Climate Change

CAMBRIDGE (WBZ) ― President Obama's top advisers on climate, energy, and science spoke at an MIT forum on clean energy hosted by Representative Edward Markey (D-Malden) of Massachusetts. Chair of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Rep. Markey introduced the various speakers and engaged a diverse audience in several question and answer sessions.

"We are coming out of eight years of denial," said Representative Markey.

Markey was joined on stage by former Harvard Professor Dr. John Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. Holdren is a key part of Obama's team charged with changing the way we generate and use energy. "Global warming poses a very complicated problem--bigger than putting a man on the moon. Bigger than the Manhattan Project," said Dr. Holdren.

But he made it clear that the cost of inaction is too great and that our nation must forge ahead. "We have set a very ambitious goal. By 2025, we expect to generate 25 percent of our energy from renewables. We need to extensively modify the way that energy is provided to bring CO2 under control. We want to develop a 'Smart Grid' to bring energy to urban centers more efficiently. There is $40 billion in the stimulus package designated to the grid and transportation.

"We want to develop new batteries that are more useful and make utilities better partners with consumers."

Mitigation measures in the overhaul of energy delivery will depend on the pace of technology and innovation, but Dr. Holdren hopes to put the political frameworks in place to drive innovation.

When asked how he manages the "global warming skeptics," Dr. Holdren said that even if you don't believe in the science, the plans underway will address many important issues of our society. He concluded, "The cost of not fixing the current climate problem is much higher than fixing it."

Dr. Daniel Yergin, Chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates and a Pulitzer Prize winning author added that we are in a new era of energy innovation. "There is $150 billion dedicated to energy research and development in the stimulus package. There will be major innovations in alternatives and improved energy efficiency," said Dr. Yergin.

Professor Enest Moniz, head of MIT Energy Initiative, added that carbon free electricity needs to be our future--nuclear power, alternative, and carbon sequestration. "We need to make sure that gains in efficiency are harnessed by policy. If we don't have policy that links with new technology, then the gains will be lost. Building efficiency is part of that. Buildings are about 30 percent of CO2 emissions and 70 percent of our electricity goes to business and residential, so retrofits are a huge part of the game. We have a big ship to turn around--our $14 trillion economy," he concluded.

Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change gave a midday keynote address to conclude the forum. Admittedly neither a scientist nor engineer, she is charged with leading the revolution to a clean energy economy. "These are extraordinary times. Too many American families are struggling with uncertainty," she said.

Browner made it clear that there was no need to choose between a healthy environment and a healthy economy--the two can go hand in hand. "We have the opportunity to build a new energy future that will create home grown domestic jobs. Our new economy is an energy independent one and an environmentally responsible one. As President Obama has stated many times, the country that leads in renewables will lead the world," stated Browner.

It turns out that the amount of sunlight that hits the United States in one day can power our entire country for a year--but it is not harnessed. "The total investment opportunity in new energy in the next two decades is some $5 trillion. We expect that two millions jobs can be generated by solar and wind. We want these to be American opportunities, American jobs. As we grow our renewable energy industry, we must break our dependence on foreign oil. We cannot rely on energy coming from some of the most destabilized places in the world," concluded Browner.

The MIT gathering was in advance of Congressional discussions on global warming, energy, and economic policy. Just last week, Representative Markey submitted draft legislation called "The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009" that will be the main political vehicle to develop clean energy technologies and in the process, result in millions of new green jobs. Obama's stimulus/recovery package is already expected to save or generate some 80,000 jobs in the Bay State over the next two years.

Read my related blog for another perspective on the climate science that is driving this energy revolution.

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