President Carter on Energy Security: 2009 Style

It's difficult for some to remember President Jimmy Carter as a hard-charging Chief Executive, but that's exactly what he was when it came to US Energy Security. So much so that he was lauded by Retired Air Force General Chuck Wald at CNA's "Powering America's Defense" report release presser last week. One week prior Carter testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on US energy policy and had some interesting things to say. In short, they added up to this: we've been here before, we made huge progress, and then we got complacent and let it slip away.

Here's how his testimony began:

Long before my inauguration, I was vividly aware of the interrelationship between energy and foreign policy. U.S. oil prices had quadrupled in 1973 while I was governor, with our citizens subjected to severe oil shortages and long gas lines brought about by a boycott of Arab OPEC countries. Even more embarrassing to a proud and sovereign nation was the secondary boycott that I inherited in 1977 against American corporations doing business with Israel. We overcame both challenges, but these were vivid demonstrations of the vulnerability that comes with excessive dependence on foreign oil.

I repeat for emphasis: "the vulnerability that comes with excessive dependence on foreign oil." Click here to see how it ended. Strong (and highly topical) stuff.

Photo: NewScientist

Upbeat Biofuels Report Retorts Previous Gloomy Post

Last week this post cast a pall over the prospects of the biofuels industry ever playing a significant role in offsetting DOD's fossil fuel needs. This week there's better sounding news coming from the same conference, this time focusing on a better, non-food source crop called "energy cane" and highlighting the progress of a co. previously covered on this blog, LS-9.

Still, until evidence proves otherwise, you have to be skeptical about biofuels reaching the SCALE where they could be considered an energy security game changer for DOD.

Photo: North Queensland Register

Citation Series from CNA's "Powering America's Defense" Report & Conference

From former Admiral, Space Shuttle Commander and NREL Director Richard Truly this time:

We've put very inefficient systems deep into [Iraq and Afghanistan]. As a result we end up with long lines of fuel trucks driving in. And we have to protect those trucks with soldiers and with other vehicles. [This problem] is well recognized by a lot of the troops. They've seen their friends getting hurt because of poor energy choices we've made in the past.

Re: Truly, it's amazing how much some individuals are capable of accomplishing in one lifetime. Maybe we could help pay him back a little by delivering policy and technology solutions to the above stated challenge. Now.

USN Evades Pirates ... I Don't Get This

Pirates shoot at a U.S. Navy ship and instead of blowing them out of the water, the Navy ship "evades" them for over an hour. Is this "turn the other cheek" taken to a new extreme? Do you understand what's going on? If so, please tell me. Article here.

Citations from CNA's "Powering America's Defense" Report & Conference

Over the next few days I'm going to feed you a series of nutritious quotes and citations from yesterday's event. The first one is from Senator Richard Lugar, in support of CNA's work:

Energy security is national security. Oil precipitates conflict, it ties the hands of those seeking peace, and it puts the lives of our soldiers at greater risk. I strongly agree with the stark conclusion of CNA's Military Advisory Board (MAB): anyone serious about American military and diplomatic strength must be serious about energy. 

Congress, Senior DOD leadership and the President are increasingly in alignment on energy, as you'll see in subsequent posts from CNA. Stay tuned.

CNA Powering America's Defense

Had the privilege to be in DC and attend this morning's release of the CNA Military Advisory Board (MAB's) report: Powering America's Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security. From my vantage point, it was the highest powered group of folks gathered in one place on this topic since the Admiral Moorer military energy security conference I attended last December at NDU.

And in some ways this group, comprised entirely of retired generals and admirals, with the leadership of the MAB's outstanding Executive Director Sherri Goodman from CNA, had an aggregate of experience and wisdom on energy security matters beyond anything seen before outside the DSB Task Force reports on energy. In fact, one of the MAB members, Admiral Richard Truly, was co-chair of of the seminal 2001 DSB energy report. But's it's 2009, and though I'll be posting in more detail on this soon, I highly recommend you read the just-released work from this fine team.

DOD Needs a Better View of NREL

And not just DOD, but DOD at least. Here's why it's worth getting to know the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) better, according to a recent entrepreneur in residence:

First, NREL truly is “The National Renewable Energy Lab”. There is more breadth and depth of renewable energy and energy efficiency knowledge at NREL than any other institution on the planet. This alone is worth the price of admission.

Pretty impressive, and potentially quite helpful to an energy hungry DOD. So what's the hold-up? I think those familiar with government labs will have have seen this movie before:

Unfortunately, the admission price has never been posted and there have only been secret alley entrances with secured doors to gain access to the lab. The lesson here is that new interfaces need to be developed by the lab to better expose its collective knowledge and translate it to the marketplace more effectively (thus EIR and other programs).

Time to get busy. You can find the full write-up here.

Photo: DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)