Obama on energy policy

One of 14 questions about science issues answered by the presidential candidate.

3. Energy. Many policymakers and scientists say energy security and sustainability are major problems facing the United States this century. What policies would you support to meet demand for energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?

America's challenges in providing secure, affordable energy while addressing climate change mean that we must make much more efficient use of energy and begin to rely on new energy sources that eliminate or greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. My programs focus both on a greatly expanded program of federally funded energy research and development and on policies designed to speed the adoption of innovative energy technologies and stimulate private innovation.

First, I have proposed programs that, taken together, will increase federal investment in the clean energy research, development, and deployment to $150 billion over ten years. This research will cover:

• Basic research to develop alternative fuels and chemicals;

• Equipment and designs that can greatly reduce energy use in residential and commercial buildings – both new and existing;

• New vehicle technologies capable of significantly reducing our oil consumption;

• Advanced energy storage and transmission that would greatly help the economics of new electric-generating technologies and plug-in hybrids;

• Technologies for capturing and sequestering greenhouse gases produced by coal plants; and

• A new generation of nuclear electric technologies that address cost, safety, waste disposal, and proliferation risks.

I will also work closely with utilities to introduce a digital smart grid that can optimize the overall efficiency of the nation's electric utility system, by managing demand and making effective use of renewable energy and energy storage.

Second, it is essential that we create a strong, predictable market for energy innovations with concrete goals that speed introduction of innovative products and provide a strong incentive for private R&D investment in energy technologies. These concrete goals include:

• Increasing new building efficiency by 50 percent and existing building efficiency by 25 percent over the next decade, and taking other steps that will reduce the energy intensity of our economy 50 percent by 2030;

• Increasing fuel economy standards 4 percent per year and providing loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers to build new fuel- efficient cars domestically;

• Extending the Production Tax Credit for five years and creating a federal Renewable Portfolio Standard that will require that 10 percent of American electricity be derived from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025; and

• Ensuring that regulations and incentives in all federal agencies support the national energy and environmental goals in ways that encourage innovation and ingenuity.

I will also encourage communities around the nation to design and build sustainable communities that cut energy use with walkable community designs and expanded investment in mass transit.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Solar planes can stay in the air for days

The Zephyr is a prototype solar powered unmanned aerial vehicle which recently unofficially broke the world endurance record for unmanned flight. Obviously, it's being developed for military use, but the company behind it are predicting civilian implementations. It'll be a long time before the equipment is able to carry large payloads around the world, but high flying drones could be used for pollution monitoring and other forms of information gathering.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Formula Zero- the hydrogen fuel cell racing series

Motor racing is often a testing ground for features that eventually make their way into everyday vehicles. So a zero emission karting series bodes well. The karts run on electric motors powered by fuel cells and compete to see not which is fastest but also which is most efficient. A British team placed third overall in a recent race, behind Dutch and Spanish entries.

Technorati tag: Fuel cell

Pimp my Prius

A trio of Swedish customisers have spent over $180,000 blinging up a Toyota Prius. Of course, all those mods add weight and energy requirements, so it'll certainly be a lot less efficient than a standard version.

Plus, most of what they've done just serves to make a dull car ugly.

It's about time somebody stepped up to make Prii more attractive, but this certainly isn't the way.

Technorati tag: Prius

I prefer the Lib Dem's green energy policy

I'm with Nick Clegg when he talks about how wrong-headed the government is in its championing of nuclear power.

"The thing that I think has gone wrong in this debate is that the government has spooked everyone into thinking that we need nuclear by saying there's going to be a terrible energy gap - the lights are going to go out in the middle of the next decade.

"There's actually no evidence that's the case at all. They've raised the wrong problem in order to push the wrong solution.

"The real problem is that our energy mix is not green enough and we're over dependent on oil and gas from parts of the world that aren't very reliable."

This continued support of nuclear is typical of government. No matter what they may say, they don't want to devolve too much power to their electorate. Everything has to be solved by big, centralised projects that the general population has no say over and which will ultimately come in late and fail to deliver everything they promise. The answer isn't Uranium but a wide spread of projects at the local, and even household, level that will get the public enthused and involved in problems that effect us all.

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Greenbird- wind powered record attempt

Wind cars are the future, according to the team behind Greenbird, a land yacht which is due to attempt to break the world record for a wind powered land vehicle. Greenbird uses a rigid wing rather than the traditional sail in its effort to exceed 116mph.

I can see wind vehicles as a a viable transport method for the great expanses of Australia, Africa and even the US midwest. Rigid sails and some sort of computer control would cut down on the need for tacking, but there'd still need to be a bit of room given to the vehicles, so they couldn't cope with crowded roads. Throw in some photovoltaic panelling and combined dynamos/motors in the wheels for electric drive at either end of the journey and it might work.

Technorati tag: Wind Power

Wouldn't you like a solar powered car?

Well, you can have one, for less than twelve pounds. Admittedly, it'll fit in your hand and not be much use for the commute. But you could build a little track and let it race around when the sun shines.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: EcoHouse

Tidal power gets plugged into the grid

I missed this at the time- it's a couple of weeks old- but Britain's first tidal power generator has been plugged into the national grid. The SeaGen device is in Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland and generates 150 kilowatts- which should rise to 300 kilowatts by the end of the summer. The company behind the installation intends to set up a tidal power farm off Anglesey by 2011.

Technorati tag: Tidal Power

Kite Power

Wind turbines are okay, but they're close to the ground, whee wind speeds are relatively low and there can be turbulence to cut their efficiency. If you want to make the most of wind power you really need to go up to 800 metres with a kite.

Technorati tag: Wind Power