Advanced Energy Perspectives

During a recent Model S test drive between Washington, D.C. and Boston, New York Times writer John Broder found himself relying on a decidedly un-advanced vehicle—a tow truck—to get him to his destination. His Model S had run out of juice just short of a supercharger.

This week several advanced energy companies across many technologies had major announcements. Biofuels company Sapphire Energy announced a deal with Tesoro Refining and Manufacturing. Tesoro is planning to purchase Sapphire’s Green Crude, a drop-in biofuel made from wet algae manufactured at the company’s Columbus, New Mexico, plant. The plant, which recently reached a milestone of continuous cultivation and crude oil production, is featured in an AEE Case Study. 

President Obama on March 26 signed the continuing resolution that will keep the government funded through September 30, the end of its fiscal year.  Though the stopgap measure included $85 billion in sequestration cuts, the White House stated that the President’s signature should not be interpreted as endorsement of the sequester as a deficit reduction strategy.  Soon thereafter, the White House announced it would release its long overdue Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposal to Congress on April 10.  As we previously reported, a White House Fact Sheet outlines several requests for increased funding of energy programs, including a 20 percent increase at the Bureau of Land Management for permitting of oil, gas, and renewable energy, and $40 million in research to ensure safe and responsible natural gas production.

This past November, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 39, which will raise an estimated $550 million a year over the next five years to underwrite energy efficiency and advanced energy projects in schools.  Savings generated by these improvements will be plowed directly back into classroom instruction, providing significant relief to cash-strapped school districts. 

Welcome to the Advanced Energy Economy blog. This space on the AEE.net website is the new home of the weekly Policy and Government Affairs update – see Tom Plant’s state policy report posted here – as well our summary of the News of the Week. You will still be able to get those features through the AEE Weekly newsletter as well. We wouldn’t want you to miss them!