Electric Vehicles

California and Mexico Sign Climate and Energy Agreements

During a Trade and Investment Mission to Mexico, California Governor Brown signed agreements with Mexico to enhance cooperation on environmental issues and encourage cross-border clean energy investments. On July 28, 2014, California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Rodolfo Lacy, and Mexican National Forestry Commission Director General Jorge Rescala…...

NYEW 2014 Transportation Breakfast: The Need for Standards and the Right Market for Innovation

The transportation sector plays a large role in economic competitiveness and in environmental sustainability, which according to the EPA, accounted for 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, trailing just the power sector. Going forward, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects an average energy consumption increase of 1.1 percent by the world transportation sector…....

New York Is First To Tackle Grid Modernization With REV

The New York State Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative aims to answer the question of how to proceed with New York’s energy future in the face of aging electric generating plants and the need for a more resilient energy infrastructure. Overview The initiative – announced by Governor Cuomo in April 2014 – tasks the…...

Eight-State Coalition Releases ZEV Action Plan

An eight-state coalition formed in October 2013 to advance ZEV initiatives has released a Multi-State ZEV Action Plan identifying priority actions for interstate coordination and state-specific measures. On May 29, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the release of a Multi-State Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Action Plan. The the multi-state plan is the first milestone of…...

Federal Regulations and Tax Credits Support Diesel and Natural Gas Vehicle Adoption

Despite the recent surge in domestic crude oil and natural gas production, diesel-fueled passenger vehicles and natural gas-fueled fleet vehicles still face challenges in achieving large-scale adoption. Overview Diesel-fueled vehicles provide an option for manufacturers to meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions standards and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration average fuel-efficiency standards of 54.5 miles…...

NY Utility Resilience Initiatives and Utility Outage Alternatives

New York’s fast-evolving energy industry is focused on preparing for a future in which new technologies present broad opportunities to modernize energy systems in ways that could significantly increase resiliency. In June 2013, New York unveiled a comprehensive plan to increase infrastructure and building resilience including initiatives to mitigate weather-related impacts. These initiatives are designed…...

New York Green Bank to Transform Clean Energy Markets

On February 5, 2014, The New York Green Bank (NYGB) issued its first solicitation for project funding. With project funding commencing, NYGB aims to create a sustainable stream of private capital to replace intermittent grants and subsidies from state and federal sources, and be the first U.S. Green Bank to target $1 billion in capitalization…....

DOE Issues Draft Loan Solicitation for Clean Energy Projects

DOE has released a draft solicitation for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that could provide up to $4B in loan guarantees. On April 16, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a draft loan guarantee solicitation for innovative renewable energy and energy efficiency projects aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The Renewable Energy and…...

New Bill to Create Clean Energy Investment Bonds

The Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act would create small-denomination treasury bonds to fund clean energy incentives. On April 8, 2014, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2014, aimed to create treasury savings bonds – modeled after the victory bonds sold during World War II –…...

DOE Releases Strategic Plan 2014-2018

DOE has released a five-year Strategic Plan outlining priorities to address the nation’s energy, security, economic, and environmental challenges. On April 7, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its Strategic Plan for 2014-2018 to advance its mission of enhancing U.S. security and economic growth through transformative science, technology, and market solutions to address energy,…...

DOE Enhances Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program

DOE has announced improvements to its Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program to clarify eligibility criteria and increase responsiveness to applicants. On April 2, 2014, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced improvements to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program at the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Legislative Summit.  The…...