EERE: Loan Program Reports Impact, Military Training for Solar Workers, and New Transmission

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy EERE Network News FEBRUARY 18, 2015 News and Events Report: Energy Department's Loan Guarantees Launched Utility-scale PV Solar Three Military Bases Partner with Energy Department to Train Veterans for Solar Jobs Energy Department, Arizona Transmission Infrastructure Project Energized USDA Announces Funding for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects EERE Blog Federal Government’s Energy Consumption Lowest in Almost 40 Years News and Events Report: Energy Department's Loan Guarantees Launched Utility-scale PV Solar The Energy Department's Loan Programs Office (LPO) recently issued a report showing that it was instrumental in launching the utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar industry in the United States. The report, "Powering New Markets: Utility-Scale Photovoltaic Solar," details how LPO provided more than $4.6 billion in loan guarantees to support construction of the first five utility-scale PV solar facilities. Among those was Desert Sunlight Solar Farm, which LPO gave a $1.46 billion loan guarantee in 2011. The U.S. Department of the Interior activated the 550-megawatt (MW) project near Riverside, California, on February 9. Overall, U.S. utility-scale PV solar now has the capacity to produce more than 8,100 MW of electricity, which can generate enough clean energy to power nearly 1.4 million average homes. See the LPO report, and the February 11 edition of EERE Network News.    Three Military Bases Partner with Energy Department to Train Veterans for Solar Jobs The first class of Marine trainees at Camp Pendleton graduated on February 13 from the Energy Department’s solar job training pilot program. The pilot is aimed at preparing service members for careers in the solar industry as solar photovoltaic system installers, sales representatives, system inspectors, and other solar-related opportunities. Camp Pendleton in California is one of three military bases partnering with the Department’s SunShot Initiative to train 200 transitioning military service members during the pilot period for employment opportunities in the rapidly growing U.S. solar energy industry. Training courses will also begin at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia this spring. This pilot program is enabled by the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge initiative, which allows exiting military personnel to pursue civilian job training, employment skills training, apprenticeships and internships up to six months prior to their separation date. Service members who graduate from the Energy Department’s solar training program will gain the skills to size and install solar energy systems, safely connect electricity to the grid, and interpret and comply with local building codes. See the Energy Department news release.    Energy Department, Arizona Transmission Infrastructure Project Energized The Department of Energy’s Western Area Power Administration and a group of Arizona utilities on February 12 celebrated the energizing of a new transmission infrastructure project. The 109-mile Electrical District No. 5-to-Palo Verde Hub transmission project in Arizona advances America’s energy infrastructure by eliminating system constraints and providing increased access via the new line to affordable energy in the region. The new line adds up to 410 megawatts (MW) of bi-directional capacity to the electric grid—enough capacity to power 30,000 homes. That includes 254 MW to the market hub and 156 MW to 18 local Arizona communities, including water conservation and irrigation districts, public power districts and Native American tribes. See the Energy Department news release.    USDA Announces Funding for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on February 10 announced that rural agricultural producers and small business owners can apply for resources to purchase and install renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. USDA is making more than $280 million available to eligible applicants through its Rural Energy for America Program. Eligible renewable energy projects must incorporate commercially available technology. This includes renewable energy from wind, solar, ocean, small hydropower, hydrogen, geothermal, and renewable biomass (including anaerobic digesters). The maximum grant amount is $500,000, and the maximum loan amount is $25 million per applicant. See the USDA news release.    EERE Blog Federal Government’s Energy Consumption Lowest in Almost 40 Years By Timothy Unruh, FEMP Program Manager Recently, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration highlighted Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) data illustrating the progress the federal government has made in reducing its energy use since 1975. While the U.S. federal government continues to be one of the largest energy consumers in the world, its consumption has been steadily declining for nearly four decades, and now stands at less than 1 quadrillion Btu, the lowest since 1975, when data collection began. Much of the decline in recent years can be attributed to a decrease in the use of jet fuel (the fuel most consumed by the government) by 40% and to less energy used in federal facilities, a decrease of 46% since 1975. Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 is the latest available data, but preliminary data reported to FEMP by federal agencies for FY 2014 indicates that overall federal energy use continued to decline. While FEMP maintains a full suite of tools, this accomplishment is directly attributed to federal employees making the choice for efficiency and striving to reduce the operating costs of their sites. For the complete story, see the EERE Blog.