Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: October 21, 2009

Vice President Biden Unveils Energy Efficiency Home Retrofit Plan Team Germany Wins 2009 Solar Decathlon DOE: $24M in 3 Wind Research Facilities AWEA: Recovery Act Spurs U.S. Wind Growth in Q3 California Expands Rules for Feed-In Tariffs, Net Metering 2010 Fuel Economy Guide Released Report Examines Hidden Health, Environmental Costs of Energy Use Vice President Biden Unveils Energy Efficiency Home Retrofit Plan Vice President Biden released on October 19 the "Recovery Through Retrofit" report, which lays out a plan to help U.S. residents upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes. The program aims to increase green jobs and save energy through residential retrofits. At the same time, DOE issued a solicitation that offers $454 million in ARRA funds-including $390 million for a "Retrofit Ramp-Up" program-to support energy efficiency efforts across the country. At a Middle Class Task Force meeting earlier this year, Biden asked the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a proposal for federal action to lay the groundwork for a self-sustaining industry for home energy efficiency retrofits. Their response is the October 19 report and includes these federal recommendations: provide U.S. homeowners with home energy retrofit information, including an energy performance label for existing homes; […]

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