Earlier this week, renewable energy advocates raised the alarm when it became clear that the new $2 trillion stimulus package will not shine so kindly upon wind, solar, and other clean tech. That stinks, but the groundwork for a low carbon revolution was already laid by another stimulus bill that passed Congress way back before the latest crisis hit — just about 11 years ago, as a matter of fact.
Electric skateboards, bikes, mopeds, motorcycles, cars, trucks, boats, airplanes, and trains — no matter where we look, all aspects of mobility have been touched or will be touched soon enough by electric powertrains. Ironically, trains were early to electrify, but we’re still behind the times in the US.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced on Wednesday a $102 million capital investment by the state in improving high-speed trains in the state. Together with federal funds from the high-speed rail stimulus program in the Recovery Act, the capital will allow the Union Pacific Railroad and Illinois Department of Transportation to construct … [continued]
By Arno Harris, SEIA Board Chairman, and Nat Kreamer, SEIA Vice Chairman of the Board More than 150 years ago, American author and humorist Mark Twain wrote, “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Sadly, some things never change. Recently, a few bloggers took exception to … [continued]
Originally published on Climate Progress. By Emily Atkin. Twelve clean energy businesses in the U.S. will receive a total of $150 million in tax credits for domestic manufacturing equipment under a federal program that is set to expire in 2014, the Obama administration announced Thursday. The awards will help businesses build up their … [continued]
The one thing everyone working on energy issues in America can agree upon is non-existent energy policy action at the national level. But late last week President Obama signed two bipartisan bills that could create a major boost for US renewables generation from an unlikely source – small hydropower.
It’s kind of amazing these bills becoming law hasn’t gotten much attention, since they’re the first real energy legislation to pass Congress since 2009, and could ultimately create 1.2 million green jobs while adding 60 gigawatts of new renewable electricity to the grid.
California and Texas lead a new ranking of US smart grid implementation, and the common factors in the 15 most successful states could direct the future of American grid modernization.
This article originally appeared on the website of the US Department of Energy. By Shannon Brescher Shea, Communications Manager, Clean Cities Program This article is part of the Energy.gov series celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Energy Department’s Clean Cities initiative by highlighting the work of some of the community-based coalitions that … [continued]
An analysis from the US Department of Energy (DOE), “Economic Impact of Recovery Act Investment in the Smart Grid,” reports smart grid projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) created nearly $7 billion total economic output, nearly 50,000 jobs, and over $1 billion in government tax revenue.
From the 1960s to the 1980s many affordable housing projects were developed. As these units have begun to age, they require frequent repair and upgrades to address health, safety, and energy efficiency concerns. The Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership (SWMHP) found that incorporating energy efficiency measures into its housing accommodations … [continued]
