Develop cellulosic ethanol. Producing ethanol from cellulosic biomass–like perennial grasses and wood chips–offers a tremendous opportunity to expand our homegrown fuel supply in an environmentally sustainable way. Life-cycle analyses at Argonne National Laboratory have shown that CO2 emissions from cellulosic ethanol are 85 percent lower than those from gasoline. The Advanced Energy Initiative, which includes significant increases for federal funding of science and engineering, will enable this and other alternative-energy research.
Harness the power of nature. To exploit the energy potential of the sun and wind, we must advance the study of high-efficiency wind power and solar photovoltaics. If we can make solar power cost-competitive, by 2015 it could provide enough electricity to power more than 1 million American homes.
Build a hydrogen economy. Accelerating the development of hydrogen fuel cells and the infrastructure needed for hydrogen production, delivery and storage should be a national priority. Hydrogen could fundamentally change the transportation sector in this country and around the world, but more work is needed.
Power up the hybrids. Alternative vehicles–like hybrids, clean diesels and flex-fuel cars–offer a near-term way to reduce oil consumption and better our environment. Among other things, we must increase the efficiency of batteries for hybrids and encourage more Americans to purchase these vehicles; current tax credits can be worth as much as $3,400.
Use our own natural resources. Any transition to alternative energy will not happen overnight. To decrease our reliance on foreign suppliers of fossil fuels, we should increase our domestic production in an environmentally responsible way. This means further exploring our own oil and gas reserves, especially in parts of the outer continental shelf.
Clean up coal. Along the same lines, we must develop ways to burn coal–our nation’s most abundant fossil fuel–more cleanly. This is a necessity for other countries as well, especially China. The United States is leading the way through FutureGen, a $1 billion international collaboration to develop a zero-emissions coal-fired plant by 2012 that will combine the latest technology in electricity generation, hydrogen production and carbon-dioxide capture and storage.
Get real about nuclear power. If we are to truly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we should look seriously at this paradox: Right now, nuclear power is the only mature technology with significant potential to supply large amounts of emissions-free base-load power. And we have not licensed a new nuclear plant in this country in more than 30 years. That must change, period.
Get real about nuclear waste. We can expand the use of nuclear power only if we deal with the storage of spent fuel. The safest, most effective way to store spent fuel is in a permanent geologic repository at Yucca Mountain (located in the Nevada desert). This project has been under development for 20 years, and we need legislative action to move it to completion.
Modernize our power grid. As the Northeast blackout of 2003 demonstrated, our electricity grid is badly in need of an upgrade. We have made progress on modernization: repealing outdated rules that discourage investment; offering tax incentives for new transmission construction; developing technologies–like high-temperature superconducting materials–to improve the grid’s efficiency and reliability. More needs to be done, quickly.
Conserve. The largest source of immediately available “new” energy is the energy we waste. Everyone–individuals, families, businesses, government agencies–can do more to conserve. You can learn more at energysavers.gov.
To achieve all this, we need forward-looking leadership and strong financial commitments in the public and private sectors; congressional action; and the hard work of our scientists and engineers. And we need the commitment of the American people to achieve together what none of us can do alone.
