Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy has closed on its loan offer of $5.9 billion to Ford Motor Company to transform factories across IL, KY, MI, MO, and OH to produce more fuel efficient models. The loan is part of the Department's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, which supports the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies to create thousands of clean energy jobs while helping reduce the nation's dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu has named Dr. John Bannister Goodenough and Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker as the winners of the Enrico Fermi Award, one of the most prestigious science and technology awards awarded by the U.S. Government. The Presidential award carries an honorarium of $375,000, which will be shared equally, and a gold medal. The award is administered on behalf of the White House by the U.S. Department of Energy.

At a Clean Energy Economy Forum with Governor Rendell in Bensalem today, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that DOE is awarding more than $36 million in funding from the Recovery Act to support energy efficiency and conservation projects in communities across Pennsylvania. These funds are being awarded to Pennsylvania's State Energy Office and local cities and counties to help lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs across the Keystone State.

The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer’s (FLC) Mid-Continent Region recently recognized the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and its partners with two awards for excellence in technology transfer.

To overcome a critical barrier to the success of hydrogen-fueled vehicles, DOE has launched the $1 million H-Prize competition. The winner will create the most advanced materials for hydrogen storage in vehicles.

DOE unveiled the "Retrofit Ramp-Up" program on September 14. Using $454 million in Recovery Act funds under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, the goal is to roll out energy efficiency to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in a variety of U.S. communities.

Green power supporters were in the spotlight on September 14 for advancing the voluntary purchase of electricity from renewable resources as DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) honored leaders from across the country.

The global cost of adapting to unchecked climate change could exceed $200 billion per year, according to one report, while another warns of hundreds of billions of dollars in damages to the United States. On top of that, the nation could be dragged into new wars as security threats increase.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $62 million in funding that will boost carbon capture and storage research and development in the years to come. Today's investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act reflects the Obama Administration's commitment to creating new jobs, having the U.S. be a leader on climate change, and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper today discussed common approaches to accelerating economic recovery, in North America and globally. They agreed to work with other countries at the upcoming Pittsburgh Summit to lay the foundation for balanced and sustainable growth and to further the reform of financial regulations and international institutions to reflect the realities of the global economy.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and South African Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters signed a bilateral Agreement on Cooperation in Research and Development of Nuclear Energy on September 14 in Vienna. This Agreement will facilitate cooperation in the areas of advanced nuclear energy systems and reactor technology. The two countries will collaborate in research and development of advanced technologies for improving the cost, safety, and proliferation-resistance of nuclear power systems.

With the goal of bringing new jobs and green power to the West, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a large-scale transmission project to be financed using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Western Area Power Administration will use borrowing authority under the Recovery Act to help build the $213 million Montana-Alberta Tie Limited (MATL) transmission project between Great Falls, Montana, and Lethbridge, Alberta.

Ashok Gadgil wins a Heinz Award for his environmental achievements.

Secretary Steven Chu announced that 22 advanced water power projects will receive up to $14.6 million in funding to advance the commercial viability, market acceptance, and environmental performance for new marine and hydrokinetic technologies as well as conventional hydropower plants.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) expanded its suite of Web-based, fuel-efficiency tools by launching the Mobile Truck Stop Electrification Locator. This comprehensive mobile application helps truck drivers find public truck stops with idle reduction facilities using a cell phone, BlackBerry, or other mobile device.

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that 22 advanced water power projects will receive up to $14.6 million in funding to advance the commercial viability, market acceptance, and environmental performance for new marine and hydrokinetic technologies as well as conventional hydropower plants.

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu awarded more than $1.3 million to Ocean Renewable Power Company in Portland, Maine to improve the efficiency, flexibility, and environmental performance of hydroelectric energy. The investment will further the nation's supply of domestic clean hydroelectricity through technological innovation and will advance research to maximize the nation's largest renewable energy source.

An innovative solar panel manufacturer in Fremont, California, has received a $535 million loan guarantee from DOE, backed up with Recovery Act funds. Solyndra, Inc. will use the loan to build a manufacturing facility that will have the capacity to produce 500 megawatts of solar panels per year.

Secretary Steven Chu announced that DOE is providing more than $60 million in funding from the Recovery Act to expand weatherization assistance programs in American Samoa, Northern Arapaho Tribe, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that more than $354 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 22 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.