Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology: i360 Gov

Energy Department wants national labs to drive regional innovation

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 16:24:24 -0500

From GCN: DOE is looking for ideas on how regional ecosystems could leverage a nearby national lab to power innovation and economic prosperity.

How solar surge saved Europe from the energy crisis

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:13:01 -0500

From Renewable Energy World: While both wind and solar delivered Europe through the energy crunch by generating more than a fifth of EU electricity in 2022, it was solar power that made the biggest impact, setting electricity generation records and saving billions in imported gas costs.

Study: Puerto Rico should go solar to meet clean energy goal

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:11:06 -0500

From Renewable Energy World: A U.S. government study has determined that with little room on the island for large-scale solar farms or wind generators, Puerto Rico should aim to reach its clean-energy goals by installing solar panels on all suitable rooftops, along with airports, brownfields and industrial areas.

The Federal Government Can Use Its Buying Power to Help the Environment and Save Taxpayers Money

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:50:56 -0500

From GovExec: Even small shifts in procurement rules that encourage reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will have a ripple effect.

EVs, Building Emissions Among Biden’s Sustainable Energy Priorities

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 23:06:33 -0500

From NextGov: Public and private sector leaders discussed the first steps to overhauling the nation’s infrastructure in pursuit of a sustainable future.

Deploying Clean Energy Tech Depends on Cost Efficiency, Officials Say

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 22:43:03 -0500

From NextGov: Leaders in the government’s clean energy efforts discussed the priorities for building a clean energy economy.

National Labs to Receive $1.5B Funding Boost

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:51:34 -0500

GovExec: The Biden-Harris administration announced $1.5 billion in additional funding to “build and upgrade” the federal government’s national laboratories. The resources will come from President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Solar, telecom rollouts offer lessons for mass EV charging station deployments

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 21:49:47 -0500

GCN: Installing 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations in the next eight years will require cloud-based deployment management tools to coordinate work, manage budgets, facilitate real-time tracking and reporting and create a single source of truth for field staff and local leaders.

EPA to strengthen proposed rule on methane emissions from oil, gas

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 20:55:56 -0500

Oil & Gas Journal: The EPA said Nov. 11 it will strengthen its proposed regulations on monitoring and control of methane and other emissions associated with the production, transportation, and storage sectors of the oil and gas industry.

Getting to ‘Net-zero’ Emissions: How Energy Leaders Envision Countering Climate Change in the Future

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:24:46 -0500

NextGov: With the federal government promising over US$360 billion in clean energy incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, energy companies are already lining up investments. It’s a huge opportunity, and analysts project that it could help slash U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by about 40% within the decade.

Tech Wanted: Government Calls on Industry to Help with Net-Zero Carbon Buildings

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:21:41 -0500

NextGov:The General Services Administration and Department of Energy Tuesday released a request for information to industry seeking innovative, emerging technologies that may one day help the federal government achieve net-zero carbon emissions.

EPA Calls Out Environmental Racism in Louisiana’s Cancer Alley

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:20:06 -0500

GovExec: In a “remarkable” letter, the EPA accused Louisiana regulators of neglecting Black residents’ concerns about toxic air pollution and urged the state to move kids out of a school where monitors found extreme levels of a cancer-causing chemical.

Hawaii to U.S. Navy: Quit Polluting Our Waters

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 14:19:20 -0500

GovExec: A $9 million fine and a sewage leak into Pearl Harbor are just the latest in a series of water crises.

Climate-Based Trainings and Performance Plans Are Coming for Federal Employees

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:37:08 -0500

GovExec: The Biden administration wants a workforce capable of helping it meet its sustainability goals.

Infrastructure permitting reform plan blocked in Senate

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:38:25 -0500

Oil & Gas Journal: A permitting reform plan for energy infrastructure was blocked in the Senate Sept. 27 when Republicans dug in their heels over what they described as weak and partisan legislation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the Senate would try again before yearend.

Hydro-Québec’s radical but careful digital transformation could be a model for utilities everywhere

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 11:35:51 -0500

CIO: AI, analytics, and cybersecurity are at the heart of the continual transformation of Canada’s largest electric utility, says Hydro Québec’s vice-president of Information and Communications Technologies.

Energy Asks for New R&D in Critical Materials for Clean Energy

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 20:26:55 -0500

NextGov: The Department of Energy launched its new request for information days after the passage of the CHIPS Act.

Energy Awards Over $540 Million for Green Tech Research

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 20:24:36 -0500

NextGov: This latest series of funding will be divided among existing research programs to support President Joe Biden’s plan for a net zero economy by 2050.

California sets ‘ambitious’ offshore wind goal of up to 5 GW by 2030

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 20:07:58 -0500

Renewable Energy World: The California Energy Commission (CEC) adopted a report setting offshore wind goals that it said move the state closer to developing energy resource off the state’s coast. The report set planning goals of 2,000-5,000 MW of offshore wind by 2030 and 25,000 MW by 2045.

Energy Pilot New Program To Promote Equitable Access To Solar Power

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 22:18:06 -0500

NextGov: The agency is piloting a new initiative to bring solar energy to low income households.

TSA revises cyber rules for pipelines

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 22:13:19 -0500

FCW: The Transportation Security Administration reissued its pipeline cybersecurity directive to offer flexibility to operators.

TVA pitches a 5,000-MW clean energy plan

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 22:07:24 -0500

Renewable Energy World: The nation’s largest public utility is seeking proposals for what would be one of the biggest recent swings at adding carbon-free electricity in the U.S., laying out a mix-and-match of possibilities that range from solar to nuclear. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s request for proposals seeks up to 5,000 megawatts of carbon-free energy before 2029.

DOE launches $500m effort to turn mines into clean energy hubs

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 21:42:02 -0500

Renewable Energy World: A $500 million program funded by the bipartisan infrastructure package aims to transform current and form mines into clean energy hubs.

Last-minute stimulus deal in US extends clean energy tax credits

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:59:03 -0500

Renewable Energy World: Just before the group broke for the Christmas holiday, US Congress struck a last minute bipartisan deal on a major energy bill as part of the omnibus package to fund the federal government. The energy bill includes increased funding for renewable and energy efficiency programs.

The legislation provides a two-year extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and additional funding for research and development, including on soft costs critical to distributed energy deployment and support for more sensible access to federal lands for renewable energy projects.

Boston zoning change would require net-zero emissions from new buildings

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:58:16 -0500

Energy News Network: The city of Boston is laying plans to require newly constructed large buildings to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, a move supporters hope will help make carbon-neutral design more approachable and mainstream.

“There are going to be folks that find this incredibly challenging — there are a lot of industry norms that are being questioned and challenged,” said John Dalzell, senior architect for sustainable development at the Boston Planning and Development Agency. “But I’m pleased to see some of these old norms starting to fall away.”