By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent
It’s a stretch to say these scientists sound shrill, but the Union of Concerned Scientists aren’t pulling any punches when it comes to how they feel about energy-storage research in the United States.
The Union of Concerns Scientists are begging the U.S. government to get its act together (haha) and fund energy storage research, not only for the good of the planet but for the good of the country.
They say that only through adequate use of battery storage can the United States achieve true energy independence. They also argue in their blog post that America is falling behind in the technological race, leaving the door open to our competitors like Korea and China to fill the void – something that could threaten national security in the long-run.
This technology was developed right here in the good ole’ US of A, but unfortunately, the US is now falling behind other countries in this increasingly lucrative global market, and our outdated electric grid is growing more vulnerable to increasing threats like cyber-attacks and extreme weather. So how do we regain our leadership in this critical technology, and how can we increase the development and deployment of energy storage here at home? The answer is innovation.
How we get the innovation is clearly the main concern for the scientists. While they welcome a $10 billion increase in the budget for the Department of Energy’s Energy Storage Program at the Office of Electricity, they point out (correctly) that such a small budget ($51 million with the increase) is not enough to compete with other countries, who are taking the technology we created here and making it even more effective.
The also write:
We all want the US to be the country selling batteries instead of buying batteries in the 21st century. Increasing federal funding for energy storage research development and demonstration will pay big dividends for our economy and national security, while helping to make the US electricity grid cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable. We’re not doing enough; we’ve got to do more. Let’s hope congress seizes the opportunity in the FY19 budget.
Indeed.
More: