Smart Energy News

Washington – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday released a joint proposal for a system that would rate new autos based on their fuel efficiency and environmental performance, including greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions.

Using a traditional A-through-F grading system, the rating approach would apply to cars with only gasoline engines, as well as hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric models. For cars that run to some degree on electricity, the rating system would translate electricity consumption into miles-per-gallon equivalent. The proposed label designs for EVs also include energy use expressed in terms of kilowatt-hours per 100 miles.

The proposed label designs expand on the content of the current label by including new information on fuel consumption, tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and smog emissions. The information would also be available through a new web-based interactive tool that can also be accessed by smart phone.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires the EPA and DOT to rate available vehicles according to fuel economy, greenhouse gas emissions and smog forming pollutants.

The two federal agencies are currently requesting public comments on the proposed new rating system.

Fuel Economy Label information website

Washington – In a speech about the state of the U.S. economy delivered from the White House oval office on Monday, President Obama cited “redoubling our investment in clean energy” as one of the key steps identified by his administration to promote growth and hiring in the short term and the nation’s economic competitiveness in the long term.

The president provided no specifics during the brief speech about the plan for new clean energy investments, but said he would be addressing the proposal—along with tax incentives and other economic iniatives, “in the days and weeks to come.”

Over the last 20 months the Obama administration has been making significant grants, tax incentives and loan guarantees—some $68 billion total—to clean energy, smart grid, and energy efficiency businesses and initiatives. Those funds have come from the so-called stimulus appropriated in 2009, as the U.S. financial system crisis worsened, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But those funds are about to phase out.

Meanwhile, the U.S. economy appears to be teetering on the brink of taking the second slide toward a double-dip recession, a situation that prompted the president to deliver his comments. Other steps that the president said he would like to take include extending tax cuts for the middle class that are set to expire this year; rebuilding more infrastructure; and further tax cuts to encourage businesses to put their capital to work creating jobs in the U.S.

Text of the president’s speech

San Francisco — The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Wednesday issued a proposed decision to launch a new renewable incentive program designed to drive mid-sized renewable energy development by requiring investor-owned California utilities to purchase electricity from renewable energy systems between one and 20 megawatts in size.

A recent analysis by CPUC has identified transmission as the single most significant barrier to development of midsize and large-scale renewable energy projects. The proposed program is designed to spur immediate activity in this direction by establishing a market for midsize renewable projects that can be incorporated into existing utility distribution infrastructure. As a result, the projects will also likely be easier to finance.

Under the proposed program, which could be finalized by CPUC in as soon as 30 days,
California’s three largest investor-owned utilities will be required to hold biannual competitive auctions into which renewable developers can bid. Utilities must award contracts starting with the lowest cost viable project and moving up in price until the megawatts requirement is reached for that round.

“California has robust policies for developing large, utility-scale solar power plants and for putting smaller systems on homes and businesses, but there is a clear gap in the middle,” said Adam Browning, executive director of The Vote Solar Initiative, a nonprofit group. “Yesterday’s CPUC proposal is designed to unlock that missing piece, providing an additional opportunity for solar market and job growth and for quickly bringing massive new amounts of clean energy to the state.”

Vote Solar Initiative website

South San Francisco, Calif. – Bunge Ltd., major agribusiness and food company based in White Plains, N.Y., has joined the fourth round of venture capital for Solazyme, a developer of technology for producing fuel and other produces from algae. Two weeks ago, Solazyme announced that it had raised $52 million in the deal, which was led by Braemar Energy Ventures and Morgan Stanley.

Founded in 2003, Solazyme has developed technology that uses algae to produce oil and other material for fuels, as well as a variety of natural plant oils and compounds for a range of products, including cosmetics and food.

Solazyme reports its has produced a variety of algae oils and materials, including biodiesel that meet U.S. military specifications; fuel that meets all key criteria for jet aircraft; edible oils, flours, and powders; various oleochemicals; and consumer products including cosmetic and nutraceutical bioactives.

Other investors in Solazyme include Harris & Harris Group, Lightspeed Venture Partners, The Roda Group, and VantagePoint Venture Partners.

Solazyme website

Newark, Calif. – Lumenergi, a developer of energy efficient lighting systems, has raised $12.7 million in its second round of venture capital, which was led by Braemer Energy Ventures.

Founded in 2008, Lumenergi offers systems that enable demand response and automatic load shedding for commercial buildings. Its systems also provide “smooth dimming” and real-time reporting that support daylight harvesting, scheduling, “task tuning,” and occupancy sensing.

According to Lumenergi, its systems can reduce energy costs in commercial buildings by 50% to 70%. According to the company, lighting comprises about 30% to 40% of annual electricity consumption in commercial buildings.

Lumenergi said the new investment funds will facilitate its expansion into large-scale commercial and industrial buildings in energy-intensive regions and enable hiring of a team of sales, marketing and customer service experts.

Townsend VC, Low Carbon Accelerator, and Noventi Ventures have also invested in Lumenergi.

Lumenergi website