Spotlight: State Panel, U.S. to Research Energy Efficiency

The Department of Energy and the state Energy Commission agreed to pool resources and collaborate on research in energy efficiency. A march toward deregulation and corporate cost-cutting are sapping private research dollars, as utilities are less likely to recover their investments from ratepayers, Undersecretary Ernest Moniz said. The agreement paves the way for collaborations on transportation fuels, advanced electricity generation systems and ways to ensure system reliability.