The Department of Energy recently released its "Strategic Plan for Distributed Energy Resources," outlining a national effort to develop clean, reliable, and affordable distributed energy technologies over the next two decades.

The Strategic Plan initially focuses on developing "next generation" distributed energy technologies and addressing institutional and regulatory barriers to development of distributed energy resources.

The plan addresses six strategic areas:

• Direct and coordinate a diverse portfolio of research, development, and demonstration investments in distributed natural gas technologies including advanced turbines, microturbines, cooling, heating and power systems, fuel cell systems, hybrid systems and natural gas engines;
• Conduct supporting research, design and development in enabling technologies, including combustion systems, fuel processing, hydrogen energy systems, materials and manufacturing, power electronics and sensors and controls;
• Direct and coordinate a diverse portfolio of RD&D in energy generation and delivery systems architecture for distributed energy resources, including district energy, energy storage, grid interconnection, modeling and simulation tools, power parks and mini-grids, superconducting materials for electric systems and transmission and distribution;
• Coordinate activities with RD&D in renewable energy development such as concentrating solar power and solar buildings systems, geothermal, photovoltaic systems and wind energy;
• Establish collaborative technology transfer partnerships with industry, state agencies, universities and national laboratories, including multi-year plans, industry visions and technology roadmaps; cost shared research, development and demonstration projects and cost shared technology transfer activities; and
• Conduct systems integration, implementation and outreach activities aimed at addressing infrastructure, institutional and regulatory needs, including building codes and standards; environmental permitting and siting; Federal Energy Management Program guidelines; International President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology guidelines; standardized interconnection protocols; state initiatives; tax provisions and utility restructuring.

Department of Energy offers home heating info The Department of Energy's Consumer Resource Gateway now features information on home heating and assistance available through state programs. High energy prices prompted DOE to make the information available, as the agency anticipated a high volume of phone traffic from the public to voice concern or get information. DOE's Office of Consumer Information set up this Home Heating Help Hotline to help the Department of Energy handle public inquiries in a helpful, efficient manner. This special Hotline will be up and running through the winter until the close of business on March 30, 2001. Through the hotline, the Energy Department provides free referrals to state officials who can help callers determine if they qualify for benefits from LIHEAP or the Energy Department's Weatherization Program. In addition, 1-800-Dial-DOE can help consumers get free information on how to lower their energy bills and can provide literature about heating oil, propane, and natural gas pricing issues. People calling this special Hotline can talk to operators from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. EST. After business hours, or in the event of overflow during business hours, calls will be answered by a recording, providing 24-hour per day, 7-day per week coverage. The hotline offers consumers: contact information for state agency officials who can provide eligible families with Federal heating and weatherization assistance; a place to share their stories about how the heating oil price hikes have impacted their household or business; and the opportunity to receive more detailed information by mail to help consumers, including energy tips for home heating and a package of three of the latest brochures from EIA on heating your home with propane, natural gas or heating oil.