UK highlights – Clean Energy Ministerial
Energy Ministers from 23 of the world’s leading economies gathered together in London last week for the third Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM3) to help accelerate the transition to clean energy technologies. A joint press release was released from Energy Ministers outlining commitments made on energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy access, and other cross-cutting initiatives. Under pressure from green groups, UK Government Ministers were keen to demonstrate their renewed commitment to be the “greenest government ever” and give a clear vision to investors in renewable energy.
UK/US State Visit; Obama Energy Agenda; America Doubles Renewable Energy Capacity; Wind up 27%; Nevada Solar; Ohio’s Green Button; New China Tariff
Broadly covered by news outlets last week, President Obama hosted Prime Minister Cameron for a state visit to Washington, DC. During the joint press conference, the President praised US/UK efforts toward improving maternal health and preventable deaths of children in Africa, and the increased support for the Global Fund on AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Today is World Water Day. March 24 is World TB Day.
I will post separate blog entries describing U.S. and partner country efforts in both of these efforts. Covered in this week’s U.S. government news are the President’s campaign for an All-of-the-Above energy strategy and a progress report from six federal agencies showing significant gains in U.S. renewable and clean energy over the last three years. President Obama visited four states to showcase such energy efforts, and the U.S. Energy Information Agency’s (USEIA) opened a web portal showing state renewable energy portfolios. I provide specific examples from Wisconsin and Oregon of initiatives at the state and local level. Finally, there is a discussion of a new tariff on Chinese solar panels, Energy Star’s twenty year anniversary, a bacteria-engineered source for biofuel, scientific efforts to locate dark matter in space, and a light-hearted video showing how the White House prepared the Prime Minister’s state dinner.
All-of-the-Above Approach to Energy. The White House released a new energy agenda for gasoline in America. It reduces America’s dependence on foreign oil and increases fuel efficiency standards for light trucks and passenger vehicles. In his weekly video address, the President called for continued investment in new clean energy technologies. “We’ve got to develop every source of American energy,” said the President, “not just oil and gas, but wind power and solar power, nuclear power, biofuels.” Watch the address below. Read more 
UK highlights – Ed Davey’s first weeks in office
Edward Davey, new Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has been eager to show he has hit the ground running. Stressing there will be “no change in direction or ambition” at DECC, Davey has sought to allay concerns from green critics that the loss of Chris Huhne may signal a change in Government policy. The Secretary of State has underlined the importance of green growth, opened the world’s largest offshore wind-farm, and unveiled a new energy efficiency office in DECC. Davey has rebuffed criticism of subsidies for wind power and set out reforms for the feed-in tariff scheme.
U.S. Department of Defense Goes Green
In honor of last Friday’s observations of Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in the UK, we thought it was time to highlight the work that the U.S. Department of Defense is doing to go green. As a large consumer within the U.S., the military has the potential to create important new markets for green products and technologies. We found this great, regularly-updated website that spotlights various DoD initiatives. Check out how the Air Force is using wind turbines to power groundwater cleanup systems at a military reservation in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. See a new Humvee prototype vehicle, boasting an array of energy-saving features, allowing it to run on one third of the fuel of its standard tactical vehicle counterparts. And read how one contractor at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas has been using a used vegetable oil blend to run his diesel truck for more than six years and said he is pleased with the results. These are just some of the examples that you can find on the website, which also includes links to various videos of major speeches, and audio podcasts discussing new initiatives and innovations.
NFL Returns to London, and Goes Green Back Home
In honor of yesterday’s thrilling American football showdown between the National Football League’s (NFL) Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we thought we would highlight a great article from last month’s National Geographic on efforts to make some of the NFL’s stadiums greener. The article highlights a number of efforts underway around the country to help bring renewable energy sources to some of the most visible sports stadiums in America. Read more
Weekly highlights of UK news
Energy is the hot topic this week. The Prime Minister hosted an energy summit to help families keep down energy bills, the Government made announcements on Carbon Capture and Storage and renewable energy, and the Energy Act became law. In other news, the Health Secretary has launched plans to help tackle the problem of obesity.