In this issue:
DOE ANNOUNCES NEW ARPA-E PROJECTS TO ADVANCE INNOVATIVE NATURAL GAS VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman recently announced 13 new research projects that will receive a total of $30 million to find new ways of harnessing America’s natural gas supplies for cars and trucks and expand the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. Through its Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), the Department of Energy’s (DOE) new program, entitled Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy - or "MOVE" – aims to engineer light-weight, affordable natural gas tanks for vehicles and develop natural gas compressors that can efficiently fuel a natural gas vehicle at home.
"These innovative projects will leverage the ingenuity of U.S. scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs to develop breakthrough technologies to fuel cars with natural gas," said Deputy Secretary Poneman. "These projects could transform America’s energy infrastructure and economy by utilizing domestic energy sources to power our vehicles, reducing our reliance on imported oil, and increasing American energy security."
Today’s natural gas vehicle technologies require tanks that can withstand high pressures, are often cumbersome, and are either too large or too expensive to be suitable for smaller passenger vehicles. ARPA-E’s new projects are focused on removing these barriers, which will help encourage the wider use of natural gas cars and trucks. The projects will also focus on developing natural gas compressors that make it easier for consumers to re-fuel at home.
These investments build on efforts underway through the Clean Cities program and National Clean Fleets Partnership to help large fleet operators in the country, such as large companies, cities, and states, identify opportunities to transition to natural gas vehicles. Many commercial fleet operators nationwide have already begun to transition long-haul trucks and other commercial vehicles to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
More information about this announcement is available at: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/Portals/0/Documents/FundedProjects/MOVE/MOVE%20Project%20Descriptions_7_11_12.pdf
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
PCAST’S AMP COMMITTEE OUTLINES INITIATIVES TO DRIVE INNOVATION AND ENCOURAGE COMPANIES TO INVEST IN THE US
In June 2011, the President launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort bringing together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in the emerging technologies and skills that will support the domestic advanced manufacturing sector. Last week, the AMP Steering Committee, working within the framework of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), outlined recommendations for spurring investment and positioning the U.S. for long-term leadership in advanced manufacturing.
The AMP Steering Committee report grouped its recommendations into three categories: enabling innovation, securing the talent pipeline, and improving the business climate. Key recommendations included:
- Establishing a National Advanced Manufacturing Strategy to identify and foster critical cross-cutting technologies which support the manufacturing sector broadly.
- Reiterating the need for a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation and launching a pilot institute. Earlier this year, the President announced a new $1 billion proposal to establish a network of up to 15 manufacturing innovation institutes around the country.
- Increasing investment in advanced manufacturing R&D
- Creating an $8 billion Community College to Career Fund: Co-administered by the Department of Labor and the Department of Education, this fund would help forge new partnerships between community colleges and businesses with the goal of training two million workers for jobs in high-growth and high-demand industries, including advanced manufacturing.
- Reforming the tax, regulatory, and energy policies to encourage investment in domestic manufacturing. The report specifically mentions promoting the safe, responsible development of natural gas resources. On April 13, 2012, the President issued an Executive Order to create an Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources.
The full PCAST report, "Capturing Domestic Competitive Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing", is available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast_amp_steering_committee_report_final_july_17_2012.pdf
For more detailed information on PCAST proceedings and recommendations, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pcast
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related research and development issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS FIELD HEARING ON NSF INNOVATION CORPS
On July 16th, the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee held a field hearing in Chicago, Illinois, to examine the new National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps, or "I-Corps," program.
“NSF has contributed to America’s economy and competitiveness in invaluable ways. Unfortunately, today the United States faces unsustainable budget deficits which limit the spending Congress is able to appropriate,” noted Subcommittee Chairman Mo Brooks (R-AL).
Through its I-Corps program, launched in 2011, NSF seeks to build upon the fundamental research the Agency already supports in order to encourage collaboration between academia and industry, and to train students to understand innovation and entrepreneurship. Only researchers who already receive NSF support are eligible to apply for the I-Corps program. An I-Corps team makes a decision whether or not to move forward with any particular research project, and then provides a grant to the chosen project team(s) in order to help determine the readiness to transition technology developed by previously-funded or currently-funded NSF projects. NSF made awards to 21 teams in September 2011 and an additional 25 teams in March 2012. The total anticipated funding level for I-Corps in fiscal year 2012 is $5 million. The agency has requested $19 million for FY13.
After the hearing, Chairman Brooks noted that the Subcommittee intends to look into what comes out of initial I-Corps grants and to "ensure that federally funded programs do not impede the work of the private sector and provide the best return on the taxpayer dollar."
Additional information, including the hearing charter, opening statement of the Chair and prepared statements of each of the witnesses, is available at: http://science.house.gov/hearing/subcommittee-research-and-science-education-%E2%80%93-field-hearing-innovation-corps-review-new
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD CONCERNED ABOUT U.S. INNOVATION CAPACITY
"Our nation's economic growth depends on our capacity to educate, innovate and build," says a new report released on July 16th by the National Science Board (NSB), the governing body of the National Science Foundation. But between 2008 and 2009, American businesses cut funding for research and development by nearly five percent, or $12 billion. The science board said these cuts coupled with government budget constraints at all levels are reasons for concern.
Private venture capital investment in select science and technology industries declined from $43 billion in 2000 to less than $10 billion in 2010. Private equity investments in certain S&T industries plummeted from nearly $60 billion in 2007 to less than $10 billion in 2008, but have rebounded somewhat since then, reaching about $15 billion in 2010. The decline in private-sector investment was accompanied by a shift away from investment in crucial early stage start-ups, a more risky investment.
During 2008-2009, when business investment dropped, the decline was partly, but temporarily, made up by increased federal R&D funding. But federal funding is more focused on fundamental, capacity-building research and private-sector funding on development, which is closer to the market. Historically, the federal government has been the chief funder of basic research, funding 53 percent compared to the private sector's 22 percent. This basic research, much of it performed at national labs and research universities, generates the transformative knowledge base from which the private sector can draw.
The NSB said it is also concerned about recent trends in the government's capacity to educate and train the future R&D workforce. State funding for major public research universities declined by an inflation-adjusted rate of 10 percent between 2002 and 2010, or by 20 percent on a per-student basis. Likewise, the federal government investment in academic R&D faces uncertainties due to future budget constraints.
Despite its concerns about the long-term health of the nation's innovation capacity, the Board indicated that there are reasons for optimism. Total U.S. R&D has grown nearly uninterrupted since 1953, with sizable increases from both the private sector and the federal government.
The private sector funded 62 percent and conducted 71 percent of all U.S. R&D in 2009. Notably, the private sector funded nearly 80 percent of development work, which is critical to bringing potential innovations to market.
In addition, while the annual growth of the science and engineering workforce has slowed to 1.4 percent during the last decade, it far exceeded the 0.2 percent growth in overall jobs. Unemployment is also lower among S&E degree holders and workers in S&E occupations than in other fields, and salaries tend to be higher.
The NSB report, “Research & Development, Innovation, and the Science and Engineering Workforce,” is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/nsb/publications/2012/nsb1203.pdf
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
NASA 3-D APP GIVES PUBLIC ABILITY TO EXPERIENCE ROBOTIC SPACE TRAVEL
An application created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that brings some of the agency's robotic spacecraft to life in 3-D now is available for free on the iPhone and iPad. Called Spacecraft 3D, the app uses animation to show how spacecraft can maneuver and manipulate their outside components. Presently, the new app features two NASA missions: the Curiosity rover that will touch down on Mars August 6, 2012 at 1:31 AM EDT, and the twin GRAIL spacecraft, Ebb and Flow, which are currently orbiting the moon.
Spacecraft 3D is among the first of what are known as augmented-reality apps for Apple devices. Augmented-reality provides users a view of a real-world environment where elements are improved by additional input. Spacecraft 3D uses the iPhone or iPad camera to overlay information on the device's main screen. The app instructs users to print an augmented reality target on a standard sheet of paper. When the device's camera is pointed at the target, the spacecraft chosen by the user materializes on screen.
In the near future, NASA plans to incorporate the Cassini spacecraft, which is orbiting Saturn; the Dawn spacecraft, which is deep in the heart of the asteroid belt; and the Voyagers, which are right now at the very edge of our solar system; into Spacecraft 3D.
Spacecraft 3D currently is only available for Apple formats, but should be available on other formats in the near future.
For more information on how to download the Spacecraft 3D app, please visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/spacecraft-3d/id541089908?mt=8
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
THE ARTICLES CONTAINED IN CAPITOL UPDATE ARE NOT POSITIONS OF ASME OR ANY OF ITS SUB-ENTITIES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS SUCH. THIS PUBLICATION IS DESIGNED TO INFORM ASME MEMBERS ABOUT ISSUES OF CONCERN BEING DEBATED AND DISCUSSED IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS, IN THE STATES, AND IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES.
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