DOE is preparing to offer nearly $4 billion in Recovery Act
funds for Smart Grid projects and has significantly raised the
maximum awards for Smart Grid demonstration projects.
DOE and the U.S. Department of Commerce have also
announced the first set of proposed Smart Grid standards.

Drawing in part on Recovery Act funds, DOE plans to invest
$777 million to support 46 new Energy Frontier Research
Centers for the next five years. The new centers will study
top energy challenges such as solar energy, biofuels,
solid-state lighting, hydrogen storage, and electrical energy
storage.

Clean energy is good for human health, so it makes sense for
healthcare leaders to want to use clean energy in their
hospitals. The new Hospital Energy Alliance will promote the
use of energy efficiency and renewable energy in hospitals by
bringing together national healthcare leaders and DOE.

In an update to the ,
DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that
the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will provide a
near-term jump in renewable power generation and a
long-term reduction in residential and commercial energy use.

DOE launched the Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance, a
partnership of commercial real estate owners and operators
that have volunteered to work with DOE to drastically reduce
the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of
commercial buildings.