Alternative energy
Politico Conference Recap by Erin Carson, Senior Policy Advisor A well-attended energy conference held in Washington D.C. last week asked congressional members and industry leaders about the upcoming energy policy agenda. The topics included oil and gas, renewable energy, and the possibility of new energy legislation. Panelists spoke about the need to invest in energy technologies…...
Congress considered one piece of energy legislation last week and will not vote on legislation again until after Thanksgiving. However, a number of important energy-policy events occurred in Washington in the last week related to biofuels and the oil and gas industries. In biofuels, the Environmental Protection Agency denied the request for waiver from the…...
With the election over, President Obama’s energy priorities will emerge as new rules and regulations are finalized under existing law. The balance of power in Washington is the same as it was prior to the elections– President Barack Obama will serve another four years and Congress will continue to be divided with a Democrat-controlled Senate…...
Under President Obama’s second term, energy industry officials and analysts are keen on the Administration’s priorities for the energy sector, envisioning regulatory reforms and policies to advance the nation’s energy and economic security. Key areas to watch include Keystone XL Pipeline talks, recognizing the primacy of states in regulating oil and natural gas development, and…...
Sequestration refers to a package of automatic $1.2 trillion across-the-board spending cuts that is a part of the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA), passed in August 2011. The spending cuts would affect some 1200 government programs, including those that fund energy research and development initiatives. The cuts are scheduled to begin on January 2, 2013…...
On November 13, 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to issue its decision on whether or not to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2012-2013. Waiving the RFS could reduce demand for the crops used to make biofuels, potentially offsetting some of the impacts of this year’s drought and reducing crop prices…...
The 112th Congress recessed for the 2012 elections in late September and is expected to return for official business on November 13 for the remainder of the year. Several energy- related issues that have been contested during the presidential campaign will be affected by lawmaker action — or inaction — when Congress reconvenes. During this…...
On August 29, 2012 the Department of Energy (DOE) announced new investments for two university-led solar projects over a five-year period, under its SunShot Initiative. The investments amounting to $10 million are aimed at enhancing innovative technologies in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. Such innovations can make solar power a practical energy option by increasing…...
By 2025, U.S. vehicles will get 54.5 miles per gallon (mpg), attaining nearly twice the fuel efficiency of current vehicles, providing fuel economy for consumers and setting carbon pollution standards, according to the finalized auto-efficiency standards announced by the Obama administration on August 28, 2012. Auto manufacturers have welcomed the rules, calling it a single…...
According to a report released by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on August 27, 2012, applying a carbon tax at the rate of $20 per ton in 2013 and increasing it by four percent per year can raise $1.5 trillion over a span of 10 years. The report, which comes at a time when Congress…...
Ocean Power Technologies, a New Jersey-based renewable energy company, announced on August 20, 2012 that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a license for its 1.5 MW Reedsport wave energy park, the first of its kind in the U.S. The 35-year license approves the operation of up to 10 devices that can generate wave…...
According to an announcement from the Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Secretary Steven Chu convened a group of technical experts on August 2, 2012 to review the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at Hanford Site, in order to assess its capability to detect and rectify equipment failure inside the plant’s black cells. Due to high levels…...