US Energy Department Unveils Four-Year Strategy For Alternative Energy

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The U.S. Department of Energy unveiled last week a four-year plan that would advance the goal of energy security by building upon as many alternative sources as possible, further reducing dependence on imported petroleum.

Autoblog Green reports the 27-page plan illustrates the proposed aims of the DOE to double the amount of energy produced by renewables, improve battery technology, usher in advances in biofuels and hydrogen fuel cells, and push further electrification of vehicles.

In addition, the DOE also has strategies ready for testing the nation’s nuclear deterrent for safety, security and overall effectiveness, as well as boosting the tools needed to bring improvements on the nation’s security infrastructure.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

More by Cameron Aubernon

Comments
Join the conversation
27 of 267 comments
  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Apr 15, 2014

    The best way to reduce US dependence on Arab oil is to stop buying it. My wish would be for this policy change to happen overnight. Lots of creative solutions would appear following that. But it won't go this way, because we are drawn to the cheapest energy like bees to honey, and nobody likes the taste of medicine.

  • Xeranar Xeranar on Apr 15, 2014

    The list of climate deniers and Big Trucks threatening agenda 21 is hilarious to read. The sad irony is that these people can vote and often do just to spite the rest of us who like a progressive and intellectual society. This is exactly why we hire experts who have professional understandings of this and then watch as armchair scientists try to undercut them with complete BS from the think tanks of wealthy industrialists who just happen to make money by continuing to pollute this way. As an aside: Anybody who calls somebody a 'greenweenie' has a severe issue with masculinity and a desperate desire to reconnect with their lost identity. I'm fairly sure I'm young enough and fit enough to knock the lights out of HDC but he wants to equate me and my identity as an environmentalist with an emasculating worldview because his own psyche can't handle a reality where masculinity isn't a required element to social acceptance or scientific accuracy.

    • See 19 previous
    • U mad scientist U mad scientist on Apr 16, 2014

      @highdesertcat > http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/03/31/the-ipccs-latest-report-deliberately-excludes-and-misrepresents-important-climate-science/ Thanks for this great example of literary humor: "The NIPCC is awesome! Written by:" "Joseph L. Bast is president of The Heartland Institute, publisher of the Climate Change Reconsidered series for NIPCC" Funny enough, Bast's extensive experience in the janitorial arts while never graduating college (after 10 or so years, not kidding) is the perfect background for a think tank to present science to american conservatism. > u mad scientist pretends to have an important job that doesn’t impinge on the time available to him to drive intelligent discussion from this forum? I'm just temporarily stuck at home due to an unfortunate sports injury, but don't worry it's getting better. Relegated to answering emails while reading through philosophy is some first-world problems.

  • Shaker Shaker on Apr 16, 2014

    Geezus - I hope our youngsters are smarter than we are - because they'll have to deal with the mess we're leaving them.

    • See 1 previous
    • Shaker Shaker on Apr 16, 2014

      @YellowDuck If it's the kind of home schooling that says "God will take care of us", then no. If it's the kind where parents encourage the kids to "Take care of your home (Earth)", then there's hope.

  • Onthercks07 Onthercks07 on Apr 17, 2014

    ugh...this got ugly real fast. My biggest problem with critics like Bigtrucks is that they somehow turn something as important as clean air, energy independence, and clean water into controversies like abortion and creationism. I don't really care a lot about global warming per se.... but you know what? I DO care about: 1. Clean air so I can enjoy jogging and my local park. So my kids can run around without a mask or developing asthma or other developmental defects. So you can watch the sunset outside instead of on your TV. 2. Clean energy so I don't have to worry about my water. Or that my food is polluted. Or that my kids will not have to enjoy increasing rates of cancer. 3. Clean water. So you know, I can drink when I want. So my loved ones can drink when they want. So my future generations don't have to fight wars to ensure a future water supply. 4. Sensible consumption. Buying huge trucks with lifted tires doesn't just emphasize your small penis size. It also clogs streets, creates inordinate amounts of pollution, and is incredibly inefficient. Unfortunately, it is still cheaper to buy a full size truck than it is to buy a fuel efficient hybrid with useful space. Such consumption without the benefit of foresight will continue to make us dependent on foreign countries filled with people who hate us for energy. And no, fracking ourselves to oblivion or melting some of the most toxic sands known to mankind in Canada is NOT going to grant us energy independence, despite the words of some crazy natural-gas millionaire's deluded commercials. Consuming without thinking of efficiency is just dumb. Almost as dumb as thinking that we can cure mental illness to stop gun violence (d'oh!) None of these are controversial issues. Why wouldn't you want clean air or water? Yet these things are impossible without the same basic steps that yes, hopefully, will have a beneficial impact on global warming. What further amazes me is that people like bigtruck have always hated progress, despite the fact that they directly benefit from it themselves. MPG laws and clean air acts have made truck engines much more cleaner, efficient, and heck, more powerful than they have EVER been. The days of building as many homes as we can, with as many trucks as we can, with the biggest tires we can fit...are coming to an end. As the U.S. lurches to a future filled with uncertainty over basic such as food prices, energy prices, and even clean water....everyone is going to have to do their part to contribute. Even those who refuse to acknowledge what is coming.

Next