Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry is asking the cabinet and parliament to approve a budget request of approximately $779 million to be used for energy efficiency programs. The Ministry wants to help factories and small businesses transition to energy-efficient devices, increase solar energy storage capacity at power stations, and bolster the clean energy industry in the region harmed by the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. The Ministry’s announcement comes after utilities warned that their solar storage capacity was running out. The proposal was to be considered by the cabinet on January 9, 2015. For the full story, see http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-09/japan-to-support-energy-saving-storage-battery-installations.html.