Category Archives: Energy News

Energy News

The Dual-Fuel Vehicle Incentive Program

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

The dual-fuel vehicle incentive program was established in the late 1980s to stimulate the use of alternative fuels by increasing the production and sale of alternative fuel vehicles. It gives automakers extra credit toward meeting fuel economy standards in exchange … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Consumption, Energy Efficiency, Energy Incentives & Rebates, Energy News, Fossil Fuels, Transportation | Leave a comment

FAQ: Current Ethanol Tax Credits and Our Clean Fuel Future

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

What is the VEETC? The Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) is an expensive and ineffective biofuels policy that has outlived its original purpose.  Under the tax credit, the government pays oil companies and other fuel suppliers 45¢ for every … Continue reading →

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Automaker Rankings 2010: The Environmental Performance of Car Companies

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

In a photo finish, Honda claimed a narrow victory over Toyota and Hyundai as the Greenest Automaker in the Union of Concerned Scientists’ 2010 comprehensive environmental rankings. Tweet

Posted in Electricity, Energy Consumption, Energy News, Fossil Fuels, Statistics, Technology, Transportation | Leave a comment

Big Picture Solutions

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

Switching to cleaner energy sources is no small task. It requires changes to a system that spans the nation with a massive power grid, transmission lines, and power plants. Tweet

Posted in Energy Consumption, Energy Efficiency, Energy Incentives & Rebates, Energy News, Renewable Energy, Technology | Leave a comment

Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

To combat global warming and the other problems associated with fossil fuels, the United States must switch to renewable energy sources like sunlight, wind, and biomass. All renewable energy technologies are not appropriate to all applications or locations, however. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Biofuels, Energy Efficiency, Energy News, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Future, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectricity, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Statistics, Sustainable Design, Wind Energy | Leave a comment

Flexible Electronics and Printable Solar Cells

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Nick

We usually think of solar in terms of panels, flat sheets of polysilicon that are connected to the electric grid, and laid on top of homes or businesses at the cost of thousands of dollars. Tweet

Posted in Electricity, Energy Efficiency, Energy News, Future, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Design, Technology, Thermal Energy | Leave a comment

New Energy for Campuses: Energy Saving Policies for Colleges and Universities

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Nick

Our country is dependent on an old, outmoded, fossil-fuel energy system that is simultaneously speeding environmental degradation and making us less secure. There is a better way. The Apollo Alliance has a plan to improve national security by reducing dependence … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Efficiency, Energy News, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Design, Tips to be Energy Efficient | Leave a comment

California Net Surplus Generation Rate is Set

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Nick

The California Solar Initiative requires that solar systems that receive an incentive be sized to meet on-site load. However, what if you install a solar system, then your kids go off to college? Suddenly, without the hairdryers, radios, and extracomputers, you may … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Consumption, Energy Efficiency, Energy Incentives & Rebates, Energy News, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Sustainable Design, Technology | Leave a comment