November 2008

Just heard Dr. Dan Kammen for the first time today, and I can see why he’s mentioned as a potential addition to the Obama energy team.  For those who haven’t heard him speak, Kammen is a “Professor in the Energy and Resources Group; professor of Public Policy, Goldman School of Public Policy; professor of Nuclear Engineering; director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory” at UC Berkeley.  Somehow he manages to stay busy.

After giving a brief overview of the carbon situation (basically a modified 7 Wedges slideshow), and making the interesting argument that price signals will not drive this change in the next 20 years, Kammen focused his overview of some key near-term policy and finance approaches that will set us on the path to 80% reduction by 2050.  Specifically: network innovations a la Enphase inverters, Energy Efficiency Finance Districts in almost 20 cities around the country, and the growing number of US/Canada regional cap and trade systems including California AB32, RGGI, and the Midwest Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord.

I was most excited by Kammen’s reminder to us all that energy efficiency, for four reasons, is a vital short-term investment: 1) It is one of the most underfunded areas for R&D (compared to the flashy wind, solar, and biofuels sectors); 2) it is one of the best areas for immediate job creation, especially in urban areas; 3) it is one of the areas where the barriers to entry are lowest, since it doesn’t require national infrastructure outlays; 4) it is perhaps most open to all sorts of entrepreneurs (esp. IT and Silicon Valley innovators) jumping in, as exemplified by Enphase.

Now we’re listening to a panel that is throwing some luke-warm water on Kammen’s presentation.  I can’t help but think that they are forgetting that there is an army of Gen Y and Millenials who are going to vote on these issues, consume based on corporate performance on these issues, and push for job creation in these areas.  Demographics are on the side of the cleantech economy.

“To those who would tear this world down, we will defeat you.  To those who seek peace and security, we will support you.”

This was my favorite part of the speech.  It is a subtle, but significant, change from the rhetoric of convervative America.  It also shows that Obama has been thinking about soft power in planning his first couple of years.

The BBC offers this compilation of footage from around the world on election night.  Worth watching, especially as it grows more serious towards the end.

The BBC compilation of quotes is worth reading, too.  One of Obama’s key challenges will be his approach to global Islam.  The spokesperson of the Muslim Council of Britain is guardedly optimistic:

“Obama is seen as a person who will hopefully be more inclined to take into consideration the views of other people. We hope Obama will work with other countries.”

My take on the situation: Trust that Obama can’t be too overt about healing these particular wounds with Islam, given the continued strength of the ‘reptilian right’ here in the US.  He will ‘politely step away from’ the Bush coalition method over the next 18 months, but expect oblique, and forceful, soft power moves first: flashy steps towards global cooperation on the environment and the economy.

Just a quick link to the Radio Open Source overview of PK’s ideas (for those of us suckers who can’t find the time to read his book cover to cover!) plus some good discussion in the comments section.  Here’s the link.