The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is seeking ideas that will accelerate the development of systems that use low-cost solar-thermal energy to produce clean water from very-high-salinity water, like water produced from oil and gas extraction. CEBN recently held a webinar featuring Sarah Gomach, a program administrator from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Gary Katz, Founder and CEO of Katz Water Technologies, and one of eight semifinalists from the first round of the Solar Desalination Prize, also spoke on the webinar. The full recording can be found below.

In July 1969, an estimated 650 million people watched the historic moon landing live on TV. Federal investments in the space program not only paid off with technological advances but also served to inspire many to pursue careers in STEM. The educational spillover effects of federal support for young people in scientific innovation was on full display this month, as 13 teams of undergraduate students competed in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC).

Last week, the Department of Energy announced 235 American small businesses were collectively awarded $54 million through the 2021 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

The seventh installment of Powering Forward was held in partnership with Grove Climate Group. The webinar explored the growing discussion regarding how to best understand, acknowledge, and address the wide-ranging societal dimensions of the clean energy transition — with EJ issues in mind.

This spring, 42 clean energy business leaders within the CEBN participated in a flurry of advocacy meetings on clean energy research, development, and demonstration. The group pushed Congress to boost funding for clean energy RD&D programs across the Department of Energy in Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations.

Biden campaigned on prioritizing climate change in his Administration, with an ambitious $2T plan to invest in clean energy and setting a target for a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035. It was no surprise then that the new Administration has taken swift action on clean energy and climate in its first days. CEBN has crafted a summary of the key personnel President Biden has chosen to implement his clean energy and climate agenda, along with the actions he has taken in his first few weeks in office.

The Junction Box is a new initiative to tap into the collective ideas and energy of the clean energy community to spur innovative policy and business solutions. Just as a junction box brings together electrical wires in a safe enclosure, these events will bring together our collective synapses in a safe space for discussion on emerging ideas for our industry.

Biden campaigned on prioritizing climate change in his Administration, with an ambitious $2T plan to invest in clean energy and setting a target for a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035. It was no surprise then that the new Administration has taken swift action on clean energy and climate in its first days. CEBN has crafted a summary of the key personnel President Biden has chosen to implement his clean energy and climate agenda, along with the actions he has taken in his first few weeks in office.

On Monday, December 21, 2020 Congressional leaders announced they had reached an agreement on a $900 billion COVID relief bill. The agreement cleared the way to pass a $1.4 trillion “omnibus” package to fund federal operations through September 2021. Legislators also added several energy related bills to this must-pass legislation. A number of CEBN priorities were reflected in the package.

We are incredibly thankful to each and every one of you for enabling the CEBN to serve as the small business voice of the clean energy economy. After three years of partnering with the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, we are excited to celebrate an exciting milestone: 5,000 members!

This CEBN webinar provided updates on the newly announced Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program topics for FY2021. The speakers below discussed the topics and the application process.

The Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), known as “America’s Seed Fund,” provides nondilutive grants to small businesses to help them develop and commercialize technology innovations. The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced topics for the next round of grants. Learn more and get a head start on applying.