Transcript Should the U.S. government financially support research into energy?

Should the U.S. government financially
support research into energy?
Kaitlyn Sitch
Jenna Frei
Jake Chielli
Aaron Coyne
9 December 2016
Eliminating CO2 Emission During Production
Stanford Research Institute (SRI) International
An independent research lab that receives money from the government and other companies to
perform research
Currently they are improving the process for developing fuel
SRI’s Process produces fuel cleaner and cheaper than conventional fuel
The company says that the new process addresses aspects which have prevented the
commercialization of its product in the past
Blends natural gas with typical CTL process
Eliminates carbon footprint
Eliminating CO2 Emission During Production
Could produce fuel with its zero carbon process for $2.82/gallon
The proposed plant would cost around $3.2 billion
100,000 barrels of fuel per day
Skeptics say..
Electrical heating needed for the process might not be attainable on a larger scale
Temperatures between 1400 and 1500 degrees celsius are needed
The process is feasible but one flaw remains
The zero-carbon process would hypothetically still produce a fuel that will release carbon
dioxide into the atmosphere when burned
The EERE
EERE stands for the Office of Environmental Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Provided with government funding
Attempting to eliminate negative environmental impacts
With funding, the EERE is able to find better, cheaper ways to produce energy
Like moving away from carbon-based options (fracking)
Test renewable powers (water, wind, solar, geothermal)
Hope one or even more can be an onset to new energy sources
The EERE
Without funding, full research would not be able to happen
Effect on reducing America’s environmental impacts
Goal for 2020
To double renewable electricity production from wind, solar and geothermal power
Overall goal
Make America a globally clean environment
Funding All Sources of Energy
Throughout the years, almost all sources of energy received funding
1916-drilling for oil
1930’s- dams and hydroelectric power
1950’s-nuclear power
Recent years-alternative and renewable energy
Source: Graylee
National Science Foundation
Promotes progress of science, health, prosperity, and welfare.
Funding received from the government.
Research on clean energy, robotics, nanotechnology and cybersecurity
STEM program encourages students in underrepresented groups to participate
350,000 people were impacted directly
223 Nobel Prize winners were supported by NSF
Source: "National Science
Foundation Fact Sheet."
National Science Board
Determines which issues are critical for the NSF to pursue
Comprised of 25 experts appointed by the President
Chosen based on distinguished service
Source: "About the National
Science Board."
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Awards given to universities to give approximately 10 students research
experience
Experience is mainly based on objectives set by NSB
Gives opportunities to students who would not normally continue to graduate
school
Places more experts into energy field
Why the government should not fund energy
research
Distribute money into other programs
Uncertainty of success
Introduce new technology to market
Innovation
Go to Market
Expansion
Works Cited
"About the National Science Board." National Science Board. National Science Foundation, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
<https://www.nsf.gov/nsb/about/index.jsp>.
Graylee, Kai. "Beyond the Debate: The Role of Government in Renewable Energy Finance." Science in the News. Harvard
University, 15 Dec. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2016. <http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2012/energy-finance/>.
"National Science Foundation Fact Sheet." National Science Foundation. National Science Foundation, 3 Nov. 2016. Web. 06
Dec. 2016. <https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=100595>.
Fairley, Peter. "Cleaner, Cheaper Liquid Fuel from Coal." MIT Technology Review. MIT, 6 Jan. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.
<https://www.technologyreview.com/s/426551/cleaner-cheaper-liquid-fuel-from-coal/>.
Nelson, Jim. "US Government Should Trust the Free Market for Green Energy Investment." Pardon Our Interruption. N.p., 29 May
2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2012/05/us-government-should-trust-the-free-market-for-green-energyinvestment.html