The U.S. Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill (S. 1436), which includes the Department of Energy’s (DOE) FY10 budget, passed on the floor of the Senate this week by a vote of 85-9. The bill contains hydrogen and fuel cell technologies provisions appropriating US $190 million for EERE’s Hydrogen program at DOE, as well as $10 million above the budget request for hydrogen from coal research and $4 million above the budget request for fuel cells at DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy.

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U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to US $30 billion in loan guarantees, depending on the applications and market conditions, for renewable energy projects. Another $750 million will support several billion dollars more in loan guarantees for projects that increase the reliability, efficiency and security of the nation’s transmission system.

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The latest issue of the Monthly Energy Review by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reveals that production of renewable energy for the first third of 2009 (January 1 – April 30) was six percent higher compared to the same time period in 2008. In April 2009 alone, renewable energy sources accounted for 11.1 percent of domestic energy production and exceeded the amount contributed by nuclear power, according to analysis done by the Sun Day Campaign

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The latest issue of the Monthly Energy Review by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reveals that production of renewable energy for the first third of 2009 (January 1 – April 30) was six percent higher compared to the same time period in 2008. In April 2009 alone, renewable energy sources accounted for 11.1 percent of domestic energy production and exceeded the amount contributed by nuclear power, according to analysis done by the Sun Day Campaign

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U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to US $30 billion in loan guarantees, depending on the applications and market conditions, for renewable energy projects. Another $750 million will support several billion dollars more in loan guarantees for projects that increase the reliability, efficiency and security of the nation’s transmission system.

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According to the Clean Fuels Foundation, a national consumer awareness campaign aimed at owners of flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) was officially launched at the Farm-to-Fuel Summit. The project is a cooperative effort between key Florida state government interests, gasoline/E85 distributors, ethanol companies, and several nonprofit environmental and energy advocacy groups.

The Florida Farm-to-Fuel Summit provided the forum for Charles Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, to announce that the state would be taking a proactive role aimed at increasing the use of higher blends of renewable biofuels, like ethanol, in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs). “Our state has developed a comprehensive strategy to become more energy independent with clean, sustainable, and affordable fuel sources,” said Governor Crist. “Today’s announcement is one more step that our state can take in the effort to become better stewards of our natural resources.”

“The FFV Awareness driver education project is designed to locate and encourage drivers of FFVs to try higher blends of ethanol when they are available. This will help Florida meet its goals of reducing the cost of and reliance on imported oil, improving air quality, and creating economic development opportunities – all while reducing greenhouse gases. This is a Win-Win-Win for Florida drivers, the state government, and the nation,” said Douglas A. Durante, Director of the Clean Fuels Foundation.

There are currently thirty E85 stations in the state, with a majority of them located in the South Florida market.

The Clean Fuels Foundation and the FlexFuel Vehicle Club of America are the project organizers in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The lead sponsor for the pilot project is the Renewable Fuels Association. Other project supporters include General Motors, Verenium, Protec Fuel Management, Urbieta Oil, Florida Biofuels Association, and the USDA Office of Energy Policy and New Uses.

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The State of Massachusetts has handed out $2.2 million to fund nine new wind energy projects.

This press release from the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs says the agency’s secretary, Ian Bowles, made the announcement of the grants awarded by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust through the new Commonwealth Wind Community-Scale Wind initiative:

“Wind energy is a core component of Governor Patrick’s plan for the Commonwealth’s clean energy future,” said Secretary Bowles. “These nine grants will help get more wind turbines installed and help more community institutions reduce their use of fossil fuels.”

The Governing Board of the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust approved the grants totaling more than $2.2 million. Project funding included design and construction grants for three new wind projects totaling more than 4 megawatts (MW) in capacity, and six feasibility studies for wind energy that would total more than 3 MW in capacity if built. The nine grants go to public projects, educational institutions, a farm, and a shopping center. Funds for the Trust come from renewable energy charges on electric bills, which generate roughly $25 million a year to support renewable energy installations and companies.

“These heavy energy-users—municipal and state facilities, schools, retail centers, and farms—have much to gain from wind power, and the Trust is glad to be able to put wind power within their reach,” said Phil Giudice, Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and chair of the Trust’s Governing Board.

The three projects receiving design and construction grants are the town of Hanover, for its wastewater treatment plant; the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission; and the Massachusetts Department of Correction, for North Central Correction Institution-Gardner.

Awards for the six feasibility studies go to Allen Farm, Martha’s Vineyard; Cape Cod Academy, Osterville; Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills Fire District; Colony Place, Plymouth; Falmouth Academy, Falmouth; and Up-Island Regional School District, Chilmark, Aquinnah, and West Tisbury.

You can read more about each project here.

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Image via Carbon Gold

Today the world’s first biochar methodology has been published for public consultation by the Voluntary Carbon Standard. This ground breaking paper has been submitted by the UK based biochar project developers Carbon Gold. They are confident that their methodology will help create an ethical and sustainable structure for a potential biochar offsetting industry. This method of turning waste biomass into charcoal has been lauded as a miracle solution to rising CO2 … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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photo: Phillip Capper via flickr

We all know that the state of the world’s fisheries is pretty dire, with overfishing rampant and fish stock collapse likely in many places if something isn’t done about it. A new paper in the journal Science gives some hope, saying that management efforts to prevent overfishing are working. H… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Image via McKinsey

Energy efficiency is always touted at the primary (and easiest) option for saving both money and the environment. Yet so many people are slow to latch on. Perhaps a new figure put out by the latest McKinsey Report will get people to make a mad dash towards energy efficiency. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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