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 for manufacturing vehicles that can run on alternative fuels. This program, which increased U.S. oil dependence and enabled automakers to avoid millions in CAFE fines, will be phased-out by model year 2020.  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 gallon of ethanol blended with gasoline.  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. Continue reading →

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Smart Bioenergy: Guiding Sustainable Bio-based Energy and Fuels Development

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick
New! Water Use and Biofuels: How we choose to produce biofuels—which crops are used, how and where they are grown—can mean the difference between a wise resource strategy and a wasteful and destructive one. Continue reading →

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What You Can Do

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

The clean energy and electric utility restructuring debates are moving at a dizzying pace, with state and federal governments holding hearings, passing laws, and starting up retail marketing pilot programs. For environmentalists, consultants, and lobbyists, keeping up with all of this activity is a full-time job. What can you do as a concerned citizen? Here are a few suggestions: Continue reading →

Posted in D.I.Y, Energy Consumption, Energy Efficiency, Environment, Sustainable Design | Leave a comment

Jobs, Energy, and Fuel Economy

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Nick

The economic growth of our nation is tied to technology. From the steam engine and the automobile to the microchip and the Internet, a “can do” attitude of aggressive technology development and implementation has created millions of jobs and enormous wealth. Investments in technology to make cars and trucks more fuel-efficient provide the country with yet another opportunity to continue this trend. Continue reading →

Posted in Fossil Fuels, Future, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Design, 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. Continue reading →

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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 with conventional energy production, there are environmental issues to be considered. 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