Until late 2010, I’m proud to say I was a freelance contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, helping to write a blog called Energy Empowers. These were reported, journalism-style pieces that told the stories of Americans working toward cleaner and more efficient energy, often with financial help from the Recovery Act. I had the honor of being the office’s West Coast voice, with (not surprisingly) a special emphasis on solar. Here are some highlights of that work:
- Solar cookers to bring hope to earthquake victims
- Alaskan cooperative wins wind award
- Yellowstone agencies plan to reduce emissions
- Nellis Air Force Base solar array provides a model for renewable energy projects
- Initiative guides Hawaii to the path of energy independence
- Arizona teachers prepare students for green economy
- Hawaii Marine base installs solar roofs
- Hydrogen fuel cells provide critical backup power
- Puget Sound communities promote energy efficiency
- World’s largest solar energy project heads to Mojave
- Hydrogen power lit Academy Awards (The technology in question later helped send the last space shuttle into space!)
- Oil spill still motivates Santa Barbara to be green
- Arizona college 5 MW system will be “solar with a purpose”
- Navy catching waves in Hawaii
- When life gives you onion scraps, make electricity
- Ariz. rooftops key to unlocking the potential of distributed solar
- Quantum innovations in solar energy: Q&A with Byron Washom
- In Alaska, weatherization training goes home…sort of
- Could TEG improve your car’s efficiency?
- Factory brings solar energy jobs to former steel town
- College fights energy rate hikes with ‘grid positive’ plan
- American Indian complex to cool off using ice storage system
- Mirror film co. has ‘concentrated’ plans for expansion
- Unique solar thermal laboratory gets upgrades
- Solar field gives Tennessee economy a boost
- VP 100: Former Chrysler plant changes gears to solar
- VP 100: Growth in solar means growth in Ohio
- Holographic technology could increase solar efficiency
- Tax credits give thin-film solar a big boost
- “Neighborhood in a park” harnesses the sun