Going green for innovation

Surfing is a tradition I passed down to my sons that has allowed us to share thrilling experiences and musing conversations between sets. I would not sacrifice any of these memories or quit surfing on behalf of negligent contradictions. Instead, I keep my eye out for the latest innovation that does the best job at solving my trivial surfing dilemma.

Attempting to balance the scale to create a sustainable future for our grandchildren while preserving our environment proves a much more vexing problem. This past week marked the somber anniversary of the Gulf oil spill tragedy, which was a horrifying reminder that we must become less dependent on fossil fuels. I know how delicate these tasks can be which is why I look to innovation for answers.

With innovative technologies such as algae fuel, we have the keys to unlock sustainable clean energy right here at home. Algae-based fuel has the potential to significantly reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels but is excluded from most federal programs that support and encourage the development of advanced bio-fuels, such as cellulosic ethanol. 

Unfortunately, algae does not qualify for most of these incentives because it is not a cellulosic organism. That is why I introduced The Algae Fuel Parity Act. This legislation will grant algae-based fuel access to a greater market share of the renewable fuels standard and clarifies that algae-based fuels qualify for relevant tax incentives. The promise of algae as a clean, renewable fuel that could potentially replace a significant portion of our imported oil supply is too good an opportunity to pass up.

Nuclear power is also too good an opportunity to pass up. This might seem like the ultimate paradox given the recent nuclear crisis in Japan, but if we would allow science – not fear – to guide America’s energy policy this would not be the case. According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, there is no credible scenario for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our carbon footprint that does not include nuclear power. 

We need to be intelligent enough to go with next generation designs for nuclear power plants that are even safer than what we have today. America’s 104 nuclear plants produce more than twice the electricity as our national output of wind, hydro and solar combined.

There are pros and cons with every alternative. Solar and wind farms have a profound impact on wildlife habitats, as do the transmission lines used to bring the power they generate to our communities. Corn based ethanol is a mandated additive to gasoline whose advocates say that it is the only large scale alternative for fueling vehicles, however it also releases pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that significantly contribute to air pollution. 

As we seek the best solutions for securing a sustainable future it is important to recognize not every approach is perfect, but that innovation begets answers. Washington needs to quit finding excuses to say no to clean, cheap energy that economies can run on and begin taking every opportunity to incentivize innovation.