Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Editorial: A focus on energy
A Virginia congressman deserves praise for pushing a new Manhattan Project for energy independence.
From the RoundTable blog
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Virginia Rep. Randy Forbes has the right idea -- sort of.
The Chesapeake Republican proposes a new Manhattan Project, a concerted effort like the World War II project that made the United States the world's first nuclear power. Forbes' new project would have a different goal -- one we've repeatedly called for here: energy independence.
Forbes would accomplish this by awarding up to $24 billion in prize money to scientists who develop the technology to meet different national goals: cars that get 70 miles to the gallon, green buildings that use half the energy of today's construction, perfecting nuclear fusion as an energy source.
Such incentives, by themselves, may not represent the best strategy for a comprehensive national effort, but Forbes deserves praise for trying something different.
Instead, he's being criticized, even by fellow Republicans, because the proposal is too expensive or doesn't do enough to bring down gas prices right now.
Ironically, some making that latter criticism, such as Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Norfolk, are pushing an increase in offshore drilling -- which also does nothing to bring down gas prices right now while also doing nothing to end our reliance on petroleum.
The nation -- along with the rest of the world -- needs to end its reliance on petroleum, a resource that will only grow scarcer.
Criticism about the expense of the program is also out of line. Though Forbes doesn't have a funding source for the prize money, he makes a good point in defending it: "We're spending $1 trillion a year in energy costs. The cost that we pay in this bill will be dwarfed by how much we save on energy costs."
Instead of taking pot shots at Forbes, his critics should be laboring with him to work out the kinks in the proposal.
