DOE Awards $21M in Grants to Cut Costs of Solar Thermal Desalination

The Energy Department sees massive potential to use the sun’s heat to purify seawater and industrial wastewater—but it needs new technologies to bring down the costs.

The Department of Energy sees big potential for solar thermal desalination technologies. But only if the costs can be brought down — way down.

Lawmakers Pass Spending Bill With Funds for Clean Energy

UPDATE: On Friday after threatening to veto the bill, which would have caused a government shutdown, President Trump signed the bill. "There are a lot of things that I'm unhappy about in this bill," he said. "I say to Congress, I will never sign another bill like this again. I'm not going to do it again." 

Congress cleared a spending bill Friday for the 2018 fiscal year that allocates $1.3 trillion. Despite the Trump administration’s requests for drastic cuts, lawmakers set aside increased funds for clean energy programs. Trump tweeted Friday that he may veto the bill. 

US House of Representatives committee passes bill

A key US House of Representatives committee adopted a bill to ban future loan guarantees after a string of bankruptcies among government-supported renewable energy projects.

By a vote of 29-19, the House energy and commerce committee approved the No More Solyndras Act, which would prohibit the Department of Energy (DOE) from issuing any loan guarantees for applications submitted after 31 December 2011. Projects submitted prior to that deadline would remain eligible, but would be subject to strict conditions, including increased due diligence, new transparency requirements and a ban on subordination of US taxpayer dollars to any other financing.

Onshore wind subsidy lowered by 10%

The subsidy for onshore wind energy generation is to be cut by 10%, the government has announced.

The Treasury is thought to have favoured a larger cut of up to 25%.

It is one of a number of cuts which the Department for Energy and Climate Change said should encourage up to £25bn in new investment in energy generation between 2013 and 2017.

The measures should also reduce the impact on household energy bills, it said, saving £5-£6 a year on average.

US House spending bill would cut DOE renewables, boost nuclear

The US House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed on to the full chamber a Department of Energy spending bill that would cut $345 million from the agency's fiscal 2013 budget, providing it with $26.1 billion, and would shift emphasis from renewable energy and energy efficiency to fossil fuels and nuclear power.

"While the decisions involved were difficult ... I am proud that this committee will be the tip of the spear in helping to restore sustainability to the agency budgets within this bill," said Representative Hal Rogers, the committee chairman and a Kentucky Republican.

Grant program supported up to 75,000 wind and solar jobs: congress killed it anyway

A federal grant program created to boost renewable energy development during the height of the economic crisis supported 75,000 jobs and more than $25 billion in economic activity, according to a new analysis from the Department of Energy.

The grant program was created in February of 2009 as part of the stimulus package. It allowed developers to take a cash grant through the Treasury in lieu of a tax credit, helping thaw out the frozen capital markets and stimulate strong activity in the renewable energy sector.

Philippines: The President’s renewable energy policy

Energy Secretary Rene Almendras returned a day ahead of President Noynoy Aquino last week from Japan. Despite his abbreviated stay, many are hoping that Secretary Almendras’ visit to the Land of the Rising Sun would have convinced him further that he is doing the right thing by pushing the President’s strong pro-renewable energy policy.

USA: Renewable energy is a job creator

U.S. energy policy is in free fall as partisan politics undermine bipartisan support for renewable energy. While we struggle with a weak economy, excessive unemployment and high fuel costs, Washington remains gridlocked in its efforts to create a brighter, more secure energy future.

Last month’s House funding debate epitomizes this stalemate. While approving some disaster relief for Americans buffeted by natural disasters, House members voted to offset disaster relief funding with deep cuts to DOE clean-energy programs, a shortsighted move that could damage our economic recovery.

Department of Energy support for cleantech shakey

It remains unclear just what will propel the country's energy policy.

The midterm elections made it harder to push ahead. The department has used up most of the stimulus money. And with the big federal budget deficit, many critics say the department's grants and loans amount to subsidies for renewable energy that shouldn't be extended. Tough publicity lies ahead when some of the beneficiaries, such as new battery or solar-panel manufacturers, inevitably fail - if there were no risk of failure, private money would step up. The first grant recipient, a solar firm, has already delayed some plans.