Clean Energy for the 21St Century

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Clean Energy for the 21St Century For More Information Write us at: Visit our Web sites at: U.S. Department of Energy, EE-1 I U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and www.doe.gov Renewable Energy I Office of Energy Efficiency and 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W. Renewable Energy Washington, DC 20585-0121 www.eren.doe.gov/ee.html I Clean Energy for the 21st Century To obtain print copies of this www.eren.doe.gov/cleanenergy document or any DOE/EERE publications contact: I Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Energy Network (EREN) Clearinghouse (EREC) www.eren.doe.gov P.O. Box 3048 I Office of Building Technology, Merrifield, VA 22116 State and Community Programs Fax: (703) 893-0400 www.eren.doe.gov/buildings BBS: (800) 273-2955 NA002446, PHOTODISC I Office of Industrial Technologies Phone: (800) DOE-EREC www.oit.doe.gov (800-363-3732) “It’s hard to think of a greater E-mail: [email protected] I Office of Power Technologies www.eren.doe.gov/power gift we could give at the turn EREC can also answer questions I Office of Transportation Technologies of the century ... than a clean concerning clean energy technologies. www.ott.doe.gov energy future.” I Federal Energy Management Program PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, AUGUST 1999 www.eren.doe.gov/femp/ I DOE/EERE’s Regional Offices www.eren.doe.gov/rso.html I DOE Golden Field Office www.eren.doe.gov/golden/ I State Energy Program www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/ state_energy/ I Weatherization Assistance Program www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/ weatherization_assistance/ Produced for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a DOE national laboratory DOE/GO-10099-911 December 1999 Printed with a renewable-source ink on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY COVER PHOTOS: NREL/PIX 06330, WARREN GETZ; NREL/PIX 03500, CRAIG MILLER PRODUCTIONS AND DOE; NREL/PIX 07139, SARA FARRAR; OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY SO000359 PHOTODISC NREL/PIX 04080, WARREN GRETZ; NREL/PIX 07732, D&R INTL., LTD.; NREL/PIX 00129, GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE; FUTURE CAR PHOTO, DOE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY s we enter a new millennium, one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s ongoing missions Awill be advancing clean energy technologies. These technologies will play an increasingly important role in our future and allow us to use less energy overall, while making greater use of the non-polluting energy sources that we have here at home. Clean energy technologies can help us tackle the problem of global climate change, improve air quality, provide additional options in competitive electricity markets and increase our energy security. Clean energy technologies will also play an important role in the global economy. Over the next four decades, developing countries alone will require five million megawatts of new electrical capacity. This is 60 percent more than the total installed generating capacity in the world today and is potentially worth trillions of dollars in new energy projects for U.S. companies. U.S. clean energy technologies can help those countries develop existing energy resources and use energy more efficiently while generating jobs here at home. NREL/PIX 07078, DOE This comprehensive clean energy approach is central to the Clinton Administration’s firm belief that we can grow the economy while improving the environment. Bill Richardson Secretary of Energy n the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Iwe’re meeting the challenges of the new century—using less energy to power industries, vehicles, and buildings; and producing more power from clean energy sources such as renewable energy and natural gas. For more than 20 years, we have played a leading role in developing and advancing clean energy technologies. Through a wide variety of activities, we are advancing research, devel- opment and deployment of these technologies—along with supportive policies and markets— throughout the United States and the world. An increased emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy will help save money for energy consumers, make America’s businesses more competitive, reduce the nation’s reliance on imported oil, cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve public health. While the promise of clean energy technologies is clear, an increased commitment by both NREL/PIX 07077, DOE the public and private sectors is needed to realize the full benefits of our investment. We will redouble our efforts with Congress, industry, state and local governments, tribal nations, and the public to move the nation toward our goal of Clean Energy for the 21st Century. Dan W. Reicher Assistant Secretary of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY The Federal Focal Point FOR CLEAN ENERGY he U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy T(EERE) develops and deploys clean energy technologies that save energy and cut pollu- This school bus in San Antonio, Texas, runs tion. The combined work of EERE and the DOE Offices of Fossil Energy and Nuclear Energy is quietly and efficiently on domestically avail- helping prepare our country for the energy challenges of the next century and beyond. able natural gas, while producing lower harmful emissions. Clean energy technologies include energy- EERE is divided into five programs that efficient products and practices, which focus their efforts on specific sectors of use less energy, and renewable energy the energy economy: buildings, trans- sources and natural gas, which produce portation, industry, power, and the federal power and heat more cleanly than many government as an energy user. To support conventional sources. Renewable energy these programs, EERE works closely with comprises domestic, readily-available states through the State Energy Program, energy sources such as biomass, wind, providing grants for clean energy tech- solar and geothermal energy, and hydro- nologies. EERE also manages the Weather- power. In advancing these clean energy ization Assistance Program, which NREL/PIX 04152, JOHN KUBESH technologies, EERE helps to protect the improves the energy efficiency of low- environment, support U.S. economic com- income housing throughout the nation. petitiveness, and enhance our nation’s The Golden Field Office, located in energy security. EERE achieves these goals Golden, Colorado, serves as the primary through a strong and balanced program of field agent for EERE, developing partner- research, development, and deployment of ships between EERE, DOE national labora- advanced energy technologies, along with tories, universities, and the private sector. support for critical policies and markets. Golden also administers the contract These activities are conducted in for the National Renewable Energy partnership with the private sector, state Laboratory (NREL). NREL is one of eight energy offices, universities, and other DOE national laboratories—including research organizations. EERE’s reliance Argonne, Idaho, Lawrence Berkeley, on partnerships stimulates private invest- Lawrence Livermore, Oak Ridge, Pacific ments and gets more mileage out of feder- Northwest, and Sandia National Labor- al investments. These partnerships also atories—that support EERE through help ensure that we develop technologies research, development, and deployment that private industry is interested in car- activities. rying forward to the marketplace. Six DOE Regional Offices serve as Because many of EERE's programs over- regional liaisons, providing project man- lap with the goals of other federal agencies, agement and technology deployment for NREL/PIX 06457, KISS & CATHCART, ARCHITECTS the office works cooperatively with these EERE programs. The six offices—in Atlanta, Above: EERE’s State Energy Program fund- agencies on several activities. For example, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and ed an analysis of energy efficiency options for the 4 Times Square building, seen here the same technologies that reduce energy Seattle—allow EERE to develop regional under construction in New York City. The use also reduce air pollution and energy relationships with key federal, state and building incorporates daylighting, fuel cells, photovoltaic panels, and other costs, so EERE works jointly with the local government organizations, indus- energy innovations. National Park Service on initiatives such as tries, and others. The Regional Offices Right: EERE and the U.S. Environmental Green Energy Parks, a program to increase provide feedback on local energy issues, Protection Agency work together on the ENERGY STAR® program, the use of energy efficient and renewable concerns, and opportunities, serving as which labels energy- energy technologies in our National Parks. a link between EERE programs and the efficient products and buildings. end-users of EERE’s services. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY 1 Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES Maintaining a Clean and Preparing for a Competitive Healthy Environment and Global Energy Economy Energy and the environment are strongly The introduction of competition to the linked—the use of energy is the largest electric industry presents challenges and source of air pollution in this country. opportunities to clean energy technolo- High-temperature superconducting cables Vehicles and power
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