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.

US: Renewable Advisory Committee delivers recommendations to Under Secretary of Commerce and other federal officials

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE&EE) Advisory Committee will present 11 recommendations to promote U.S. exports of renewable and efficiency technologies to federal officials. The Committee was created as part of the Administration's Export Initiative which has set a goal of doubling renewable energy exports in the next five years, targeting $10 billion or more in annual export benefits. “The recommendations are the first set of actions the Committee was able to recommend to ensure robust growth in the renewable energy and energy efficiency exports by U.S. companies,” noted Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director, and Chair of the Advisory Committee.

Iowa gets $20 million energy grant

Iowa has received a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study and promote bioenergy, wind energy, energy efficiency and energy policy.

The project will be led by Dr. Robert Brown at Iowa State University, who already heads ISU’s renewable energy studies. The new grant, awarded to smaller states that historically receive lesser shares of NSF grants, is a five-year award and will pull in talent from the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Iowa’s community and private colleges and even K-12 schools.