Throw some D’s on that R

The Obama administration has set aside $150 billion over the next ten years for energy innovation.  This is, supposedly, to cover R&D (research and development), but also the next two D's that complete the cycle: demonstration and deployment.

As it turns out, however, R&D&D&D gets a little crowded.  Basic research, development and demonstration on energy technologies will have to compete with the third D, deployment.

There are two schools of thought on the subject.  One insists that the pledge has always appropriately included deployment. The other warns that while deployment of today's technologies is vital, if money for deployment is included in the $150 billion pie, that dangerously  reduces the amount of money for laboratories pursuing vital advances on photovoltaics or energy storage and for big tests of technologies that must be demonstrated at large scale — like capturing carbon dioxide from power plants.

Obama wishes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990's levels by 2050.  To do this, says Dr. Burton Richter, the Nobel Laureate in Physics, more money, or an entirely different budget, should be set aside for these three D's.

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Brian Swann
VCU Brandcenter / Creative Brand Management / 804-690-7048
www.brandcenter.vcu.edu / swannbr@gmail.com