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A gasoline-powered generator can supply electricity to a remote U.S. Marine outpost in Afghanistan, powering everything from laptops to communications equipment. And the noise from that generator can be a dead giveaway to Taliban forces searching for Americans. So when Marines tout the effectiveness of quiet, solar-powered generators, it's not because they feel all warm and fuzzy about Earth Day.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus defended the service's investment on biofuels Monday, saying that it is a "false choice" for critics to suggest the Navy should focus on building more ships instead of finding alternative fuels to power them.
It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard it: The future prosperity of America rides on what measures Congress takes to reduce the federal deficit. U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) harped on this sentiment March 5 in Leesburg, where he spoke to workers at the headquarters of K2M, an international medical device company.
Solar Panels, Green Eggs & Ham
Mar 06 2012
After an innovation roundtable at Charlottesville’s Mikro Systems, Senator Warner traveled to Waynesboro to get a look at the largest thermal solar panel installation project in Virginia at the local YMCA. A thunderstorm arrived just as we did, so Senator Warner wasn’t able to climb onto the roof to see the progress of this installation project.
Sen. Mark Warner stopped by the Waynesboro Family YMCA on Friday afternoon, helping tout the facility's recent commitment to thermal solar energy. "I want to commend everyone who's been involved in this project," said Warner, himself a former YMCA board member for 20 years.
Celebrating Opower's expansion
Oct 21 2011
Senator Warner and Northern Virginia Congressman Jim Moran celebrated the expansion of the Virginia-based energy efficiency company Opower. Opower – the brainchild of two college buddies -- works with energy companies and social networks to help customers increase energy productivity and reduce energy bills.
Senator Warner told members of the Southern States Energy Board that the region should become more aggressive in working together to pursue a “portfolio” approach to energy resources. The Board, chaired by Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, met in Alexandria yesterday.
Offshore Energy Bill Strikes a Chord
Jul 12 2011
Legislation by Virginia Senators Warner and Webb to allow oil and natural gas exploration and production off of the Virginia coast is gaining public support. The Warner-Webb legislation improves on a House-backed bill by providing royalties to Virginia if any energy resources are produced off our coastline.
A big congratulations is due to a team from Virginia Tech for landing top prize of EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge. It involved designing and building an extended-range electric vehicle. Tech competed against 15 other universities to earn top honors in the three-year competition sponsored by the Department of Energy and General Motors.
Sen. Warner on offshore wind: “Excellent news”
Feb 07 2011
Sen. Warner, who has long advocated an “all-of-the-above,” portfolio approach to alternative energy, applauded today’s big announcement on major offshore wind initiatives: as part of the “Smart from the Start” approach, the federal government will accelerate the preliminary review of potential offshore wind sites along Virginia’s coast.
