US+Department+of+Energy

Sustainability-(x)

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“Secretary Bodman Announces $40 Million in Funding for Efficient Housing Research”, __US Dept of Energy,__ 6/13/07, www.eere.energy.gov/ As part of DOE’s Building America project, the DOE is offering funding up to $40 million to support research and development of technologies for energy efficient homes. The projects are expected to help save 30-90% of the energy currently used in homes.-M. Garmon

DOE to invest $60 million for Solar Energy Research”, __US Dept of Energy__, 6/20/07, [|www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=11055]

This is part of the Solar America Initiative. $30 million if research funding for universities is being offered. In addition, $27 million in awards is being offered to business who can address the challenges related to cost, improvements, and manufacturing capacity for solar technology. Also, up to $2.5 million will go to 13 cities which have been identified as most in need of expanded electrical supply, provided those cities use more solar generated power. The 13 cities are listed. Those cities will receive hands on assistance from technical and policy experts.-M. Garmon

__Todd Roberson__ United States. Dept. of Energy. “DOE Seeks Applications to Invest up to $40 Million in Housing Research.” 13 June 2007. 16 June 2007. 

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced DOE is issuing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that will make available up to $40 million to fund research applications to change the way American homes consume energy. Awards made under this FOA would support research, development and deployment of technologies that will, on average, reduce new home energy use 30-90 percent. This research is part of DOE’s Building America project – a public-private partnership – which acts as a catalyst for change in the home-building industry.

40. United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Clean Cities Program.” 18 June 2007. 

The mission of the Clean Cities is to advance the nation's economic, environmental, and energy security by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of oil consumption. Clean Cities carries out this mission through a network of more than 80 volunteer coalitions, which form public-private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, and idle reduction.

41. United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “Federal Fleet Requirements.” 20 June 2007. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/about/fleet_requirements.html

Under EPAct of 1992, 75% of new light-duty vehicles acquired by federal fleets must be AFVs. Sections 701 and 1831 of EPAct of 2005 requires federal fleets to use alternative fuels in dual-fuel vehicles unless the Secretary of Energy determines an agency qualifies for a waiver. Grounds for a waiver are that alternative fuel is not reasonably available to the fleet and the cost of alternative fuel is unreasonably more expensive that convention fuel.

42. United States. Dept. of Energy. “DOE to Provide up to $14 Million to Develop Advanced Batteries for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles.” 5 April 2007. 

The Department of Energy announced that it will provide up to $14 million in funding for a $28 million cost-shared solicitation by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery development. This research aims to find solutions to improving battery performance so vehicles can deliver up to 40 miles of electric range without recharging. This would include most roundtrip daily commutes. DOE and USABC seek to identify electrochemical storage technologies capable of meeting or approaching USABC’s criteria for performance, weight, life-cycle, and cost. Other considerations include the potential to commercialize proposed battery technologies and bring them to market quickly.

United States. Dept. of Energy. “MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Energy.” 12 June 2007. 16 June 2007.  DOE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) on June 12th in an effort to maximize energy efficiency at industrial facilities. NAM represents 11,000 large and small manufacturers in every industrial sector, comprising over 200,000 facilities throughout the United States. Under the MOU, DOE and NAM will assist manufacturing facilities in implementing energy management programs; adopting clean, efficient technologies; and achieving continual energy efficiency improvement.

United States. Dept. of Energy. **“**USDA, DOE Announce $18 Million Solicitation for Biomass Research and Development.” 11 June 2007. 16 June 2007.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a combined total of up to $18 million will be available for research and development of biomass-based products, biofuels, bioenergy and related processes. USDA and DOE are issuing these grant solicitations for several types of projects aimed at increasing the availability of alternative and renewable fuels. The $18 million solicitation will fund projects in the following four categories: the development of technologies to convert cellulosic biomass into intermediaries for biobased fuels (45 percent); product diversification (30 percent); feedstock production (20 percent); and analysis for strategic guidance (5 percent).

U.S. Energy Information Administration. __Annual Energy Outook 2007 with Projections to 2030__, (Washington D.C., 2007).  The actual publication is rather long, but the website provides an easier way to access specific information. The page includes links to analysis of U.S. energy demand and supply, as well as forecasts for supply, demand, and pricing in the future. The focus of the publication is on electricity, oil and natural gas, and coal. An overview of the context of energy in the U.S is provided. The authors take into account a number of issues that have or may be influential to energy production, consumption, and pricing. Market projections include strong economic growth, uncertain prices, and a “deepening” reliance on imported oil. Federal and State legislation are integrated with the analysis and projections. The authors also provide a comparison of their analysis and projections to others who have conducted similar analysis and projections. --Kristine

G.N. Baum, B.D. James, F. Kuhn Jr., F.D. Lomax Jr., C.E. Thomas, “Affordable Hydrogen Supply Pathways for Fuel Cell Vehicles,” __International Journal of Hydrogen Energy__ 23, 6 (1998): 507-516.  If you are focusing on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (HFCVs), then this is a great study that illustrates and describes the primary barriers to larger production and market success of HFCVs. The study is based on a contract DOE had with Ford Motor Company and Directed Technologies to develop direct HFCVs. The research process provided insight into the dangers of onboard hydrogen storage and the issues relevant to hydrogen infrastructure development. Ideas on how to more safely and efficiently store hydrogen on a fuel cell vehicle are discussed, with an emphasis placed on the most common method for producing hydrogen – steam methane reformers. Additionally, there is great discussion and explanation regarding the lack of current infrastructure and ways to balance supply in relation to demand, so that the need for major capital investments are minimized. Here some fueling option ideas are discussed in regards to promoting more drivers to transition into HFCV users. There are helpful cost and performance comparisons made between gasoline powered vehicles and HFCVs. The paper also outlines key benefits to the environment in increased use of HFCVs. --Kristine