Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: June 24, 2009

Clean Energy Emphasized at the Americas Energy and Climate Symposium

Energy efficiency and renewable energy were the major focus of energy ministers and other government leaders from throughout the Americas last week, as they converged in Lima, Peru, for the Americas Energy and Climate Symposium. 

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a Low Carbon Communities Program, which will assist countries in developing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that will reduce the carbon footprint of their urban communities. DOE will partner with participating countries to develop building energy standards and to adopt modern urban planning strategies, including transit-oriented development. DOE will provide technical assistance and limited funding to help achieve those goals. Energy leaders also announced the development of a Regional Energy Efficiency Center, supported by Peru, and a Regional Wind Center, supported by Mexico.

The symposium was the first major energy event after the Summit of the Americas in April, where President Obama announced the formation of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). The president invited all Western Hemisphere countries to be part of a united effort under the ECPA, and since then, the regional response has been overwhelmingly positive across all five elements of the ECPA: energy efficiency, renewable energy, cleaner fossil fuels, critical infrastructure, and energy development to help alleviate poverty. The Americas Energy and Climate Symposium took place on June 15 and 16 and was hosted by the Government of Peru. See the symposium announcement from the Institute of the Americas and the DOE press release.

DOE also announced that Energy Secretary Chu signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Minister Marcelo Tokman of the Chilean National Energy Commission to further collaboration between the two nations. The memorandum establishes an institutional framework between Chile and the U.S., allowing DOE to provide its technical expertise in support of a new Renewable Energy Center in Chile. The Center will identify developments and best practices in renewable energy technologies from around the world, disseminating its findings within Chile and throughout the region. The two countries will also collaborate on other high-priority energy issues, including energy efficiency technologies and the establishment of two pilot solar power projects in northern Chile. See the DOE press release.

DOE Awards $8 Billion in Loans for Advanced Vehicle Technologies

DOE announced $8 billion in conditional loan agreements for Ford Motor Company; Nissan North America, Inc.; and Tesla Motors, Inc. to fund development of advanced vehicle technologies.

The loan commitments include a $5.9 billion loan to Ford for upgrading factories in five states to produce 13 more fuel-efficient models, a $1.6 billion loan to Nissan to build advanced electric vehicles and advanced batteries, and a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors to manufacture its new electric sedan. These are the first conditional loans released under DOE's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program, which is using an open, competitive process to provide about $25 billion in loans to companies that produce cars or vehicle components in the U.S. To qualify, companies must propose projects that increase fuel economy to at least 25% above 2005 fuel economy levels.