News Updates for the Week of January 31

1. Stock Market Changers to Watch -

• Consumer Confidence: Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Confidence among U.S. consumers rose more than forecast in January, reaching an eight-month high, as the outlook for jobs brightened. The Conference Board’s sentiment index increased to 60.6 from 53.3 the prior month. Growing optimism, an improving labor market and tax relief may combine to help spur consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the economy.

• New Home Sales: Sales of new single-family houses in December 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 329,000, according to estimates released jointly today 1/26 by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 17.5 percent above the revised November rate of 280,000, but is 7.6 percent below the December 2009 estimate of 356,000.

• Existing Home Sale: Existing-home sales rose sharply in December, when sales increased for the fifth time in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Completed transactions of single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops rose 12.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.28 million in December. Despite the surge, the figure is 2.9% below the 5.44 million-pace in December 2009.

• Federal Reserve Rate: Following its first meeting of 2011, the Federal Reserve announced plans to keep lending rates at existing levels. On Wednesday 1/26, the Fed's rate-setting committee again maintained its key lending rate -- known as the federal funds rate -- within a range of 0 percent to 0.25 percent. That decision also kept the prime rate at 3.25 percent.

• Durable Orders: New orders for durable goods unexpectedly dropped in December, according to the latest report from the Department of Commerce. Durable goods orders dropped 2.5% to $191 billion after dropping 0.1% in November. Consensus had projected a 1.5% increase.

• Jobless Claims: More Americans than forecast filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance payments last week, indicating it will take time for the labor market to mend. Applications for jobless benefits increased by 51,000 to 454,000 in the week ended Jan. 22, Economists forecast 405,000 claims, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey.

• GDP: Gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity, rose at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the October through December quarter, the Commerce Department said Fri. 1/28, below analysts' expectations but up from 2.6 percent in the third quarter. GDP growth would have been much higher if businesses had not cut back aggressively on their inventories. Final demand, which excludes that inventory swing and is a good indicator of the underlying pace of growth, rose at a whopping 7.1 percent, the strongest since 1984. GDP will likely grow between 3 percent and 4 percent this year as long-term unemployment continues to drag on the economy.


2. Obama's Clean-Energy Goals Have Industry Questioning Feasibility - President Obama has grand plans for a green nation -- 1 million electric vehicles on the road within four years and clean power sources providing 80% of the nation's energy by 2035. 1/27 Los Angeles Times

3. 3 Giants Launch Venture to Fund Energy Tech Startups - GE, Conoco-Phillips and NRG Energy have partnered to create a venture to invest $300 million in early-stage energy technology firms. The partnership, Energy Technology Ventures http://www.energytechnologyventures.com/ will help fund 30 companies over the next four years, focusing on investments in North America, Europe and Israel. Target technologies will include renewable power generation -- an area where GE is already busy -- as well as smart grid technology, energy efficiency, oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy, emission controls, water and biofuels. 1/28 Houston Chronicle


4. AEP's Energy Efficiency Advisory Council Endorses New Standards, Tax Policies for Home Appliances -Today, members of American Electric Power's external Energy Efficiency Advisory Council sent a letter to the DOE urging adoption of the proposed Energy Efficient and Smart Appliance Agreement of 2010, which would set new minimum energy efficiency standards for home appliances, extend and update tax credits for the development and manufacturing of smart appliances, and include smart grid readiness as a feature of future ENERGY STAR qualified appliances. The letter sent by AEP's Energy Efficiency Advisory Council to the DOE can be accessed at http://www.aepsustainability.com/docs/US-DOE-AEP-EEAC.pdf More information is available at http://www.aham.org/industry/ht/d/sp/i/49934/pid/49934


5. The Following Resources for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) -

• Federal Government Recovery Act website: http://www.recovery.gov/

• DOE Recovery Act website: http://www.energy.gov/recovery/index.htm

• DOE Recovery Act Clearinghouse (Toll-Free): (888) 363-RCVY or (888) 363-7289

• EERE Recovery Act website: http://www.eere.energy.gov/recovery/

• For more information on project and funding opportunities visit: http://www.netl.doe.gov/


6. DOE Report Estimates LED Savings in Niche Markets - The DOE has released analysis findings for markets where LEDs compete with or are poised to compete with traditional lighting sources (e.g., incandescent and fluorescent). The January 2011 report provides estimates of current energy savings, plus potential savings if these markets switched to LEDs overnight. Twelve markets were analyzed:

• Four general-illumination applications (PAR, BR, and R replacement lamps; MR16 replacement lamps; 2-foot by 2-foot troffer fixtures; and general service A-type replacement lamps)

• Four outdoor applications (roadway, parking, area and flood, and residential)

• Four applications for consumer electronic displays (televisions, laptops, monitors, and mobile handsets).

To download a PDF of the report, go to www.ssl.energy.gov/tech_reports.html

7. LED Replacements for Edison's Light Bulb Expand - Today, 131 years after Thomas Edison was granted a patent for the incandescent light bulb, the push for more efficient lighting expands with an LED replacement touted to have Edison-like quality. Cree, Inc. has demonstrated the brightest, most-efficient, LED-based A-lamp that can meet ENERGY STAR® performance requirements for a 60-watt standard LED replacement bulb. This level of performance is the result of Cree TrueWhite® Technology and Cree remote-phosphor technology. http://www.truewhitelight.com/ http://www.cree.com/press/press_detail.asp?i=1296133896251 1/27 USA TODAY

8. IALD and ILP Sign MOU in Support of Lighting Design - The International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), an international organization supporting a network of 900 lighting design professionals and the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), the United Kingdom and Ireland's largest and most influential professional lighting association, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work cooperatively toward developing the architectural lighting design profession and elevating awareness of quality lighting. 1/28 EC&M

9. Lime Energy Joins GE Lighting's Effort to Promote Greater Energy Efficiency Among Businesses - Lime Energy has joined GE Lighting's Energy Services Program. The Program involves a consortium of energy services consulting firms who work closely with GE to help commercial and industrial firms formulate strategies to optimize the financial and environmental returns available from improvements in building energy efficiency. Through its affiliation with GE, Lime Energy will also help companies identify available rebates, financing and government incentives. http://www.geconsumerandindustrial.com/environmentalinfo/regulations_resources/esco/find_an_esco.htm


10. National Grid Selects SmartWatt Energy for Small Business Energy Reduction Program in Northern NY Region - SmartWatt Energy, Inc., announced today that they have been awarded the Implementation Contractor and Administrator contract for National Grid's Small Business Energy Efficiency Program in the Northern NY Region. SmartWatt Energy estimates that as many as 12,000 small businesses in Northern NY will qualify for this Program. Business customers with an average demand use of 100 kilowatts of energy or less per month will qualify for the Program, in which National Grid provides rebates of up to 70% of the cost of the installation of energy efficient equipment. National Grid will also allow on-bill financing for the remaining 30% of the installation, interest-free for up to 24 months. Convenience stores, restaurants, warehouses, offices, car dealerships and light industrial manufacturers will all be helped by this Program. 1/27 http://www.smartwattenergy.com/

11. Customers Will Save Nearly $275 Million in Energy Costs with Bulbs Purchased Through Dominion VA's CFL Discount Program - The cost savings estimate is based on calculations made with information from EPA. Purchased with discounts since 2007 through the end of 2010, Dominion's programs have resulted in sales of approximately 6 million CFLs. Anticipated sales of 2 million CFLs this year will produce additional energy and cost savings for customers over the estimated 10-year life of the bulbs. 1/26 PRNewswire http://www.dom.com/

12. Turlock, CA Considers Lights Loan - The Turlock City Council are scheduled to consider a proposal to borrow $766,165 from the California Energy Commission to retrofit 2,000 streetlights with induction lights that use less electricity and last longer. The loan will augment $643,100 in federal stimulus funds the city received for the project. 1/23 The Modesto Bee