Weekly Jolt: Essential News for Clean Energy Champions

DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy sent this bulletin at 05/18/2022 10:05 AM EDT

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May 18, 2022

Read the latest clean energy news from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). 

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law  

Energy Storage for Everyone, Everywhere 

DOE issued a request for information (RFI) on how best to use $505 million to create an initiative supporting widespread U.S. long-duration energy storage. The initiative is directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to increase around-the-clock availability of clean electricity and help ramp up affordable and reliable energy storage technologies. Email your feedback to EnergyStorage41001RFI@ee.doe.gov by 5:00 p.m. ET on June 16.  

Research and Development 

Study: Distributed Wind Energy Could Provide Equivalent of Half of U.S. Energy Needs 

Distributed Wind Futures Study

DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory released the Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study, which details the potential to deploy about 1,400 gigawatts of wind-generated electricity across the United States, representing more than half the nation’s current annual electricity consumption.  

In Case You Missed It 

DOE Releases Notice of Intent to Fund Advanced Vehicle Technologies  

The Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) plans to issue a funding opportunity for projects that will help reduce the weight of batteries in electric vehicles, electrify non-road vehicles, improve off-road vehicle charging, improve engine efficiency using low-carbon fuels, and deploy these technologies among diverse communities. 

Meet Clean Energy Champion Chris Castro 

Clean Energy Champions logo

When Chris Castro was a junior in college, he landed a fellowship at EERE and called the experience “the game-changer for my whole career.” But he also credits his upbringing on a palm tree farm with starting his clean energy career path. Today, he is the director of sustainability and resilience for the city of Orlando, Florida.  

Solar Outreach Campaign Competition

The Solar Energy Technologies Office launched the Inclusive Solar Outreach Awards, a competition designed to identify best practices used in solar energy communications campaigns reaching underrepresented audiences. Submissions are due June 10.   

Clean Energy Fact of the Week

In 2021, 12.5% of California’s new light-duty vehicle registrations were plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). These vehicles accounted for more than 7% of all new registrations in the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Washington, and Oregon.  

Learn more about PEV registrations across the United States. 

Map of U.S. with percent of Vehicle Registrations

Events and Webinars 

Inclusive Solar Outreach Day of Action 

May 19 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET 

Spread the word about the Inclusive Solar Outreach Awards on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook using the hashtag #SolarOutreachAwards. 

Exploring Opportunities for Distributed and Community Scale Wind During the Next Two Decades 

May 24 | 2:00 p.m. ET 

NREL analysts will discuss the Distributed Wind Energy Futures Study and opportunities to install distributed wind in disadvantaged communities and on agricultural, commercial, and industrial, and residential lands. 

Transportation Energy Data Book: Looking into the Electric Vehicle Future 

May 24 | 2:30 p.m. ET 

Join VTO on LinkedIn Live for a conversation on key trends in transportation energy use. Guests from Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss the 40th Transportation Energy Data Book. Note: You need a LinkedIn account to view this event.   

The Impact of Insurance and Mortgages on Energy Efficiency  

May 26 | 1:00–2:30 p.m. ET 

Extreme weather events are making it harder for home buyers to get financing for mortgages and insurance. Learn about innovative approaches that can unlock new markets.