing, replacing doors and windows or HVAC systems, solar panels and other such renovations. The project not only helps homeowners lower energy bills, but it gives the local green job market a boost as well. All loans granted will be backed by the Federal Housing Administration, whose mortgage insurance will pay 90 percent of the loan amount in case of a default. Only those with acceptable credit and some equity on their homes will qualify for the loan.
New Mexico Improves Hydropower Plant
A New Mexico project will be first hydropower project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Abiquiu Hydropower initiative will increase renewable energy generation by 22 percent from the current capability of the plant, so that it will now generate 16.8 megawatts. The improvements will allow the plant to power up to 1,100 homes per year in Los Alamos County.
Ukraine Invited to G20 Meeting to Discuss Nuclear Security
Ukraine has been invited on behalf of the French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, to participate in the next G20 summit on issues of nuclear security this May in Paris, France. After the Chernobyl accident, Ukrainian nuclear power plants have undergone a thorough safety assessment in part conducted through an EU-Ukraine-International Atomic Energy Association joint committee. More recently, Ukraine has engaged in modernizing all nuclear plants to ensure stability in the event of an earthquake and has also established a regulatory committee at the legislative level.
Energy Flair Entices Americans to Reduce Consumption
What’s the latest game that plays on Americans’ competitive spirit to get them to be more energy efficient? Energy Flair is an online competition that encourages users to save energy and uses competition as its incentive. Users can log on and create an account for free using their ever-popular Facebook or their email. Once in the game, they can see how their average electricity and gas bills compare to those of their Facebook Friends on Energy Flair, all other Flair users as well as the other statewide households. Participants upload electric copies of their bills and they can earn digital badges for reducing their energy use.
North Carolina Flooded with Energy Legislation
The North Carolina state legislature was hit with an influx of energy bills on Tuesday including proposals touting more natural gas production and others to boost offshore wind capacity. One proposal seeks to allow owners of renewable energy projects with a capacity of two-megawatts or fewer to sell power directly to customers, bypassing the utility regulations. Another proposes to create a 60-MW or smaller wind farm in northwestern NC. Obstructing its construction is the Ridge Law that bans building of tall structures on mountain ridges. Among the largest bills is the Offshore Wind Jobs and Economic Development Act, which wants to require state utilities enter long-term contracts with offshore wind farms. The proposal aims to create 2,500-MW of offshore capacity over a stretch of seven to 10 years with the first project operational by the end of 2017. Proposals have been met with enthusiasm as well as criticism, but the passage of all the bills remains questionable.
Written by Krishna Patel.
Krishna can be reached at krishna.patel@dailyenergyreport.com.
Zero Waste Reality Show Airing in Austin
Apr 21st
Zero Waste Reality TV Show Airs in Texas
Four Austin, Tex. Families have five weeks to reduce their household trash to zero on the new reality TV show, Dare to Go Zero premiering on Earth Day. The show, produced by the City of Austin, is the first reality show designed to educate residents on how to eliminate trash to reach zero waste. It is a reflection of Austin’s goal to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills by 90 percent by 2040. What is the prize for the families documenting their waste reduction: a sustainable home improvement package worth over $2,000. The challenge begins this Friday, April 22.
Minnesota Leading Twin Cities Challenge
The Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition, based in Saint Paul, Minn., is the nation’s top program, according to the Department of Energy’s rankings. The city has displaced more than 135 million gallons of gasoline between 2005 and 2009. The Clean Cities program was developed by the DOE to facilitate the entry of alternative fuel vehicles and reduce cities’ dependence on foreign oil imports. Minnesota has over 360 ethanol blend stations, more than any other state, and was also the first state to require a five percent biodiesel blend.
Offshore Wind Farm Approved
The nation’s first offshore wind farm has received all nods to begin construction this fall. The controversial Cape Wind project off the Nantucket, Mass. Sound has received approval from the Interior Department for its 130 wind turbines. Gaining this approval took the better part of ten years because of concerns voiced about possible environmental harm as a result of the turbines. Another issue, brought up by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy was the ruin of the landscape’s aesthetic appeal and the lowering of property value for real estate near the wind farm’s tall turbines.
Energy Research Facility Awarded Millions in Funding
An additional $130 million is being allotted to the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to develop five additional clean energy projects. One of the projects involves the production of more efficient plants that can yield greater biofuel production to make the option cost-competitive with oil. Another project aims to improve high-energy thermal storage as over 90 percent of energy technologies involve thermal energy transport. Another research goal will work to find substitutes for increasingly expensive rare earth minerals used in equipment such as electric vehicle motors.
Vestas Turbines used for Canadian Wind Farm
A Canadian wind project is underway to add 104-megawatts of energy to the Canadian market. Vestas has been chosen to provide the wind turbines for the initiative and the company has also been contracted for a 10-year service and maintenance agreement. So far this year, Vestas has already supplied over 1,000 turbines to Canada for a total of 1,683-megawatts of wind power generating capacity. However, the company has not specified the buyer for this particular contract, saying only that it is a Canadian wind facility.
AAA Advises Consumers to Drive Greener
Apr 20th
Triple A Offers Tips to Save Money on Fuel
AAA, the nation’s largest motor club offered several techniques to drive greener for those who cannot afford to go out and buy the latest hybrid or EV. The first of these tips is to merely change your driving style. “Imagine there are eggs under the pedal,” AAA advises. By easing off the gas and brake pedals, you expend less gas. Rather than coming to immediate jerking stops and starts, coast to red lights. Another tip is to slow down because every five miles over 60mph is an extra $0.24 per gallon, according to the Department of Energy. Maintaining the car is also important to prevent engine build up and excessive fuel emissions. One final tip offered was to plan ahead and schedule trips and errands in a way to avoid extra driving. Stop by the supermarket on your way home from work rather than taking an extra trip.
DOE and Google Partner to Fund EV Infrastructure
The Department of Energy announced $5 million in funding for the deployment of additional EV infrastructure and charging stations. Energy Secretary Steven Chu is partnering with Google and about 80 EV shareholders to help reach the Obama Administration’s efforts to reduce foreign oil imports by a third by 2025. Local governments and private companies will be required to apply for funding by developing plans and incentive programs or other initiatives that encourage electric vehicle adoption.
Solar Thermal Plant Underway in California
A solar thermal power plant in Blythe, California received the largest ever amount offered to a solar project from the Department of Energy. The $2.1 billion loan will support two solar thermal units with a combined capacity of 484-MW. The plant will generate enough energy to power 95,000 homes annually.
Energy Efficient Family Shares Tips
Three months after they received a Net-Zero Energy Efficient home on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, the Hurston family has begun using the money they saved to support Haiti relief efforts. Siemens donated many of the technologies and materials for the home’s solar photovoltaic system and wind turbine. The custom built and decorated four bedroom home generates enough power to power itself in the daylight and excess electricity produced offsets any energy consumed at night, making it a net-zero energy home. In honor of Earth Day, the family shared some of their experiences and tips for saving energy such as turning all unused lights off and not turning the AC on too cool.
Biorefinery Under Construction in Michigan
Cobalt Technologies and American Process are building the world’s first industrial-scale cellulosic biorefinery to produce biobutanol. The Alpena Biorefinery will convert part of the biomass into biobutanol, a chemical used in coatings and paints as well as an ingredient in renewable jet fuel. The plant will begin production in mid-2012 and it is expected to generate 470,000 gallons of biobutanol annually. The facility is under construction in Alpena, Michigan.
EU and Ukraine Sign Nuclear Energy Agreement
Apr 19th
EU Works with Ukraine for Nuclear Energy Cooperation
Ukraine and the European Commission signed an agreement to finance the Program of Action for nuclear safety, just one day before the international conference on Chernobyl. The document notes several joint actions including a nuclear safety program, the management of nuclear wastes and an EU commitment to assist the Ukrainian authorities responsible for nuclear safety. The Chernobyl conference begins today, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the nuclear accident. To date, the EU has been the largest donor to the Chernobyl Shelter Fund, with a new pledge of 240 million euros to fund a new shell over the damaged reactor.
Northeast Sports Facility Goes Green
United Sports, a multi-sport facility for kids in the Northeast, has called for a green energy makeover. The official announcement will be made at on Thursday that United Sports has partnered with Mercury Solar Systems and Exelon Corp. to make energy efficient renovations. The facility aims to power two thirds of its energy needs through solar and hydro power. The 207-kW solar energy system will be installed on the roof of the building. United Sports is ideal to spread the message of clean energy to the many youth that visit the facility.
Bio-Fueled Car Comes Second in Le Mans Race
A car powered by G-Oil, an environmentally friendly fuel, took second place in the American Le Mans Series at Long Beach this past weekend. Chris Dyson and Guy Smith drove the car for the team’s best finish at Long Beach. Over the past weekend, Dyson Racing also discussed alternative fuels with students from Long Beach City College’s Advanced Transportation Technology program. The car used by Dyson is often touted as the “greenest car in the paddock” because of its use of isobutanol and G-Oil. The latter is a bio-based motor oil created by Green Earth Technologies.
Universal Studios Installs Fuel Cell System
Universal Studios Hollywood has installed an onsite fuel cell energy system in an effort to use alternative energies to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 40 percent. The company began an energy reduction program in 2007 and this newest system will coincide with “Green is Universal’s Earth Week,” celebrated throughout NBCUniversal.
Shell’s Eco-Marathon Yields Astounding Results
This past weekend, Shell hosted its fifth annual Eco-marathon Americas, challenging students to design and test fuel-efficient vehicles to see which would travel the farthest using the least energy. The team from Université Laval in Quebec, Canada won the Internal Combustion First Prize. Their car ran 2,564.8 miles per gallon in the Prototype class. In the UrbanConcept class, Louisiana Tech University from Ruston, La. took home first place with a best run of 646.7 mpg.
Clean Energy “Ideas Train” Departs from Germany
Apr 18th
Train of Ideas Departs Hamberg
The “Train of Ideas” is chugging through Europe for the next seven months, carrying Hamburg, Germany’s ideas of sustainable cities. Hamberg was named the European Green Capital for 2011. The “Train of Ideas” is a mobile exhibition that will go through 17 European cities, beginning in Copenhagen and making its way to Antwerp, Belgium. It will display over 100 interactive exhibits from Hamberg and other cities featuring ideas about energy and climate protection, saving resources and reducing consumption, among others. The “Train of Ideas” was one of the reasons the EU Commission chose Hamberg for the title of European Green Capital.
Research to Improve Cool Roofs Underway
Two national laboratories have joined with the Dow Chemical Company to fund research to develop cool roofing technologies under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. The research aims to improve existing cool roof technologies to result in energy savings of over 50 percent, up from the 15 percent offered by current cool roofs. The Oak Ridge National Lab and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, branches of the Department of Energy, will attempt to develop solar reflective roof coatings that will outlast the effects of microbial growth and constant exposure to harsh conditions.
Funding Announced for Additional Biomass Projects
The Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture announced $30 million in funding over the next three to four years in support of the development of new advanced biofuels and research in bioenergy. The projects that will receive funding from this Biomass Research and Development Initiative are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 percent compared to fossil fuels, according to the DOE. Applicable projects fall under three categories. The first is Feedstock Development where the funding will go toward improving the supply, harvest, processing and storage for biomass feedstock. Also, initiatives that offer increased use of biomass in the productions of biofuel and other biobased products will also receive funding. The third category is projects that develop tools that analyze the development of biofuel including cost effectiveness and environmental effects.
Google Makes its Largest Renewable Investment
Google has made its largest renewable energy investment yet with a $168 million contribution toward Brightsource Energy’s Ivanpah solar thermal power plant in the Mojave Desert. The plant, once completed, will have a capacity of 392- MW. The plant is scheduled to be operational by 2013. This investment brings Google’s total renewable energy tab up to $250 million.
GM Leads Clean Energy Patents
General Motors (GM) received more clean-energy patents in 2010 than any other organization, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index of U.S. Patents. The company’s 135 patents represent almost 14 percent of the 1,881 patents. This is GM’s first appearance at the top of the list. One of the innovations patented was the use of regenerative braking to allow the battery to charge while the car is in motion, thus saving fuel. Another idea was using a heater to preheat the battery while the car is cold to improve electric driving range.
DOE and Partners Test Smart Grid Technolgies
Apr 15th
DOE Works to Test Smart Grid Technologies
The Department of Energy has partnered with Duke Energy and Electric Power Research Institute to test and deploy projects to improve the electric grid. The specific projects are ones that were worked on by the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The companies will identify smart grid technologies for grid-scale energy storage, energy efficient cooling technologies and power electronics. Duke Energy, which delivers energy to about 4 million customers, will test the technologies at its various plants or wind farms. EPRI, a non-profit research organization, will offer testing at two of its labs.
Construction Begins on 150-MW Solar Facility
Sempra Generation is going to begin construction on its PV power plant this June. The 150-MW Mesquite Solar 1 facility will produce enough electricity to power 56,000 homes. It will be operational by early 2013. Construction is expected to create about 300 jobs at its peak. The project is the first phase of the company’s plans to install a 700-MW Mesquite Solar complex.
RV Parks Part of EV Market
RV parks have found a new revenue boost with the emerging electric vehicle market. Parks have been around for decades, charging RVs with 240-volt charging stations. More and more parks are now being used by EV drivers looking for a quick charge up. Some have even installed EV charging stations specifically for their new customers. Drivers also buy snacks and use campground facilities, creating further revenue.
Energy Company Issues Report Cards for NYC
FS Energy is issuing Energy Report Cards for New York City residential properties managed by Cooper Square Reality. The report will monitor and analyze energy consumption in residences, allowing owners to assess how efficient their building is in comparison to others. The service is free and enables clients to weigh the best options to improve their building’s efficiency. One part of the report is the Building Energy Rating Guide (BERG), an energy score ranging from one to ten. This makes is easier to judge one building’s efficiency relative to others. Their project reflects NYC’s Local Law 84 that requires large buildings to measure their energy and water usage by May 1, 2011.
NJ Solar Installations on the Rise
The popularity of solar installations has been increasing. Just take New Jersey for example where Trinity Solar, the state’s largest solar energy provider, has installed over 2,000 systems. The company has been in the business since 2004 and says that it has reported a greater demand for solar power from both residential and commercial clients. The panels have been growing in popularity as customers discover not only the cost savings offered by a solar installation, but also that it can earn them money if they are able to sell some energy credits back to utilities.
The DOE Announces Car Engineering Contest
Apr 14th
The DOE Launched New Green Car Engineering Contest
The Department of Energy launched its EcoCar2 competition between 16 universities Wednesday at the SAE International 2011 World Congress in Detroit, Michigan. The challenge is an educational cooperation between General Motors and the DOE to prep future engineers in clean energy technologies. The EcoCAR 2 is a three-year collegiate engineering competition in which rival teams work to reduce the “environmental impact” of an existing car without compromising standards of performance and safety. Some participating universities include California State, Pennsylvania State, University of Ontario Institute of Technology and University of Victoria. Online PhD is a resource for people who are ready for advanced education in the fields of science, engineering, and more. The leaders in the fields of energy and environmental studies often have advanced training and skills.
Hawaiian Solar Project Complete
Hawaii’s largest solar parking canopy is complete. The 856-kW system was an undertaking by Chevron Energy, Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Tioga Energy. Solar PV panels span across two buildings and parking canopies. As per the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, the state aims to generate 70 percent of its power from clean energy by 2030. The panels will also help Mililani Tech Park achieve LEED Gold certification.
Pickens Represents Natural Gas at NGVAmerica Event
Oil-turned-clean energy advocate T. Boone Pickens encouraged Congressmen to adopt clean energy and natural gas through energy legislation. “Every month I report on how much money our country is spending on imported oil,” said Pickens. “March tipped the scale as we spent nearly $40 billion—$922,912 per minute—on imported oil, representing a staggering 72% of our oil needs.” The event was sponsored by NGVAmerica, a representative of the gas vehicle industry. The newly proposed NAT GAS Act was supported by President Obama as a solution that undermines partisan lines and has recruited 160 cosponsors from both parties.
BP Horizon Spill Still Effecting the Gulf
It has been a year since the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and experts still report findings of oil in gulf marshes and beaches that are habitats for at-risk bird species. Thousands of gallons of oil spilled into the gulf until it was capped in July. Audubon, an organization dedicated to bird conservation, reports that there is still oil seeping through grasslands on important bird breeding and feeding grounds. Several species are more vulnerable such as the Black Skimmer, Clapper Rail, Least Tern and Seaside Sparrow among others.
SDG&E Signs 30MW of Solar Energy Contracts
San Diego Gas & Electric have signed three contracts with a 30-MW combined capacity of solar energy. The concentrator PV modules will produce enough renewable energy to provide electricity to over 11,000 households. The San Diego operations will also create up to 450 direct jobs for the area. The factory is expected to be completed by 2014, within 18 months of construction.
Duke Energy Acquires its Fifth Solar Farm
Apr 13th
Duke Energy’s New Solar Farm on Elementary School
Duke Energy has acquired a one-megawatt solar farm on the grounds of Martins Creek Elementary School in Murphy, North Carolina. Over 4,000 ground-mounted solar panels are expected to generate 1.3 million kWh of electricity annually. That is enough to power 150 average-sized homes. The installation is the third-largest solar farm on a school property in the U.S.
DOE Funds Solar Ranch Project in California
The DOE is offering $1.2 billion to support the California Valley Solar Ranch project by SunPower Corp. The 250-megawatt project will be built in San Luis Obispo County, California. It will produce sufficient electricity to power up to 60,000 average sized homes, offsetting nearly 430,000 tons of CO2. The ranch will be among the largest utility-scale PV projects to use tracking technology combined with a new tracking system.
One Million Euros Raised for Biomass
BIOeCON has raised one million Euros from existing shareholders to build a prototype of a fuel cell to convert cellulosic biomass into electricity. Dubbed, BiCEPS (Biomass Conversion to Electrical Power Systems), the project is being developed in cooperation with Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. The goal is to turn the waste into power that can be used as a transportation fuel.
Nation’s First LEED Platinum Certified Plant at OSU
Jacobs Engineering has built the first LEED-Platinum certified power plant for Oregon State University’s heat plant. This is the highest possible level of LEED awarded by the Green Building Council. The council is a third-party evaluator of sustainable designs. The new heat plant reduces CO2 emissions by 38 percent compared to the old plant built in 1923. The Energy Center’s green features include natural lighting, a white reflective roof, and hot water generated using heat recovery.
No New Hydropower Plants Planned
Hydropower may have gotten some attention from the Interior Department, but there have not been plans to build new hydroelectric dams. Instead, the agency wants to generate additional electricity by adding to the hydropower capacity at 70 of its existing dams. Although new dams will generate electricity, there is a great deal of unnecessary environmental damage when water flow is disrupted. The Department of Interior wants to generate up to one million megawatt hours of electricity annually.
Japan Raises Fukushima Nuclear Plant Threat To “Chernobyl” Level
Apr 12th
Japan’s Nuclear Power Plant Crisis Now At Level Of Chernobyl
Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has announced that they have “provisionally” raised the threat level associated with the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant from a 5 to a 7. This is the same level that was given to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union, which occurred almost 25 years ago. The rating is part of the International Nuclear Event scale that is used to quantify the severity of a nuclear crisis. Japans regulators explained that they raised the threat level to a 7 regulators because they finally have a good idea of how much radiation has been released into the environment. But they made sure that it was clear that the amount of radiation that’s been released is only about one tenth of the amount that was released during Chernobyl and no fatalities have currently been reported.
UNT to Install Turbines at Stadium
The Mean Green Village is going green. The University of North Texas is upgrading its football stadium and surrounding areas, called Mean Green Village, making it the first collegiate stadium to use onsite renewable energy. The power will be generated using three 100-kW wind turbines that will be integrated with the electrical grid that powers the football field as well as a few other buildings on the campus. The project is funded in part by a $2 million grant from the State Energy Conservation Office. The turbines are expected to offset energy consumption by about six percent, eliminating 323 metric tons of CO2 annually.
DOE Grants Loan for California Solar Power Project
The DOE announced its first solar generation loan in California , a $1.6 billion guarantee to fund the Ivanpah Solar Energy Generation System. The system involves three related concentrated solar power plants in the Mojave Desert. Sponsored by BrightSource Energy, the project is predicted to be one of the world’s largest concentrated solar power complexes. Work for the project is expected to create upwards of 1,000 jobs for California. The solar complex will produce enough energy to power 85,000 homes, offsetting 640,000 tons of CO2 annually.
Congressional Bill Ignores Autogas
President Obama has indicated his desire to reduce U.S. oil imports by one third by 2025 through the use of alternative fuels. Several parties have voiced their opposition, however, to the fact that Congress is currently reviewing only legislation that offers federal incentives for natural gas vehicles. The bill in question, the New Alternative Transportation to Give America Solutions Act of 2011, does not include provisions for those who use propane autogas. “Propane autogas powers more than 15 million vehicles in 38 countries, and is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world,” said Steve Wambold, President and CEO of Ferrellgas, which is one of the nation’s largest propane companies.
Energy Upgrades at Non-Profit Food Bank
Lusio Solid-State Lighting installed its light fixtures at Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, a not-for-profit agency that has been feeding the hungry for 27 years. The agency made energy efficient upgrades upon the receipt of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funded by the DOE.
Obama Vows to Side with EPA on Energy Tax Bill
Apr 11th
Obama Will not Pass Energy Tax Prevention Act
President Obama has vowed to veto the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 if it manages to pass through the Senate. The Act, already gone through the House vote, aims to curb EPA power over the Clean Air Act that allows the agency to tax carbon dioxide emissions. Proponents of the Energy Tax Prevention Act claim the EPA’s regulations cost Americans their jobs and unnecessary expenses on behalf of businesses. Those who support the EPA’s authority to tax greenhouse gas emission say it is a vital function of the Clean Air Act and such regulation is necessary to contain climate change.
GE Goes from Solar Investor to Manufacturer
GE announced the company’s intentions to build the largest solar panel factory in the United States by 2013. The factory will be capable of producing panels worth 400-MW of electricity per year. Although the factory is not yet under constructions, customers are already lined up such as NextEra Energy, who plans to buy 60-MW worth of the thin-film cadmium telluride panels. Although the panels are less efficient compared to conventional panels with an efficiency rate of 16-20 percent, they are cheaper to produce, making them attractive to developers.
Concrete Boom Pumps Headed for Japanese Nuclear Plants
Two of the world’s largest concrete boom pumps are on their way to Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant to help keep the nuclear reactors cool. The pumps departed from Los Angeles International Airport and Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport on Russian Antonov cargo jets, one of the world’s largest aircrafts. Each pump weighs approximately 190,000 pounds and can reach over 227 feet. The machines are typically used to pour concrete for bridges and high-rises and they will provide accurate reach to hotspot in the reactors. Furthermore, the pumps can operate from 1.2 miles away, keeping the operator safe from exposure. Eleven such pumps, also made by Putzmeister, were sent to contain the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
World’s First Fuel Cell Olympics this Week
The first-ever A World in Motion Fuel Cell Olympics will be held this Thursday, April 14, during the SAE International 2011 World Congress in Detroit, Michigan. Sponsored by the GM Foundation, the Fuel Cell Olympics invite student teams to compete in several events using small car models powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The technology used in the cars will be available to educators and young engineers to promote clean energy. Basically, distilled water is the source of the fuel and a reversible fuel cell electrolyzes the water to separate H2 molecules that power the electric motor. Distance, weight, accuracy and speed will all be judged during the various events.
Chu Increases Funding for SunShot
Secretary Steven Chu increased the previously announced $110 million toward the SunShot Initiative to $170 million. The project aims to reduce the cost of solar energy systems by 75 percent until it is closer to $1 per watt before 2020. Advancing energy grid integration, increasing research and development and discovering new materials for PV panels will all help lowering the costs.
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