With the failure of cap and trade in Washington and in international negotiations, it is time for a new strategy: clean energy pragmatism. Clean Energy Group (CEG), a national nonprofit organization, released a report today, "Innovation to Infrastructure: Clean Energy without Cap and Trade" that proposes several new strategies in this new situation.
Clean energy pragmatism demands a new set of policies without cap and trade, without major new federal legislation, and without significantly more federal money. These are likely to be the limiting conditions in future energy policy debates.
If so, the real challenge is whether it is possible to make forward progress -- to create "chunks" of energy policy, as President Obama has proposed -- in this new environment. Can different clean energy policies answer President Obama's demand the day after the mid-term election that, without cap and trade, he wants "other means to address this problem ...ways we can make progress in the short term and invest in technologies in the long term"?
Immediate progress can be made if we look beyond Washington for the answers. What is needed is a practical and bottom-up clean energy policy consisting of short- term measures to increase new technology investment in the long term -- essentially what the President has called for, and a strategy that may well have bipartisan appeal.
It would target critical bottlenecks and opportunities in this new energy landscape, paid for with reprogrammed federal funds and supported by creative use of executive authority. It would not rely on major legislation, significantly more money, or new grand policy theories. Instead, it would rest on several new energy strategies in five areas to promote emerging clean energy technologies -- whether offshore wind, marine, advanced solar, storage, or carbon capture and storage for coal or gas -- the opportunities where the most work is needed to create environmental
and economic benefits for the long term.
New Energy Strategy #1:
Open and Distributed Technology Innovation -- Copy Corporate Success
Even without any new research funding, the Department of Energy (DOE) and other clean energy technology programs such as those in the Department of Defense should use new innovation strategies from the corporate sector to move clean energy from lab to market. Open and distributed innovation strategies would create energy breakthroughs outside the traditional research and development structures. DOE and other agencies should reprogram at least $100 million from existing funds to institute several experimental, corporate-style innovation programs to accelerate technology commercialization breakthroughs. This would represent only 2% of the $5 billion DOE Office of Science budget.
New Energy Strategy #2:
Clean Energy Federalism -- States Lead, Washington Follows
The federal government should recognize that states are the key to a future clean energy transition. To that end, the federal government should invest additional existing funds to support a stronger technological and financing partnership with the states to deploy clean energy throughout the nation -- a new "clean energy federalism." This funding, approximately $650 million, could come from multiple agencies, with intersecting mandates to support clean energy across the states to promote jobs and security. These include the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, U.S. Small Business Administration, Department of Commerce, Environ-mental Protection Agency, and the DOE. Based on the states' track record, a $650 million federal investment could leverage more than $2 billion in additional private and public investment. In addition to funding, DOE should lead an effort to ensure regulatory coordination between states and federal agencies so that new clean energy technologies are permitted and sited more rapidly.
New Energy Strategy #3:
Create Commercialization Finance Tools -- Bring Emerging Clean Energy Technologies to Market
In order to create commercial products from technologies that have proven success in the lab and at pilot scale, the federal government should undertake two initiatives to overcome the major obstacles to private financing of new, pre-commercial technologies. It should reprogram $50 million to support a negotiated collaboration with the insurance industry to explore and develop "efficacy insurance" products that will reduce the technology risks of new clean energy technologies. It should also invest $50 million more to help state regulators develop programs for utilities to direct $1 billion of their ratepayer annual investments in power procurement for emerging clean energy technologies.
New Energy Strategy #4:
Energy as Infrastructure -- Federal and State Procurement Strategies for Clean Energy
The DOE should lead a coalition of federal and state agencies to commit to procure at least $1 billion in power from emerging technologies such as offshore wind and marine power, technologies that now receive significant research funds. In parallel, these federal agencies should commit $50 million to create a novel procurement partnership with the states to treat clean energy investment and procurement as "infrastructure" in the same way that they now jointly fund roads and bridges.
New Energy Strategy #5:
International Climate Technology and Finance Strategy that Builds on Success from Both North and South
On a global scale, the U.S. State Department and the DOE should reprogram $100 million in existing funding commitments to support greater cooperation in technology innovation and more coordination of public clean energy investors, and to better link these activities with the private sector. This would support technology and finance initiatives among developed and developing countries. It would also recognize that innovation in the South and emerging economies is likely to be a growing source of new low-carbon products, and that the U.S. needs to finds its niche in that future economic activity.
These reprogrammed funds -- in total, about a billion dollars with another billion dollars of existing procurement dollars -- will not solve all energy problems. Other programs and funds surely will be needed to serve other energy needs. But as a start toward a more practical energy policy, $1 billion of existing funds represents less than 3% of the DOE's proposed $29 billion budget for 2011.
These approaches aim to do more with less -- and to do it differently. They don't require the creation of new agencies or institutions. Rather, they target specific barriers to clean energy breakthroughs and commercialization problems that have plagued the field for years. If they are not solved, new expenditures might make little difference. These are the "must do" strategies to scale up clean energy activities to the next level of commercial success.
These energy ideas do not look like the conventional policy wisdom in Washington: cap and trade, a renewable mandate, a carbon tax, or billions in new funding -- all good ideas that are highly worthy policy goals, but so far have not attracted enough support to become law. Instead they come from experiments outside of Washington, from states, companies, and other regions or sectors of the world -- entities at the edge, the outer spaces, where unexpected ideas typically emerge. They are based on either proven successes or emerging approaches in technology innovation and finance. They represent a decentralized, experimental collection of new innovation strategies.
This "innovation to infrastructure" initiative should appeal to both those who question climate change science and those who support it. For those who think climate action is a serious problem, they need a new approach without cap and trade. For those who don't think climate change is a problem, these programs promise the economic and security benefits of a strong, diversified, domestic clean energy industry. For both groups, new strategies could serve their seemingly conflicting, but possibly congruent, beliefs. In clean energy, we have tried top-down, big, and conventional. It's now time for bottom-up, small, and innovative.
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But, what I do hope that articles like this have the good effect of reminding everyone just how complicated going from oil to alternative technologies (something which must be done, and soon, if we are to survive as a culture or as an economy) is really going to be.
Alas, too often people just mumble something about solar power and green energy...as if that were easy, and will probably take many years to achieve.
mjt at http://explosive-cargo.blogspot.com/2010/11/3.html
I did not say a Saharan power plant couldn't or shouldn't be built. I said it couldn't be done quickly or easily.
Nor am I saying that solar power is impossible. You'll note that in the piece I acknowledge that some very intelligent people are working on the problems I mention and believe that they can be overcome.
BUT, here is the reality. A solar plant large enough to power Europe or the world does not exist today. It would have be constructed. Some significant engineering problems would have to be overcome. This is going to take time, cost money, and require organization and effort. Any large scale engineering project does.
But, as my piece makes clear in its conclusion, the problem is that no one in power is standing up and saying honestly that we can beat the energy crisis but that it isn't going to happen by waving a magic wand. We need to make serious investments, and make them now, or we are going to suffer serious consequences.
Thus, I repeat my initial conclusion, for our leadership (or anyone) to pretend that this is something that can be done without effort, overnight, is wholly and utterly wrong. Indeed, it is dangerous, because it lulls us into the false belief that we can delay taking real action.
Once this has been accomplished, the profit motive will take care of the expansion of clean energy.
While this is being done, eliminate the invesrment tax credit for alternative energy and replace it with an energy efficiency tax credit of 30 percent. Couple the energy efficiency tax credit to a national energy efficiency lending program to all property owners including local, state and federal governments. The loans will all be repaid with the energy savings created by the energy efficiency upgrades. Once a property has been fully upgraded, then it would become eligible for a alternative energy investment tax credit.
The only items allowed under the energy efficiency upgrade will be energy efficient windows, insulation, caulking, appliances, LED lighting and geothermal heating and cooling. If we are not willing to reduce our wasteful consumption energy first, then not one thin dime should be spent on alternative energy at the property level.
People need to stop complicating solutions.
We need clean, affordable electric energy. Wind and solar are still 2-3 times as much as coal. If you want to create a strong incentive simply offer PRIZE MONEY for a SOLUTION. Plus, instead of giving developers money for planting turbines, give ANY clean energy a $.02-$.05 per kWh tax credit. Both of these simple ideas will reward results, not simply spend money on "hope."
I have been following a deal in SF called 2020b - it is a vision for America that includes solving three big problems: construction costs, new schools and clean affordable energy. It looks like exactly what America needs to restart our economy.
You are, by any estimation, promoting deceit and outright lies regarding the the true nature of this lethal technology. In essence, your are the epitome of nuclear greenwashing. As indicated by the links below, you are neither qualified or being responsible to pass such a clean judgement on this technology. When challenged by the facts you either ignore them or inappropriately minimize them to an extent that has zero biological or environmental basis in fact.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/132852/the_french_nuclear_industry_is_bad_enough_in_france%3B_let's_not_expand_it_to_the_u.s./?page=1
http://www.alternet.org/environment/132852/the_french_nuclear_industry_is_bad_enough_in_france%3B_let's_not_expand_it_to_the_u.s./?page=1
http://antinuclear.net/2010/09/06/the-billions-cost-of-cleaning-up-after-the-uranium-industry/
http://www.ratical.com/radiation/CNR/PP/chp2.html
http://www.energy.gov/energysources/index.htm
http://www.sustaindevelop.com/nuclear-energy-efficiency/
http://www.nucleartourist.com/basics/why.htm
http://www.phyast.pitt.edu/~blc/book/index.html
http://web.mit.edu/nuclearpower/pdf/nuclearpower-update2009.pdf
If you can find one, please post it here. The fact is it has to be a top down initiative. That is the only way it can work.
"Open and distributed innovation strategies would create energy breakthroughs outside the traditional research and development structures. DOE and other agencies should reprogram at least $100 million from existing funds to institute several experimental, corporate-style innovation programs to accelerate technology commercialization breakthroughs." What on earth are "corporate-style innovation programs" and how will they "accelerate technology commercialization breakthroughs?" I am a patented inventor and a CEO and I can understand what you are saying. I am actually not sure you are saying much except tripping over syllables to beat out some inner music. Are corporations now using such similar styles to innovatation and commercialization that there is a firm model of success? I would hope the many battery, hydrogen, geothermal, solar and wind related companies would call you up and get the dope so that their products would sail like all the other corporate-style innovation programs that have been so successful.
After being around new energy technology we can all baffle the public, and sometimes each other, with jargon. I am just not sure what you are selling. Not sure if there is any there there. Please articulate comprehensible plans. The world needs and deserves such. Nonprofit-speak wonk-speak doesn't sell.
A little known threat of long-term, power outages provides a so far hardly recognized opportunity for inexpensive green energy to supersede fossil fuels.
The sun has begun a new 11 year sunspot cycle. Emissions have twice this year missed Earth. With more than 500 expected, one could reasonably be expected to hit our geomagnetic field.
NASA suggests the eastern half of the nation might lose electric power for weeks!
See: www.aesopiÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂnÂsÂÂÂtÂÂÂiÂÂÂÂÂÂÂtÂÂÂÂÂuÂÂÂÂÂtÂÂÂÂÂÂeÂ.ÂÂoÂÂÂÂÂÂÂÂrÂÂÂÂg for a few articles and an outline of how we can turn this threat, which will continue for the next decade, into a practical program of decentralized power.
A bold program to accelerate development, possibly on a 24/7 basis, can generate cost-competitive green energy based on breakthrough technologies now being born.
That can trigger a far more rapid economic recovery and millions of jobs.
Future cars and trucks can become power plants when parked, selling power generated by energy conversion systems that supersede oil. These vehicles may very well pay for themselves as investments.
They can also cost-effectively undercut the need for new power plants.
A program of incentives should favor distributed generation close to the point of use.
Similar incentives might help utilities accelerate programs that could minimize damage. A warning system has been developed. So far few are involved.
Consider this alternative perspective. It has the potential to accomplish what has so far failed to find sufficient support.