Schwarzenegger: time to change the energy debate

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -proponents of green technology need a better way to make their case, said Arnold Schwarzenegger, who, in a speech today, doubtless raised his profile as a main supporter.

Former California Governor and film star gave a keynote at ARPA-E Summit here, alternating one-liners funny and serious discussion on the importance of clean energy technologies for the future prosperity of the country.

(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET)

California offers a model for technology companies that can help revitalize the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping the country reduce oil imports, he said. Schwarzenegger signed a law that mandates of global warming reductions in greenhouse gases and the State has a mandate of renewable energies, which resulted in nearly 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources.

But he complained the national debate and the political discourse on clean energy, saying too much of it is stuck in the debate on the science of global warming.

Instead, people should focus on immediate benefits from investing in green technologies, including the improvement of health, save money for consumers from efficiency, economic growth and reduced dependence on foreign oil. He said health, there are about 100,000 premature deaths a year, which may be linked to the use of oil.

"Think about what it means in the Central Valley of California, one in six children must walk with an inhaler. I know that we can change the debate and win the debate, "he said. "We cannot talk about global warming because people who can't relate to."

In California, found that policymakers had to fight efforts to repeal the environmental legislation forces the "status quo" in energy. Elections in the autumn, there was a question of ballot, Schwarzenegger said it was funded by the Ohio coal and oil companies of Texas, to scale back environmental legislation.

He said that the recent instability of the Middle East States sent gyrating oil prices, showing the geopolitical impact of our energy policies. "Why do leftovers small country (e.g. Libya) led by a dictator play havoc with the economic security of America?" he said.

Economically, California has been promoting a green economy with job growth in green technologies than other areas. A company, Solazyme, is the creation of algae fuel that reduce greenhouse gases significantly. It is tested by the Navy, not some wacky environmentalists, "she said.

Instead of crafting "far-sighted policies" in the area of energy, politicians are debating the science of global warming. "There is a disconnect between what is happening and what is being debated," he said.

Chu asks comeback in U.S. energy technology

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -Energy Secretary Steven Chu is drawing on the history of the United States in research and development to advocate for policies that encourage innovation in clean energy technology for the future.

Chu gave the speech at ARPA-E Summit here today once again saying that the United States is in a race with China, the European Union and other countries to create energy products due to growing demand.

He started showing a graph of the rise and fall of oil prices over time, saying that people can not say precisely where oil prices to be in a few years time. Rose recently passed $ 100 per barrel, and the United States spends about $ 1 billion per day, import of oil.

"What do we do? Do hope for the best and plan for a $ 40 a barrel? "he said. "I suggest taking a longer-term, more measured approach to the problem".

Secretary Chu to ARPA-E Summit 2011.(Credit: Martin LaMonica/CNET)

Beyond the question of the volatile price of fossil fuels, Chu argued that there is great peak energy demand clean accessible around the world. "Our strategy should not be hoping for the best ...Let's plan to which the world is going to be, "he said.

Has listed a number of areas where China is taking the lead in cleaner technologies. It has, for example, where only 7 percent of the energy it loses more than 1,200 miles of transmission lines of high-voltage direct current. The comparable U.S. loss on the grid would be 80 percent, he said.

Meanwhile, China, France and Japan have also invested in high-speed railway infrastructure. In finance, the United States lags behind other countries on project financing and public market clean energy financing, even if it leads in the investment firm. China surpassed the United States and other countries in the production of, high-tech, roboticized as well, he said.

The strategy at the Department of energy for the promotion of clean energy is to reduce costs lower than that of fossil fuels, Chu said. "We believe in some cases that can be competitive with fossil fuels. If it is 10 years from now or 50 years from now is the question, "he said. "If we get cost-competitive with fossil fuels, clean energy is a very different world."

Has promoted a series of research programmes, touching many areas, such as building efficiency, efficient, air conditioning and biofuels. Batteries, said the Argonne National Laboratory has made an advance of lithium ion batteries to improve safety, life and energy density of batteries. The technology has been licensed by General Motors and should be used in the second generation of Chevy Volt.

Lithium ion batteries were invented in the United States, supported by Energy Department research, but the products were marketed in Japan. Now in Japan and Korea dominate the industry of lithium-ion battery. But, as shown in the example of battery Argonne, technologies can be devised and marketed in the United States quickly, Chu said.

"Just because we lost the lead does not mean that we cannot go back," he said. "We still have a chance to lead the world in clean energy and capture the jobs of the 21st century, but time is running out. Is a race and the train is leaving the station. "

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