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In Case You Missed It
As late summer heat waves in Texas and other states put enormous strain on the grid, there has been a spike in coverage on the smart grid and demand response as key enablers of a more clean, reliable and flexible electric system. Take a look at this week's news roundup to read about different strategies to keep the lights on while transitioning to renewable sources.
What’s Lighting Up the Web
President Obama’s July 29th announcement of a new 54.5 mpg fuel efficiency standard resulted in considerable buzz throughout the web. Political and environmental blogs, in particular, hosted vibrant debates about the standards, their effect on the automobile industry, and their ability to make a real impact on U.S. dependence on oil.
Meeting California’s Targets by Taking Distributed Solar to Scale
California’s 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard. And, while they are aggressive compared to the current size of the solar market (California installed just 0.25 GW in 2010), the goals are modest compared with the German market (Germany installed 7.4 GW in 2010 alone, 85 percent of it on rooftops).
Landmark emissions standards highlight efficiency potential in the domestic freight sector
Earlier today, the federal government heeded the call of a diverse group of fleet managers, independent owner operators, and environmentalists, announcing more efficient heavy and medium-duty trucks through a new standard projected to save 530 million barrels of oil and $50 billion in fuel costs over the lives of the vehicles covered.
Solutions Journal: Summer 2011—Do EVs Create Jobs and Improve the Economy?
While we may be in the midst of an economic recovery, many people are struggling due to high unemployment and the lack of job creation. This pain is not lost on the government, which has pushed for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for “pick and shovel ready” projects. One chunk of money went to the nascent electric vehicle (EV) industry—including companies such as American startup Tesla and foreign companies like Nissan— that are building manufacturing capacity in the U.S.