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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup March 12, 2008

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DOE Sets New Energy Star Criteria for Washing Machines and CFLs

DOE announced last week that more stringent requirements are being put in place for all washing machines under the Energy Star label. By July 1, 2009, all qualifying Energy Star washing machines will have to be at least 43% more efficient than the current federal energy efficiency standards and have a maximum water factor (WF) of 7.5; that is, each load will use 7.5 gallons of water per cubic foot of capacity. By January 1, 2011, all Energy Star washing machines will be 59% more efficient than mandated energy standards and will have a maximum WF of 6.0. The 2011 criteria are expected to save consumers $120 million on annual utility bills while saving 11.2 billion gallons of water and 659 million kilowatt hours of electricity. Energy Star is a joint program of DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

DOE also announced more stringent Energy Star requirements for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs.) As of November 2008, CFLs must be tested by an independent third party, and as of December 2, 2008, all Energy Star CFLs will be required to contain less than 5 milligrams of mercury per bulb and to meet more stringent lamp color requirements. CFLs with reflectors, such as spotlights, will have to meet new high-heat testing requirements. The criteria will also be expanded to include CFLs with a smaller screw-in base, called a "candelabra" base. See the DOE press release and the Energy Star Web pages on the clothes washer and CFL revisions.

USDA Offers $221 Million in Clean Energy Loans and Grants

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it will accept $220.9 million in loan and grant applications under the agency's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program. Loan guarantees and grants are available to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Since 2001, the USDA has invested $674 million in more than 1,763 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel and renewable energy sources such as methane gas recovery systems and wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy systems.

Eligible applicants may seek loan guarantees to cover up to 50% of a project's cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25% of a project's cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. Grants will be awarded through two separate competitions, with the deadline for the first being April 15 and the deadline for the second being June 16. Applications for loans or loan and grant combinations are due by June 16. See the USDA press release and the program Web page.

The USDA also announced its award of more than $4.1 million to help 17 small businesses and community groups find more innovative uses of woody biomass, including renewable energy uses. The grants range from $170,000 to $250,000, while the project participants are providing as little as $65,590 to as much as $1.3 million for each project. The grants will be awarded to organizations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and South Dakota, including the Coquille Tribe of Oregon. See the USDA press release.

Renewable Energy Continues Rapid Global Growth in 2007

The global use of renewable energy sources continued its rapid growth in 2007, with 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity added throughout the world, according to a new report. That capacity growth, which includes large hydropower, brings the world's renewable energy generating capacity to more than a thousand gigawatts. Excluding large hydropower, renewable generating capacity grew by 33 gigawatts to a total of 240 gigawatts, a 16% annual growth rate. At 95 gigawatts, wind power is the largest of the newer renewable energy sources, while grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems increased by 53%, reaching 7.8 gigawatts.

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