Obama Administration Launches $130M Building Efficiency Effort
16 Tribes Earn Bonding Authority for Renewable Energy Facilities
SMUD Receives Huge Response for Feed-in-Tariff
Cellulosic Ethanol Facilities Sprout Up in 4 States
2009 Global Investments in Clean Energy Fell Less than Expected
Obama Administration Launches $130M Building Efficiency Effort
The Obama Administration announced on February 12 a multi-agency initiative to spur regional economic growth while making buildings more energy efficient.
Seven federal agencies issued a combined Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) of up to $129.7 million over five years to create a regional research center. The center will develop new building efficiency technologies and work with local partners to implement them in local buildings. DOE is providing up to $22 million in the first year, and as much as $100 million over the next four years.
The agencies are working together to leverage funding and resources to promote regional growth through an Energy Regional Innovation Cluster (E-RIC) that's centered on an Energy Innovation Hub. The hub, one of three funded by Congress in fiscal year 2010, is focused on developing new technologies to improve the design of energy-efficient building systems.
The E-RIC will be based at a university, DOE national laboratory, nonprofit organization, or private firm. The entity will partner with local or state government officials, drawing on the expertise of local architects, builders, and manufacturers.
In addition to DOE, the agencies participating include the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration and Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology; the Small Business Administration; the National Science Foundation; and the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education. They will work together to leverage this funding with regional sources.
Because buildings account for nearly 40% percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions, this initiative is designed to provide an array of benefits, which include reducing energy use, lowering utility bills, and decreasing carbon emissions. See the DOE press release, the Energy Regional Innovation Cluster Web site, and the FOA (PDF 786 KB).
16 Tribes Earn Bonding Authority for Renewable Energy Facilities
The U.S. Department of Treasury announced on February 11 it has allocated $1 billion in Tribal Economic Development Bonds to 76 tribes under the Recovery Act.
Tribes will be able to issue low-interest bonds to finance a variety of projects, including renewable energy projects and manufacturing facilities. Over $250 million of the total is allocated to 16 tribes, located in seven states, which intend to use at least a portion to finance renewable energy projects.
At least $86 million will finance renewable energy facilities, including nearly $11 million for a renewable energy manufacturing facility on the tribal lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, located in southern California. The Pueblo of Acoma, located in New Mexico, plan to issue nearly $7 million in Tribal Economic Development Bonds to develop and construct a 15 MW wind farm. See the Treasury press release and the complete list of awardees (PDF 11 KB).
SMUD Receives Huge Response for Feed-in-Tariff
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) feed-in tariff (FIT) for renewable or combined heat and power generating facilities exceeded its 100 MW allotment through requests by five applicants for solar PV.
The applicants are commercial entities: Belectric, Inc.; Globall Connect; McClellan Park; Recurrent Energy; and SunPower Corporation.
