Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: May 20, 2009

President Obama Announces National Fuel Economy Policy DOE Raises Award Ceilings for Smart Grid Projects EPA Sets Energy Star Specs for Computer Servers U.S. Wind Industry Marks Strong Q1 Growth World’s Biggest Solar Tower Producing Power in Spain MIT: Increased Warming Threat if GHG Stay Unchecked President Obama Announces National Fuel Economy Policy President Obama announced a national policy on Tuesday that increases fuel economy and reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of all new cars and trucks sold in the U.S. It includes proposed new fuel economy standards covering model years 2012-2016, achieving an average fuel economy of 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg) for model year 2016. That exceeds the requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which required an average fuel economy of 35 mpg by model year 2020. The standards will also reduce CO2 emissions from new vehicles by 30% by 2016. Over the lifetime of these new vehicles, they will save an estimated 1.8 billion barrels of oil and will avoid the emissions of 900 million metric tons of CO2. Cars and light trucks cause 17% of the CO2 emissions in the U.S. The groundbreaking policy represents an unprecedented collaboration among the U.S. Department […]

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