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Only BHO has the ability to make something old appear new again:

President Barack Obama is pushing Congress to authorize more federally funded research into clean energy technologies that can wean automobiles off oil.

Obama proposed the idea of an energy security trust last month in his State of the Union address, but he was putting a price tag on the idea during a trip Friday to the Argonne National Laboratory outside Chicago – $2 billion over 10 years. The White House says the research would be paid for with revenue from federal oil and gas leases on offshore drilling and would not add to the deficit.

The money would fund research on “breakthrough” technologies such as batteries for electric cars and biofuels made from switch grass or other materials. Researchers also would look to improve use of natural gas as a fuel for cars and trucks.

I’d love to see an accounting of how much support the Feds have given to alternatives and renewables (even if just for transport) over the last 30 years. It would dwarf the $2 billion proposed. Here’s an idea, read this book and take a hint. It’s a far superior way to deliver much needed technology and still have the boys in DC take credit for it.

 

2 Responses to “Aren’t We Already Doing This?”

  1. Harry says:

    How much more research do you need on this stuff? Do they think it likely that travelers like Rizzo’s brother will be ever drive a Tesla to Montana bars? He seems to have solved the fuel cost problem with his vintage BMW, but I bet he buys gas treatment to counteract ethanol damage.

    Those Montana bars would go out of business if they depended on bikers as their customers. They need the pickup set to fill out the stools.

  2. Trey says:

    I loved the Longitude book. I think you’re suggesting a prize for better battery technology, just as Harrison won the prize for a device (clock) to determine longitude.

    But don’t we already have an incentive mechanism in place? It’s called the free enterprise system and the profit motive. Seriously, how much could a person make if they were to improve battery life by just 25%. Think of all the batteries in laptops, iPads, APC units, not to mention the feel-good item of today’s well-to-do, electric cars. The person who can do this can make billions. And someone who can provide double the energy capacity or overall recharge lifetime could make 100s of billions.

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