Bush: "America is Addicted to Oil"Proposes Alternative Energy Initiatives

DOE is going to be busy
with alternative energy

President Bush in his State of the Union speech said that America was "addicted to oil" and presented some initiatives that should interest those who advocate for expanded use of clean and renewable energy. 

Specifically President Bush said

Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.

The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources — and we are on the threshold of incredible advances. So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative — a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We will also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years. Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment ... move beyond a petroleum-based economy ... and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.

Let's break down the relevant pieces:

• Advanced Energy Initiative — a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

        Twenty-two percent (22%) is such a small increase.  A doubling or more would have been an impressive way to jump start innovation in these areas.

• Increase in research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen.

         This is rather vague and I'd like to see the blueprint for how this research will be increased and how much the funding will increase. 

• Fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass.  Make this type of ethanol competitive within six years.

         This can't make the farmers who want to sell corn for ethanol too happy, but it's a step in the right direction of getting more ethanol in our gas tanks.  Will agribusiness and their lobby allow this to go through?         

• Goal: Replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

        Twenty years?   Shouldn't we be doing more sooner?  Trying to halve the imports in ten or less years perhaps? 

        While I was happy to see President Bush propose these initiatives, much work remains to be done with Congress, the Energy Department and other agencies.  What about raising CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and other conservation initiatives to wean us off of oil?  What about a solar panel on every federal building in this country and wind farms on government property?  How much of an impact would these moves make?  Perhaps the President and Congress are still too cozy with big oil to be bold with these initiatives.  This correspondent will seek more information about the initiatives and continue to advocate for expansion of use and utilization alternative and renewable energy.

DOE is going to be busy
with alternative energy

President Bush in his State of the Union speech said that America was "addicted to oil" and presented some initiatives that should interest those who advocate for expanded use of clean and renewable energy. 

Specifically President Bush said

Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. Here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world.

The best way to break this addiction is through technology. Since 2001, we have spent nearly 10 billion dollars to develop cleaner, cheaper, more reliable alternative energy sources — and we are on the threshold of incredible advances. So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative — a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We will also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years. Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment ... move beyond a petroleum-based economy ... and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.

Let's break down the relevant pieces:

• Advanced Energy Initiative — a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants; revolutionary solar and wind technologies; and clean, safe nuclear energy.

        Twenty-two percent (22%) is such a small increase.  A doubling or more would have been an impressive way to jump start innovation in these areas.

• Increase in research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen.

         This is rather vague and I'd like to see the blueprint for how this research will be increased and how much the funding will increase. 

• Fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn but from wood chips, stalks, or switch grass.  Make this type of ethanol competitive within six years.

         This can't make the farmers who want to sell corn for ethanol too happy, but it's a step in the right direction of getting more ethanol in our gas tanks.  Will agribusiness and their lobby allow this to go through?         

• Goal: Replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025.

        Twenty years?   Shouldn't we be doing more sooner?  Trying to halve the imports in ten or less years perhaps? 

        While I was happy to see President Bush propose these initiatives, much work remains to be done with Congress, the Energy Department and other agencies.  What about raising CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and other conservation initiatives to wean us off of oil?  What about a solar panel on every federal building in this country and wind farms on government property?  How much of an impact would these moves make?  Perhaps the President and Congress are still too cozy with big oil to be bold with these initiatives.  This correspondent will seek more information about the initiatives and continue to advocate for expansion of use and utilization alternative and renewable energy.