- On July 14, Secretary Chu announced the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the Recovery Act for state-run rebate programs for consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances; the new funding will be awarded to states and territories, through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005; see: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7634.htm
- On July 15, Secretary Chu announced plans to provide up to $22 million from the Recovery Act to support the planning and installation of utility-scale community renewable energy projects in up to four communities nationwide; see: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7644.htm
- On July 16, Secretary Chu announced the selection of new wind energy projects for up to $12.8 million in Recovery Act funds; these projects will help address market and deployment challenges including wind turbine research and testing and transmission analysis, planning, and assessments; see: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7653.htm
- On July 17, Secretary Chu announced that up to $85 million in funding under the Recovery Act will be awarded in early 2010 to support at least 50 early career researchers for five years at U.S. academic institutions and DOE national laboratories; http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7665.htm
- Secretary Chu and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a rural community forum in Blairs, Va., on July 18, as part of the Obama Administration's Rural Tour; at the forum, the two officials discussed with local residents the work the Obama Administration is doing to revitalize and rebuild rural America; Secretaries Chu and Vilsack also highlighted Recovery Act projects improving communities in Virginia and benefiting people throughout rural America
- On July 20, the Secretary announced the Department has begun the development of a Smart Grid Information Clearinghouse; Virginia Tech was selected to develop and maintain the Clearinghouse website, which will be responsible for answering questions from the public and distributing information about smart grid initiatives
- On July 20, the Secretary announced more than $47 million in funding under the Recovery Act for eight projects to further smart grid demonstration projects in 7 states; the Secretary also announced $10.5 million in Recovery Act funding available for local governments to develop emergency preparedness plans for their electrical systems; see: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7670.htm
- The Department's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) has released the first Smart Grid System Report, which examines the status of smart grid deployments nationwide; see: http://www.oe.energy.gov/index.htm
- On July 20, Secretary Chu announced more than $162 million in funding from the Recovery Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico; under DOE's State Energy Program, states and territories have proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; see: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/releases.htm
- The Department continues to be responsive to requests for speakers by Members of Congress; this week, the Department will be spending speakers to several events across the country to discuss the Department's Recovery Act implementation
- Several additional Recovery Act funded positions have been posted on http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/a9recoveryjobs.asp
- The Department is operating toll free call in number for businesses and constituent Recovery Act inquiries, 1-888-DOE-RCVY; questions can also be submitted through DOE's Recovery Act clearinghouse: https://recoveryclearinghouse.energy.gov/Inquiry.aspx
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- The Department is preparing announcements in the next several weeks regarding funding opportunities for energy efficiency and loan guarantee programs; Funding Opportunity Announcements will be posted on: http://www.energy.gov/recovery/funding.htm
- Energy Efficiency Community Block Grants have been extended to August 10th, see for information on these and other Funding Opportunity Announcements: http://www.energy.gov/recovery/funding.htm
- The Department is planning an energy efficiency summit with EPA and HUD
- The Department's Inspector General will release several reports in the next month on Recovery Act programs; reports will be issued on the following programs: Office of Environmental Management, Office of Science, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Federal Energy Management Program, Office of Electricity Delivery, and Energy Reliability and Office of Fossil Energy
- The Office of Environmental Management is responding to information requests from the Government Accountability Office
- The Department is working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on energy efficiency transparency and financing and with HUD and the Department Health and Human Services on risks management for formula grants
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