Breakthrough: New Energy Education Proposal Featured in Two Newspapers

coverage by Adam Solomon Zemel, Breakthrough Generation
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Jesse Jenkins and Teryn Norris, co-directors of the Breakthrough Generation program at the Breakthrough Institute, published two op-eds this week in two newspapers on opposite sides of the country -- the Baltimore Sun and the San Francisco Chronicle. Both pieces focus on how America can lead the way in forging a global clean energy economy by investing in education.

A National Energy Education Act--modeled after the National Defense Education Act that was America's first response to the launch of Sputnik and our first step towards victory in the space race--is of vital importance to our transition to a clean energy America. To quote from the piece in the Sun, "it is imperative that we transform our nation's universities and colleges into multidisciplinary hubs of energy innovation that will churn out top-notch young professionals and real-world energy solutions. We must also ensure that our vocational and technical colleges are equipped to prepare tomorrow's work force for their critical role in building a new energy economy."

Yesterday's Opinion section of the Baltimore Sun featured the op-ed "Realizing his vision." The "his" in the title is Al Gore, and it is a serious response to the former VPs "Repower America" challenge from his speech at DAR Hall in Washington DC on July 17th.

Today's piece in the Chronicle, ("An energy plan we can believe in"), elaborates on the call for a National Energy Education Act, citing its power to garner support from both ends of the political spectrum in a way that could break through current Congressional squabbles over expanding offshore drilling and extending renewable tax credits.

Of course, as today's piece mentions, this new NEEA would be most effective alongside a broad portfolio of investments including: the research, development and deployment of clean, new, American energy sources; the modernization of current infrastructure and the building of a new electric grid for the 21st century; and retooling and recharging American auto and manufacturing industries.

As America moves towards a 2009 -- a year that will see a new president, a new Congress, and a new international agreement on climate change -- look for more new, forward-looking policy proposals from the Breakthrough Institute about what it will take to power America's future.

For more information:

See our ongoing coverage on a National Energy Education act

National Energy Education Act Brief
(PDF, 256KB, Summer 2008)

The Baltimore Sun: "Realizing His Vision"
(PDF, 482KB, July 30, 2008)

San Francisco Chronicle: "An Energy Plan We Can Believe In"
(PDF, 588KB, July 31, 2008)

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