In this issue:
ASME, IEEE, NSF, AND DISCOVER CONVENE CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON 'BIOFUELS'
ASME recently partnered with IEEE-USA, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Discover magazine, to convene a congressional briefing entitled, “The Road to the New Energy Economy: Natural Gas and Turbine Technology.” This is the fourth in a series of briefings planned for 2011 that highlighted various energy technologies. For more information about the briefing series, please see the March 23, 2011 Edition of Capitol Update.
Discover magazine Editor-and-chief Corey Powell provided opening remarks and moderated the event. Powell then introduced former ASME Federal Fellow Connie Lausten, now a principal for cLausten LLC. Lausten spoke about the wide variety of technologies currently available by researchers and industry to create liquid fuels, as well as the chemical breakdowns for the current policy barriers to implementation of an effective biofuels policy. Lausten concluded by identifying the existing incentives for biofuels production, as well as identified some key issues facing Congress as they seek to identify emerging technologies.
Complimenting Lausten’s presentation was Dr. Donald Weeks, Maxcy Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Weeks focused his remarks on the virtues of algae oil, and the resource’s potential to permanently displace traditional energy technologies. Dr. Weeks ended by highlighting some of the findings from his research into algae oil.
This event was videotaped and will soon be available to view online at: http://discovermagazine.com/interactive/new-energy-economy/natural-gas/main.html#/home
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PARTNERSHIP
On June 24th, President Obama launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort bringing together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in the emerging technologies that will create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance the nation’s global competitiveness. The President’s plan, which leverages existing programs and proposals, will invest more than $500 million to jumpstart this effort.
Investments will be made in the following key areas: building domestic manufacturing capabilities in critical national security industries; reducing the time needed to make advanced materials used in manufacturing products; establishing U.S. leadership in next-generation robotics; increasing the energy efficiency of manufacturing processes; and developing new technologies that will dramatically reduce the time required to design, build, and test manufactured goods. Leading universities and companies will compliment these federal efforts helping to invent, deploy and scale these cutting-edge technologies.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) along with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will take the lead on the National Robotics Initiative under AMP. The purpose of the initiative is to encourage innovative collaborative research that combines computer and systems science with mechanical, electrical and materials engineering to tackle the challenging problems in producing robots that work beside or cooperatively with people.
For additional information on the role that NSF will play in AMP, please visit: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=119911&org=NSF&from=news
Additional information on NASA’s anticipated contribution to AMP can be found at: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/jun/HQ_11_203_Robots.html
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will also support AMP in the areas of robotics, nanomanufacturing, advanced materials design and the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (ANTECH). To learn more, refer to: http://www.nist.gov/director/adv-manufacturing-062411.cfm
The Department of Energy (DOE) will receive up to $120 million under AMP over three years to develop transformational manufacturing technologies and innovative materials that could enable industrial facilities to dramatically increase their energy efficiency. DOE expects to fund 35 to50 cost-shared projects under the initiative. Applications are due by August 25, 2011. Additional information and application requirements may be found at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/#ab715a26-d038-4642-815d-9742570b7e9e
The AMP is being developed based on the recommendation of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), which released a report last week calling for a partnership between government, industry, and academia to identify the most pressing challenges and transformative opportunities to improve the technologies, processes and products across multiple manufacturing industries. For more information about this report, please refer to the related article below.
For additional information about AMP, please visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/24/president-obama-launches-advanced-manufacturing-partnership
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related manufacturing issues for ASME. He can be reached at
fakesp@asme.org
PCAST ISSUES "ENSURING LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCED MANUFACTURING" REPORT
In conjunction with the Administration’s launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) (see related article above), the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has released a report entitled “Ensuring Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing,” which provides an overarching strategy as well as specific recommendations for revitalizing the nation’s leadership in advanced manufacturing.
Advanced manufacturing involves the manufacture of conventional or novel products through processes that depend on the coordination of information, automation, computation, software, sensing, and networking, and/or make use of cutting edge materials and emerging scientific capabilities. The new report concludes that by investing strategically in this fast-moving field, the United States can regain its now-challenged status as a global leader in manufacturing. Such a strategy, the report posits, would yield high-paying jobs, support domestic innovation, and bolster national security.
While the report identifies specific industries which are likely to play a significant role in the future of advanced manufacturing in the United States, it is careful to note the report’s recommendations are focused on long-term competitiveness issues, rather than short-term industrial policies to support specific industries.
The report cites three compelling reasons why the United States should strive to revitalize its leadership in manufacturing, and in particular advanced manufacturing. The PCAST concludes:
- Jobs: Manufacturing that is based on new technologies, including high-precision tools and advanced materials, can provide high-quality, good-paying jobs for American workers.
- Innovation: It is not enough to invent in America and manufacture abroad. By keeping manufacturing local, a number of synergies ensue through which the design, engineering, scale-up, and production processes feed- back on the conception and innovation sectors to generate new ideas and novel second- and third-generation products.
- Security: Domestic manufacturing capabilities using advanced technologies and techniques are vital to maintaining national security.
In addition to the AMP, the PCAST report calls for:
- Changes in tax and business policies, including a permanent extension of the R&D tax credit;
- Continued strong support for basic research in addition to the new emphasis on public-private partnerships to support pre-competitive applied research;
- Enhanced support for training and educational activities to create a more highly skilled workforce; and,
- An expansion of key manufacturing-related agency programs at the Departments of Commerce (NIST), Defense (DARPA), and Energy (EERE and ARPA-E) from $500 million to $1 billion over four years.
The complete 56-page report is available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/pcast-advanced-manufacturing-june2011.pdf
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related manufacturing issues for ASME. He can be reached at
fakesp@asme.org
EPA DELAYS RELEASE OF NEW AIR POLLUTION RULES FOR POWER PLANTS
EPA announced on June 29th that it would be delaying release of its final plan to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from coal-fired power plants until after the July 4th holiday. Despite the delay in the release of the new rules, the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety went ahead with its June 30th hearing entitled, "Oversight: Review of EPA Regulations Replacing the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR)."
Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) chaired this hearing, and used his time to discuss the advantages for all Americans enjoyed by the scope of existing clean air laws and their role in protecting human health. Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) also praised clean air laws but voiced some concern about the industry costs to comply with stricter regulations, which he felt could hurt future economic growth.
Introduced in 2005 during the Bush Administration, CAIR creates a cap-and-trade program for emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) among 28 eastern states and the District of Columbia. The goal for CAIR is 90 percent reductions in both air pollutants. CAIR was eventually struck down by the Federal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in July 2008. The court also ordered the EPA to prepare a new rule for hazardous air pollutants to supplant CAIR. Some discrepancy exists regarding the total cost of compliance for utilities; the EPA pegged this figure at $2.8 billion when they introduced the rule last year, while industry has estimated this figure to be much higher.
The first panel for the hearing consisted solely of Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who used his time in front of the Subcommittee to defend his home state’s actions against the implementation of the EPA’s new regulations intended to address carbon dioxide pollution.
The next panel featured EPA Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy, who fielded a number of questions related to the EPA’s data, as well as attempted to assure members of the Subcommittee that these new standards will not represent a burdensome cost to utilities.
Other witnesses for the hearing included: Collin P. O'Mara, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for the State of Delaware; and, Dr. Bryan W. Shaw, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
EPA had previously committed to releasing the final rule, known as the Clean Air Transport Rule, by June 30th. The new rule will replace the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) issued during the George W. Bush administration and later struck down by a federal court.
Prepared statements of each of the witnesses may be read at: http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_id=be234e83-802a-23ad-4cec-c5f20c20161c
An archived webcast of the hearing is available at: http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Choose&Hearing_id=be234e83-802a-23ad-4cec-c5f20c20161c
For more information on CAIR please click here http://www.epa.gov/cair/index.html
Robert Rains handles public policy-related environmental issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
NRC REPORT ON SUCCESSFUL K-12 STEM PROGRAMS RELEASED
State, national, and local policymakers should elevate science education in grades K-12 to the same level of importance as reading and mathematics, according to a new report from the National Research Council (NRC). The report, “Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics,” recommends ways that leaders at all levels can improve K-12 education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). “Successful K-12 STEM Education” responds to a request from Representative Frank Wolf (R-Va.) for NSF, which sponsored the study, to identify highly successful K-12 schools and programs in STEM fields.
To accomplish their charge, a committee of eight investigated “three type of criteria for identifying successful STEM schools: criteria related to STEM outcomes; criteria related to STEM-focused schools; and criteria related to STEM instruction and school-level practices,” which lead them to identify the following key elements to which policymakers could target improvements:
- A coherent set of standards and curriculum;
- Teachers with high capacity to teach in their discipline;
- A supportive system of assessment and accountability;
- Adequate instructional time;
- Equal access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities; and,
- School conditions and cultures that support learning.
The report suggests that one way to elevate science to the same level of importance as mathematics and reading is to assess science subjects as frequently as is done for reading and math, using an assessment system that supports learning and understanding. However, such a system is not yet available for science subjects, the report notes. States and national organizations need to develop assessments that are aligned with the next generation of science standards, which will be based on a framework to be released soon by NRC, and that emphasize science practices rather than mere factual recall.
The 48-page report is available for review at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13158
Melissa Carl handles public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at
carlm@asme.org
UPDATED NATIONAL CARBON SEQUESTRATION DATABASE NOW AVAILABLE
A wealth of information about worldwide carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and projects is available on the newly launched, updated and redesigned National Carbon Sequestration Database and Geographic Information System (NATCARB) website.
NATCARB is an interactive virtual encyclopedia of key CCS information, including locations and information on field projects, a map of all publically announced worldwide CCS projects and their status, and the complete latest edition of NETL’s assessment of carbon storage resource potential in the United States and portions of Canada.
The updated site integrates new features and was specifically designed to make it easily accessible for public viewing and use. Among the highlights are the following:
- Location and links to CCS projects undertaken by the Energy Department’s seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs);
- An interactive version of data contained in the “2010 Carbon Sequestration of the United States and Canada – Third Edition;”
- The locations of small- and large-scale CCS field projects with links for more information, including the 10 site characterization projects funded by DOE as part of the Recovery Act; and,
- A user-friendly world map with pinpoints for all publically announced CCS projects and their status.
The information contained in NATCARB is current as of March 31, 2011, and will be updated quarterly as changes occur.
The NATCARB web site is available at: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/natcarb/index.html
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be reached at
rainsr@asme.org
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