Renewable Energy News

New Farm Bill Speeds Commercialization of Advanced Biofuels
Congress has passed a new farm bill that will accelerate the commercialization of advanced biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol, encourage the production of biomass crops, and expand the current Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. Section 9003 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 provides for grants covering up to 30% of the cost of developing and building demonstration-scale biorefineries for producing "advanced biofuels," which essentially includes all fuels that are not produced from corn kernel starch. It also allows for loan guarantees of up to $250 million for building commercial-scale biorefineries to produce advanced biofuels. The bill funds the biorefinery program by drawing $75 million in funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for fiscal year (FY) 2009, increasing to $245 million by FY 2010. It also authorizes $150 million per year in discretionary funds for the program.

Section 15321 of the bill establishes a new tax credit for producers of cellulosic biofuels, that is, biofuels produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants. The new cellulosic biofuel producer credit is set at $1.01 per gallon and applies only to fuel produced and used as fuel in the United States. In addition, Section 9005 of the bill provides $55 million in CCC funds in FY 2009 to support advanced biofuel production, increasing to $105 million by FY 2012. It also authorizes up to $25 million per year in discretionary funding. The more crop-oriented measures include Section 9010 of the bill, which allows the CCC to buy sugar from U.S. producers and sell it to bioenergy producers, and Section 9011, which creates the Biomass Crop Assistance Program to support the establishment and production of biomass crops.

Section 9007 of the bill renames the U.S. Department of Agriculture's current Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program as the "Rural Energy for America Program," providing $55 million in CCC funds for FY 2009, increasing to $70 million for FY 2011 and 2012, while authorizing another $25 million in discretionary funds. The program will provide grants of up to 25% of the cost of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements for agricultural producers and rural small businesses, as well as guarantees for loans as large as $25 million. Section 9009 of the bill creates a new "Rural Energy Self-Sufficiency Initiative," which will support efforts to develop community-wide renewable energy systems. The bill provides no firm funding for the initiative but authorizes up to $5 million per year in discretionary funds. Likewise, Section 9013 authorizes up to $5 million per year to support community-wide wood-fueled energy systems.

The bill also provides $35 million in CCC funds to encourage existing biorefineries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. It continues the Biomass Research and Development Initiative, a joint effort of DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture that focuses on biofuels and bioproducts. The bill provides $20 million in CCC funds to support the initiative in FY 2009, increasing to $40 million by FY 2012, while authorizing up to $35 million per year in discretionary funds. See the new farm bill.

Arkansas Sees Growth in Switchgrass Research
A number of test plots in Arkansas are helping researchers to study the feasibility of switchgrass for production of biofuels. Aronomists are using the test plots to study how many tons per acre farmers could expect to harvest for the production of biomass to make cellulosic biofuels, according to this report from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Switchgrass is favored as a cellulosic feedstock for biofuels because its production costs are low and it can grow well on marginal soils.

Switchgrass research is not new in Arkansas. Researchers at the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service have been studying the grass since 1997 at the Plant Materials Center south of Booneville in Logan County. In addition, research efforts are underway at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. More…

Philips County Farmers Using Vegetable Oil to Power Diesel Engines
Looking for a way to reduce diesel costs on their farm, Tracy Griffin and his father, Buron Griffin Jr., who farm in Phillips County south of Helena-West Helena, found a solution in Bill Kennerly. According to this report in Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Kennerly, who owns Arkansas Vegetable Fuel Systems Inc. in Malvern, modified five of the Griffins' diesel irrigation pumps to burn used vegetable oil. Kennerly collects, filters and then sells the oil for a dollar less than the comparable price of off-road diesel fuel. For at least one of the converted engines, Tracy Griffin expects a payback of less than a year, adding that the modified engines operate just as efficiently with vegetable oil as they do with diesel. More…

U.S. Continues to Lead the World in Wind Power Growth
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the 2007 edition of its Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends , which provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the rapidly evolving U.S. wind power market. Notably, the report finds that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 46 percent in 2007, with $9 billion invested in U.S. wind plants in 2007 alone, making the U.S. the fastest-growing wind power market in the world for the third straight year. The report also showed that wind is on a path to becoming a significant contributor to the U.S. power mix—wind projects accounted for 35 percent of all new U.S. electric generating capacity in 2007, and transmission facilities capable of generating a total of over 200 GW of wind power are in the early stages of development throughout the nation. More...

DOE Announces Effort to Advance U.S. Wind Power Manufacturing Capacity
DOE has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DOE and six leading wind industry turbine manufacturers: GE Energy, Siemens Power Generation, Vestas Wind Systems, Clipper Turbine Works, Suzlon Energy, and Gamesa Corporation. The two-year collaboration is designed to promote wind energy in the U.S. through advanced technology research and development, and siting strategies aimed to advance industrial wind power manufacturing capabilities.

The MOU between DOE and the six major turbine manufacturers demonstrates the shared commitment of the federal government and the private sector to create the roadmap necessary to achieve 20 percent wind energy by 2030,” DOE Assistant Secretary Karsner said. “To dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance our energy security, clean power generation at the gigawatt-scale will be necessary to expand the domestic wind manufacturing base and streamline the permitting process.” More...

Third Arkansas Biodiesel Plant Opens
The new Pinnacle Biofuels Inc. facility is up and running in Crossett, and will produce as much as 10 million gallons of biodiesel each year. According to this report on NWAnews.com, the facility is designed to produce biodiesel from both vegetable oils and animal fats. Its 20 employees produce 28,000 to 30,000 gallons of biodiesel each day. This is Arkansas ' third biofuels plant. The second plant, Stuttgart-based Patriot Bio-Fuels Inc., which went online in April 2006, suffered severe tornado damage and currently isn't producing. Two additional plants, near West Helena and DeWitt, are scheduled to begin production later this summer. More…

New Biofuels Crops Come With New Challenges
A movement to create the next generation of biofuels from non-food crops such as wild grasses is strongly underway. The advantage of these fuels is that they don't impact the food supply the way biofuels made from corn and other food sources has, albeit unintentionally. However, according to experts, these new fuels also could have unintended consequences, according to this report in The New York Times. For example, many of the new crops are considered invasive weeds, which means they have the potential to overrun neighboring farms and natural land, and “create economic and ecological havoc in the process.” Scientists from the Global Invasive Species Program say the spread of these new crops could be difficult to control, recommending more thorough studies before planting in new areas. More...

Arkansas Still in Pursuit of Niche in Alternative Fuels Market
The Associated Press
Arkansas is still working to develop its place in the alternative fuels market, but Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell said Wednesday the state is well-positioned to use rice husks to generate ethanol.

One hitch is the $60 million to $70 million cost of building a facility to convert the rice waste to energy, though the nation's leading rice producer does have plenty of husks.

A number of biodiesel companies are operating in Arkansas , and Bell said the state has distributed between $6 million and $7 million in grants under the Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development Program. Sixty-one entities have applied to the program, with seven being approved and "three or four" more expected to meet requirements, Bell said at a meeting of the Arkansas Agriculture Board. Read the full article.

DOE Announces Plans for Future Loan Guarantee Solicitations
DOE has announced plans to issue loan guarantee solicitations in two stages this summer for up to $38.5 billion for projects that employ advanced technologies that avoid, reduce or sequester emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. This will mark the second and third rounds of solicitations for DOE's Loan Guarantee program, which encourages the development of new energy technologies and is an important step in paving the way for clean energy projects.

In a Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 loan guarantee implementation plan sent to Congress, DOE outlined plans to issue its second round of solicitations concurrently no later than June 2008 for efficiency, renewable energy and electric transmission projects (up to $10 billion); nuclear power facilities (up to $18.5 billion); and nuclear facilities for the “front-end” of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium enrichment (up to $2 billion). Later this summer, DOE intends to issue a third solicitation for loan guarantee applicants for advanced fossil energy projects (up to $8 billion). Read the full press release.

Little Rock Students Retrofit Bus to Use Biodiesel
Members of the Chemistry Club at Parkview Magnet High School successfully retrofitted a bus to run on a blend of biofuel and ultra-low sulfur diesel “just to show how easily it can be done,” reports the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The club raised money to purchase the 35-seat school with a goal of making it “the most environmentally friendly bus that we can.” The students then took to modifying the bus during their spare time, and even made their own biodiesel from used vegetable oil. More…

Senate Passes Clean Energy Tax Credits Bill
If you've been wondering what happened to the bill introduced last week by U.S. Sens. Cantwell and Ensign that would, among other measures, extend solar investment tax credits for residential and commercial use, here's some up-to-the-minute news from SolarNation.

By a vote of 88-8, the Cantwell-Ensign language was successfully added as an amendment to the Senate's comprehensive housing bill (HR 3221). This bill passed the Senate on Thursday with an estimated $6.6 billion in tax credits allocated to renewables, and including a lifting of the $2000 cap on residential solar installation credits.  (You'll find details of how your senator voted below).

This is a landmark development on Capitol Hill, since attempts to get the Senate this far have failed three times in the last year. Of course, on those occasions the initial impetus came from the House, and the stumbling block for the Senate was always the source of funding for the tax credits--reducing some of the government subsidies enjoyed by the oil and gas industry. In this case it's a Senate-originated bill, with no identified source of funding, and that means that the problem this time around may be with the House. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), head of the Finance Committee's Energy Sub-committee, has said that the House is unlikely to agree to the provisions without spending offsets. More…

Trinity Wind Project Online
Three wind turbines installed at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Springdale are now up and running, producing enough electricity to meet about 15% of the church's needs. The $42,000 project was made possible by grants and individual support, according to church officials. The turbines officially began producing electricity on Monday, April 7. A dedication ceremony is scheduled for April 13, and a subsequent community dedication ceremony will take place April 15. More...

Experts Gather at UA to Discuss Future of Biofuels
A panel of experts recently gathered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello to discuss the future of the biofuels industry and the role that southwest Arkansas might play. Participants included community leaders and some 25 Arkansas Legislators. According to this report in the Advance Monticellonian, Congressman Mike Ross told attendees that Arkansas is "well poised to become a national leader" in the industry, in part because sources of cellulosic ethanol, such as sawdust, paper pulp and "slash" left behind from logging, are plentiful in Arkansas. Ross has introduced the American Made Energy Act of 2008, which he says “promotes the development of homegrown biofuels like cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power through expanding research and development, extending tax credits, and providing grants and loan guarantees to produce these new technologies on a large scale." The panel of experts discussed a variety of topics related to biofuels, such as economic impacts, financial incentives, the need for additional biofuels plants, and industry challenges. More…

USDA Announces Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Grants and Loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is requesting proposals for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans. This initiative supports the purchase of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements for agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas. Some $15 million is expected to be available, with up to 250 awards anticipated. Grant-only proposals are due April 15 and June 16, 2008. Guaranteed loan applications and combination grant-loan applications are due April 16, 2006. For more information, visit www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=41021.

DOE Selects 12 Solar America Cities
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced that it will make available up to $2.4 million to 12 cities across the country selected as Solar America Cities, chosen for their commitment and comprehensive approach to the deployment of solar technologies and the development of sustainable solar infrastructures. Cities designated as Solar America Cities, which will each receive $200,000 from DOE to integrate a variety of solar energy technologies throughout the city, include: Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Knoxville, TN; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis & St. Paul, MN; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Sacramento, CA; San Antonio, TX; San Jose, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; and Seattle, WA .

In addition to investing a total of up to $2.4 million (Fiscal Year 2008), DOE will also provide hands-on assistance from technical experts to help cities integrate solar technologies into energy planning, zoning and facilities; streamline local regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and businesses; present solar financing options; and promote solar technology among residents and local businesses through outreach, curriculum development, and incentive programs. Technical assistance is estimated at $3 million (Fiscal Years 2008-2009), subject to appropriations from Congress. Read the full press release.

Report: Four Key Renewables Markets Increased 40% in 2007
Global clean-energy markets are expanding rapidly, with revenues in four benchmark sectors — biofuels, wind power, solar photovoltaics, and fuel cells — up 40 percent from $55 billion in 2006 to $77.3 billion in 2007, according to the Clean Energy Trends 2008 report, recently released by clean-tech research and publishing firm Clean Edge, Inc. The four sectors are projected to more than triple over the next decade, growing to $254.5 billion by 2017.

The annual Clean Energy Trends report, produced by leading clean- tech research and publishing firm Clean Edge, can be downloaded free at www.cleanedge.com/reports/reports- trends2008.php.

The 2008 report finds that for the first time three leading clean- energy technologies each surpassed $20 billion in revenue:

• Global production and wholesale pricing of biofuels reached $25.4 billion in 2007 and is projected to hit $81.1 billion by 2017. The global biofuels market last year consisted of more than 13 billion gallons of ethanol and more than 2 billion gallons of biodiesel production worldwide.
• Wind power is expected to expand from $30.1 billion in 2007 to $83.4 billion in 2017. Last year's global wind power installations reached a record 20,000 megawatts (MW), equivalent in size to 20 conventional fossil-fuel power plants.

Solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and installation), which totaled $20.3 billion last year, will more than triple to $74 billion by 2017. Annual installations in 2007 were just shy of 3,000 MW worldwide.

X Prize Competition Offering $10M for Super Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
The X PRIZE Foundation and Progressive have jointly announced the company's Title Sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition and its funding of the $10 million prize purse.

The newly renamed Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is an international competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles. The independent and technology-neutral competition is open to teams from around the world that can design, build and bring to market 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that people want to buy, and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance. Read the full press release.

Phillips Community College to Recieve $1.98 Million Grant for Biofuels Training
U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Representative Marion Berry have announced that Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas has been awarded a $1,986,735 competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding is part of the Community-Based Job Training Grants Initiative designed to help community colleges equip workers with the skills needed by growing local industries.

The grant will allow Phillips Community College to lead a strategic partnership to train at least 550 workers for jobs in the growing renewable energy industry.  In the Arkansas Delta, six bio-refineries are in production or under construction, and more refineries are in the planning stages.  The region's continued economic development is tied to the ability to train and educate a workforce.  Currently, community colleges lack the capacity to support the development of this much-needed workforce. Read the full press release.

Army Planning for Biomass Facilities in Iraq
Trash accumulated in Army mess halls in Iraq could soon be used to generate electricity that could help power lights and computers on Army bases there. According to a report from the Associated Press, the Army plans to install two 4-ton biomass refineries in Iraq . The machines—designed and constructed by defense contractors and Purdue University —are unique in that they can burn multiple fuels simultaneously. The machines will be tested for six months, in the hopes that they will successfully produce power that can be made available to the troops. If the machines perform well, more could be sent to Iraq in the future. More…

Wind Turbine Sales Jump
Large wind turbine manufacturers such as GE, Vestas and Siemens AG are experiencing record demand for their products, even as the production tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2008. The record number of orders for wind energy systems is due in part to increasing energy costs and state laws that require reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increased renewable energy portfolios. GE, for example, is expected to increase its wind turbine sales by a whopping 25 percent this year, perhaps not surprising considering that wind power currently accounts for nearly one-third of new generating capacity. The bill that would extend the production credit passed the House, but is currently stalled in the Senate. More…

Natural Gas and Hybrid Vehicles Shine in Annual Ranking of Green Vehicles
With the auto world focused on fuel efficiency in the face of $100-per-barrel oil, new fuel economy requirements, and concern about climate change, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today named the year's "greenest" and "meanest" vehicles, along with environmental scorings of all model year 2008 cars and passenger trucks. This announcement marks the eleventh year ACEEE has published its widely-respected rankings. The vehicle scores are part of ACEEE's Green Book® Online, ACEEE's environmental guide to cars and trucks, available at greenercars.org

Earning the "greenest vehicle" title for the fifth consecutive year is Honda's natural gas-powered Civic GX. Hybrid-electric vehicles also continue to perform well in ACEEE's annual ranking, despite being disproportionately affected by changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's fuel economy calculations. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid claim spots two and three, while the highly-anticipated Smart Fortwo Convertible and the Toyota Yaris complete the top five, showcasing the environmental benefits of smaller passenger vehicles. Others on the "Greenest" list include conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles from Honda, Toyota , Mini, and Ford. The 2008 Ford Focus comfortably takes the 9th spot in ACEEE's annual ranking, reversing last year's shutout of domestic manufacturers. More…

Missouri Community is First to Be 100% Wind Powered
Rock Port, Missouri, has become the first community in the U.S. to powered entirely by wind. Four 1.25-megawatt wind turbines located on agricultural lands within city limits will generate 16 million kilowatt-hours each year, enough to meet the town's electric needs, currently 13 million kilowatt-hours annually. Excess wind generated electricity will be fed back into the utility grid. A celebration honoring this achievement will be held on Friday, April 18, 2008. More…

Award-Winning Documentary on Biofuels to Hit the Road
A full-length documentary on biofuels, titled Fields of Fuel, premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and boasted sold-audiences for all its screenings, according to Biodiesel Magazine. The film garnered the coveted “Audience Award,” one of six awards made to documentaries.

Now, the film's producers Greg Reitman and Josh Tickell are planning a 50-city U.S. tour this spring, starting at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April, with a goal of showing the movie 1,000 times. Tickell also will lead a biodiesel-fueled caravan across the country to promote the film, and hold question and answer sessions regarding biofuels. International screening dates are also in the works, at locations such as Japan, Sweden and Australia. More…

DeWitt Biodiesel Plant Opens
Arkansas SoyEnergy Group LLC has officially opened its biodiesel facility in DeWitt. The facility is the only such facility in Arkansas with an on-site crusher, according to this report on ArkansasBusiness.com. The facility began operating in mid-2007. Fuel production is expected to begin in April.

The plant currently can produce 3.5 million gallons of biodiesel, with the ability to expand up to 10 million gallons. Most of the soybeans used in the plant will come from local growers. “Arkansas SoyEnergy's new biodiesel facility will take great strides toward producing renewable fuels more efficiently, while creating new markets for our farmers and bringing more jobs to the region,” said U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during the plant's opening on Tuesday, Feb. 19. More…

Study: Converting Farmland for Biofuel Crops Impacts Climate Change
A new study funded by the Nature Conservancy concludes that converting land to biofuel crops increases global warming, ultimately outweighing the savings that result from using biofuels instead of fossil fuels. According to a report by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the study found that clearing rain forests or tilling grasslands in order to grow crops for biofuels releases carbon into the atmosphere through activities such as burning brush and trees. However, the biofuels industry is transitioning from food-stock fuel sources such as soybeans in favor of algae and animal fats, which will help alleviate this demand on land. And, while Arkansas growers are primarily using land long-since cleared to grow biofuels crops, there still is contribution to carbon emissions, says Joe Fargione, a scientist who led the study. Soybeans are the number one crop by acreage, accounting for 2.8 million acres in 2007. “Any policy designed to stop climate change has to take land use change into account,” Fargione said. “If you just penalize fossil fuels, then the unintended consequence of promoting land clearing make the problem worse.” More…

More Renewable Fuel Headed for Your Tank
EPA is raising the 2008 renewable fuels standard ( RFS ), which determines how much non-petroleum fuel will power your vehice, to 7.76 percent. The move is in response to the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which President Bush signed in December.

Last November, EPA announced a RFS of 4.66 percent, based on previous law, that mandated at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into the nation's transportation fuels this year. However, EPA is now increasing the standard to 7.76 percent to comply with the new minimum of 9.0 billion gallons of renewable fuel that EISA requires.

EISA increases the overall volume of renewable fuels that must be blended each year, reaching 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve these volumes, EPA annually calculates the percentage-based standard, which applies to refiners, importers and non-oxygenate blenders of gasoline.

Based on the standard, each of these parties determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must use. The RFS program creates new markets for farm products, increases energy security, and promotes the development of advanced technologies that would expand the production of renewable fuels. More…

Green Development Increasing in Arkansas
As in many other states, Arkansas is experiencing an increase in the green building, according to this report from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A number of residential developments are planned, or under construction, that incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy, resulting in lower energy bills, as well as water and resource conservation, easy access to public transportation, green space, and more.

For example, in Woodglen Park, a 35-home solar subdivision is being planned by solar industry expert Bill Ball. The homes will range from 2,200 square feet to 4,000 square feet and will meet Energy Star standards at a minimum. In addition, each home will include a solar array large enough to meet at least half the home's electricity needs.

Rockwater Village, a 55-acre development with both residential and commercial development is being constructed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The development, on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, will include 175 single-family homes, and 150 to 250 apartments or condominiums, as well as commercial space. More…

New Biodiesel Plant to Begin Production This Spring
Arkansas ' largest, biodiesel plant is underway, and officials anticipate that production will begin April 1. According to this report from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Delta American Fuel LLC, located south of Helena-West Helena, will be have an annual production capacity of 40 million gallons of pure biodeisel, or B-100.

The company will begin producing biodiesel from animal fat because that remains profitable, according to Bernie Crowley, vice president and general manager. “We've got a long way to go before [soybean oil] is affordable again,” he said.

Arkansas SoyEnergy Group LLC also will begin biodiesel production on April 1. The company's 7.5 million gallon plant is under construction near DeWitt. More…

Installed U.S. Wind Power Capacity Surged 45% in 2007
Shattering all its previous records, the U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) in 2007, expanding the nation's total wind power generating capacity by 45% in a single calendar year and injecting an investment of over $9 billion into the economy, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has announced. The new wind projects account for about 30% of the entire new power-producing capacity added nationally in 2007 and will power the equivalent of 1.5 million American households annually while strengthening U.S. energy supply with clean, homegrown electric power. 

“This is the third consecutive year of record-setting growth, establishing wind power as one of the largest sources of new electricity supply for the country,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. “This remarkable and accelerating growth is driven by strong demand, favorable economics, and a period of welcome relief from the on-again, off-again, boom-and-bust, cycle of the federal production tax credit ( PTC ) for wind power.”

“But the PTC and tax incentives for other renewable energy sources are now in danger of lapsing at the end of this year—and at the worst moment for the U.S economy,” added Swisher.  “The U.S. wind industry calls on Congress and the President to quickly extend the PTC —the only existing U.S. incentive for wind power—in order to sustain this remarkable growth along with the manufacturing jobs, fresh economic opportunities, and reduction of global warming pollution that it provides.” Read the full press release.

2009 Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid Will Be World's Most Fuel-Efficient V-6 SUV
The all-new 2009 Saturn Vue Green Line 2 Mode, the first front-wheel-drive compact SUV in the world powered by General Motors' two-mode hybrid technology, is designed for customers who want the outstanding fuel savings of an advanced hybrid and the full power and towing capability of an SUV. The Vue Green Line 2 Mode was recently unveiled at the North American International Auto Show.

The Vue Green Line 2 Mode will deliver an estimated 50-percent fuel economy increase over the non-hybrid V-6 Vue. It also is expected to have a driving range of more than 500 miles (800 km).

In addition, the Vue Green Line 2 Mode's 3.6L VVT V-6 engine with direct injection technology ensures there are no trade-offs between performance and fuel economy. Acceleration time from 0-60 is expected to be around 7.3 seconds, and the maximum towing load will be 3,500 pounds (1588 kg). Production is slated to begin in late 2008. Read the full press release.

Study Touts Benefits of Switchgrass for Ethanol
A new study finds that switchgrass yields more than five times the energy required to grow and convert it to ethanol, according to this report in the Houston Chronicle. That's considerably more energy-efficient than corn, the primary feedstock currently used for ethanol production. Using switchgrass has other benefits, too. For example, it products almost no greenhouse gases. The study was published on January 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

The University of Arkansas also is studying switchgrass. The UA study, begun last year, involves trial plots of five switchgrass varieties planted around the state, which will be studied for their yield, weed control, and fertilizer rates.

“The main reason we're doing this research is to develop information that allows us to predict yields under different soil and moisture conditions,” said Chuck West, an agronomist in the Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Department at UA. “And we're going to be looking at how well switchgrass responds to chicken litter” as a fertilizer. More…

Home in Conway Goes Solar
Jim and Pamela Mosley's home in Conway boasts a new photovoltaic system, just one more step in the couple's quest to live as energy efficiently as possible. According to this report on NWAnews.com, the Mosley's PV system was added last month to their 1926 home that uses a mere 400 kilowatt-hours of electricity each month, compared to an average 1,080 kWh used by other Conway homes. That low consumption is thanks to the energy efficiency improvements the couple has taken over the past four years. The couple expects the PV system to generate enough electricity by summer that their meter will begin spinning backward and excess electricity will be fed into the utility grid. Read the full story.

Researchers Working to Convert Chicken Fat and Tall Oil into Biodiesel
Chemical engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have investigated supercritical methanol as a method of converting chicken fat into biodiesel fuel. The new study also successfully converted tall oil fatty acid, a major by-product of the wood-pulping process, into biodiesel at a yield of greater than 90 percent, significantly advancing efforts to develop commercially viable fuel out of plentiful, accessible and low-cost feedstocks and other agricultural by-products.

"Major oil companies are already examining biodiesel as an alternative to petroleum," said R.E. "Buddy" Babcock, professor of chemical engineering. "With the current price of petroleum diesel and the results of this project and others, I think energy producers will think even more seriously about combining petroleum-based diesel with a biodiesel product made out of crude and inexpensive feedstocks."

Under Babcock's guidance, Brent Schulte, a chemical-engineering graduate student in the university's College of Engineering , subjected low-grade chicken fat and tall oil fatty acids to a chemical process known as supercritical methanol treatment. Supercritical methanol treatment dissolves and causes a reaction between components of a product - in this case, chicken fat and tall oil - by subjecting the product to high temperature and pressure. Substances become "supercritical" when they are heated and pressurized to a critical point, the highest temperature and pressure at which the substance can exist in equilibrium as a vapor and liquid. The simple, one-step process does not require a catalyst. Read the full UA news release.

President Bush Signs Energy Bill
After passing both House and Senate by wide margins, President Bush has signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The act includes a number of important provisions, including the production of at least 36 billion gallons of biofuels annually, 15 billion gallons of conventional ethanol by 2015, and 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels and cellulosic-derived fuels by 2022. See a summary of the production schedule for the various fuel types, from the Governor's Ethanol Coalition.

The act also establishes an innovative higher-blend ethanol retail infrastructure program with many elements of the governor's recommended City-to-Region approach. 

In addition, the act establishes higher fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, and strengthens efficiency requirements for appliances and for government buildings. It includes a goal to completely phase out incandescent light bulbs over the next decade. More...

Negotiators Reach New Climate Agreement in Bali
Representatives from 187 countries have agreed to work toward new and stronger climate change goals, reports EERE's Network News. The agreement was reached at the United Nations Climate Change Conference being held in Bali, Indonesia, and allows until 2009 to complete negotiations on a new climate change agreement by 2009. The agreement is expected to be implemented by 2013, when the Kyoto Protocol expires. For now, the negotiators have agreed to a framework for the upcoming negotiations in the form of the "Bali Roadmap," also called the "Bali Action Plan." The action plan calls for quantified limits and reduction objectives for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from developed countries, while also calling for developing countries to address their GHG emissions using "nationally appropriate" mitigation actions that are measurable, reportable, and verifiable. The agreement also addresses deforestation and carbon capture and storage and will lead to the immediate establishment of an adaptation fund for developing countries, funded through a mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. The White House noted that the United States joined in the consensus decision, but continued to express concerns about holding developing countries accountable for their GHG emissions. See the White House press release.

DOE and GM Launch EcoCAR Competition
DOE and GM have announced an opportunity for colleges and universities with accredited engineering programs in North America to compete for the opportunity to participate in EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge — a new international collegiate vehicle engineering competition — through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The EcoCAR Challenge is a three-year competition that builds on the 19-year history of DOE AVTCs by giving engineering students the chance to design and build advanced vehicles that demonstrate leading-edge automotive technologies, with the goal of minimizing the environmental impact of personal transportation and illustrating pathways to a sustainable transportation future. DOE has again joined General Motors (GM), Natural Resources Canada, and other sponsors for this new competition series, named the EcoCAR Challenge. Argonne National Laboratory, a DOE R&D facility, will organize and operate the EcoCAR Challenge.

Over the duration of the EcoCAR competition, teams will receive $10,000 in seed money in Year One, a wide range of powertrain components, a vehicle donated by GM, and technical/mentoring support from the competition sponsors. EcoCAR teams will also have a GM mentor knowledgeable in technologies relevant to the team assigned to assist them during the competition. We also expect to provide substantial seed money to each university to support a full-time graduate student who will provide the team with leadership and continuity over the three-year program. More…

New Alliance Develops Turnkey System for Dispensing Biofuels
Two North Little Rock companies have joined forces to improve biodiesel distribution and sales in the state, reports Northwest Arkansas ' News Source. Hall Tank Co. and The Southern Co. of NLR Inc. have designed a turnkey system for dispensing biodiesel blends. The system could be used by oil jobbers, farm cooperatives, and other groups, according to Jeff Marvin, vice president of sales for The Southern Co.

The system, called “Easy Tank,” is a skid-mounted, double-wall, above-ground system costing about $50,000. The system could be eligible for the Arkansas Agriculture Department's recently announced incentive program for alternative-fuel distribution, which provides grants of up to $50,000 to produce or distribute alternative fuels. More…

Arkansas to Explore Wind Energy Opportunities
To help the public better understand the potential of wind power, the Arkansas Energy Office is sponsoring a day-long Arkansas Wind Energy Conference on January 17, 2008, at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Keynote speaker Larry Flowers of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will discuss global and national trends for wind energy, according to Maureen Rose, program associate with the U of A Cooperative Extension Service, who is helping organize the event. He'll give an overview of which states have been successful in developing wind power and how they achieved success by developing capacity and policy. There will also be a discussion of the costs of wind-produced electricity, land leasing and financing options through private and public/private investments, and much more. See the press release and the event flyer.

Energy Bill Stalled in Senate
A day after the House passed the Energy Bill, Senate Republicans have blocked it. According to this report from MarketWatch, the bill includes provisions to increase in automobile fuel-economy standards, increase taxes on big oil companies by $13 billion over the next decade, and require utilities to generate a larger portion of their electricity using renewable resources such as solar and wind. And these very issues, says the report, are what have the bill roadblocked in the Senate. More…

Google's Goal: Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal
Google has announced a new strategic initiative to develop electricity from renewable energy sources that will be cheaper than electricity produced from coal. The newly created initiative, known as RE<C, will focus initially on advanced solar thermal power, wind power technologies, enhanced geothermal systems and other potential breakthrough technologies.  RE<C is hiring engineers and energy experts to lead its research and development work, which will begin with a significant effort on solar thermal technology, and will also investigate enhanced geothermal systems and other areas. In 2008, Google expects to spend tens of millions on research and development and related investments in renewable energy. As part of its capital planning process, the company also anticipates investing hundreds of millions of dollars in breakthrough renewable energy projects which generate positive returns. More...

EPA Announces 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard
EPA is setting a new renewable fuels standard (RFS) of 4.66 percent to meet the 2005 Energy Policy Act's mandate that at least 5.4 billion gallons of renewable fuels be blended into transportation gasoline in 2008. Based on the standard, each party determines the minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its motor vehicle fuel. The standard for 2007 was 4.02 percent, equating to roughly 4.7 billion gallons. The overall volume target increases every year, reaching 7.5 billion gallons in 2012. The Energy Policy Act requires EPA to annually determine the standard – which applies to refiners, importers and non-oxygenate blenders of gasoline – by Nov. 30 for the following year.

The RFS program, which formally began last September, creates new markets for farm products, increases energy security, and promotes the development of advanced technologies that would greatly expand renewable and alternative fuels. It also serves as one of the many pieces to help inform the greenhouse gas regulation that EPA and federal partners are developing under an Executive Order issued by President Bush in May.

More information on the RFS Notice of 2008 Requirement is available at www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels.

Funding Alert! Solar America Cities 2008

The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Solar America Initiative Market Transformation: Solar America Cities 2008. Through this initiative, DOE seeks the formation of strategic partnerships with U.S. cities as part of the Solar America Initiative. These Federal-city partnerships are intended to accelerate the adoption of solar technology across the nation by engaging city governments as significant users of electricity, key intermediaries to other end users within their jurisdiction, and regulatory entities. Responses are due January 10, 2008. See the full RFP. For more information, contact Nancy Kiyota at go.solar@go.doe.gov.

 

AWEA Increases Projections for 2007 Wind Installations
Continuing a major growth trend, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recently announced a substantial increase in the projected installation of new wind energy facilities in 2007. Previous projections for a record-setting 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind power capacity in 2007 have now been raised:  AWEA reports that the U.S. wind energy industry is currently on track to complete a total 4,000 MW in 2007, shattering its 2006 record of 2,454 MW, and generating enough new electricity to power the equivalent of over one million homes. 

In its third quarter market report, AWEA also reports that the industry has already added over 2,300 MW of generating capacity to the nation’s electrical grid so far this year with a total of more than 5,000 MW in various stages of construction, establishing wind as one of the largest sources of new power in the country today. More…

Agriculture Department Accepting Applications for Alternative Fuel Production
The state Agriculture Department has announced that it is now accepting applications for funding to produce or distribute alternative fuels. More than $16 million in incentives has been made available under the Arkansas Alternatives Fuels Development Act, approved by 2007 Legislature. The deadline to apply for the funding is February 28, 2008 . "We hope this grant program will encourage distribution in those other parts of the state," said state Agriculture Secretary Richard Bell. More…

NREL to Dramatically Increase Use of Renewable Energy
DOE recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a highly efficient and “green” Research Support Facility and also announced two major renewable power projects at the Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). These projects further President Bush’s goal to increase the use of clean, renewable energy and maximize energy efficiency across the federal government.  NREL’s new Research Support Facility promises to be one of the most “green” buildings ever constructed; the new Renewable Fuel Heating Plant will use biomass to cut NREL’s future natural gas use by 75 percent; and the Mesa Top PV Project – a new five-acre photovoltaic array, and one of the largest solar power systems in Colorado – will help power the lab’s main campus.

These projects underscore NREL’s role in advancing DOE’s Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) Initiative, a Department-wide effort to maximize energy efficiency and renewable energy generation across the DOE complex. TEAM Initiative puts DOE on an aggressive footing toward meeting and possibly exceeding President Bush’s executive order to reduce energy use across the federal government. Read the full press release.

EPA-DOE Release Fuel Economy Lists for 2008 Models
EPA and DOE have released the 2008 Fuel Economy Guide to help consumers make well-informed choices when purchasing new vehicles.

"Greater fuel efficiency is something we must approach more aggressively, effectively and creatively than we have over the past 30 years," Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said. "The president's ambitious Twenty in Ten Plan forces us not only to approach increased vehicle efficiency like never before, but significantly reforming CAFE standards in a way where safety remains a priority."

Data show that hybrid vehicles continue to lead the government's fuel economy ratings and hybrid technology can be effectively used to improve fuel economy. The Toyota Prius tops the list at 48 mpg city and 45 mpg highway. More hybrid models are available than ever - including SUVs as well as cars - giving consumers greater choices when shopping for fuel efficient vehicles.

Fuel economy estimates, which appear on the window stickers of all new cars and light trucks prior to sale, are determined by tests that manufacturers and EPA conduct according to EPA specifications. This year's label values are based on new test methods EPA finalized in December 2006. The new methods are designed to better account for actual driving conditions that can lower fuel economy, such as higher speed driving, use of air conditioning and cold weather operation. Because of the new methods, fuel economy estimates for all vehicles will generally be lower than those of last year.

To view the guide and for tips on increasing vehicle efficiency, visit www.fueleconomy.gov/

German University Wins 2007 Solar Decathlon
Germany ’s Technische Universität Darmstadt has earned top honors in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition on the National Mall in Washington , DC. Over the past two weeks, the 2007 Solar Decathlon challenged twenty university-led teams from the U.S. and as far away as Puerto Rico, Spain, Germany, and Canada to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home. Students competed in ten areas, ranging from architecture, livability, and comfort, to how well the homes provided energy for space heating and cooling, hot water, lighting, and appliances. Technische Universität Darmstadt earned 888.45 points out of a possible 1,200 to win the competition, followed by University of Maryland with 872.45 points and Santa Clara University with 860.80 points. More...

Funding Alert! Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy
The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture request proposals for Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy. This initiative supports research that will lead to the improved use of biomass and plant feedstocks for the production of fuels such as ethanol or renewable chemical feedstocks. Some $4 million is expected to be available. Pre-applications are required and are due November 13, 2007. Final applications are due January 23 2008. More...

National Governors Association Launches Clean Energy Initiative
The National Governors Association (NGA) has committed to promoting clean energy policies across the country, reports DOE's EERE Network News. NGA's new "Securing a Clean Energy Future" initiative will enlist the efforts of all governors to enact meaningful clean energy policies at the state level. Specifically, the initiative will promote state policies that encourage energy efficiency and conservation, promote non-petroleum fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate research and development of advanced clean energy technologies. The initiative's efforts will be guided by a task force composed of eight governors that represent a cross-section of the country and that share a common desire to advance clean energy. More…

Honda Hybrids Still Qualify for Tax Credit
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that purchasers of qualified Honda hybrid vehicles may continue to claim the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit. The announcement comes after the IRS concluded its quarterly review of the number of hybrid vehicles sold. The credit amount and make and model of qualified vehicles sold are:

• Honda Accord Hybrid Model Year 2005: $650
• Honda Accord Hybrid, Model Year 2007: $1,300
• Honda Accord Hybrid Navi Model Year 2007: $1,300
• Honda Civic Hybrid Model Year 2007: $2,100

Federal Renewable Fuel Standard in Place
The federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) went into effect on September 1, setting new reporting, registration, and compliance requirements for major refiners, fuel blenders, and fuel importers. Authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the RFS requires that 4.2% of the fuel sold or dispensed to U.S. motorists in 2007 must come from renewable resources, an amount equal to about 4.7 billion gallons. That minimum volume will increase each year until it reaches 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2012. More…

DOE Announces Funding to Support Commercial Production of Cellulosic Biofuels
DOE has announced a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that will make available up to $33.8 million to support the development of commercially viable enzymes - a key step to enabling bio-based production of clean, renewable biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol.  As part of the President’s Twenty in Ten Plan, DOE is pursuing a long-term strategy to support increased availability and cost-effective use of renewable and alternative fuels.  Twenty in Ten seeks to displace 20 percent of U.S. gasoline usage by 2017 through diversification of clean energy sources and increased vehicle efficiency. Letters of intent are due September 10, 2007 , and completed applications are due October 30, 2007.  View the complete FOA.  Projects are expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2008 and continue through Fiscal Year 2011.

2006 Saw 7 Percent Increase in Renewable Energy Consumption
A new report from DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) concludes that the use of renewable energy in the United States increased nearly 7% in 2006. According to the report, wind power topped the list, increasing by 45% in 2006, followed by biofuels, which increased 27.6%. In 2006, ethanol provided 4% of the volume of finished gasoline produced in the United States while consuming 14% of the nation's corn crop. Hydropower production also increased by 6.9% in 2006, reaching its highest level since 2003. See the EIA report.

Grant Will Fund UA Biodiesel Study
A team that includes the University of Arkansas (UA) Division of Agriculture, UA Facilities Management and the City of Fayetteville has received an $18,000 grant from the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board to research the efficiency and emissions of biodiesel. According to this report on The Arkansas Traveler Online Edition, the study will involve monitoring of 17 Kubota RTV 900 diesel utility-vehicles used by the campus grounds crew in order to determine the fuel efficiency of biodiesel versus petroleum as well as emissions. Eight of the study vehicles use petroleum diesel and nine use B20, a blend of 20-percent biodiesel and 80-percent petroleum diesel. More…

Army Unveils First Hybrid-Electric Propulsion System for New Combat Vehicles
The Army today unveiled its first hybrid-electric propulsion system for a new fleet of Manned Ground Vehicles (MGVs), which will be tested and evaluated at the Power and Energy Systems Integration Laboratory in Santa Clara, California.

The Army is developing and building eight new MGV variants for 15 Future Combat Systems Brigade Combat Teams (FCS BCTs). All eight commonly-designed MGV variants will provide Soldiers with enhanced survivability, increased speed and mobility, new network-based capabilities, and more modern, modular technology. Read the full press release.

Supply Constraints Impacting Wind Energy Industry
The U.S. wind energy industry is on track to add well over 3,000 megawatts (MW) to the nation’s power generating capacity in 2007, surpassing last year’s record of 2,454 MW, says the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The bullish performance by the industry is tempered, however, by supply chain shortages and policy uncertainty--two barriers that are related. Wind power developers report that turbine availability is a limiting factor--in other words, there is demand for even more wind energy but companies can’t build more projects because there aren’t enough new wind turbines to buy. And, in turn, there aren’t enough manufacturing facilities for turbines and turbine parts in the country because the U.S. government’s intermittent policy toward renewables has discouraged companies from investing in manufacturing facilities. Read the full press release.

Arkansas Working to Develop Solid Alternative Fuels Industry
A bevy of groups in Arkansas are focused on creating a long-term alternative fuels industry in the state. According to this report from Arkansas News Bureau, Arkansas is looking not just at alternative fuels produced from soybeans and corn, but also at ethanol produced from biomass resources such as switchgrass and forestry byproducts. Researchers also are considering the possibility of fuels produced from the state’s large lignite reserves, according to Chris Benson, director of the Arkansas Energy Office. Arkansas currently has two biodiesel plants operating—Patriot BioFuels in Stutgart and FutureFuel Chemical Co. in Batesville—which could collectively produce 27 million gallons of biodiesel each year. And, while officials call the state’s progress slow, work is being done to address obstacles and strengthen the industry. For example, the Legislature has created new laws requiring that require state-owned diesel vehicles use a biodiesel blend, and also provide a tax credit to alternative fuel producers. The Arkansas Alternative Fuels Development Program, rules for which are currently being drafted, will make some $20 million in grants available to plants that produce alternative fuel and stations that sell it. And, researchers continually work to identify the best alternative fuel crops to grow in Arkansas , and the most efficient means of harvesting cellulose. More…

GBI Provides Complimentary Use of Green Globes to University of Arkansas
The Green Building Initiative (GBI) has formally recognized the University of Arkansas as the first educational institution to encourage the use of Green Globes in its design and construction policies by providing the school with complimentary use of the tool for one year.

Through its Design and Construction Guide for Buildings and Landscapes, which stipulates that amongst other things, any new campus facility or full-building renovation of more than $1 million must achieve a two globes rating using the Green Globes system, or an equivalent rating with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED system, the University of Arkansas promotes sustainable design of campus facilities in order to reduce both cost of ownership and environmental impacts.

To support the University's pioneering efforts, the GBI is offering the school free use of the Green Globes tool for one year, allowing members of its Facilities Management (FAMA) group access not only to an assessment protocol and rating system, but also a guide for integrating environmentally-friendly design into commercial buildings. Read the full press release.

ASU to Receive $1.5 Million for Biofuels Research
Arkansas Congressman Marion Berry has announced that Arkansas State University 's (ASU) Biofuels Research Program is slated to receive $1.5 million in funding to develop enzymes that will advance cellulosic ethanol technology and reduce the cost of ethanol production. More…

Report Calls for Energy Diversity to Meet Future Needs
A new 422-page report from the National Petroleum Council calls for an integrated national strategy that includes energy efficiency and the exploitation of diverse energy sources, reports DOE's EERE Network News. The report concludes that the United States should incorporate energy policy into most of its foreign policy decisions and should create long-term opportunities for research and development in all phases of the energy supply and demand system.

"The study demonstrates that energy efficiency is a very near-term energy resource, and tapping it is essential to national energy strategy," says Daniel Yergin, Vice Chair of the study and Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. "The challenge is that it involves thousands and thousands of decisions, not a few big decisions. But there is a focus on efficiency in the United States and around the world at a level never seen before. The study helps point the way." More...

LM Glasfiber Announces New Blade Plant in Little Rock
LM Glasfiber today announced plans to open a new facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The plant, which will manufacture blades for wind turbines, is scheduled to begin operations in first quarter 2008 and will employ over 1,000 people within five years.

“We are very pleased to announce our new facility in Little Rock. The Little Rock plant is key to enabling us to serve our growing portfolio of customers in North America,” says LM Glasfiber CEO Roland M. Sundén. “The facility will help secure our customers’ long term blade supply thereby enabling their ambitious growth strategies while also increasing the robustness and visibility of LM Glasfiber’s North American sales.” More…

UALR Slated for Solar Research Funding Under New Energy Bill
An energy bill passed by the House would provide $1.2 million for solar energy research at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, reports Associated Press. The funds are intended for UALR’s Nanotechnology Center of Excellence, where the research would take place. More…

Department of Defense to Use Biofuels for Jets
The Syntroleum Corporation recently announced that it has signed a contract to provide synthetic jet fuel made from renewable feedstock to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Syntroleum will provide a first-of-its-kind renewable fuel for evaluation by the DOD as part of a larger program aimed at long-term prospects for the domestic manufacture and supply of synthetic aviation fuels, according to a company press release.

Syntroleum will provide 500 gallons of ultra-clean renewable synthetic jet fuel produced entirely from fats supplied by Tyson Foods, Inc., using the company's recently announced Biofining(TM) technology. The fuel will be used for research development and performance testing in military turbine applications as part of the DOD's Assured Fuels Program, aimed at evaluating the possibility of utilizing renewable alternative jet fuel made from bio feedstocks. The U.S. Air Force has expressed its desire to source 50 percent of its fuel needs from domestic alternative sources by 2016, and plans to certify its entire fleet of aircraft for alternative fuel use by 2010. Read the full press release.

Second Major U.S. Climate Change Science Program Report Released
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) has released the second in a series of 21 Synthesis and Assessment (S&A) reports.  Coordinated by DOE, the report, titled Scenarios of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Atmospheric Concentrations, and Review of Integrated Scenario Development and Application, provides a new long-term, global reference for greenhouse gas stabilization scenarios and an evaluation of the process by which scenarios are developed and used.  CCSP was established by President Bush in 2002 to integrate federal research on global environmental change at 13 federal agencies, and to provide the nation with science-based knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities of change in the climate and related environmental systems. More...

Google Launches RechargeIT Plug-In Hybrid Car Initiative and Unveils Solar Installation
Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google Inc. recently announced the RechargeIT initiative, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependence by accelerating the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. As part of this initiative, Google.org awarded $1 million in grants and announced plans for a $10 million request for proposals to fund development, adoption and commercialization of plug-ins, fully electric cars and related vehicle-to-grid technology.

In addition, Google Inc. has switched on the solar panel installation at its Mountain View, Calif. headquarters, which will help the company reduce its environmental footprint and power its plug-ins with clean solar electricity. At 1.6 megawatts - and with an electricity output capable of powering approximately 1,000 average California homes - the Google project is the largest solar installation to date on any corporate campus in the United States and one of the largest on any corporate site in the world. More...

New Arkansas Commission Gearing Up for Global Warming Work
A new commission created by the 2007 Arkansas Legislature hopes to soon be very busy with its work to address global warming issues. According to this report from the Arkansas News Bureau, Act 696 creates a 21-member commission to study issues related to global warming and devise a comprehensive plan to address the problem. Seventeen members will be appointed by the governor, two each by the House speaker and two are appointed by the Senate president pro tem. Those appointments are currently underway. Among the appointees is State Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, the bill’s sponsor. More…

Biodiesel Plant Announced for Chicot County
International Bio Fuels Corp. and Consolidated Biofuels, Inc. have contracted with Chicot County, Arkansas, to build and operate a unique combination biodiesel production and soybean oil crush facility located at the Port of Yellow Bend in Arkansas. The planned production facility, when fully operational in 2008, will have a designed capacity of 150 million gallons of biodiesel and 70 million bushels of soybean oil crush annually. The facility will be located on 65 acres of optioned acreage immediately within the Port of Yellow Bend ’s facilities. The Port of Yellow Bend is strategically located on the Mississippi River, in the heart of the Soybean Belt in the Mississippi Valley Corridor, just east of McGehee, Arkansas. Read the full press release.

University of Arkansas Wins Big in 2007 Solar Splash
The University of Arkansas won second place overall in this year’s Solar Splash competition. The team also placed well in several other categories: first place for Sprint and Solar Endurance, and second place in Solar Slalom. In addition, the team won awards in Hottest Looking Boat, Outstanding Workmanship, and Outstanding Hull Design categories. The annual competition was held in Fayetteville June 13-17. More…

G8 Leaders Agree to Set New Global Greenhouse Gas Goals
The world's eight leading industrialized nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—have agreed to set a global goal for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. During the annual summit for the Group of Eight (G8) in Germany, the leaders agreed to take "strong and early action to tackle climate change in order to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human-caused) interference with the climate system." The leaders will also "consider seriously" the commitment by the European Union, Canada, and Japan to cut global GHG emissions in half by 2050.

The G8 agreement calls on all parties to actively and constructively participate in the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Indonesia in December to develop a comprehensive agreement that includes all major GHG emitters and would take effect after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires. It also calls for all major emitters to agree on a new global framework for GHG reductions by the end of 2008, which would lead to a global agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) by 2009. The plan was welcomed by the executive secretary of the UNFCCC and was endorsed by the Group of Five countries with emerging economies, namely Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa. More...

Funding Alert! Biomass Research and Development Initiative
DOE and USDA have announced that $18 million will be available for biomass research and development projects aimed at increasing the availability of alternative and renewable fuels, reports EERE Network News. The $18 million solicitation will primarily support the development of technologies to convert cellulosic biomass into intermediaries for biobased fuels. It will also fund projects in biobased product diversification, biomass feedstock production, and analysis.

USDA will provide up to $14 million and DOE will provide up to $4 million this fiscal year. Eligible applicants include state and federal research agencies, national laboratories, private-sector groups, and nonprofit organizations. Consortia of two or more groups also are encouraged to apply. The closing date for pre-applications is July 11, 2007. More...

Report: U.S. Leads in Wind Power Growth
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released its first Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006, which provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of development and trends in the U.S. wind power market.  Most notably, the report concludes that U.S. wind power capacity increased by 27 percent in 2006; and that the U.S. had the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world in 2005 and 2006.  More than 61 percent of the U.S.'s total wind capacity - over 7,300 Megawatts (MW) - has been installed since President Bush took office in 2001. See the full press release.

New Search Tool Identifies Farm Energy Resources
Responding to an explosion of interest in biofuels and other energy opportunities for agriculture, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has created a handy “one-stop shopping” search tool for farms and ranches interested in funding and building renewable energy projects, reducing energy costs, and becoming more energy self-sufficient. The online tool can be found at www.attra.ncat.org/farmenergysearchtool.

NCAT created this tool with the practical needs of agricultural producers in mind. Partnering with about a dozen leading renewable energy trade organizations and agencies, NCAT has gathered in one location up-to-date listings in all major energy-related topic areas. Using clickable maps and a few simple drop-down menus, growers can quickly find technical assistance, financial assistance, and sources of equipment in their own state for making energy saving improvements and building anaerobic digesters, biodiesel, ethanol, wind, and solar energy projects. Read the full press release.

Growing Number of Americans Think Solar Electricity Should Be Offered on All New Homes
According to a recent Roper survey commissioned by Sharp Electronics Corporation, nearly 90 percent of Americans think that solar electricity should be an option for all new home construction, up significantly from one year ago (79 percent). Three-quarters of survey respondents perceive solar power to be more important than ever, evidence that Americans recognize the value of solar as a clean, renewable form of energy.

82 percent say that a decrease in monthly energy bills is their primary motivation for installing solar power; other respondents indicated it was to reduce overall energy usage (79 percent), reduce oil dependence (77 percent) or because it is a secure source of energy (75 percent).

EPA Proposes Criteria to Allow Clean Vehicles in HOV Lanes
DOE’s EERE Network News reports that EPA has recently proposed criteria for hybrid and alternative-fueled vehicles that states might allow to travel in the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, even when the driver is alone in the vehicle. The 2005 transportation act authorized such occupancy exemptions for HOV lanes to encourage the purchase and use of clean vehicles. The act also required EPA to set the criteria for such clean vehicles. According to DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC), some type of HOV exemption is currently offered in eight states—Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Utah, and Virginia—and the District of Columbia. More...

NYC Cab Fleet Going Hybrid
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that the city’s entire yellow taxi fleet will be hybrid within five years, reports MSNBC.com. There currently are 13,000 such cabs in the city. About 400 hybrids have been part of the taxi fleet for the past 18 months. That number will increase each year until all cabs are hybrid vehicles, which run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, creating less pollution and achieving greater fuel efficiency. The new plan also requires that new vehicles entering the fleet after October 2008 must get at least 25 miles per gallon. More…

AWEA: H.R. 2337 Would Bring Wind Power to ‘Grinding Halt’
New legislation introduced in the House of Representatives will virtually halt new wind energy projects in the United States, says the American Wind Energy Association. According to this report on RenewableEnergyAccess.com, H.R. 2337, introduced by Congressman Nick Rahall (D. WV), includes burdensome requirements for wind development not required of other energy sectors. For example, the legislation would require U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service review of every existing and planned wind project and criminalize those facilities not certified by USFWS. In addition, landowners and farmers with wind turbines on their property would be subject to invasive inspection requirements. A hearing in the House Natural Resources Committee is scheduled for May 23 on the bill. More…

New Climate Registry Boasts Membership of 31 States, One Tribe
A total of 31 states and one tribe have joined The Climate Registry, a new effort that aims to measure, track, verify, and publicly report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reports DOE’s EERE Network News. The new Registry will support voluntary, market-based, and regulatory GHG emissions reporting programs and provides consistency and transparency across borders and throughout all sectors of the economy. With many states taking actions to cut GHG emissions, the Registry will help to identify whether one state's actions are actually resulting in increased GHG emissions in neighboring states. The initial participants in the Registry include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the Campo Kumeyaay Nation, which is located in southern California. More…

Report: Clean Energy Technologies Could Slow Climate Change
A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that current and emerging renewable energy technologies, as well as cost-effective policies, could slow and then reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) over the next several decades. The report emphasizes energy efficiency across all sectors: in buildings, transportation, and industry. It also calls for greater use of solar energy and biofuels. In terms of power generation, the report points to both mature and emerging renewable energy technologies and also suggests a shift to less carbon-intensive fossil fuels and the development of carbon capture and storage technologies. The report estimates that by 2030, another $20 trillion will be spent to upgrade global energy infrastructure, and investments to reduce GHGs would add at most a 10-percent premium to those investments. More…

Senator Proposes Legislation to Extend PTC until 2012
South Dakota Senator John Thune (R) has introduced legislation that would extend the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) until 2012, reports RenewableEnergyAccess.com. The PTC is currently scheduled to expire in 2008. The PTC provides a tax credit of two cents per kilowatt-hour for renewable energy. The tax credit helps increase renewable energy production, and also helps renewable energy become more cost-competitive with fossil fuel. More…

DOE Announces $14 Million for Plug-In Hybrid Battery Research
DOE has announced that it will provide up to $14 million of a $28 million cost-shared solicitation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery development. The U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has issued the call for proposals. DOE and USABC aim to improve battery performance so vehicles can drive up to 40 miles on electricity before recharging, or the range of most daily roundtrip commutes. The research will seek to identify battery technologies that have the potential to be commercialized and quickly brought to market, in addition to meeting USABC's criteria for performance, weight, life-cycle, and cost.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program is working with industry to bring PHEVs to market and advance the President's Twenty in Ten plan, which aims to reduce gasoline usage 20 percent by 2017. USABC is the industry arm of the partnership, and as a consortium of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research, supports collaborative research among DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation to develop electrochemical energy storage technologies that support the commercialization of fuel cell, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Deadline for submission is May 31, 2007. More…

EIA: Summer to Bring Higher Energy Prices
Crude oil prices are expected to average $65 per barrel this summer, and that, along with demand growth and supply constraints, will keep prices for gasoline and natural gas elevated, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook, notes that U.S. retail gasoline prices increased by more than 60 cents per gallon over the past two months due to higher crude oil prices, unplanned refinery outages, increased demand for gasoline, and low levels of gasoline imports from Europe. The average monthly gasoline pump price is projected to peak at an average of $2.87 per gallon in May while averaging $2.81 per gallon over the course of the summer. Average retail prices for diesel fuel are expected to average $2.82 per gallon over the summer, up from a winter low but down 6 cents compared to last summer. More…

Interested in alternative fuels to reduce your gasoline consumption? Check out our Bio-fuels section.

Corn Plantings Increase 15 Percent Due to Ethanol Demand
High corn prices spurred by a surge in demand for ethanol production have led to a 15 percent increase in planned plantings of corn in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Prospective Plantings report, issued by the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), says farmers intend to plant 90.5 million acres of corn this year—an increase of 12.1 million acres—resulting in the largest area planted for corn since 1944. According to the Renewable Fuels Association, that acreage should yield more than 13 billion bushels of corn, which will provide "ample corn supplies to economically meet the needs of all the sectors that rely on it." Farmers will have some catching up to do, though. The Grain Stocks report notes that corn stocks are down by 13 percent—more than 900 million bushels—from this time last year. More...

X Prize to Award Millions for Super-efficient Cars
The X Prize Foundation is developing a multi-million dollar Automotive X Prize to inspire a new generation of super-efficient vehicles. Known for its $10 million Ansari X Prize, which spurred the development of private spacecraft, the X Prize Foundation now aims to encourage the development of clean, production-capable vehicles that can achieve a fuel economy equivalent to at least 100 miles per gallon of gasoline.

The foundation has published draft competition guidelines for the Automotive X Prize, allowing two vehicle classes: "Mainstream" vehicles that carry at least four passengers and have at least four wheels, and "Alternative" vehicles that can carry at least two passengers and have any number of wheels. The vehicles can be fueled with gasoline, alternative fuels, or electricity. As currently proposed, the Automotive X Prize will culminate in 2009 with two long-distance stage races that will expose the vehicles to a range of driving patterns over varied terrain and diverse weather conditions. To win the prize, vehicles must complete both races with the lowest overall time averaged over all scoring stages, while still meeting the requirements for fuel economy and emissions. More...

EPA Offers Certification for Fuel-Efficient Trucks
As part of a new EPA certification program, fuel-efficient tractor-trailer rigs will begin carrying the SmartWay logo. EPA has announced that 2007 models of heavy trucks can earn certification from EPA's SmartWay program. SmartWay-approved equipment, like aerodynamic front bumpers and side mirrors, can cut wind resistance and reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent. Each SmartWay-qualified rig can produce savings of up to 4,000 gallons of diesel per year, which would save truckers more than $11,000 each year at current diesel fuel prices. Participating manufacturers include Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt, and Volvo. Truckers that buy the rigs and participate in the program can display the SmartWay logo on their tractors and trailers.

EPA plans to set more ambitious performance targets for the SmartWay rigs in the future. EPA is also developing guidelines for recognizing other vehicles such as delivery vans, in which hybrid technology can dramatically improve fuel efficiency. More...

USDA Offers Clean Energy Grants and Loan Guarantees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $176.5 million in loan guarantees and $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses. Loan guarantees cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost and will not exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project's cost, with a limit of $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. Grant applications must by postmarked no later than May 18, 2007, while the deadline for loan applications or grant and loan combinations is July 2, 2007. See the USDA press release, and for the complete details, see the announcement from the March 22 edition of the Federal Register.

DOE Awards $23 Million for Cellulosic Ethanol Conversion Projects
DOE has announced that five projects will receive $23 million over the next four years to develop highly efficient fermentative organisms that convert cellulosic biomass into ethanol. Cellulosic biomass includes a variety of non-food plant materials, such as agricultural wastes, saw dust, paper pulp, and switchgrass. Organisms that can ferment these cellulosic biomass materials into ethanol are crucial to the success of commercial-scale integrated biorefineries and cellulosic ethanol refining. Such organisms must be able to survive a wide range of environmental conditions while resisting mutations that would hinder their effectiveness.

DOE selected Cargill Incorporated, Celunol Corporation, DuPont, Mascoma Corporation, and Purdue University for the five projects. The total investment in the five projects could be more than $37 million, with DOE's Biofuels Initiative providing the federal government's share. The research will further President Bush's goals of making cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive by 2012 and reducing U.S. gasoline consumption by 20 percent in 10 years. See the DOE press release and the Biofuels Initiative Web page.

U.S. Solar Market Increased by One-Third in 2006
The installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) devices in the United States increased by about 33 percent in 2006 over the previous year, according to a new report from Solarbuzz, LLC. Worldwide PV installations totaled 1,744 megawatts (MW) in 2006, a new record and a growth of 19 percent over 2005. The United States contributed just 8 percent of those installations, or about 140 MW, while Germany led the world market with 960 MW of PV installations, comprising 55 percent of the world's total PV installations for 2006. To supply that market, the global production of solar cells reached 2,204 MW in 2006, a growth of 33 percent over PV production in 2005, while the production of polysilicon--a critical ingredient for silicon solar cells--increased by 16 percent. See the summary of the report on the Solarbuzz website.

Fayetteville Fire Station Receives Grant for Solar Water-Heating System
The Arkansas Energy Office (AEO) awarded a $10,700 grant to the city of Fayetteville to install a solar water-heating system in fire station No. 4.The grant is part of a new effort by AEO to gather information on how well solar water-heating systems perform in Arkansas, how cost-effective they are, and how much they will reduce hot water needs from the conventional system. According to this report in the Northwest Arkansas Times, the grant will be used to purchase and install the solar water-heating system, and also to switch the existing system to a tankless water heater.

In addition to Station No. 4, AEO also provided funding for similar systems in the Department of Environmental Quality building and a public safety building at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Two additional projects involve monitoring existing solar water-heating systems. More…

Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), signed by the President in August of 2005, provides incentives for purchasing solar equipment. Now extended through 2008, these incentives could provide a tax credit equal to 30 percent of qualifying expenditures for purchase of commercial solar installations, with no cap on the total credit allowed. EPAct also provides homeowners a 30-percent tax credit for qualified PV systems and solar water-heating systems that are used exclusively for purposes other than heating swimming pools and hot tubs. Private property owners of qualified systems are eligible for a tax credit up to $2,000 for either system, with a maximum of $4,000 allowed, if both qualified photovoltaic and solar water-heating systems are installed. More information on available incentives for solar installations is available at energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.

University of Arkansas Pledge to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
The University of Arkansas is the first higher education institution in the state, and among the first 100 in the nation, to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The commitment is a pledge by the presidents to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on their campuses.

In signing the Presidents Climate Commitment the University of Arkansas is pledging to take three basic actions: to develop a comprehensive plan by 2009 to achieve "climate neutrality" on campus; to implement at least two specific programs for reducing greenhouse gases while the comprehensive plan is being developed; and to make the action plan and all progress reports accessible to the public. More…

Corn Ethanol Production Increased 25 Percent in 2006
The U.S. ethanol fuel industry produced 4.86 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006, a 24.3-percent increase over the previous year, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). According to RFA, demand for ethanol reached 5.4 billion gallons in 2006, exceeding the supply by 11 percent. To meet that demand, some 653 million gallons of ethanol were imported, two-thirds of which were shipped directly from Brazil. Currently, 114 ethanol plants located throughout the United States have the capacity to produce more than 5.6 billion gallons of ethanol fuel per year. Another 78 facilities under construction and seven expansions underway will boost the industry's capacity to more than 6 billion gallons of ethanol fuel per year. More..

While the increased ethanol production is pushing up corn prices and making it more profitable for farmers to grow corn, it also worries ranchers, chicken farmers, and others that depend on corn feed to raise animals. According to the National Chicken Council, the demand for ethanol had already raised the wholesale price of chicken by six cents per pound back in January. Meanwhile, the cattle industry is expected to be less profitable in 2007. At a trade show in early February, analysts warned that any impact on the 2007 corn crop "could have particularly drastic consequences, because even a strong corn crop will be hard-pressed to meet current demand." These concerns emphasize the need for the ethanol industry to expand to cellulosic biomass feedstocks. See the press releases from the National Chicken Council and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Arkansas Communities Receive EPA Grants to Help Cut Air Pollution from School Buses
The Environmental Protection Agency and its Blue Skyways Collaborative announced more than $678,000 in grants to communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas to help cut air pollution from school buses.

In Arkansas, the state Department of Environmental Quality was awarded $126,518 to implement a school bus retrofit project in Pulaski County. The project will focus on reducing the diesel emissions generated by up to 85 school buses that transport special needs children and is expected to reduce more than 35,000 pounds of smog-forming pollutants and 1,100 pounds of particulate matter per year.

The goal of the grant program is to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses. While pollution from diesel vehicles has health implications for everyone, it is especially harmful to children. Diesel exhaust contains nitrogen oxides, fine particles (soot) and air toxics. Nitrogen oxides are precursors of ozone (smog) and, when breathed in, fine particles can lodge deep in the lungs. More…

Continuing Resolution Boosts Funding for Efficiency, Renewable Energy
A newly approved bill provides a significant funding increase for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) for the remainder of the current fiscal year. In mid-February, Congress passed and President Bush signed a bill that will provide continued funding for the federal government for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2007, which concludes at the end of September. Such "continuing resolutions" are enacted in lieu of the traditional budgetary process.

House Joint Resolution 20, also known as the "Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007," continues funding at FY 2006 levels for much of the federal government, but Section 20314 of the bill specifies that nearly $1.474 billion go to EERE. That represents a nearly 27 percent increase over the amount appropriated by Congress for FY 2006, but the effective increase is even greater, since the bill eliminates most if not all congressionally directed funds, or "earmarks." The lack of earmarks gives EERE a great amount of flexibility in how it directs the funds. More...

IndyCar Switches to 100 Percent Ethanol Fuel from corn is now powering some of the highest-tech race cars in the world, as the IndyCar Series has switched its fuel to 100 percent ethanol. IndyCar had been using methanol fuel but started using 10 percent ethanol last year and committed to switch to 100 percent ethanol this year. In a recent "Open Test" at Daytona International Speedway, all 17 drivers and their teams had their first chance to try out the fuel, and they gave it their approval and support. "I really didn't notice any difference at all, which I think is the point," said 2005 IndyCar Series champion Dan Wheldon. More...

Global Wind Power Capacity Grew Nearly One-Third in 2006
The global installed capacity to generate power from wind energy reached 74,223 megawatts (MW) in 2006, a 32 percent increase, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). The United States now has the third-largest amount of installed wind power capacity, with 11,603 MW, just slightly behind Spain, which has 11,615 MW. Germany still leads the pack with 20,621 MW. Wind capacity is growing fastest in the United States, with 2,454 MW of new wind power plants, but Germany is also growing quickly, with 2,233 MW of new wind power. The GWEC notes that the industry faced supply constraints for new wind turbines in 2006, but it sees the rapid rate of growth as a sign that the global wind energy industry is responding quickly to its manufacturing challenges. More...

Methane Gas Recovery System in the Works for Little Rock Landfill
Little Rock will soon convert methane gas from its local landfill into a useable form of energy that will then be marketed to local businesses. Johnson Controls is developing the system, which will save the city some $1 million in operations, maintenance and energy costs, while also helping to protect the environment. According to this report on ArkansasBusiness.com, the new system will collect and resell some 90,000 MMBTUs of energy annually from landfill. Earnings are projected to reach $400,000 each year, or more than $7 million over the 15-year contract with Johnson Controls. More…

ACEEE Names Greenest Vehicle
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)'s new Green Book online names the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX as the greenest car of the year. The Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid achieved second, third, and fourth place, respectively. The new subcompacts are also making their presence known, as the Toyota Yaris landed in fifth place. ACEEE rates the vehicles based on pollutant emissions, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. A subscription is needed to see the full Green Book Online, but the top-twelve lists are available for free. See the ACEEE press release and the top-twelve lists.

Funding Alert! Pollution Prevention Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for the Pollution Prevention Grants Program (P2), which seeks to assist businesses and industries to identify better environmental strategies and solutions for reducing or eliminating waste at the source. Areas of interest include but are not limited to the reduction or elimination of pollutants through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources. Some $4.5 million is expected to be available, up to 60 awards anticipated.  Responses are due April 2, 2007. More...

2007 Farm Bill Proposals Include Renewable Energy Research
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns unveiled the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2007 farm bill proposals. The proposals correspond to the 2002 farm bill titles with additional special focus areas, including specialty crops, beginning farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged producers. The more than 65 proposals represent the final phase of a nearly two-year development process. Proposal highlights include increasing conservation funding, providing new funding for renewable energy research, and increasing payments for beginning farmers and ranchers. More...

Construction Materials Developed From Manure Products
A Michigan State University Extension educator has developed a way to turn manure into environmentally friendly construction materials. An anaerobic digester was used to break down manure solids into a fibrous material; the digester fiber was then combined with plastic to create a digester fiber/plastic composite product that can be used as decking and medium-density fiberboard. When tested, the fiber/plastic composite met or exceeded industry standards and even performed better than some wood/plastic composite products. The development of the fiber/plastic “lumber” was supported by a grant from the Michigan Biomass Energy Program. More...

Alternative Fuel Challenge in State of the Union Address Draws Mixed Reviews
President Bush said in his State of the Union address that within 10 years, the United States should use five times as much alternative fuel as it does now. That step, coupled with tougher mileage standards on cars, would reduce gasoline usage by 20 percent, he said. The challenge and deadline has drawn mixed reactions from energy experts across the political spectrum. David R. Baker, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, notes that corn ethanol is the only alternative fuel that can be produced in large enough quantities to meet this mandate. The federal government, Baker writes, estimates that ethanol offers about 1.6 units of energy for every unit that goes in. About 5 billion gallons of ethanol were produced in the U.S. last year, which consumed about 12 to 15 percent of the nation's corn crop. Many in the world of alternative fuels worry that Bush's initiative could boost corn ethanol and stifle other, potentially better sources of power. "You're locking in corn ethanol," said Daniel Kammen, an energy specialist and co-director of the Berkeley Institute of the Environment at UC Berkeley. "This is how not to make policy." Meanwhile, market stocks for major ethanol producers were mostly down following the president's speech. According to MarketWatch, the Dow-Jones online report, most markets anticipated Bush's proposal with rallied prices in the days ahead of the speech. Prices for major ethanol producers such as Archers, Daniel, Midland and U.S. Bioenergy closed down the day following the president's speech. More...

New Protocol Will Help Standardize Manure Digester Evaluations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new protocol last week that intends to help standardize the process used to evaluate the performance of anaerobic digestion systems. Anaerobic digestion is a controlled process to produce methane from livestock manure. The methane can then be burned as a heat source or used to generate electricity. The new EPA protocol describes proper data collection to assess the performance of anaerobic digesters and establishes a uniform method of evaluating a project's operational reliability and economic viability. Meant for use by livestock producers, state agencies, project developers, and other involved parties, the protocol is intended to provide reliable, standardized information to system developers, the investment community, and farmers and ranchers. The protocol was developed jointly by the EPA's AgSTAR program, the Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. More...

Bush Administration to Accelerate Ethanol Production
In his State Of The Union Address on January 23, President Bush set a national goal of replacing more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. He called for a 20-percent reduction in gasoline consumption through increased fuel economy standards and the production of 35 billion gallons of biofuels by 2017. The new Advanced Energy Initiative will, among other things, accelerate research in cutting-edge methods of producing cellulosic ethanol with the goal of making the use of such ethanol practical and competitive within six years. The President's 2007 budget will include $150 million – a $59 million increase over FY06 – to help develop bio-based transportation fuels from agricultural waste products, such as wood chips, stalks, or swit