Drop-in biofuels may include a bio-based crude oil substitute that could be processed in existing refineries, as well as bio-based versions of gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel that can be handled the same way as their petroleum-based counterparts. For example, the Gas Technology Institute will test wood, corn stover, and an aquatic plant in an automated, integrated pilot facility that converts biomass directly into gasoline and diesel fuel.
Under the second initiative, DOE will provide $4.5 million to three projects focused on developing sustainable methods of biomass crop production. The projects will design, model, and implement biomass production systems across different regions of the country while looking at factors such as how plants impact soil erosion and water quality, quantifying the environmental impacts of different strategies for producing energy crops and using crop residues. The projects will also provide insight into where to locate bioenergy crops within a landscape in order to maximize their potential positive impacts.
A team led by North Carolina State University will examine sites in Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina and will investigate biomass production options that are compatible with forest management, with a focus on the intercropping of pine and switchgrass. The University of Minnesota and Purdue University will focus on energy crops in the Mississippi River watershed and watersheds in the Upper Midwest, respectively. See the DOE press release and DOE's Biomass Program Web site.
$30 Million for State Energy Efficiency Projects
DOE announced $28.5 million in competitive awards to 12 states and territories for energy efficiency projects.
Funding falls into two categories, "Strengthening Building Retrofit Markets" and "Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action." Retrofit support will assist states in developing targeted building retrofit markets in the residential and commercial sectors. Energy efficiency funding will help states generate the necessary policy and program frameworks to support short- and long-term investments in energy efficiency.
The winning proposals cover an array of approaches to reduce energy use. For example, Nevada will expand its Home Performance with Energy Star Program with the goal of retrofitting at least 5% of Nevada's single-family residences by 2021, focusing on major metropolitan areas. Mississippi and Kentucky will team up to generate a lasting market transformation for energy efficiency in the southeastern U.S. with utility investment in efficiency. In a complementary effort, DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability awarded a grant to Hawaii to help its public utilities commission reduce electricity use by 4,300 GwH by 2030. See the
DOE press release and DOE's
State Energy Program Web site.
