I happened upon this newsworthy event today. And then wondered WHY I haven't heard about this in "the News", up til now?
And so after an few hours of research -- for your consumption and illumination ... and perhaps, inspiration ...
Biden Promotes Science, Renewables During NREL Visit
Colorado Energy News -- May 21, 2011
In the Vice President’s view, developing new energy technologies is this generation’s “moon shot.”
“There’s not a single person who thinks we can navigate the 21st century with the same energy policy we had in the 20th century. We either lead or we follow.”
[...]
“Imagine the first country to make solar power as cheap as fossil fuels,” said the VP [Biden ...]
“We (the U.S.) must lead in those efforts, because someone, somewhere, some country will do this.”
Stunning. Biden launches the 21st Century Clean Energy "Moon shot" challenge, and barely anyone notices.
Like I often say, we really need to work on resetting our National Priorities. I'm glad the VP thinks so too.
Here's some more from the Number Two guy in the Obama Administration, trying to reframe the National Energy Policy issue. Hmm, is it just me, or the VP trying to distribute Energy Opportunities and foster Innovation?
Biden Says U.S. Will Lead Energy Revolution
May 24, 2011
NREL Newsroom -- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE)
"Now, more than ever, America's future competitiveness depends on our ability to innovate and our capacity to live up to our rich history of technological advancement," said Vice President Biden. "This kind of public-private partnership fosters extraordinary innovation, allows brilliant ideas to develop, and gives businesses the tools they need to bring technology to the market."
Biden prompted a standing ovation from a crowd of scientists and policy makers when he declared that "Science is back," as a crucial player in American innovation.
The vice president noted that NREL has in the works such potentially revolutionary technology as a battery that could power a car 1,000 miles between charges, and cost about 5 percent of today's gasoline costs.
If such ideas are squelched by the faction that would label any government participation as "socialism," rest assured that China or Spain or Brazil or India will lead the clean-energy revolution-- with help from their governments, Biden said.
Nice framing Joe.
Cries of "Socialism" are NOT stopping other countries from forging ahead on the Tech of the Future.
"Science is back." ... I like that. It has a hopeful ring to it.
Biden Promotes Science, Renewables During NREL Visit
Colorado Energy News -- May 21, 2011
[...]
In his remarks, Biden also defended the public investment in NREL as something that has sparked and will continue to spark private investment and economic growth.
[Joe Biden: ]
“Through this kind of public-private collaboration we are bringing groundbreaking technology out of the lab and into the marketplace and our lives."
[...]
The Department of Energy announced “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” challenge in March as part of the Obama Administration’s “Startup America Initiative” to advance high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
Startup America Initiative? What's that?
Startup America
White House -- Whiteboard
Austan Goolsbee -- Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
President Obama has called on both the federal government and the private sector to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of entrepreneurs across the country.
First, the Obama Administration is rolling out a set of entrepreneur-focused policy initiatives in five areas:
1. Unlocking Access to Capital
2. Connecting Mentors
3. Reducing Barriers
4. Accelerating Innovation
5. Unleashing Market Opportunities
Second, leaders in the private sector have launched the Startup America Partnership, an independent alliance of entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other leaders, joining together to fuel innovative, high-growth U.S. startups.
Have that next million dollar energy idea, on the Drawing Boards, in your Garage -- well Startup America Initiative was launched, with your creative potential in mind ...
Startup America -- Getting Started
Business Case example: it works.
Boulder Entrepreneur Rose From Ashes
"We learned about these amazing technologies that NREL was creating," Burnett said. "Clean energy is something vitally important to America, and something I feel passionate about.
[...]
"That all changed starting in January when President Obama announced the Start-up America Initiative," he said
[...]
Suddenly ground-breaking technology was available to a small start-up.
US e-Chromic, LLC, is just getting started, but the plan is to use technology developed at NREL to make thin films that can be applied to existing windows. The films change colors, so in the summer they'll reflect the sun away, keeping things inside much cooler and dramatically lowering the need for air conditioning.
Some more good news energy stories, the result of public investment ...
NREL Newsroom -- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE)
The following feature stories take an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at how NREL is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Need some Clean Energy seed money?
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy -- Financial Opportunities
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) works with business, industry, universities, and others to increase the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Keep tabs with what Austan Goolsbee and the Council of Economic Advisers is up to:
Council of Economic Advisers - Blog
whitehouse.gov
Many thanks to Joe Biden for stepping up and putting Science, Clean Energy, and Innovation and Jobs, back on the Economic Map. Back into the National Priorities discussion hopefully, too.
If Americans don't rise to the Clean Energy challenge, we will be be destined to "follow in the footsteps" of other publicly-funded Countries. Countries not hindered by Anti-progress Science-phobes.
That would be to our great loss, over time. Loss in Jobs. Lost in opportunities.
Loss in a sustainable, habitable future.
Keep pushing that Science message, Sir. We will get exactly nowhere, without it. More of the same, is NOT the Answer.
No matter how much the Republicans are in love with Fossil Fuels.