Global warming

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today at the White House Tribal Nations Conference, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu highlighted the Department of Energy’s continued commitment to partnering with Native Americans to support the development of clean energy projects on tribal lands that will help reduce energy use, limit carbon pollution, and create new jobs for tribal communities across the country.

“The Department of Energy is committed to partnering with tribal communities to help them meet their energy needs through clean energy and energy efficiency technologies,” said Secretary Chu. “Clean energy projects will create jobs and economic opportunities on tribal lands, while reducing energy use and increasing energy security for Indian Country.”    » read more »

$30.6 million Recovery Act investment by the Department of Energy highlights the additional potential of hydro power

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $30.6 million in Recovery Act funding for the selection of seven hydropower projects that modernize hydropower infrastructure by increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts at existing facilities. The expanded hydro generation projects have estimated incremental costs of less than 4 cents per kWh on average.    » read more »

Nov. 05, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Citing what he called America’s urgent need for a diverse energy supply, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today detailed several renewable energy projects that are on a fast track, including a 400-megawatt solar tower development available for public review and five others that are poised to begin environmental impact studies. Five of these are solar projects and one is a wind farm; all are located in California.    » read more »

Committee Democrats Forced to Pass Landmark Bill Without Republican Participation

November 5, 2009 -- Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) today passed landmark climate change legislation to combat global warming and invest in a new clean energy economy. Because the Republican members of the Committee declined to propose amendments to the legislation and boycotted the Committee's meetings to consider the bill, the Committee approved EPW Committee Chairman Boxer's "mark" of the legislation without amendment.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, November 5 – The Senate environment committee today overcame a Republican boycott and voted 11 to 1 for a sweeping climate bill that would cut greenhouse gases from power plants and factories by 83 percent by 2050.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the panel’s Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee, was an active participant in crafting the legislation.

More aggressive than a House-passed global warming bill, the Senate measure also calls for a 20 percent reduction by 2020 in emissions that cause climate change.    » read more »

Environment Committee Passes Measure To Reduce Pollution, Create Jobs, Reduce Dependence on Oil

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today applauded committee approval of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009. The legislation includes aggressive targets and timetables for emissions reductions, significant funding increases for R & D and the development of smart transportation options.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) who, along with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), authored S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, today released the following statement on the passage of their legislation out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW):

"Congratulations to Chairman Barbara Boxer who this morning advanced landmark legislation out of her committee. She did so under the toughest of circumstances, after months of meetings, deliberations, and vigorous debate. This wasn't easy, but her commitment was resolute. Today's step in the process sends a clear message to the world that the United States is serious about tackling climate change and securing our clean energy future.    » read more »

Brown Says Report Shows How Ohio is Poised to Become National Leader in Clean Energy Manufacturing; How Clean Energy Policy Can Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Federal clean energy legislation could create more than 51,000 jobs at existing Ohio manufacturing firms, according to a new report released today. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined labor and clean energy leaders to announce the report, which also shows that Ohio is in the top five states for potential job creation.    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today urged Congress to swiftly take up and pass energy legislation aimed at creating "green collar" jobs.

"The economy has lost 7.2 million jobs during this recession -- one out of every 20 jobs in the country. In percentage terms, that is the biggest job loss since the recession in 1948 and 1949," Bingaman said, in a speech on the Senate floor.    » read more »

Improvements to 100-year-old Facility Also Will Reduce Environmental Hazards

November 4, 2009 -- Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, today announced the 100-year-old Boulder Canyon Hydroelectric Project will get up to $1.18 million to replace two old turbines for higher efficiency and output.

The funds, provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, are part of $30.6 million in funding announced by the U.S. Department of Energy to modernize hydropower infrastructure by increasing efficiency at existing facilities and reducing their environmental impact.    » read more »

November 5th -- Today the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 11-1 to send S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act to the full Senate for consideration.    » read more »

Part of continuing strategy to grow economy, create jobs

November 4, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said Michigan is working to become a world center for wind and clean-energy manufacturing, which is part of her strategy to grow the state's economy and create jobs. The governor's remarks came during her address to the American Wind Energy Association's Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.

"Michigan is home to one of the world's greatest 20th century manufacturing industries," Granholm said, alluding to the automobile industry. "But our goal is to also become the home of one of the world's greatest 21st century manufacturing industries: wind and clean-energy manufacturing."    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $38 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 4 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states – Alaska, Kansas, Utah and West Virginia - will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the Department of Energy is awarding more than $155 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 41 industrial energy efficiency projects across the country. These awards include funding for industrial combined heat and power systems, district energy systems for industrial facilities, and grants to support technical and financial assistance to local industry. The industrial sector uses more than 30 percent of U.S. energy and is responsible for nearly 30 percent of U.S. carbon emissions.    » read more »

November 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is providing up to $5.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the X PRIZE Foundation’s work to inspire a new generation of energy efficient vehicles. As part of the Automotive X PRIZE competition, teams design innovative, commercially-viable, high-efficiency vehicles that will help break our dependence on oil and stem the effects of climate change.    » read more »