USDA Boosts 500 Rural Clean Energy Projects
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced November 9 that it is providing over $30 million in loans and grants to 516 recipients for rural renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
The support is designed to help farmers, ranchers, and owners of rural businesses reduce energy costs and develop new sources of renewable energy. Funding is provided through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
The loans and grants will help replace outdated equipment, insulate buildings, pay for energy audits, and incorporate renewable energy technologies into operations.
In Warwick, Massachusetts, Mark and Jeanette Fellows will receive a $14,000 grant to help fund a 8.36 kW solar PV system that will offset over 30% of their dairy farm's electricity use. In Salina, Kansas, PKM Steel Service, Inc. will receive a $41,000 grant to install energy efficient air compressors, boilers, temperature, and lighting controls. The program was authorized in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. See the USDA press release and the full list of award recipients .
DOE Launches Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee
DOE launched its Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC) on November 12. The new federal advisory committee reports directly to U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu to provide advice on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) portfolio.
The 19 committee members have experience in a variety of sectors, including academia, technology development, project finance, economic development, and utilities, and bring a range of technical expertise and perspectives to the committee.
ERAC will periodically review EERE's portfolio and advise the Secretary on completion of long-range plans, priorities, and strategies; program funding; and other issues of concern. The committee is expected to meet twice a year, with meetings open to the public. For a list of members, see the DOE press release. Also see the ERAC Web site.
G-20 Reaffirms Commitment to Cut Fossil Fuel Subsidies
The White House announced on November 12 that G-20 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies in the medium term.
Mexico has already started to phase out motor fuel subsidies, while India has removed gasoline price controls and raised prices for diesel, kerosene, and liquid petroleum gases. Russia and China have initiated programs to raise natural gas prices.
In the US, President Obama will work with Congress to phase out the $3 billion a year in preferential tax incentives for the coal, oil, and gas industries, consistent with his budget proposals for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. The White House estimates that gradually removing fossil fuel subsidies by 2020 could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions 10% by 2050, relative to business as usual. See the White House announcement and pages 14-15 (PDF pages 18-19) of the leaders' declaration from the G-20 Summit in Seoul.
Member countries of the G-20: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. See the G-20 Web site.
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EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
