Energy secretary calls for diversity in energy approach

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

While testifying before the Senate Committee on the Budget, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that the solution to America’s energy woes must combine many different approaches, based both on renewable and fossil fuels. Chu said that all of the following should be part of the solution of ensuring sustainable energy independence:

• Improved CAFE Standards
• Conservation
• Plug-In Hybrid Cars
• Reducing dependence on Foreign Oil
• Biofuels
• Nuclear technology
• Offshore drilling
• Expanding natural gas
• Clean coal technology
• Hydropower
• Wind energy
• Post-Combustion technologies
• Solar Technology (both photovoltaic and thermal)
• Improving the energy efficiency of buildings

Chu highlighted the importance of coal by saying that the US has the highest coal reserves in the world. He continued that China and India also have high coal reserves, and they won’t turn their backs on that potential technology, so America shouldn’t either. Regarding solar technology, Chu said that presently solar thermal technology is better than photovoltaic technology, but that if photovoltaic technology was more deployed, the costs would begin to come down and the technology in general would improve. Chu continued that natural gas, hydropower, and nuclear technology are all rather clean, and should all be part of America’s approach. Post-combustion technologies are those that pull carbon out of the atmosphere once it has been released, and Chu said that there is a “reasonable chance of success” in those capturing methods, which he noted is a place where he and Al Gore differ in opinion.

President Obama’s FY2010 Budget allots $26.3 billion to the Department of Energy for clean energy. The other main priorities of the administration include doubling the federal government’s investment in basic science, increased focus on climate science, and expanding graduate fellowships in sciences.

Udall: Green is the new red, white, and blue

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

At the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the future directions of energy research and development, Ranking Member Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.) said that, “If we are going to be the leader in energy technology, investment in Research and Development (R&D) is a must, and the two are certainly not mutually exclusive.”

The legislative proposal considered today will not only reauthorizes the research and development components of the energy policy act of 2005 but it doubles the authorization funding from 2009 to 2013.

Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu emphasized the importance of the U.S. becoming less carbon intensive and less dependent on foreign oil. “In the near term, President Obama and this Congress have already taken key steps to passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” which Chu says will help put people to work at making homes more energy efficient. “Getting this money into the economy quickly, carefully, and transparently is the top priority for me.” said Chu.

Chu also stated that funding needs to be increased in the sciences because, “we need to do more transformational research at the DOE to bring a range of clean energy technologies to the point where the private sector can pick them up.” He stated that this will help to make abundant, affordable, low-carbon bio-fuels a reality.

Senator Mark Udall (D- Colo.) remarked that there is a need for a long term R&D investment, and it is clear that National Labs will start playing an important role in regard regard to energy efficiency. He went on to state that, “There is a saying that has been making the rounds for the last years, which is green is the new red, white and blue, in other words, one of the most patriotic things we can do is to develop this new energy economy, and maybe we will see you sitting on a poster; “Sam needs you”.”

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said that clean coal and nuclear power are far more important than maybe some people appreciate. He stated that, “Now we are going to have spent nuclear fuel sitting around in pools all over America and also tell the nuclear power industry, we have no way of either reprocessing or storing spent nuclear fuel around America, and we expect nuclear power to be an integral part of this nations energy future.” McCain went on to question the need for funding research when the Europeans and Japanese are already doing it in a safe and efficient fashion.

Markey : “This Country has sent so much red, white and blue CO2 into the atmosphere”

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman (D-CA), Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) met with British Secretary of State Ed Milliband MP and Danish Minister for Environment, Connie Hedegaard today to discuss how to tackle environmental issues globally.

The meeting was the start of the new administrations environmental talks leading up to the “Climate Conference in Copenhagen” in December 2009.

In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming runs out. New targets will be set at the Copenhagen Conference.

Talking about America’s role, in the need for saving the environment, Chairman Waxman said: “The United States has to catch up and become a leader.”

Congressman Markey commented on the need to tackle the levels of CO2 emissions created from the United States. He said: “this country has sent so much red, white and blue, CO2 into the atmosphere....we need to fix this.”

Finding the dialogues throughout the day productive, Danish Minister Hedegaard stated: “We cannot tackle the global challenges like climate change without the United States...we have set ourselves an ambitious timeline and we must live up to it...a lot is at stake and it is important for the whole world to come together.”

Adding to these comments British Secretary of State Ed Milliband said: “Obama has shown in the economic stimulus and in his vision around the country that environmental issues are important...that despite the challenges we face, we can get an agreement globally.”

Chairman Waxman concluded with the statement that he hoped to pass legislation in December that will tackle energy independence, climate change and global warming.

Russia dominates Central Asia through oil policies

Dr. Stephen Blank, Professor at the U.S. Army War College, speaks about Russia's domination of Central Asia's oil markets through the use of pipelines.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Oil a political tool for Russia

On Monday the American Foreign Policy Council held a conference on the United States’ foreign policy towards Russia. Steven Pifer of the Brookings Institute said that Russia is engaging in a policy which is meant to keep the West out of the former soviet states, while reasserting its own power and expanding its sphere of influence.

Oil is the principle tool Russia has for accomplishing these goals, according to US Army War College Professor Stephen Blank. Blank called oil a “Swiss army knife” for advancing Russia’s interests, and said that Russia’s protected and subsidized energy market has risen to power because of pipeline control. He continued by saying that Russia’s move to own pipelines and distribution centers is a plan to dominate Europe through “forced dependence” on Russian gas and oil. Dr. Blank recommended that the U.S. and the E.U. reduce their respective dependence on Russian oil, and that the E.U. strive for internal political unity.

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service