News

Energy secretary pledges to keep momentum behind solar power

June 18 -- Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has vowed to shake a few things up at the Energy Department (DOE) — but the agency’s support for solar power is not one of them. >>View Article

Why Tesla's Success Matters

June 18 -- Tesla's repayment of a Department of Energy loan nine years ahead of schedule is welcome news and another indication that use of electric vehicles is growing -- both here and around the globe. Domestic sales of these automobiles tripled between 2011 and 2012, with more than 100,000 sold. Hybrid and plug-in vehicles accounted for almost 4 percent of total new car purchases in the United States. The International Energy Agency projects that, worldwide, there could be 20 million electric vehicles on the road by 2020. This is great progress. But there is more work to do to assure that EVs are part of our clean energy future -- and many reasons why we need to succeed. >>View Article

Ernest Moniz Praises Solar Impulse Plane After It Lands Near Washington D.C.

June 18 -- The plane parked outside the airport looks more like a giant exotic insect or maybe an outsized balsa wood toy airplane.

When it's in flight, there's no roar of jet engines. It's strangely quiet. And as it crisscrosses America, the spindly plane doesn't use a drop of fuel. Day, and even night, it flies on the power of the sun. >>View Article

Energy and American Power

June 18 -- Energy is a profoundly important aspect of U.S. national security and foreign policy: the availability of reliable, affordable energy is essential to economic strength at home, which is the foundation of U.S. leadership in the world. Scarce resources have driven both commerce and conflict since time immemorial -- and still do today. Energy supplies present strategic leverage and disposable income for countries that have them. >>View Article

Rey - Climate change goes to war

June 18 -- This past week, floods in Europe have driven hundreds of thousands from their homes, killed more than 20 people and inflicted expected costs of more than $14 billion. Just the latest in a series of devastating storms - from the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma to Hurricane Sandy - these events demonstrate the effects of climate change on our world today.

Fortunately, there is something we can do to prepare our local communities for ever-stronger storms and waves. We should follow the military's lead in tackling climate change, through investing in clean energy innovation. >>View Article

Northwestern University Team Wins 2013 National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition

June 17 -- SiNode Systems from Northwestern University won the 2013 National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition earlier this week. The competition, now in its second year, is part of President Obama’s Startup America Initiative that works to encourage and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship by inspiring university teams across the country through business opportunities in clean energy. >>View Article

Don’t call them wind wimps

June 17 -- Wind is — how shall we say it — different from other types of energy production. Wind is quieter. A little. Compare wind to a coal mine. While a large wind turbine does vibrate, it’s nothing like sounds that come from draglines, shovels and 250-ton haul trucks carrying 300 tons of coal. >>View Article

No way nuclear is a better way

June 17 -- In “Nuclear: A better way? Here’s why,” Craig Bowron (June 8) extolled the merits of integral fast reactors (and, not incidentally, touted a new Robert Stone movie). Unfortunately, some considerations were omitted. >>View Article

World Wind Turbines To Cross 300,000 Megawatt Mark

June 17 -- Wind turbines are here to stay. They are increasing in numbers every day, and industry figures show that the amount of energy they are able to generate has reached tremendous levels. The 19th century belonged to coal, the 20th to oil, and the 21st century belongs to clean energy, with wind energy being one of the foundations of that. >>View Article

Solar-Powered Plane Lands at Dulles Airport

June 17 -- A solar-powered plane nearing the close of a cross-continental journey landed at Dulles International Airport outside the nation’s capital early Sunday, only one short leg to New York remaining on a voyage that opened in May. >>View Article