Promote Green Energy and Achieve Energy Independence

The development of alternative energy sources and the switching of energy usage from fossil fuels should be the headline program of the federal government much like the Man on the Moon program was in the 1960s. The goal should be complete energy independence in 10 years.  Reducing pollution and greenhouse gasses should be a companion effort.

We should establish a blue ribbon panel, perhaps jointly selected by the Congress and the President, to study all alternative energy sources and conservation methods.  It must be immune from all corporate pressures.  That panel should issue an initial set of guidance within a year to be acted upon by Congress.  The panel should remain in business to follow progress and to investigate any new alternatives, breakthroughs in technology, or roadblocks encountered. It should report back to Congress on a yearly or more frequent schedule. 

The government should fund promising technology development uncovered by the panel.

Several alternatives appear to be sure bets and should be supported now.  Wind power and solar are the headliners currently.  We should continue to explore new methods of enzyme ethanol production using agricultural byproducts (such as corn stalks), garbage, plants grown on currently unproductive land, etc.   Similarly, biodiesel production should be explored.  We should cast the net fairly wide knowing that every effort will not bear fruit.  The US government should look at ways to speed up these developments.   

We have massive coal reserves.  Liquefied and gasified coal pilot plants are currently in operation.  The production of these fuels and their use is reported to be environmentally safe and involve no increase in greenhouse gases compared to current oil use.  Government support or guarantee of this development will likely be required because it can be economically undercut by oil interests when it threatens the oil market.

New nuclear processes involving more electricity production and less radioactive waste are being researched.

To produce independence in the short term, we will need to increase domestic oil production.  The BP platform disaster in the gulf has given us a rude awakening to the environmental risks involved in offshore drilling.  It must be studied and the study results applied to insure there is no repeat.  Environmental risks must be an important consideration in all energy production programs. 

We must have a concerted program for reducing energy use.  It should include a substantial increase in CAFE mileage figures.

How about a 150 to 200 mpg vehicle?  We need the OPPIH (One Person Plug In Hybrid). People drive to work alone. So build a vehicle that carries one person - less weight, less energy. We should be looking for 150 to 200 mpg.  Give the buyer the option of size of battery pack to to match his commute.
Could dispense with the gasoline ( bio diesel, ethanol) engine for the OPPIE (One Person Plug In Electric). Or make the gasoline engine a lift/slide out to be used only for longer trips - the OPPIE/H.  Probably a three wheeler (2 front) with built in safety (Indy car type technology maybe).  P.S. Sell it for $7000 or less.  More ...

For the longer term, we should develop new concepts of transportation.  We need to promote the most energy efficient forms of transportation.  I envision a system of one or two person (probably electric) vehicles tied into a high speed interurban transport (monorail using interstate medians) system. The system would own the vehicles and individuals would pay by the hours of use and mileage. No vehicle would be assigned to a specific person. A person might drive the vehicle to a public transit stop; leave it; drive away from another stop in another vehicle.