Reversible fuel cell goes both ways for the US Navy Gizmag, February 9, 2016 Boeing has delivered a new type of fuel cell to the US Navy for testing that can both store energy and generate electricity. Called a “reversible solid oxide fuel cell,” it’s designed to absorb energy from renewable sources, such as wind … Read more
Boston Identifies Dozens of Potential Microgrid Sites in Major Community Energy Study Microgrid Knowledge, February 17, 2016. Image credit: skeeze Boston has identified dozens of potential microgrid sites that together with other community energy projects could save as much as $1.7 billion, according to a new report issued by the city. The Boston Community Energy Study … Read more
DOE proposes light bulb standard EE News, February 12, 2016. Image credit: suvajit DOE issued a proposed rule this afternoon for light bulbs that would likely lead to the phaseout of compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), analysts say. The rule has been under discussion for more than a decade. It was affected by a “light bulb rider” … Read more
Hospitals speak out against energy efficiency cuts WKBZ, February 17, 2016. Image credit: geralt Representatives from some of Eastern Maine’s hospitals say they don’t want the state legislature to take away money given to them from a regional energy efficiency program. They, along with the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) say investing that money in … Read more
February 17, 2016. Image credit: PBS Energy is the link that connects every U.S. citizen to the buildings, infrastructure, and means of transportation throughout the country. Energy policies have the power to impact both domestic and international economies. As the presidential race heats up, Zondits examines the energy policies and stances of the leading presidential … Read more
Can Energy Efficiency Help Chinese Cities Beat Air Pollution Environmental Leader, February 17, 2016. Image credit: Peggy_Marco It has been a decade since China’s leaders made improving energy efficiency a top priority. In the 11th Five-Year Plan they set ambitious national targets for lowering the energy intensity – the measure of energy efficiency of the country’s … Read more
Lisa Markowski for Zondits, February 16, 2016. Image credit: Mark Fischer (modified) Just four days before the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, the SCOTUS voted 5-4 to put the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) on hold. The ruling will allow time for the lawsuits filed by twenty-seven states opposing the CPP to be … Read more
Max Twogood for Zondits, February 16, 2016 The Clean Power Plan (CPP) is a series of regulations that form the basis for President Barack Obama’s policy to slow down climate change by increasing renewable energy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Twenty-seven states along with Murray Energy – the country’s largest coal mining company – have … Read more
Nevada’s Solar Bait-and-Switch New York Times, February 1, 2016 In late December, the state’s Public Utilities Commission, which regulates Nevada’s energy market, announced a rate change drastic enough to kill Nevada’s booming rooftop solar market and drive providers out of the state. Effective Jan. 1, the new tariffs will gradually increase until they triple monthly … Read more
Jeffrey Perkins and Allison Donnelly, ERS The DOE’s definition of a microgrid is “A group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DER) with clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid [and can] connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both … Read more