CEOs Urge U.S. To Double Energy Research Funding
The pro-innovation group TechNet, whose membership includes top executives from more than 115 tech firms, believes the move away from nonrenewable sources of electricity and fuel will require timely, active support from federal and state government. The group issued an agenda that would focus national attention on expanding policies that encourage the development and adoption of sustainable technologies.
March 22, 2007
The TechNet agenda calls for doubling federal funding for basic energy research to keep pace with the rate of private investment in late-stage development and commercialization. Green Technologies: An Innovation Agenda for America recommends a stronger federal focus on basic research, as well as technology demonstration and commercialization initiatives.
In 2006, North American private venture investment in the clean technology sector reached $2.9 billion, an 80 percent increase over the previous year; federal funding for basic and applied energy R&D, however, fell 60 percent in real dollars between 1978 and 2004, according to TechNet and bipartisan advocacy group National Commission on Energy Policy.
Other recommendations from the TechNet agenda include:
- a National Institute of Energy, as a lead organization for energy research based on the structures of other federal agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Technology-neutral tax incentives based on performance-based criteria, including minimum efficiency standards, reduced emissions, or reduced dependence on petroleum;
- Federal and state adoption of technology-neutral renewable portfolio standards;
- Creation of a market-based national cap and trade system to control greenhouse gas emissions; and,
- A TechNet-led, private sector initiative to collect and distribute clean energy best practices.
Comments
I don't know if this fits what you're doing, but this is the best new energy technology waiting for development.
We have developed a new technology to generate electricity. It uses no carbon-based or radioactive fuels – nor is it one of the “Al Gore Fantasies” such as solar, wind, geothermal, or other unreliable and often very expensive alternatives being pushed by people who have no idea what they’re talking about.
Generation occurs in “plants” as with other systems. The difference is that our system is very “clean” and, in fact, has only two “waste streams”. One is oxygen, which can just be vented. The other is organic carbon -- this, of course, is the best “food” for algae-based biofuel operations so I expect many plants will either add downstream biofuel “farms” or sell the carbon to existing ones. (Much depends on the climate where the plant is located.)
The plants are very safe and would require a minimal staff to be on hand – I think that in many cases several plants could be monitored by a central “command center”. In a “worst case scenario” things would just stop – no fires, no explosions, etc. No one in the area has to jump out of bed at 3:00 a.m. and run for dear life.
The “big story” is the cost. We had a study conducted which compared fuel costs with a diesel operated plant to serve an imaginary community of 30,000-40,000 homes and compared that with costs using our system. Running at full capacity, diesel would be about $30,000.00 a day compared with our system which would be less than $1,000.00. In addition, of course, there are additives and other costs associated with burning diesel and, of course, the environmental concerns. So, unlike many of the many new technologies being promoted, this is the one which not only offers the benefits everyone wants, but also brings significant economies over current systems.
Our plan is to find a “development partner” to fund the essential steps to prove and protect the technology and then we want to license it throughout the world. If our partner is one of the large utilities then the partner would see even greater benefits from our technology.
If you’re interested in discussing this opportunity I can send you more (nonproprietary) information. Obviously, the technology has global application and it’s something everyone on Earth needs so the potential is pretty much off the scale.
D. Phillips Wells
4630 St.-Croix Lane - #824
Naples, Florida 34109
239.572.3670
DPhillipsWells@aol.com
Posted by: D. Phillips Wells | February 3, 2009 08:28 AM