The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has guaranteed an $80 million loan to Range Fuels, Inc., which is building a biorefinery in Georgia to convert wood chips to biofuels using a two-step thermochemical process. The guarantee is the agency's first to a commercial-scale cellulosic biofuel plant.

Vice President Joe Biden has announced more than $600 million in Recovery Act funding for 191 new transit projects in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Recipients are spending the funds on improvements such as hybrid electric buses and conversions of vehicles to hybrids.

The U.S. Navy recently awarded a $200 million contract for a total of 40 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic power systems on Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the Southwest. The National Park Service is also installing solar power at many of its facilities, using Recovery Act funds.

The Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland is highlighting electrified vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehicles, and a range of new hybrids. The debuts include entries from such sports car leaders as Porsche, Ferrari, and Lotus.

An attempt to account for the energy security costs of domestic and imported oil finds higher security costs for imported oil. However, the costs are low compared to the direct cost of oil, implying that U.S. energy security efforts should focus on lower petroleum use, regardless of its source.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy has offered a conditional commitment on a $117 million loan guarantee to finance the construction and start-up of an innovative 30 megawatt (MW) wind energy project in Kahuku, Hawaii.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the Department of Energy has offered a conditional commitment for a $72 million loan guarantee to SAGE Electrochromics, based in Faribault, Minnesota.