\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAn Open Letter to the American People\r\n<\/b>
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOn National Energy Policy<\/b>
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By Scientists for a Sustainable Energy Future<\/i><\/b>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n| <\/td>\r\n | \r\n\"We are natural and social scientists\r\nwho study the connections among\r\nenergy, the environment, and society.\r\nWe write to you out of grave concern\r\nwith the turn the nation's energy\r\npolicy has taken....\"\r\n<\/b>\r\n\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n | \r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n<\/b> May 18, 2001<\/p>\r\n\r\n Dear Fellow Citizens,
<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nSince the first \"energy crisis\"\r\nalmost thirty years ago, research has\r\nproduced large advances in our understanding\r\nof energy issues.<\/b><\/p>
\r\n\r\nThe current direction of the nation's energy policy\r\nis inconsistent with much of this work.<\/p>
\r\n\r\nConventional forms of energy have\r\ngrabbed the policy spotlight in recent\r\nmonths, but this emphasis is misplaced,\r\nand, ultimately, counterproductive.\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n<\/b> We are natural and social scientists who study the connections among\r\nenergy, the environment, and society. We write to you out of grave\r\nconcern with the turn the nation's energy policy has taken. Decisions\r\ntaken today about the supply and use of energy have far reaching\r\nimplications for our economic prosperity and for the health of our\r\nenvironment. \r\n\r\n<\/p> \r\n\r\nSince the first \"energy crisis\" almost thirty years ago, a\r\nlarge body of research in the nation's universities, national\r\nlaboratories, think tanks, and private sector has produced large\r\nadvances in our understanding of energy issues. We would like to share\r\nsome of this information with you because the current direction of the\r\nnation's energy policy is inconsistent with much of this work.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Conventional forms of energy have grabbed the policy spotlight in recent\r\nmonths, but this emphasis is misplaced, and, ultimately,\r\ncounterproductive. We produce slightly less than half of the oil we\r\nconsume; by 2020 we will produce just 35 percent. Can a policy to\r\nencourage domestic oil extraction reduce dependence on imported oil and\r\nmaintain the price of gasoline and home heating oil at reasonable\r\nlevels? The simple answer is no, because the domestic oil resource base\r\nis depleted to the extent that large investments in drilling cannot\r\ngenerate a commensurate increase in oil supply. Extraction and proven\r\nreserves of oil have dropped considerably since their peaks in 1970\r\ndespite a massive drilling campaign in the late 1970s and early 1980s.\r\nBecause domestic oil sources are more costly than overseas alternatives,\r\nincentives to encourage exploration and development will hurt the\r\neconomy in the same way they did 20 years ago when the oil price shocks\r\nproduced record rates of drilling. A large diversion of capital\r\ninvestment and profits to the oil industry ensued, but oil extraction\r\ncontinued to decline, as it has to this day. There is every reason to\r\nbelieve that the same scenario will play out if political decisions are\r\nmade to promote domestic extraction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nOpening the Arctic National Wildlife\r\nRefuge to oil exploration will not improve\r\nour energy security, nor will it have any\r\nimpact on the price of gasoline.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n<\/b> Opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration will not\r\nimprove our energy security, nor will it have any impact on the price of\r\ngasoline. The economically recoverable amount of oil in the Refuge is\r\njust 152 days of supply for the nation. \r\n\r\n<\/p> \r\n\r\nMore importantly, if we started\r\ndrilling in the Refuge today, the Department of Energy projects that by\r\n2020 it could supply 1.4 million barrels per day. By then world oil\r\nproduction will be in the range of 100 million barrels per day. The\r\nRefuge would amount to about 1 percent of global oil supply, and thus\r\nhave a trivial influence on the ability of oil exporters to influence\r\nprices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nNuclear power generates\r\nhigh level radioactive wastes that remain\r\nhazardous for thousands of years and\r\nincrease the likelihood of nuclear\r\nweapons proliferation... high\r\ncosts to impose on future generations.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n<\/b> Nuclear power faces formidable obstacles. Experience of the last several\r\ndecades has shown that electricity from nuclear power plants is an\r\nexpensive form of power when all public and private costs are\r\nconsidered. Nuclear power generates high level radioactive wastes that\r\nremain hazardous for thousands of years and increase the likelihood of\r\nnuclear weapons proliferation. These are high costs to impose on future\r\ngenerations. \r\n\r\n<\/p> \r\n\r\nEven with improved reactor design, the safety of nuclear\r\nplants remains an important concern. Can these technological, economic,\r\nenvironmental, and public safety problems be overcome? This remains an\r\nopen question. Further public support to help resolve these issues\r\nshould not come at the expense of an aggressive campaign to develop\r\nenergy conservation and renewable energy sources.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nConservation must be front and center in\r\nour energy future. Unfortunately, energy\r\nconservation is painted as a return to the\r\nStone Age. But in reality, just\r\nthe opposite is the case.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n<\/b> Conservation must be front and center in our energy future.\r\nUnfortunately, energy conservation is painted as a return to the Stone\r\nAge, conjuring images of people huddling in the cold of their living\r\nrooms in front of lifeless TVs. But in reality, just the opposite is the\r\ncase. In the last twenty years some of the country's best scientists and\r\nengineers have produced great innovations in the efficient use of\r\nenergy. Cars that get 70 or more miles per gallon, appliances that use\r\nhalf the energy they did ten years ago, lighting fixtures that last for\r\nyears at a fraction of the energy cost, and new homes that heat and cool\r\nwith modest amounts of energy are proven winners in energy and economic\r\nterms. Just a 3 mile-per-gallon increase in the fuel efficiency of SUVs\r\nalone would reduce U.S. oil consumption more than the entire Arctic\r\nNational Wildlife Refuge could supply. A study by five national\r\nlaboratories concluded that a government-led efficiency program\r\nemphasizing research and incentives to adopt new technologies could\r\nreduce the growth in electricity demand by as much 47 percent. This\r\nwould drastically reduce our need to build new power plants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nThe\r\ncost of electricity from wind turbines and\r\nphotovoltaics has plummeted in the last\r\ntwo decades.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n<\/b> Many forms of renewable energy have enjoyed equally impressive advances.\r\nThe cost of electricity from wind turbines and photovoltaics has\r\nplummeted in the last two decades, making power from these systems\r\nincreasingly cost-competitive with conventional sources in some regions\r\nof the country. Compared to oil and coal, renewable energy produces\r\nsmall amounts of the pollutants that presently impair the health of\r\npeople, degrade our lakes and forests, lower crop yields, and damage\r\nbuildings, bridges, and other structures. Most notable is their near\r\nabsence of greenhouse gases, pollutants that contribute to climate\r\nchange.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nOn the subject of climate change, a lot of misinformation has obscured\r\nthe scientific research. Earth is warming much faster than in\r\nprevious centuries and human use of energy produces most of the greenhouse \r\ngases that contribute to this.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n<\/b> On the subject of climate change, a lot of misinformation has obscured\r\nthe scientific research. We want you to know these important and\r\nirrefutable facts. The overwhelming majority of scientists who study climate change have\r\nconcluded that (1) the Earth is warming much faster than it has in\r\nprevious centuries for which we can measure temperature change, and (2)\r\nhuman use of energy produces most of the greenhouse gases that\r\ncontribute to this warming.\r\n\r\n<\/p> \r\n\r\n In other words, climate change is real and\r\ndirectly related to present patterns of energy consumption. The costs of\r\nadjusting to a warmer world could be large and unpredictable, and they\r\nwould be disproportionately borne by the poorer nations. Energy use in\r\nAmerican homes, cars and factories has been a large source of greenhouse\r\ngases. We believe that this places a burden on the U.S. to lead the\r\ninternational effort to curb the release of these pollutants.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nWe are now viewed internationally as an environmental pariah.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n<\/b> Instead we\r\nhave done just the opposite, thumbing our nose at the Kyoto Protocol,\r\nthe international agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. As a\r\nresult, we are now viewed internationally as an environmental pariah.\r\nThe U.S. must face its responsibility by engaging the international\r\ncommunity on the climate change issue, and by reducing our emission of\r\ngreenhouse gases. This means more energy from natural gas, renewable\r\nhydrogen and geothermal sources, and less coal and oil. Above all it\r\ncalls for an accelerated development and adoption of energy conservation\r\nand renewable technologies. We also must lead the effort to help less\r\nfortunate nations find and fund the path of development that improves\r\ntheir quality of life with minimal de-stabilization of the Earth's\r\nclimate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nThere has been a lot of talk in Washington\r\nabout the need for renewables and\r\nconservation, but action seriously lags\r\nbehind the rhetoric.\r\n <\/b><\/p>
\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n <\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n | \r\n \r\n\r\n<\/b> There has been a lot of talk in Washington about the need for renewables\r\nand conservation, but action seriously lags behind the rhetoric. The\r\nbudget submitted to Congress last month calls for a large cut in funding\r\nfor these technologies while proposing greater incentives for\r\nconventional fuels. This would speed us in the direction opposite from\r\none that would improve our energy security, reduce pollution, help\r\nstabilize the Earth's climate, and maximize our economic flexibility. We\r\nurge you to join us in the campaign for a sensible and sustainable\r\nenergy future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n*Contact: Dr. Cutler Cleveland
\r\n675 Commonwealth Ave
\r\nBoston, MA 02215
\r\nphone: (617) 353-3083
\r\nfax: (617) 353-5986
\r\ncutler@bu.edu<\/p> \r\n\r\nOriginally publshed at \r\nTomPaine.Com and republished by permission of Dr. Celeveland<\/p>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n | \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\nSIGNATORIES<\/u><\/b>
\r\n*Member of the National Academy of Sciences
\r\nDavid Ackerly Stanford University
\r\nJulian Agyeman Tufts University
\r\nMowafak Al-Jassim The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
\r\nGerard Alleng University of Delaware
\r\nBill Anderson Boston University
\r\nMolly Anderson Tufts University
\r\nClinton J. Andrews Rutgers University
\r\nJames R. Appleby
\r\nJr. Edward Arens
\r\nKiran Asher Bates College
\r\nJelle Atema Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
\r\nGobind H. Atmaram Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nNancy A. Auer Michigan Technological University
\r\nRachel Austin Bates College
\r\nRobert Ayres INSEAD, France
\r\nIrisita Azary California State University
\r\nJohn A. Baker Clark University
\r\nCarol Barford University of Wisconsin-Madison
\r\nAlbert Bartlett University of Colorado, Boulder
\r\nRichard Bawden Michigan State University
\r\nTim Beach Georgetown University
\r\nDavid Beal Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nLinda R. Berg St. Petersburg Junior College
\r\nAlan R. Berkowitz Institute of Ecosystem Studies
\r\nJon R. Biemer Bonneville Power Administration
\r\nSteven M. Block Stanford University
\r\nR. Gordon Bloomquist Washington State University
\r\nJohn J. Boland The Johns Hopkins University
\r\nRoger E. Bolton Williams College
\r\nStephen M. Born University of Wisconsin, Madison
\r\nAbhijeet Borole University of Tennessee, Knoxville
\r\nJames K. Boyce University of Massachusetts, Amherst
\r\nAllison Breeze The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
\r\nRobin Broad American University
\r\nDaniel A. Bronstein Michigan State University
\r\nTommy L. Brown Cornell University
\r\nHalina Brown Clark University
\r\nMark T. Brown University of Florida
\r\nJohn A. Bryant Texas A&M University
\r\nLouis L. Bucciarelli Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nFrederick H. Buttel University of Wisconsin
\r\nJohn Byrne University of Delaware
\r\nDavid K. Campbell Boston University
\r\nC. Ronald Carroll University of Georgia
\r\nRichard A. Cellarius Prescott College
\r\nJames E. Christensen The Ohio State University
\r\nJeffrey E. Christian
\r\nRichard W. Clapp Boston University School of Public Health
\r\nJames Clark Duke University
\r\nCutler J. Cleveland Boston University
\r\nRobert S. Cole The Evergreen State College
\r\nDavid C. Coleman University of Georgia
\r\nKerry H. Cook Cornell University
\r\nAnthony Cortese Second Nature, Inc.
\r\nRobert Costanza University of Maryland
\r\nLarry Crowder Duke Univerisity
\r\nMartine Culty Georgetown University
\r\nJames B. Cummings Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nGretchen C. Daily Stanford University
\r\nHerman E. Daly University of Maryland
\r\nRoger Dargaville Ecoystem Dynamics and the Atmosphere
\r\nBrynhildur Davidsdottir Boston University
\r\nSujit Das Oak Ridge National Laboratory
\r\nGraham A. Davis Colorado School of Mines
\r\n*Margaret B. Davis University of Minnesota
\r\nJohn W. Day, Jr. Louisiana State Universtity
\r\nThomas Detwyler University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
\r\nRaymond De Young University of Michigan
\r\nNeelkanth G. Dhere University of Central Florida
\r\nJohn G. Douglass Washington State University
\r\nMyrna Dubroff Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nMurray Duffin
\r\n*Paul R. Ehrlich Stanford University
\r\nSalah El Serafy Energy and Environmental Consultant
\r\nRandy Ellingson Solar Energy Research Scientist
\r\nJacque (Jody) Emel Clark University
\r\nRichard W. England University of New Hampshire, Durham
\r\nDonald J. Epp Pennsyvania State University
\r\nHoward Epstein University of Virginia
\r\nPaul Epstein Harvard Medical School
\r\nRonald C. Faas Washington State University
\r\nJohn Fabel Hampshire College
\r\nTimothy J. Fahey Cornell University
\r\nStephen Farber University of Pittsburgh
\r\nBrian Farhi Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nSuzanne Ferrerre The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
\r\nKurt Finsterbusch University of Maryland
\r\nJon Foley University of Wisconsin-Madison
\r\nLouise Fortmann University of California, Berkeley
\r\nRosanne W. Fortner The Ohio State University
\r\nBeth Forys Eckerd College
\r\nDavid R. Foster Harvard University
\r\nLaurie Fowler University of Georgia
\r\nDouglas I. Foy The Conservation Law Foundation
\r\nMark Friedl Boston University
\r\nAndrew J. Friedland Dartmouth College
\r\nTod Frolking Denison University
\r\nDennis Galvan University of Florida
\r\nJacqueline Geoghegan Clark University
\r\nBrian Gibson University of Toronto
\r\nJames W. Gillett Cornell University
\r\nJohn Marin Gilroy Bucknell University
\r\nSteven L. Girshick University of Minnesota
\r\nHelen W. Gjessing University of the Virgin Islands
\r\nThomas N. Gladwin University of Michigan
\r\nPeter H. Gleick Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment & Security
\r\nJanice M. Glime Michigan Technological University
\r\nJohn Gowdy Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
\r\nJoseph Graziano Columbia University
\r\nCharles H. Greene Cornell University
\r\nGary D. Grossman University of Georgia
\r\nHugh Gusterson Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nBrent M. Haddad University of California, Santa Cruz
\r\nCharles Hall SUNY-Environmental Science and Forestry
\r\nWinnie Hallwachs University of Pennsylvania
\r\nPhilip C. Hanawalt Stanford University
\r\nBruce Hannon University of Illinois
\r\nHolly Hanson Mount Holyoke College
\r\nJonathan M. Harris Tufts University
\r\nJohn Hart Carroll College
\r\nJohn Harte University of Berkeley, California
\r\nBetsy Hartmann Hampshire College
\r\nSteven B. Hawthorne University of North Dakota
\r\nRodrick A. Hay California State University
\r\nJoe E. Heimlich The Ohio State University
\r\nRobert A. Herendeen University of Illinois
\r\nSteven M. Hoffman University of St. Paul
\r\nAndrew Hoffman Boston University
\r\nChris Hohenemser Clark University
\r\nBriavel Holcomb Rutgers University
\r\nC.S. Holling University of Florida
\r\nWilliam L. Hoover Purdue University
\r\nRobert M. Hordon Rutgers University
\r\nJames F. Hornig Dartmouth College
\r\nRichard B. Howarth Dartmouth College
\r\nRobert W. Howarth Cornell University
\r\nPeter Howie Colorado School of Mines
\r\nPhillip Hutton
\r\nH. Patricia Hynes Boston University School of Public Health
\r\nDanny Ingold Muskingum College
\r\nDavid Jaber
\r\nStan Jacobs Columbia University
\r\n*Daniel H. Janzen University of Pennsylvania
\r\nSheila Jasanoff Harvard University
\r\nJ. Scott Jiusto Clark University
\r\nPatricia Johnson Washington Department of Ecology
\r\nGary Jorgensen The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
\r\nRaymond A. Jussaume, Jr. Washington State University
\r\nPeter Kakela Michigan State University
\r\nDaniel M. Kammen University of California, Berkeley
\r\nRobert K. Kaufmann Boston University
\r\nAbram Kaplan Denison University
\r\nJay Keller Energy Scientist
\r\nCheryl Kennedy
\r\nRobert O. Keohane Duke University
\r\nGregory A. Keoleian University of Michigan
\r\nJ. Daniel Khazzoom San Jose State University
\r\nPatrick L. Kinney Columbia University
\r\nPaul H. Kirshen Tufts University
\r\nS.A. Klein University of Wisconsin-Madison
\r\nC. Gregory Knight Pennsylvania State University
\r\nBarbara A. Knuth Cornell University
\r\nMichael Kuby Arizona State University
\r\nThomas Kunz Boston University
\r\nRobert W. Lake Rutgers University
\r\nJanelle M. Larson Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus
\r\nWarren Leon Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
\r\n*Simon Levin Princeton University
\r\nStephen H. Levine Tufts University
\r\nLois Levitan Cornell University
\r\nKarin Limburg SUNY College of Environment and Forestry
\r\nClovis A. Linkous University of Central Florida
\r\nWilliam Lockeretz Tufts University
\r\nGeorge Loisos Loisos\/Ubbelohde Architecture
\r\nGary M. Lovett Institute of Ecosystem Studies
\r\nGeorge Lowenstein Carnegie Mellon University
\r\nDoug Luckerman Environmental Lawyer
\r\nA.E. Luloff Pennsylvania State University
\r\nJohn W. Lund Geothermal Resources Council
\r\nLoren Lutzenhiser The Washington State University
\r\nAllison Macfarlane Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nJean MacGregor The Evergreen State College
\r\nJanet Mann Georgetown University
\r\nJack Manno SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry
\r\nBarbara L. Martin
\r\nLeo Marx Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nEric Maskin Institute for Advanced Study
\r\nRobert J. Mason Temple University
\r\nGil Masters Stanford University
\r\nNancy Irwin Maxwell Boston University School of Public Health
\r\nDennis McCarthy University of Tennessee, Knoxville
\r\nBrent H. McCown University of Wisconsin-Madison
\r\nGary McCracken University of Tennessee
\r\nJ. Marc McGinnes University of California, Santa Barbara
\r\nJon McGowan University of Massachusetts, Amherst
\r\nJanet McIlvaine Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nMargaret McKean Duke University
\r\nDiane K. McLaughlin The Pennsylvania State University
\r\nJ.R. McNeill Georgetown University
\r\nDavid Menicucci Sandia National Laboratory
\r\nKathleen A. Miller National Center for Atmospheric Research
\r\nJames K. Mitchell Rutgers University
\r\nScott C. Mohr Boston University
\r\nBill Moore Journalist
\r\nAlan Mountjoy-Venning The Washington State University
\r\nPatricia Muir Oregon State University
\r\nKent Murray University of Michigan
\r\nBlake C. Myers University of California
\r\nAdil Najam Boston University
\r\nLisa Naughton University of Wisconsin
\r\nChris Neill Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole
\r\nRichard B. Norgaard University of California, Berkeley
\r\nSusan O'Hara
\r\nDara O'Rourke Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nRay Oglesby Cornell University
\r\nDavid Orr Oberlin College
\r\nLeonard Ortolano Staford University
\r\nDavid R. Orvos Sweet Briar College
\r\nRichard S. Ostfeld
\r\nBrandon Owens
\r\nDavid Ozonoff Boston University School of Public Health
\r\nDanny S. Parker Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nMike Pasqualetti Arizona State University
\r\nAnthony Patt Boston University
\r\nBernard C. Patten University of Georgia
\r\nRob Penney Washington State University
\r\nJohn H. Perkins The Evergreen State College
\r\nThomas Perreault Syracuse University
\r\nNoel Perrin Dartmouth College
\r\nJeanne E. Peters
\r\nJohn E. Petersen Oberlin College
\r\nAnna Peterson University of Florida
\r\nMichelle D. Peterson University of the Virgin Islands
\r\nRobert Gilmore Pontius, Jr. Clark University
\r\nTheodore M. Porter UCLA
\r\nRich Prill Washington State University
\r\nStephen A. Prosterman University of the Virgin Islands
\r\nH. Ronald Pulliam University of Georgia
\r\nCatherine A. Ramus University of California, Santa Barbara
\r\nJohn Randolph Virginia Tech
\r\nPaul Raskin Tellus Institute
\r\nKal Raustiala UCLA
\r\nGary Ray University of the Virgin Islands
\r\nA. Lynn Roberts The Johns Hopkins University
\r\nMark C. Roberts Michigan Technological University
\r\nChris Robertson
\r\nChris Robertson and Associates
\r\nJeff Romm University of California, Berkeley
\r\nEugene A. Rosa Washington State University
\r\nArmin Rosencrantz Stanford University
\r\n*Vernon Ruttan University of Minnesota
\r\nFrancisca Saavedra University of Maryland
\r\nGuido D. Salvucci Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nKrishna Sapru Thermal Hydride Products Energy Converssion Devices, Inc
\r\nJoseph Sarkis Clark University
\r\nJohn Scahill
\r\nLaura Schleyer
\r\nStephen H. Schneider Stanford University
\r\nChristopher J. Schneider Boston University
\r\nKaren C. Seto Stanford University
\r\nChandra Shah
\r\nHoward N. Shapiro Iowa State University
\r\nLaura I. Sharp Chemist
\r\nRichard Shaten University of Wisconsin-Madison
\r\nS.A. Sherif University of Florida
\r\nSherri Shields Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nRavindra P. Sinha ECSU.EDU
\r\nPeter Skinner Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
\r\nAndy Smith Boston University
\r\nChris Sneddon Dartmouth College
\r\nBarry Solomon Michigan Technological University
\r\nGeorge Somero Stanford University
\r\nJohn Spiesberger University of Pennsylvania
\r\nStan Springer Environmental Engineer
\r\nAndrew Stainback University of Florida
\r\nJohn Sterman Massachusetts Institute of Technology
\r\nAlan Strahler Boston University
\r\nMary Swanson University of Tennessee, Knoxville
\r\nRonald B. Swenson SolarQuest Institute for Renewable Energy
\r\nRichard Sylves University of Delaware
\r\nJennifer Szaro Florida Solar Energy Center
\r\nAli T-Raissi University of Central Florida
\r\nJoel A. Tarr Carnegie Mellon University
\r\nPaul Templet Louisiana State University
\r\nTom Tietenberg Colby College
\r\nEdward Tracy The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
\r\nRichard P. Turco University of California, Los Angeles
\r\nBrad Turk Mountain West Technical Associates, Inc M.
\r\nSusan Ubbelohde University of California, Berkeley
\r\nDavid Vail Bowdoin College
\r\nRichard R. Vance University of California, Los Angeles
\r\nFrancis M. Vanek Sustainable Technology and Energy Institute
\r\nOtto VanGeet The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
\r\nRobin van Tine Saint Leo Univeristy
\r\nPamela Veltkamp McMurry University
\r\nBill Vitek Clarkson University
\r\nGary C. Vliet University of Texas
\r\nAlexandra von Meier Sonoma State University
\r\nMary Emma Wagner University of Pennsylvania
\r\nAndy Walker
\r\nRobert L. Walko Rutgers University
\r\nDonald M. Waller University of Wisconsin-Madison
\r\nYoung-Doo Wang University of Delaware
\r\nPaul Wapner American University
\r\nKenneth J. Warn Union of Concerned Scientists
\r\nRobert P. Weller Boston University
\r\n*Gilbert White University of Colorado
\r\nArthur M. Winer University of California, Los Angeles
\r\n*Julian Wolpert Princeton University
\r\nJane Woodward Stanford University
\r\nChang-Yu Wu University of Florida
\r\nElvin K. Wyly Rutgers University
\r\nJensen Zhang Syracuse University
\r\n
\r\n <\/td> \r\n <\/tr><\/table>\r\n\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/tr>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n","contact":"cutler@bu.edu","link":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cees\/openletter.html","address":"675 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215","phone":"(617) 353-3083","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/html","summary":"An open letter on energy policy--the scientific and ethical reality of our planetary responsibility for the future vs. the political spin of the moment.","numcomment":2,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/2001\/05\/energyletter.htm","filesize":"31.6 kibibytes","article_url":"\/news\/2001\/05\/7047.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":11882,"heading":"Other energy alternatives not mentioned","article":"I work at the Hanford Site in Richland, Washington, where we are attempting to deal with the waste left over from many years of weapons production and fuel manufacturing for nuclear power plants. We are attempting to develop the means to vitrify (turn to glass) about 55 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste. \r\n\r\nI've been reading about other alternatives that are seldom mentioned in the literature, such things as helium-4 to hydrogen fusion, so-called cold fusion, and zero-point energy (drawing energy from the vacuum). These offer tremendous potential for the future. Why are they not included in these discussions? Is it because they offer tremendous energy resources for very little cost? In other words, is the profit potential lost? If that is the case, it seems that these inexpensive energy sources could open the door to yet other profitable technologies.","author":"Wayne Cosby","parent_id":7047,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2001-10-16 10:20:54","modified":"2001-10-16 10:52:22","fileurl":""},{"id":14329,"heading":"If the people only cared...","article":" Since my childhood, I was impressed with great ideas, efficiency, and other high-tech challenges.\r\n I always dreamed of being a scientist, researcher, inventor.. Always wanted to make great inventions that would help and change the life of the people, and use of the natural resources to better. Having my own lab was part of that dream as well.\r\n I am having couple of ideas, and there is a particular one which I am trying to develop, and it is about generating electricity in a new-old way. It is done by using magnets and magnetic-field-dampers, and I hope it will work.\r\n Once done, I shall unleash it to the world, to enjoy the ( free) energy.\r\n But there is one problem standing in that way...\r\nHumans haven't proved to use their knowledge for the good (most of them). But it is more probable that most of humans don't have the knowledge (in other words, ignorant), and as such, they don't care.\r\n The first thing we need to do is to pursue the efficient use of energy to the maximum extent possible.\r\n The government doesn't seem to be very interested, as they are making money out of excessive oil (and energy) usage.\r\n We need to inform and organize people in every way possible, in order to achieve this goal.\r\n We need to work on providing alternative products that are as efficient as possible with today's technology.\r\n And believe me, a lot is posssible!\r\nIt is a joke when we say \"the U.S. is richest nation\", but then consider things \"expensive\" when it comes to efficiency and ecology... And much poorer countries do much more in that field!\r\n WHAT A SHAME!","author":"Edin","parent_id":7047,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2002-01-25 09:21:09","modified":"2002-01-25 10:00:03","fileurl":""}]} | | | | | | | | | | | | | |