The interagency pact will aid development of such domestic energy resources by allowing them to pursue priority leasing and efficient regulatory processes for sites with commercial-scale offshore potential.
According to DOE's 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report, offshore wind alone could produce 54 GW of electricity by 2030. See the DOI press release, the full text of the MOU (PDF 1.22 MB), and the Wind and Water Power Program Web site.
USDA Awards $4.2 Million in Woody Biomass Utilization Projects
Just in time for the wildfire season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded more than $4.2 million in grants on June 24 in six states to small businesses and community groups developing innovative renewable energy projects using biomass from hazardous fuel reduction projects on National Forest land.
Of 185 applicants, 13 from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, and Oregon were selected to receive the USDA funds. Grant recipients are required to provide at least 20% of the total project cost, bringing non-federal matching funds to over $9 million.
Woody biomass includes small-diameter and low-value wood residue such as tree limbs, tops, needles, and bark that are often byproducts of forest management activities. Enterprising uses of such biomass can help offset expensive thinning operations and enhance growth forest ecosystems.
In Arizona, for example, Cooley Forest Products will purchase a mobile canter saw, which squares or shapes logs, allowing them to process small logs at a forest landing, thereby reducing transportation costs. West Range Reclamation in Colorado will purchase a delimber/debarker, enabling them to efficiently process beetle-killed trees. The U.S. Forest Service began the woody biomass utilization grant program in 2005. In early June, the USDA released a report detailing how biofuels can help meet the Renewable Fuel Standard, a provision of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005. See the USDA press release, an article on the USDA biofuels report from the June 30 edition of the EERE Network News, and the Woody Biomass Utilization Web site.
Progressive Automotive X Prize Selects 12 Teams
Only 15 vehicles from 12 teams remain in the running for the Progressive Automotive X Prize, a competition that offers a $10 million prize for vehicles that achieve super fuel efficiency.
Established automakers, start-ups, universities, inventors, and even a high school entered the Knockout Qualifying Stage, the second stage of the months-long event. By the time the knockout round ended June 29 on Michigan International Speedway (MIS), 11 vehicles representing nine teams failed to meet the standards and were eliminated. The remaining cars, two in the mainstream class and 13 in an alternative class, will advance to the final stage, which is scheduled for July 19-30 at MIS in Brooklyn, Michigan.
