 Research, Development, and Innovation:
Washington Update
Alternative Energy Policies
Washington is getting serious about
alternative energy.
With fuel prices soaring, Middle East instability threatening U.S. energy security, and the continued drumbeat on
global warming, the Federal government has stepped up
its role in alternative energy.
The White House and Congress agree: we
need to invest in alternative energy.
FY 07 Department of Energy Renewable
Energy Budget Status (in millions)
|
| |
President's Request |
House |
Senate |
| Hydrogen |
$ 195 |
$ 195 |
$ 189 |
| Biomas/Biofinery |
$ 149 |
$ 150 |
$ 213 |
| Solar |
$ 140 |
$ 148 |
$ 148 |
| Wind |
$ 43 |
$ 43 |
$ 43 |
| Geothermal |
$ 0 |
$ 0 |
$ 22 |
| Vehicle Technologies |
$ 166 |
$ 177 |
$ 180 |
Federal Alternative Energy Grant, Loan, and
Demonstration Programs
Federal energy policies authorize billions for a
mind-boggling array of grants, loan guarantees, tax
credits, and directed procurements.
Companies, universities, and other organizations can compete
for funds to support a range of activities in alternative energy
including: research and technology development; demonstrations;
business start-up, development, operation, and expansion;
purchase and installation of renewable energy systems and
production plants; market development; and government
procurements. Individual grants range from a few thousand
dollars to as much as $80 million over four years. TechVision21
Inside View: It is increasingly clear that the Federal government
aims to grow a U.S. alternative energy industry.
Energy Department Announces Winners
of Major Hydrogen Awards
Energy Secretary awards $100 million for
fuel cell R&D.
On October 24, Energy Secretary Sam Bodman announced $100
million in DOE funding for 25 hydrogen R&D projects at private
companies, national labs, and universities. These fuel cell-related
projects focus on fuel cell membranes, water transport within fuel
cell stacks, catalysts, cell hardware, innovative fuel cell concepts,
and impurities. Grantees will contribute another $27 million to
these projects. Big winners include 3M with two awards totaling
$17.3 million, and the Latham, New York-based Plug-Power, which
will receive $8.6 million.
Democrats Take Hill, Take on
Alternative Energy
Democrats' innovation agenda aims for energy
independence in 10 years.
With their new power in Washington, Democrats on the Hill plan
to rush their Innovation Agenda to the legislative front burner.
As a component of this innovation plan, the Democrats pledge
to rapidly expand production and distribution of synthetic and
bio-based fuels, and to deploy new engine technologies for fl exfuel,
hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and bio-diesel vehicles. They also
pledge to create a new DARPA-like entity in the Department of
Energy to provide seed money for advancing next generation
energy technologies emerging from areas such as biotechnology,
nanotechnology, solar, and fuel-cell research.
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