On September 26, 2012, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under the U.S. Department of Energy announced innovative projects in New York, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa.

The project in New York was announced on September 17.  The $30 million project, called the Energy Efficiency Market Acceleration Program, will speed up new energy efficiency technologies by adding funds to research, market development, and new demonstration projects.  The initiatives will gather together investments and encourage business development with new technologies in New York. 

In order to promote the project, the New York Power Authority is teaming with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute. 

The wind farm project in Oregon was announced by Caithness Energy on September 22.  The company has announced that the Shepards Flat Wind Farm is up and running.  The wind farm, one of the largest in the world, is capable of producing up to 845 megawatts of electricity and powering up to 235,000 homes. 

The EERE reports that the new project will eliminate about 1,216,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.  That amount is equivalent to gas emissions from over 212,000 cars. 

Lastly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture stated that $10 million in rural smart funds is being devoted to companies like Nobles Cooperative Electric in Minnesota and Iowa, Gundy Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Iowa and Missouri, and others.  The Department of Agriculture stated that is officially met its goal of financing $250 million for smart grid technologies in 2012. 

A smart grid is capable of conserving energy and limiting blackouts in certain regions.  For more information on these projects and others, regard the official website of the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Sources: Department of Energy