Posts tagged Steven Chu
How Washington State Is Electrifying Highways
Jul 14th
Details On How Washington State Is Electrifying Their Highways
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has selected AeroVironment to manufacture, supply, install and manage 9 fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations along Interstate 5 and US-Highway 2.
The $1 million project will allow Aerovironment to place a station every 40-60 miles at strategic fueling stations, travel center and shopping malls near highway exits. Fast-charging stations will be able to fully charge a vehicle in less than 30 minutes. There will also be a Level 2 “medium-speed” charging station at each location which offers a cheaper, longer-time-to-charge option, as well. The fast charging stations are expected to be up and running by the end of November.
Details about the hybrid-like features of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse
We wanted to share with you some interesting design specs for the new 2012 Biuck LaCross. Buick isn’t touting the new model as a hybrid car, but the vehicle has many energy-focused design improvements that are worth noting. Borrowing from hybrid electronic technology, the LaCrosse will features the eAssist system, which is an advanced internal combustion engine technology that will allow the vehicle to capture energy normally lost during deceleration. That energy will then be consumed to generate up to 15 horsepower of electrical assistance to the engine. Tests show that this new system will perform at a 26 percent fuel economy improvement. The eAssist will come standard for 2012 Buick LaCrosse.
Severstal Dearborn, LLC receives $730M conditional loan guarantee from the DOE
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has granted a conditional loan commitment of $730 million for the advancement of automotive advanced high strength steel. Severstal Dearborn, LLC, who is the beneficiary of the announcement, plans to modernize existing facilities in Dearborn, Michigan, and build new ones. AHSS is a key component in the development of fuel-efficient vehicles and this announcement is expected to help U.S. automotive manufacturers meet the pending and future design, weight, and safety requirements of advanced technology vehicles.
Butte College Goes ‘Grid Positive’
Jun 30th
Butte College Goes ‘Grid Positive’
California-based Butte College has become the first U.S. college go ‘grid positive,’. Each year, the college is able to generate more electricity, over 6.5 million kilowatt hours, than it consumes from 25,000 solar panels that are spread out over the 928-acre property. It is estimated that the college will achieve between $50 million and $75 million in savings over 15 years.
Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced conditional loan guarantee commitments totaling approximately $4.5 billion for the development of three solar generation facilities. The Antelope Valley Solar Ranch project, the Desert Sunlight project and the Topaz Solar project are all focusing on building alternating current Cadmium Telluride (Cd-Te) thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar generation facilities. When completed the projects, which will all be located in California, will generate approximately 1.33 GW of clean electricity. This announcement raises the total number of DOE supported projects to 40 at a projected loan guarantee total of over $38 billion.
A study by APCO Insight has found that the Fukushima nuclear disaster has had a minimal impact on the amount of support for nuclear power in the US. A June survey of private and public sector public policy elites shows that 69% of energy policy makers and influentials still feel that nuclear power should be a somewhat or very high priority for fulfilling future energy demand. 65% of those surveyed gave a favorable impression of nuclear energy’s ability to balance environmental and energy needs. This is a 5% drop from the time the initial survey was taken which was in November 2010.
Duke Energy & ENN Group EcoPartnership Agreement Materializes
May 11th
EcoPartnership Established Between Duke Energy & ENN Group
Duke Energy and China’s ENN Group have teamed up to create an EcoPartnership with the city of Charlotte, N.C., and the Chinese city of Langfang in Hebei Province. Duke Energy and ENN’s initial EcoPartnership projects will involve testing of solar power generation, substation and community battery storage capabilities, grid management optimization and energy efficiency initiatives. With Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in attendance, the signing took place at the U.S. State Department yesterday. Secretary Clinton was very pleased that the EcoPartnership was coming to fruition. Others may join this EcoPartnership in the future, including universities, additional companies and other public entities.
Statoil Announces A New Discovery In The North Sea
A new oil field has been discovered on the North Sea Krafla prospect by Statoil and its partners. The successful well was drilled at block 30/11 around 16 miles south of the Statoil’s Oseberg South field. Initial analysis calculates the discovery between 12.5 and 56.5 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalent.
DOE Awards $90.6M Conditional Loan Guarantee Offer To Increase Colorado Solar Capacity
In an effort to increase solar production in Colorado, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has offered a conditional loan commitment to Cogentrix of Alamosa in the amount of $90.6 million. The loan guarantee will help build a 30MW High Concentration Solar Photovoltaic (HCPV) generation project near Alamosa, Colorado. When used in areas with high amounts of direct sunlight, multi-junction solar cells are nearly 40 percent more efficient than more traditional PV panels. It is expected that the Public Service Company of Colorado will purchase all of the approximately 75,000 megawatt hours of clean renewable energy that will be generated each year.
Two High Schoolers Reduce School’s Energy Use
Apr 28th
High Schoolers Encourage School to Reduce Energy
Two high school juniors helped their school reduce its energy consumption by 13 percent, merely by encouraging their school to measure its energy use. The two girls, Shriya Indukuri and Daniela Lapiduos, are students are Harker Upper School in San Jose, California. They requested that their school administration use simple meters to measure energy usage and discovered that the air conditioning in the gym was left running through the night. The findings helped the school reduce consumption and save money and the two students behind the mini-movement founded their own non-profit, SmartPowerEd to help other school do the same.
DOE Hosts Tribal Summit for Energy
Energy Secretary Steven Chu is hosting a summit with American Indian and Alaska Native Leaders on May 4-5 to discuss the development of clean energy projects on tribal lands. The Tribal Summit will be held at the Crystal City Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia and will also be streamed online. Chu hopes to gain approval for clean energy projects by emphasizing the benefits for the tribes in terms of jobs and revenue brought in by the projects. The leadership of all 565 federally recognized tribes has been invited as well as national and regional tribal organizations.
Indiana Senate Passes Energy Bill
The Indiana State Senate passed a bill creating a voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard (CPS) that sets a goal of 10 percent of the state’s electricity to be generated through clean energy sources by 2025. The Senate passed the bill 31-19, including an amendment that decrees that at least half of the energy produced by utilities participating in the CPS must come from within Indiana. The bill, written by Senator Bev Gard, passed in the state House last week with a bipartisan vote as well of 62-34. All it is waiting for now is a signature by Governor Mitch Daniels.
Churches Can Go Green Too
Many churches are “greening their congregations” by fitting in environmental responsibility into their practices, encouraging church members that they can “lesson their negative impact on God’s beautiful creation.” There are several tips offered to churches such as hiring an energy auditor to assess the church’s energy usage and eliminate unnecessary uses. Also, churches can switch out their traditional light bulbs for more efficient LEDs or Compact Fluorescents. There are multiple non-profit organizations that champion the cause of “greening congregations” and others that offer tips to parish leaders.
9.6-MW Solar Project Completed in California School District
The largest school-based solar power installation in the United States has been completed atop 10 schools in the Antelope Valley Union High School District in California. The 9.6-MW project was constructed and designed by PsomasFMG beginning August 2010 and cost a $52 million. It is expected to save the district $40 million in energy costs over the next two decades. The solar panels should produce enough clean energy to power about 80 percent of the school district’s electricity needs.
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.
DOE Sponsors Research Programs for Postdoctoral Fellows
Mar 11th
DOE launches two new research programs for postdoctoral research fellows, Canada’s largest wind farm has been approved and the manufacturers of the MV-1 get a loan guarantee to produce more natural gas vehicles that are handicap accessible.
The Ultimate Competition for LED Bulbs
Mar 8th
LED companies compete for the L-Prize, Japanese vending machines to offer EV chargers, and construction of the world’s first hybrid solar power plant has been completed.
Top 10 States with LEED-Certified Buildings
Mar 7th
The Green Building Council announces top ten states with the most LEED-certified buildings per capita. Also, how did NASCAR driver Carl Edwards perform with his Mustang running on ROUSH propane?
NASCAR Going Green for Daytona Race
Feb 18th
Green pickups to patrol the Daytona 500, Ford plants to adopt energy efficient lighting and the DOE Giving $5 Million to GATE Centers.
Loading ...
Recent Comments