Policy

U.S. earns near-last-place finish in global energy efficiency rankings

By Jessica McMathis / August 11, 2014

Germany is the most energy-efficient of the world’s major economies, according to the 2014 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The United States finished 13th of 16 countries—far behind Italy, the European Union, China, and France.

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Open season: DOE plan provides public access to department-funded research

By Jessica McMathis / August 7, 2014

The Energy Department is taking steps toward a more open stream of information from the lab, introducing a new web directory that increases access to any publications or data derived from research funded by the DOE.

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DOE accelerates energy research with $100 million in funding

By Jessica McMathis / June 24, 2014

The Department of Energy is fast-tracking the “scientific breakthroughs needed to build the 21st-century energy economy” by awarding $100 million to the country’s Energy Frontier Research Centers.

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Funding for DOE’s science research, programs would remain flat under House spending plan

By Jessica McMathis / June 16, 2014

Last week, the House Appropriations Committee presented the fiscal year 2015 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill that keeps funding for the Department of Energy’s programs and research flat.

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Administration designates a dozen manufacturing communities to strengthen competitive edge, supply chains

By Jessica McMathis / June 8, 2014

As part of an effort to not only strengthen the U.S. manufacturing sector, but also spur job creation, President Obama recently designated 12 communities as Manufacturing Communities—the country’s first—backed by federal agencies and funds.

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Permanent R&D tax credit passes the House

By Jessica McMathis / May 14, 2014

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to make permanent a tax break for companies who invest in research and development.

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Spending panel smiles on NSF, NASA, NIST with 2015 budget bill

By Jessica McMathis / May 6, 2014

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are backing a 2015 budget bill that ups funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

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Report: Push for clean energy may impair America’s ability to reduce carbon emissions

By Jessica McMathis / May 5, 2014

New data suggests that America’s efforts to make its energy cleaner and greener are actually impeding its ability to reduce harmful carbon emissions.

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Touchscreen warfare, passive purification, patent law, and glass strengthening in the May ACerS Bulletin—now online!

By April Gocha / April 24, 2014

The May issue of the ACerS Bulletin is now available online—check out all the great content that fills this month’s pages!

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The economy of research: Study shows impacts of US science funding felt far beyond the lab

By Jessica McMathis / April 19, 2014

A new study indicates that university research is more than fodder for headlines—rather, it’s a “key component of the US economic ecosystem.”

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