Central Perk: Energy Update: An All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy

miercuri, 7 martie 2012

Energy Update: An All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Energy Update: An All-of-the-Above Energy Strategy

President Barack Obama tours the University of Miami Industrial Assessment Center in Miami, Florida, Feb. 23, 2012. The IAC is where students learn how to become industrial energy-efficiency experts as they help small to mid-sized manufacturers reduce their energy costs. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy).

In his February 23rd speech at the University of Miami, President Obama addressed the energy issue on everyone's minds – gas prices. He detailed his all-of-the-above energy strategy that expands production of America's energy resources, like oil and natural gas; promotes energy efficiency to save consumers and businesses money; and supports a wide variety of clean energy technologies.

In Miami, President Obama announced new programs that will provide $30 million for natural gas vehicle fuel research and $14 million for algal transportation fuel research, funding that has the potential to decrease our dependency on foreign oil and increase energy security. His remarks followed a tour of the University's Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), which trains students to become energy-efficiency experts who can identify areas to improve productivity, reduce waste, and save energy at small- and medium-sized manufacturers. The IAC program was started by the DOE in 1976, and there are now 24 across the country.

The following week, President Obama travelled to Nashua, New Hampshire, to tour Nashua Community College's automotive technology lab, where students learn how to work with alternative fuels and emerging automotive technologies. His remarks following the tour reiterated the all-of-the-above energy strategy being implemented by the Obama Administration.

To further emphasize the Administration's energy agenda and fact-check the current gas price discussion, Dan Pfeiffer posted this blog, noting that:

The truth is that there is no silver bullet to address rising gas prices in the short term, but there are steps we can take to ensure the American people don't fall victim to skyrocketing gas prices over the long term. That's why since taking office the President has been focused on a sustained, "all-of-the-above" approach to developing new domestic energy sources, expanding oil and gas production, and reducing our reliance on foreign oil, most notably through the historic fuel economy standards the President has established, which will nearly double the efficiency of the vehicles we drive and save families $1.7 trillion at the pump.

These actions represent just a snapshot of the Administration's efforts to promote American-made energy. For more information, check out the highlights below, read President Obama's speech at the University of Miami, take a look at the blog entry on the Clean Energy Standard, and learn about how our dependence on foreign oil is declining.

Events

President Obama highlights Blueprint for American Energy at University of Miami
During his visit to Florida, President Obama highlighted the University of Miami's Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) as a smart and important piece of the administration's "all-of-the-above" approach to domestic energy sources. The President spoke about his blueprint for a new era of American Energy and discussed concerns about rising fuel costs. Learn more about the President's visit to the IAC in this blog post and listen to his full remarks here.

President Obama tours Advanced Vehicle Lab Facility at Nashua Community College
On March 1st, the President toured the Nashua Community College automotive lab, which is part of a consortium of community colleges across the country that have received funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop specialized training related to alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. During the tour, the President viewed a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) truckfrom the City of Nashua, which partners with the automotive program for the service and repair of their expanding CNG fleet. Check out the President's remarks for the event.

Secretary Chu visits site of America's First New Nuclear Reactor in Three Decades
On Feb. 15th, Secretary Chu visited the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Waynesboro, Georgia, highlighting the steps the Obama Administration is taking to encourage America's nuclear power industry, including $10 million in new funding for research and development in advanced nuclear reactor and fuel cycle technologies. Read Secretary Chu's comments.

ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit held from Feb. 27th to Feb. 29th
ARPA-E held the third annual Energy Innovation Summit from Feb. 27th to Feb. 29th, bringing together energy leaders from academia, business, and government. The event allowed the leaders to explore and discuss emerging technology innovation in areas of zero carbon power, power management, electrical storage, bioenergy, and more. Take a look at the presentations.

Secretary Clinton and Administrator Jackson launch Short-Lived Climate Forcers Initiative
On Feb. 16th, Secretary Clinton, with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, launched the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a global effort to combat climate change by reducing short-lived pollutants such as methane, soot, and hydroflourocarbons. The United States has committed $12 million in new funding for the effort, contributing to the $15 million provided to the foundation from the other members, including Bangladesh, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Ghana, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Watch the event.

News

DOE announces funding for the newest Energy Innovation Hub
On Feb. 7th, Secretary Chu announced plans to launch a new Energy Innovation Hub for advanced research on batteries and energy storage with an investment of up to $120 million over five years. The hub, which will be funded at up to $20 million in fiscal year 2012, will focus on accelerating research and development of electrochemical energy storage for transportation and the electric grid.

DOE announces the winning companies of the America's Next Top Energy Innovator Challenge
On Feb. 10th, Secretary Chu announced the three winning startup companies – based on a public vote and an expert review – out of the 14 participating in the "America's Next Top Energy Innovator" challenge.

US and Mexico sign agreement easing the way for resource development in the Gulf of Mexico
On Feb. 20th, representatives for the US and Mexico signed an agreement on the exploration and development of oil and natural gas reservoirs along the United States' and Mexico's maritime boundary in the Gulf of Mexico. This Transboundary Agreement removes uncertainties regarding development of transboundary resources in the resource-rich Gulf of Mexico. As a result of this Agreement, nearly 1.5 million acres of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf will now be made more accessible for exploration and production activities.

President Obama signs Presidential Memo to increase bio-based product purchases
On Feb. 21st, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Federal Government to take decisive steps to dramatically increase the purchase of biobased products over the next two years, which will create jobs and drive innovation where biobased products are grown and manufactured. The Memorandum will also result in a 50 percent increase in the number of new products that are designated as biobased. Biobased products include items like paints, soaps and detergents and are developed from farm grown plants, rather than chemicals or petroleum bases. The biobased products sector marries the two most important economic engines for rural America: agriculture and manufacturing. Read more about the BioPreferred program.

Energy Star leaders achieve President Obama's energy efficiency goals for buildings
On Feb. 22nd, the EPA announced that nearly half of the organizations recognized as Energy Star Leaders have improved the energy efficiency of their building portfolios by 20 percent or more. Last year, President Obama announced a nationwide call to action to improve the energy performance in buildings across the nation by 20 percent by 2020. EPA's Energy Star program has helped these 90 leading organizations achieve the President's goal by providing them with a proven energy management strategy, which includes a focus on ongoing performance measurement and whole-building improvement. Energy Star Leaders have cumulatively saved more than $150 million on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity use of nearly 95,000 homes.

Army unveils world's first military fleet of fuel cell vehicles
On Feb. 22nd, U.S. Army, Pacific, unveiled a fleet of 16 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that the military services in Hawaii are testing in an effort to research efficient, clean and renewable energy sources, and reduce the U.S. military's dependence on petroleum.

EPA announces recipients of inaugural Climate Leadership Awards
On Feb. 29th, the EPA, the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) (formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change), and The Climate Registry (TCR) named the winners of the inaugural Climate Leadership Awards. The awards recognize corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in addressing climate change and reducing carbon pollution. From setting and exceeding aggressive emissions reduction goals to reducing the emissions associated with shipping goods, these organizations are improving efficiency, identifying energy and cost saving opportunities, and reducing pollution.

ARPA-E announces $150 million in funding for breakthrough energy technologies
On Feb. 29th, Dr. Arun Majumdar, Director of ARPA-E, closed the Summit by announcing that on Friday, March 2, ARPA-E will release a $150 million funding opportunity open to all breakthrough energy technologies. The Open Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support transformational and disruptive high-impact energy R&D projects related to renewable power, bioenergy, transportation, the electrical grid, and building efficiency, among other technology areas.

DOE announces ambitious new initiative to deploy US offshore wind projects
On March 1st, Secretary Chu announced the start of an ambitious initiative to capture the potential of wind energy off American coasts. As part of a planned six-year $180 million initiative, an initial $20 million will be available this year as the first step in supporting up to four innovative offshore wind energy installations across the United States.

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