Advanced Energy Perspectives

The Department of Energy (DOE) made a provisional commitment to a $150 million loan guarantee for the Cape Wind offshore wind power project in Massachusetts yesterday. With that pledge, Cape Wind will have raised nearly 60 percent of the estimated $2.5 billion it needs to build what could be the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

After weeks of discussion, the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the nominations of Norman Bay and Cheryl LaFleur as commissioners to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

In the last couple of weeks, the U.S. Senate failed to advance two pieces of legislation the advanced energy industry has been waiting for: a bill to extend tax credits that expired at the close of last year (S.2260) and the energy efficiency bill (S. 2262) sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). While the extenders bill is expected to return to the Senate Floor, the prospects for the Shaheen-Portman bill have grown dim for 2014.

The U.S. Senate began debate Tuesday on the energy efficiency bill (S. 2262) sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). While the Shaheen-Portman bill maintains broad bipartisan support, the most likely scenario is that it will fail to obtain the 60 votes needed to emerge from the Senate.

While Congress has been in recess, the White House, Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Defense (DoD) all announced new initiatives embracing advanced energy.