Are we spending enough on research on new energy technology? A growing number of energy experts say no! That said, the new Republican majority in the House pledges to reduce federal spending across the board, which suggests that “new” money for energy research isn’t likely in the near term. So what do we do?
Some have called for a strategic review of national energy policy, which is a good start. Such a review should measure where we are competitively with other industrialized countries for strategic investment in energy research and development. It should also take a hard look at current federal energy subsidies to determine which remain effective and which should be halted to put limited financial resources where they would do the most good.
It’s easy to simply throw your arms up and say “What can we do? The economy is weak? Where will the money come from?” The federal government and congress must do what we have all had to do at home: take a hard look at our expenses, cut the waste and spend what money we have on the things we really need. Simply ignoring the problem isn’t the answer for our long-term energy future. Too much is at stake.
