Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: September 25, 2008

DOE to Invest $35 Million in Concentrating Solar Power Projects Chrysler to Produce an Electric Car or Plug-in Hybrid by 2010 Fuel Economy for New Vehicles Rises for Fourth Straight Year California Adopts a Long-Term Energy Efficiency Plan DOE to Invest $35 Million in Concentrating Solar Power Projects DOE announced last week that it will invest up to $35 million over the next 4 years in 15 concentrating solar power (CSP) projects which, combined with the project cost-sharing from the project participants, will result in up to $67.6 million being invested in these projects. CSP technologies concentrate the sun’s heat for conversion into electricity, and the ability to store that thermal energy and draw on it after sunset will greatly increase the economic feasibility of CSP power plants. Of the 15 projects, 11 will involve the research and development (R&D) of thermal energy storage technologies, 1 involves R&D for advanced heat transfer fluids, and 3 will be geared toward near-term demonstrations of thermal storage technologies. The projects are expected to further DOE’s goal of reducing the cost of CSP electricity from today’s 13-16 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) with no thermal storage to 8-11 cents per kWh with 6 hours of […]

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: September 18, 2008

Energy Efficiency Campaigns Launched GM Celebrates 100th Birthday by Unveiling the Chevrolet Volt Intercontinental Flight Demonstrates Fuel-Saving Technologies National Solar Tour Comes to All But Four States in October Report: $100 Billion Could Yield 2 Million Clean Energy Jobs Energy Efficiency Campaigns Launched DOE launched two new energy efficiency campaigns for kids last week: "What’s your Excuse?," which is focused on the 8-12 "tween" market, and a Tinker Bell-themed campaign for 8- to 9-year-olds. The two campaigns were developed in partnership with the Advertising Council and are designed to educate children about the importance of energy efficiency. "What’s your Excuse?" encourages tweens to save energy at home with a 10-step energy action plan, and includes tips, games, and downloads posted on a Web site called "Lose Your Excuse." The campaign is supported by the pro bono efforts of Goodby, Silverstein and Partners, which developed public service announcements (PSAs) for television, radio, outdoor, and Web media. The Tinker Bell campaign consists of television, online, and outdoor PSAs created by the Ad Council to educate children about positive energy saving habits. The campaign directs children to visit the kids section of the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Web […]

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