Featured Opportunity – July 21, 2010

PV Technology Incubator – The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has issued a Solicitation for Letters of Interest (LOIs) to U.S. Small Businesses for the development of prototype photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules. The PV Technology Incubator project represents a significant component of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) business strategy of partnering with U.S. industry to accelerate commercialization of photovoltaic system research and development (R&D) to meet aggressive cost and installed capacity goals. The PV Technology Incubator supports the goals of the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program (SETP), which aggressively funds a diverse set of PV technologies that will help solar electricity achieve high penetration across the United States and grid parity by 2015. This is accomplished by helping promising technologies take the first step towards crossing the barriers to commercialization. Read more

Cool Roofs Can Offset Carbon Dioxide Emissions And Mitigate Global Warming, Study Finds

(ScienceDaily, July 20, 2010) — Can light-colored rooftops and roads really curb carbon emissions and combat global climate change? The idea has been around for years, but now, a new study by researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that is the first to use a global model to study the question has found that implementing cool roofs and cool pavements in cities around the world can not only help cities stay cooler, they can also cool the world, with the potential of canceling the heating effect of up to two years of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. Because white roofs reflect far more of the sun’s heat than black ones, buildings with white roofs will stay cooler. If the building is air conditioned, less air conditioning will be required, thus saving energy. Click here to read more…

Featured Federal Opportunity – June 30, 2010

Ohio: Deploying Renewable Energy – Transforming Waste to Value (TWV) - The goals of the State Energy Plan TWV Program are to convert feedstocks such as municipal solid wastes, food and farm wastes, or other bio-mass or waste materials to electricity, heat, fuel and/or bio-products and to create jobs. These goals will be accomplished by building market demand for Ohio manufacturers and distributors of biodigester components, bio-mass or waste conversion equipment and electric generation equipment.  Grant funds can only be used to purchase and install eligible project equipment for conversion of solid wastes, food and farm wastes or other bio-mass or waste materials to electricity, heat, fuel and or bio-products for facilities located in Ohio.  Selection for this program wll be based on evidence of project’s readiness to move forward and be operational within twelve (12) months following the grant execution date; economic and employemnt impacts for Ohio; and energy impacts and innovativeness of the project. Read more

Alternative Energy: Creating Non-Exportable Jobs

By Faysal Sohail

(Forbes, June 30, 2010) With the recent downturn in America’s economy and rising unemployment rates, job creation is a priority.  Questions abound as to whether energy markets will create an employment sector in the Silicon Valley and beyond. In fact, the alternative energy industry is the latest in a series of waves of innovation in the Valley, each of which have fostered new jobs not only in their core sectors but also in the expanded support industries that follow them. From semiconductors to life sciences, enterprise software to the web, each industry has created a supply of jobs. Energy markets are no different.  First, as each of these innovations happen, we repurpose our engineering and marketing forces from existing markets to enable the new ones. Entrepreneurs in the life sciences industries with backgrounds in biology are shifting into bio-fuel industries while semiconductor experts are applying their skills to the solar industry.  Click here to read more…

Don’t Cut Funding For Fuel Cell Research

(Democrat and Chronicle, June 22, 2010) It’s been more than 30 years since the energy crisis of the ’70s and more than a month after the worst ongoing oil spill in history, yet leaders in Washington don’t seem to get it: The nation must end its dangerous dependence on oil.  Incredibly, it’s the Obama administration doing the stumbling this time. After all, President Obama promised to kick-start alternative energy development during his 2008 campaign.  Nonetheless, he now wants $37 million stripped from the Department of Energy’s hydrogen fuel cell research program. If that happens, fuel cell research in Rochester, which is becoming the epicenter of such vital work, would be dealt a devastating blow. Remember, fuel cell development is under way at the General Motors research plant in Honeoye Falls, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Rochester and the Delphi plant.  Click here to read more…

Featured Federal Opportunity – June 24, 2010

Unconventional Fossil Energy Technologies Funding Opportunity – The intent of this Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to select and award projects in FY10 that focus on (1) advanced simulation and visualization capabilities to enhance production and minimize environmental impacts associated with the development of domestic unconventional resources and (2) advanced, next-generation carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR). This FY10 program funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will focus on two primary technical areas with the goal of increasing the nation’s supply of domestic unconventional fossil energy, reducing environmental risk, and expanding CO2 storage options.  This FOA focuses on two topic areas: Topic Area 1 – Advanced Simulation and Visualization; Topic Area 2 – Next-Generation CO2-EOR.  Total Funding: $9.8M.  Read more

Featured Federal Opportunity – June 17, 2010

RFI: Offshore Wind Program - The DOE is soliciting input from the public regarding research, development, demonstration, and deployment of offshore wind is welcome, and comments related to advanced technology demonstration projects is specifically requested.  DOE’s Wind Program is planning a research and development program to stimulate responsible, cost-effective offshore wind energy deployment in coastal and Great Lakes regions of the country. The activities under this program would encompass the following categories: 1) Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects that further the industry knowledge base for the benefit of all stakeholders; 2) Research Addressing Market Barriers in order to facilitate deployment and reduce technical challenges facing the entire industry; 3) Technology Research and Development that will reduce cost of offshore wind energy through innovation and testing.  Under this RFI, DOE seeks further information specific to Category 1 above – Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects.  Read more

A Crash Course In Selling Green To The Government

By Erica Courtney

(GreenBiz.com, June 10, 2010) Driven by the need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, improve the economy and national security, create green jobs and reduce environmental impact, the federal government is taking the lead on green purchasing in a number of markets and sectors.  All agencies are directed to acquire recycled content, energy efficient, renewable, bio-based and environmentally preferable products and services towards achieving certain goals. Under the Energy Independence and Security Act, all federal managers are required to cut their fossil fuel use at new and renovated government facilities to 55 percent by the end of 2010 and 100 percent by 2030.  There are many “Buy Bio” and “Buy Green First” programs throughout the government, and the Department of Defense requires that green products and services must be considered as the first choice in all procurements. Read more

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