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American Solar Energy Society Asks Congress to Sustain RD&D Core Programs/Researchers

The American Solar Energy Society's Policy Committee is calling on Congressional policymakers and the U.S. Department of Energy to sustain RD&D core programs and researchers in federal renewable energy programs. ASES, a national membership organization dedicating to fostering education on renewable energy technologies and applications, is reacting to seven (unannounced) permanent employee layoffs from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Biomass RD&D program staff.

While US Department of Energy leadership attributed the layoffs to Congressional earmarks, ASES believes the action is unwarranted and represents a policy failure at the national level. While Congress has significantly increased appropriations earmarks, particularly in the Biomass and Hydrogen RD&D programs, Congressional Committees historically have been willing to compromise to protect core capabilities of programs, if requested by members.

The issue, maintains Tom Starrs, chairman of the ASES Board of Directors, is that Congress should recognize that the core research, development and deployment programs for energy efficiency and renewable energy must grow and be enhanced in order to meet the U.S.'s energy needs without sacrificing critical environmental, economic and security needs. Cuts in core research capabilities, such as the ones proposed, are clearly counterproductive. ASES also maintains that the US Department of Energy should increase its dialogue with Congress to forestall layoffs and develop new approaches to have the efficiency and renewables programs that address state and regional needs beyond the traditional DOE RFP and planning process.

ASES is urging federal policymakers and implementers to focus on the undeniable reality that U.S. oil and gas production is in decline, energy imports continue to increase, national and economic security is seriously threatened, and air pollution (particularly with respect to greenhouse gas emissions) continues to worsen. Because renewable energy options positively affect all of these challenges, renewable energy RD&D must be enhanced, nurtured and protected, ASES says.

EERE's Solar Energy Technologies Program Announces New Web Site

The Solar Energy Technologies Program, one of 11 energy programs in the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), has a new Web site that highlights the program's research and development activities and provides easy access to information about photovoltaic solar power, solar heating, solar lighting, and concentrating solar power. The Web site reflects the look of the EERE Web site, and it contains the latest news about the program and about solar energy in general. To check out the site, visit www.eere.energy.gov/solar.

DOE's Weatherization Program Awards $4.98 Million to Iowa

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced last month the award of $4.98 million to the state of Iowa to improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families via the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program. The President's National Energy Plan recommends a $1.4 billion increase in funding for weatherization over 10 years. Low-income families spend an average of 14 percent of their income on energy, compared with 3.5 percent for the average American. Weatherization reduces an average home's energy costs by $218 a year. The program gives a priority to low-income households with elderly members, people with disabilities and children.     

The program is delivered through the states and 970 local agencies.  Every state, the District of Columbia, the Navajo Nation and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona will receive weatherization grants this year. The congressional appropriation for the DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program is $227.166 million in FY 2004, which is expected to cover approximately 94,750 homes.  The funding this year is up from the $223.5 million in FY 2003. The President has requested $291.2 million for FY 2005.

DOE's weatherization program performs energy audits to identify the most cost-effective measures for each home, which typically include adding insulation, reducing air infiltration, servicing the heating and cooling systems, and providing health and safety diagnostic services.  For every dollar spent, weatherization returns $1.40 in energy savings over the life of the measures. Other benefits include increased housing affordability, increased property values, job creation, lower owner and renter turnover, and reduced fire risks. For more information on DOE's programs to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, visit www.eere.energy.gov/buildings.

Ski Areas Join National Resources Defense Council in Keep Winter Cool Campaign

Ski areas throughout the United States have teamed up with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for the "Keep Winter Cool" campaign to fight global warming. To show their leadership, 10 ski resorts are purchasing large quantities of green power, which is electricity produced from renewable energy sources. In addition, California's Mammoth Mountain continues to use solar energy to provide heat and power to its lift shacks, Utah's The Canyons is using solar power for lighting, and the River Run Information Center at Colorado's Keystone Resort is powered by a solar energy system and relies heavily on natural lighting during the day.

DOE's Hydrogen Power Education Program Begins Six-City National Tour

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced last month a new effort to educate state and local government officials about the vision of a hydrogen economy.  "Hydrogen Power: The Promise, The Challenge" is a six-city national tour to commence in Lansing, Mich., this month. Working with regional, state and local partners, the U.S. Department of Energy will offer "Hydrogen 101" to state and local officials who do not have a technical background, but are interested in learning more about hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, hydrogen safety and the challenges to achieving the hydrogen vision.

The "Hydrogen Power" workshop series will begin in Lansing on Tuesday, March 23, and is offered in partnership with Lansing Community College and Michigan's NextEnergy. The second stop is Austin, Texas, on Friday, April 16, in cooperation with the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and the Texas Clean Air Working Group. The series will travel to cities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and West before wrapping up in fall 2004.

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