This question has been dissected in many ways by analysts, politicians, business leaders and countless other stakeholders, with numerous conclusions drawn. Clearly the term “energy independence” can be defined many ways. In terms of power generation, the country already is energy independent. But US petroleum import volumes usually lie at the heart of this question… Keep reading →
The US Department of Energy announced $150 million in clean energy tax credits to 12 companies for investment in domestic manufacturing equipment today at the American Energy and Manufacturing Competitiveness Summit, a joint initiative of the DOE and the Council on Competitiveness. The Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit program – with $2.3 billion in total… Keep reading →
In October 2013, exactly 40 years after the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that the US produced more crude oil than it imported. According to EIA, estimated domestic crude oil output averaged 7.7 million barrels per day in October – the highest in 25 years – while oil imports were 7.6.… Keep reading →
Rare earth minerals are essential components of a number of emerging energy technologies, from the latest in wind turbines to electric vehicles to batteries and compact fluorescent lightbulbs. But a paucity of known and developed rare earth mineral deposits has led to concerns of potential global shortages. Vouchercloud has put together an infographic illustrating the… Keep reading →
According to the International Energy Agency, power generation from non-hydro renewable sources including solar, wind and bioenergy will exceed gas and nuclear by 2016 and renewable power is expected to increase by 40% in the next five years. “Combined heat and power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is the simultaneous production of electricity and heat… Keep reading →
“Yet another reason to hate fracking: It’s connected with an increase in STDs, car crashes, drug-related crimes, and sexual assault in areas where the oil and gas industry sets up shop.” The article then goes on to explain that it’s actually not hydraulic fracturing that’s linked to these things, it’s working conditions at oil and… Keep reading →
CPUC passes controversial mandate for 1.3 gigawatts of batteries, grid storage by 2020 California’s status as the vanguard in pushing energy storage technologies onto the power grid is now official. On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved its proposed mandate (PDF) that will require the state’s big three investor-owned utilities to add 1.3… Keep reading →
Quick Take: A decade after its original publication, a coalition of industry organizations has updated its Electricity Storage Handbook. The document was produced in collaboration by Sandia National Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Although focused on transmission and distribution… Keep reading →
Arguments about expensive, exotic renewables are dated If you are among those who still believes that renewables are exotic, expensive, unreliable, intermittent or whatever, you may be fighting a losing battle. With each passing day, renewables are gaining ground, and their shortcomings, most notably intermittency, diffused energy source and low capacity factor, are getting compensated in ingenious ways.… Keep reading →
DOE released a report examining the impacts of climate change on the nation’s energy and electricity infrastructure, including an assessment of ongoing efforts and potential opportunities to improve the energy sector’s climate resilience. On July 11, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a report examining current and future impacts of climate change on… Keep reading →
