The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently joined forces with researchers from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to take the lead in developing and testing a new method for predicting the real-world fuel and electricity consumption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). After examining data on the only PHEV currently available in large numbers, the NREL-developed method shows promise for reasonably predicting the PHEV’s average fuel and electricity use.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $106 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to nine states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.

In order to ensure that AeroSys complies with national energy efficiency rules, DOE issued a test order to the company for samples of its air conditioners and heat pumps.

Washington, DC - Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $106 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 9 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.

Washington, DC - As part of its renewed efforts to ensure compliance with national energy efficiency appliance standards, the U.S. Department of Energy today issued a test notice requiring AeroSys, Inc. to provide sample air conditioners and heat pumps for laboratory testing by DOE.

The second round of Recovery Act cash assistance in lieu of tax credits is pumping $550 million into companies investing in wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass facilities located in 14 states.

Boosting energy efficiency at the local level, DOE has awarded $36 million in Recovery Act block grants to Pennsylvania. The new funds are part of DOE's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are proposing new standards for vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. The new standards will raise the average fuel economy of light-duty vehicles to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.

To spur new innovative, fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, DOE has loaned $5.9 billion to Ford Motor Company to revamp its factories in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. DOE also offered Fisker Automotive a loan to spark the development of its plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is revving up transit agencies with Recovery Act grants to buy hybrid electric buses, install renewable energy systems, and upgrade the energy efficiency of their facilities. And some agencies are exploring more advanced energy technologies.

The smart grid will get a jolt with $100 million in Recovery Act funding for training the electric industry workforce, as well as $44 million to help state utility commissions deal with the challenges of the new energy economy.

As autumn brings colder weather to the Northern Hemisphere, it's time to practice cost-effective energy saving. DOE's new campaign and Web site will help you do so.

Only about 10,000 facilities throughout the United States will need to report their greenhouse gas emissions under a new system established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but those facilities will account for about 85% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Monday, October 26, the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science will host a Symposium on Accelerators for America's Future in Washington, DC.

Secretaries Geithner and Chu announced $550 million in new awards through the Recovery Act's 1603 program, bringing the total to more than $1 billion awarded to date to companies committed to investing in domestic renewable energy production.

Washington, DC - Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced a $528.7 million conditional loan for Fisker Automotive for the development of two lines of plug-in hybrids that will save hundreds of millions gallons of gasoline and offset millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2016.

WASHINGTON - This morning, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu hosted a group of clean energy developers and manufacturers at the White House to discuss how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) is creating jobs and helping expand the development of clean, renewable domestic energy.

Washington, DC - In his keynote speech to the GridWeek 2009 Conference this morning, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu detailed his vision for implementing the smart grid and modernizing America's electrical system: a stronger, smarter, more efficient electricity infrastructure that will encourage growth in renewable energy sources, empower consumers to reduce their energy use, and lay the foundation for sustained, long-term economic expansion.

Arun Majumdar nominated to become the first director of the DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that up to $40 million in funding will be available from the Department of Energy to support design and planning work for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). Next Generation Nuclear Plants will use new, high temperature, gas-cooled reactor technologies to integrate multiple industrial applications in one plant or facility, such as generating electricity while refining petroleum.