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09/19/2007 11:15 AM
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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:
September 19, 2007
Page 1
- Report Documents Massive Flaring of Natural Gas Worldwide
The National Governors Association (NGA) committed last week to promoting clean energy policies across the country. The NGA's new "Securing a Clean Energy Future" initiative will enlist the efforts of all governors to enact meaningful clean energy policies at the state level. Specifically, the initiative will promote state policies that encourage energy efficiency and conservation; promote non-petroleum fuels; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and accelerate the research and development of advanced clean energy technologies.
The initiative's efforts will be guided by a task force composed of eight governors that represent a cross-section of the country and that share a common desire to advance clean energy. The task force is chaired by the governors of Kansas and Minnesota and also includes the governors of Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington. See the initiative's Web site, and the NGA press release.
DOE is supporting the initiative with a grant of $550,000. In addition, DOE will provide $60,000 will be used to conduct forums and workshops on energy assurance and securing the nation's energy infrastructure. DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and Office of Electricity Delivery and Reliability are contributing funds, which will be provided by the end of this month. See the DOE press release.
DOE and China's National Development Reform Committee (NDRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last week to increase cooperation and energy efficiency in China's industrial sector. The MOU followed discussions at the third U.S.-China Energy Policy Dialogue, where the United States and China agreed to conduct audits to increase China's national, regional, and local energy efficiency.
China's industrial sector accounts for 70% of the country's total energy demand. Under the MOU, a DOE team of industrial energy efficiency experts and an NDRC counterpart team will conduct on-site audits of plant production processes and energy systems at up to 12 facilities in China. DOE will provide tools to conduct the plant audits and train factory personnel on plant audit techniques. DOE will also conduct a comparison study of the Chinese enterprises and U.S. manufacturing plants to identify differences in best practices. The MOU could present opportunities for U.S. companies to export environmentally superior U.S.-made equipment and services to China. See the DOE press release.
The 344 industrial Energy Saving Assessments conducted in the United States since 2006 have identified a total savings of $585 million and 60 trillion Btu per year in potential energy cost savings. While those results are impressive, DOE's Industrial Technologies Program is seeking suggestions for new ways to increase the energy efficiency of U.S. industries. DOE has extended the comment period on its Request for Information to October 1st. DOE is also accepting applications for a third round of Energy Saving Assessments. See the "Save Energy Now" Web site and the Request for Information.
DOE announced last week that it will make up to $2 million available to 15 Native American tribes and Alaskan villages. The selected tribes and villages will negotiate for the awards to support advancing renewable energy technologies on tribal lands and rural Alaskan villages. Six of those selected will study the feasibility of using renewable energy technologies on tribal lands, while nine will take first steps in implementing such technologies. DOE's Tribal Energy Program will also provide technical assistance for the projects. The projects will take place in Alaska, California, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Most of the selected tribes and villages will have some cost share in their projects.
In further demonstration of its commitment to supporting tribal efforts, DOE has created the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, headed by the newly appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and External Affairs, Steven J. Morello. See the DOE press release and the Tribal Energy Program Web site.
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