Alternative energy

NASA Launches First Spacecraft Dedicated to CO2 Tracking

NASA has launched a new mission to measure global distribution of carbon dioxide sources and sinks. On July 2, 2014, the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) launched the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) dedicated to study the Earth’s carbon dioxide (CO2) sources and sinks.  The observatory, launched on a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from…...

NYEW 2014 Solar Breakfast: Industry Tipping Point

The Breakfast Series’ Solar session emphasized an industry in transition. The solar industry looks to continue its progress from a burgeoning niche market to a stand-alone provider of cost-competitive renewable energy, and the tipping point may be arriving very soon. Moderated by EnerKnol’s Janet Lin, the event panel included Laurence Mackler, Founder & CEO, Solaire…...

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…....

NYEW 2014 Energy Storage Roundtable: Calling for Clear Guidelines and Incentives

Policymakers and industry leaders are increasingly understanding the importance of energy storage in a number of applications, such as integrating renewable energy sources and providing grid resiliency, which has become particularly exigent in New York in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. As a result, organizations like the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology (NY-BEST)…...

NY Governor Announces $200M for Buffalo Billion Initiative

New investments in the Buffalo Billion initiative, including advanced manufacturing and clean energy technologies, are expected to create more than 1,300 jobs. On June 30, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced approximately $200M in Buffalo Billion Initiative funding to support high-tech projects that would create more than 1,300 jobs, boost economic growth, and…...

DOE Grants $10M for Electricity Grid Improvement

DOE has committed more than $10M to improve the electricity grid by deploying advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology. On June 11, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $10M for six grid improvement projects across five states.  The projects will increase deployment of advanced software that works with synchrophasor technology to…...

ARPA-E Announces $33M Funding for DG Technologies at New York Energy Week

ARPA-E has announced $33M in funding under its new REBELS program to support innovative distributed generation technologies.   On June 19, 2014, the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced $33M in funding for 13 projects through its new Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems (REBELS) program.  The new projects will focus on…...

DOE Awards $100M to Energy Frontier Research Centers

DOE has awarded $100M to accelerate scientific breakthroughs for a fundamentally new energy economy. On June 18, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $100M award across 32 projects – as second round of funding for Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) – to support innovative energy research that will enable fundamental advances in energy generation, supply, transmission,…...

Largest U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Area Open for Commercial Development

A 742,000 acre zone offshore Massachusetts will be available for commercial wind energy leasing, doubling the federal offshore acreage available for wind development. On June 17, 2014, the Department of Interior (DOI) announced the availability of more than 742,000 acres offshore Massachusetts for commercial wind energy leasing.  The proposed wind energy area (WEA) – located…...

EPA Extends 2013 RFS Compliance Deadline

EPA has extended compliance demonstration and attest engagement reporting deadlines for 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards. On June 16, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published to the Federal Register a rule extending regulatory deadlines for obligated entities under the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) program to ensure timely amendment of current deadlines before compliance obligations take…...