story by Peter Mattox
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu gave a speech at New Mexico State University on Aug. 31, 2009. Appearing at the Corbett Center Ballrooms, Chu addressed attendees of a two-day conference co-sponsored by NMSU and New Mexico 2nd Congressional Representative Harry Teague (D). The conference, “Re-Energize America: Policy, Practice and Possibility for America’s Future,” had been billed on Teague’s website as, “an important opportunity to talk with the people of New Mexico about the enormous possibilities of a clean energy economy.”
Chu addressed the United States’ current and future energy challenges by framing his speech around four key points:
1) The price of oil will only increase in the future
2) Humans exist in a “carbon constrained world”
3) Humans currently play an active role in driving global climate change
4) Given points 1-3, it is in the long-term best interests of the United States to pursue proactive energy policies now
Saying that “essentially, I think we need a new Industrial Revolution,” Chu made the case for mission-driven scientific research that is connected to industry while also seeking to address the fundamental energy challenges confronting the nation. Chu said his main concerns were to ensure American competitiveness, decrease dependence of foreign oil and mitigate climate change.
According to the federal government website www.recovery.gov, $3.2 billion of the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is allotted to, “Revive the renewable energy industry and provide the capital over the next three years to eventually double domestic renewable energy capacity…” On Monday, Chu pointed out that New Mexico has a significant role to play in this renewable energies future.
