2-US green energy projects get $59 mln U.S. Energy Department guarantees

2-US green energy projects get $59 mln in guarantees

* Beacon Power storage project to get $43 mln guarantee

* Nordic Windpower gets $16 mln guarantee to expand plant

* Part of $6 bln stimulus funds to boost renewable energy (Recasts, updates throughout)

By Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON, July 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department on Thursday offered loan guarantees worth $59 million to two renewable energy companies as the agency tries to quickly boost green energy production with a windfall of funding from the economic stimulus package.