Energy Secretary

Energy Secretary implements fast-track changes; Fisker and Tesla might benefit quickly

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When Steven Chu was nominated to be the new Secretary of Energy, the general sense was that it was great to have a scientist making some decisions about energy policy. Some, though, questioned whether he had the skills to run the bureaucracy that is the Department of Energy . After a month or so on the job, the answer seems to be yes. At the very least, it looks like Chu is ready to scrap the parts of the bureaucracy that prevent things from getting done. Yesterday, the DOE announced it would make changes in the way it approves money for various programs. Most importantly for us here at AutoblogGreen, the cash fast-tracking will be applied to the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program. That’s the program that will provide $25 billion in low-interest loans to companies that are building or want to build cleaner cars. Remember, Tesla’s Elon Musk said recently that he expects the DOE to “disburse funds from our $350M Model S loan application within four to five months.” Fisker Automotive is also rearing to go on that low-cost model should the DOE money come through. Gallery: Fisker Karma [Source: DOE via CNN ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA Energy Secretary implements fast-track changes; Fisker and Tesla might benefit quickly originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Energy Secretary implements fast-track changes; Fisker and Tesla might benefit quickly

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Tagged advanced, approves-money, bureaucracy, energy secretary, energysecretary, green-daily, secretary, the-bureaucracy, usa |

Giugiaro teases with the fastest hybrid in the world

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Italian king of auto design Giugiaro has just released a very tiny teaser of its new concept. We have no name or specifications yet, but Giugiaro’s webpage shows us just a little bit of what this new car, dubbed “the fasted hybrid in the world,” looks like. We also know that it’ll be introduced in a few weeks at the Geneva Auto Show. The little we can see on the site indicates a look not unlike last year’s Quaranta (see gallery below), which had a 200 kW motor good for 270hp. They do promise, however, that we will get more images and information before the Swiss show. We’ll be sure to snag our own when we’re in town. [Source: Giugiaro via LeBlogAuto ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Geneva Motor Show , Europe/EU Giugiaro teases with the fastest hybrid in the world originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Giugiaro teases with the fastest hybrid in the world

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Tagged a-friend-via, a-look-not, approves-money, energy secretary, european-union, geneva-auto, italy, teaser, the-bureaucracy, usa, weeks-at-the |

BP starts up celullosic ethanol joint venture with $45m, pays $161m fine for Clean Air Act violations

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BP goes on the offensive and plays defense in two news stories yesterday. First, we learn that BP Products North America Inc. has agreed to pay $161 million for “pollution controls, enhanced maintenance and monitoring, and improved internal management practices” because of Clean Air Act violations committed at a Texas refinery. The EPA’s Catherine McCabe said that, “BP failed to fulfill its obligations under the law, putting air quality and public health at risk.” Maybe the $45 million that BP (along with another $45 million from partner Verenium Corp.) is putting into a new cellulosic ethanol commercializaion project will result in better headlines. The new joint venture company will seek to create the biofuel from non-food feedstocks at a commercial-scale plant coming to HIighlands County, Florida . Construction there should start in 2010 and cost somewhere between $250 million and $300 million. If all goes well, the ethanol should start flowing in 2012. These dates are slightly later than previously indicated . [Source: EPA , Boston Globe ] Auto Blog: Etc. , Ethanol BP starts up celullosic ethanol joint venture with $45m, pays $161m fine for Clean Air Act violations originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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BP starts up celullosic ethanol joint venture with $45m, pays $161m fine for Clean Air Act violations

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Tagged a-friend-via, america-inc-, approves-money, boston-globe, bpverenium, cellulosic, energy secretary, entry, european-union, florida, italy, teaser, verenium |