America is confronting three interrelated crises: an economic crisis, a climate crisis and an energy security crisis. The country’s best response to all three is a bold, coordinated campaign of investment and incentives to accelerate green innovation. Doing so will ensure that the U.S. becomes the worldwide winner in the next great global industry: green technologies.
Let me be blunt: we have not been doing enough. We must act now, with speed and scale. On speed, scientists say the next three to five years will determine our chances to avoid catastrophic, irreversible climate change. On scale, science says we must cut global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to less than half of today’s levels.
Some people say we need an Apollo program or Manhattan Project. But those were merely multibillion-dollar efforts in single government agencies. They fail to convey the scale of the challenge, which is to reindustrialize every city, state and country.
Bet on Entrepreneurs
Green technology has incredible potential. My firm alone has invested in 45 innovative ventures that can provide a greener future. Here are three examples:
Ausra, Inc., builds advanced solar-thermal technology that produces utility-scale electricity. We found this tiny start-up in Australia and helped it move to Palo Alto, Calif. And we helped hire additional world-class engineers and managers. Ausra now has a long-term contract with Pacific Gas & Electric to supply almost 200 megawatts of power. Its costs are the cheapest of any utility-scale solar technology, and with further advances we believe it will compete with coal-fired plants. Over several years Ausra plans to build two gigawatts of capacity, generating 4,000 construction jobs, 1,000 operational jobs and clean power for more than 300,000 American homes, while avoiding 2.5 million tons of emissions annually.
The second example involves a unified, national smart grid. Silver Spring Networks in Redwood City, Calif., works with utilities to install digital networks that allow consumers and utilities to control electricity usage, reducing waste—and emissions—while saving money. In just two years Silver Spring has networked more than 300,000 customers and signed contracts to network 10 million homes. The potential savings are 100 million tons of CO2 and $16 billion. California’s experience suggests that a nationwide smart grid could create 500,000 construction jobs and 280,000 permanent jobs.
The third example is an advanced battery venture still in “stealth mode.” The company’s breakthrough creates stable, durable lithium-ion batteries with greater storage capacity. The result will be electric vehicles that can travel up to three times as far—more than 100 miles—before recharging. Again, we found this team outside the U.S., but we persuaded them to build manufacturing plants that will create thousands of jobs in the Midwest. The company will ship batteries at the end of this year. This technology could revitalize our automotive industry and preserve and create many jobs.
Notice the trend. Two of these ventures came from outside the U.S. Of today’s top 30 solar, wind and advanced battery companies, American firms hold only six spots. That should worry us. In the race to save the planet, we are not winning.
But one lesson I’ve learned is to never underestimate the power of entrepreneurs. They do more than anyone thinks is possible with less than anyone thinks possible. Entrepreneurs are creating advanced solar-photovoltaic cells that could beat today’s electricity costs without subsidies. They are designing wind turbines that generate electricity more cheaply than a new coal-fired power plant. They are converting millions of tons of municipal waste into clean electricity and fertilizer. And they are making next-generation biofuels from renewable, cellulosic sources rather than competing for foodstuffs or importing overseas oil.
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4 Comments
Add CommentIt is good to see intelligent people, with intelligent ideas, coming forward and overpowering all the negative ideas about clean nondestructive energy and clean healthy living. I am trying to create an all green news journal called "The Voice Of America" that uses absolutely no paper, not even for paying wages, or dirty expensive machines that pollutes our environment, and would create over four thousand college graduate jobs but cannot find investors with enough foresight. This electronic journal will create jobs in every state and county of America and provide a news page for every community. I need venture capitalists with foresight and courage to take that first step and know the great potential in return of their capital. I do not know if SciAm will permit this but if you are a venture capitalist with great foresight, you can contact me at DavisJms7@dslextreme.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood article! See also Hot flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman for a book on the topic. http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Flat-Crowded-Revolution-America/dp/0374166854/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238081974&sr=8-1
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI like what you are doing, but as an Australian I feel deflated. I have invested a large portion of my retirement funds into renewable energy, financially not a good decision, but I don't care for money. I live a simple life minimising my impact on my environment.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe have had great innovations here, but I have seen them depart for foreign shores year after year, not all to the US and Europe our largest wind power turbine manufacturing company went to China.
This is a result of the power of the coal and steel lobbies in Auz. We waste billions on carbon sequestration, an impossible dream, but will not fund alternative energy sources.
It's clear that politics is the major problem and that politicians are the fire-eating dragons guarding the damsel of technological progress who is cowering in a citadel made of coal, oil and other dwindling resources.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey've got the green also (money from the corporations, that is.)
Take inspiration from the difficult lives of Robert Fulton and even Galileo and Giordano Bruno who cried from the flames: E pur si muove!
(And nevertheless it - the earth - moves!)