Navy Head Calls For Increase In Renewable Energy

By AJ Swartwood

As the keynote speaker at the Navy Energy Forum 2010, Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, made it clear that a transition to renewable, cleaner forms of enegy is not an issue of “going green” as much as it is winning wars.

“We are looking at energy, almost as a war fighting function,” Roughead said.

In the wake of a series of deadly attacks on more than ten NATO oil tankers last week outside of Islamabad, Pakistan (see nyt.com), the issue of energy security and military safety has been thrust into the spotlight once again.  One of the military’s most time consuming and expensive endeavors is the safe transport of fuel. The government is now seeking to move away from costly and increasingly dangerous types of energy.

“If we can ween ourselves away from fossils fuels … that reduces risk,” said Roughead.

 The forum, subtitled “Energy as a Force Muliplier and Strategic Resource,” featured a variety of speakers from the various branches of the government and military all focused on how the the Department of Defense is going to achieve President Obama’s call for 20% of its energy to be taken from renewable resources. As China, Japan, and the European Union make strides in their renewable energy policy’s the US is looking to keep pace while reducing dependency and vulnerability.

Admiral Roughead reiterated, “Its more than simply, how green can we be seen, it really is an operational issue for us.”

Podesta Claims Gulf Coast Spill Could Be Oil's Final Nail In the Coffin

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

John Podesta, the head of the think tank Center for American Progress, said Tuesday that the disastrous oil spill off the Gulf Coast could be the catalyst to finally move the U.S. away from oil.

"It's our hope that 2010 will be remembered as the year the U.S. began to turn away from oil in a meaningful, serious way. We've been talking about it for probably 40 years now," said Podesta during a forum held by the National Italian American Foundation. "I think ... maybe 2010 will be that moment were we really do begin that long march towards cleaner sources of energy."

However, to be able to do that Podesta, who served as Chief of Staff in the Clinton administration, wants President Barack Obama and Congress to take several immediate steps toward the development of renewable energy.

"I would like to see him go faster, I would like to see the Senate move forward this summer," said Podesta.

Oil Spill Highlights Need For Renewable Energy, Says Salazar

By Linn Grubbstrom - Talk Radio News Service

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Tuesday that the oil spill in the Gulf Coast highlights the importance of weaning the U.S. off of fossil fuels and moving toward renewable energy.

"The spill itself tells us in a very clear way that the over dependence on fossil fuels is an issue which we must grapple with as a a world and as a nation," Salazar said during an event at the Capitol Hill Club to honor Ocean Week.

Salazar pointed to wind energy as one possible alternative.

"You have states somewhere along the Atlantic that believe that 30 to 45% of their energy can actually come from wind energy," said Salazar. "So we believe that that will become a reality."

According to Salazar, 20% of electricity in the U.S. should come from wind energy by 2030 to help the U.S. move away from oil.

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.

House Republicans demand vote from Pelosi at RNC

House Republicans held a press conference today calling for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to allow a vote on comprehensive energy reform. Speakers said the Republican strategy would solve America's energy crisis by developing renewable and alternative fuels, using clean coal and nuclear energy, and increasing the levels of American-produced oil and gas.

Rep. Thad McCotter (R-Mich.) attacked the "do-nothing, don't-care" Congress via phone, saying Pelosi has allowed Congress to stay on vacation while the energy crisis remains unsolved.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) outlined the Republican standpoint on energy, saying that "energy security is in effect national security." Boehner also said that revenues gained by the US government from increased oil exploration would be used to fund renewable sources of energy. He concluded his statement, asking Pelosi to "give [Congress] a chance to show the American people we can produce what they want."

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said that by 2030, America's energy needs will have increased by 30 to 40 percent. He adds that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has discussed the need to increase the US' nuclear energy supplies by 50% by that time, which the Arizona Senator believes would create 750,000 new jobs. "We cannot stay at home with [this] job undone," Upton said.