Governors' Coalition Recommends Federal Initiatives for Wind Power
The Governors' Wind Energy Coalition, a bipartisan group of 29 U.S. governors, released a report on March 16 that provides recommendations for developing wind energy across the country.
The document, "Great Expectations: U.S. Wind Energy Development, the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition's 2010 Recommendations," calls for sweeping measures to accelerate deployment of wind energy-measures that will also boost the deployment of renewable energy in general.
Among their key recommendations, the governors call for a U.S. Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that requires utilities to provide a minimum 10% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2012.
Further, the group proposes building an interstate electric transmission infrastructure that supports renewable energy onshore and offshore. As part of its call for offshore development, the coalition backs research and development of coastal and deepwater wind power, including research to develop new types of turbines, offshore installations, and mooring techniques. Other avenues to boost wind power include streamlining the permitting processes for wind sites and expanding DOE's involvement with both states and the wind industry to speed technology innovations.
Finally, the state leaders urge extending the U.S. Treasury Department's grant program in place of tax credits, along with adopting long-term renewable energy production tax credits. See the press release from Iowa Governor Chet Culver and the governors' report (PDF 1.22 MB).
DOE, Interior, and Army Corps of Engineers Cooperate on Hydropower
DOE, the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on March 24 to create a new federal approach to hydropower.
The agencies have agreed to focus on increasing energy generation at federally owned facilities and to explore opportunities for development of low-impact hydropower. The agreement also provides an opportunity for DOE to connect its hydropower research and development efforts with the agencies that own, operate, and regulate federal water projects. The combined hydroelectric facilities of the Army Corps of Engineers and Interior's Bureau of Reclamation total about 34,000 MW, representing about half of the country's hydropower capacity.
Under the MOU, the agencies will identify specific federal facilities that are well-suited as sites for sustainable hydropower, upgrade facilities and demonstrate new technologies at existing hydropower locations, coordinate research and development on advanced hydropower technologies, and increase hydropower generation through low-impact and environmentally sustainable approaches.
The MOU is supported by detailed action items the agencies have identified as areas of collaboration, including technology development and deployment, green hydropower certification, federal inland hydropower coordination, renewable energy integration and energy storage, and regulatory process facilitation. See the DOE press release, DOE's Wind and Water Power Program Web site, and the Bureau of Reclamation's Hydroelectric Power Web site.
DOE Orders AeroSys to Halt Distribution of Inefficient Products
DOE ordered AeroSys, Inc. to stop distributing two product models-one air conditioner and one heat pump-that DOE testing found to consume more energy than allowed under federal efficiency standards.
Based on independent test results, DOE determined that the AeroSys heat pump (THHP-24T*) and one of the air conditioners (THDC-30T*) violate federal law, falling 4% and 8% below minimum standards, respectively.
