Why Fusion Is No Joke
Daniel Clery / The Huffington Post
There is a joke that scientists studying fusion hear with monotonous regularity: “I know about fusion — it’s the energy of the future, and always will be.” But you can forgive people for believing that it is true.
Obama picks green advocate as Navy energy chief
Zack Colman / The Hill
Obama on Tuesday nominated Vice Adm. Dennis V. McGinn (Ret.) as the Navy’s assistant secretary for energy, installations and environment. McGinn comes over from the American Council on Renewable Energy, where he was president and chief executive.
Climate Change Could Make Hurricanes Stronger—and More Frequent
Bryan Walsh / Time
Existing research suggests that hurricanes could become stronger but less frequent thanks to climate change. But a new study says both could happen.
Canadian train disaster sharpens debate on oil transportation
Steven Mufson / The Washington Post
The railroad put the small lakeside town of Lac-Mégantic on the map. And over the weekend, the railroad wiped part of the town off the map.
Some Experts See North Korean Nuclear Arms as Here to Stay
Rachel Oswald / Yahoo News
A number of independent U.S. analysts are saying the Obama administration appears to be reluctantly accepting that the North Korean military might never be fully denuclearized.
India Risks Spain’s Solar Slump With Move to Cut Tariff
Natalie Obiko Pearson / Bloomberg
India’s biggest solar power-producing state is seeking to cut the subsidized rate it pays to plants by 28 percent, joining governments from Spain to Greece backtracking on clean-energy support to lower costs.
Water Warming to Boost Hydro, Nuclear-Power Costs: Study
Jonathan Tirone / Bloomberg
Waterways warmed by climate change will increase electricity prices by as much as a third in southern Europe as producers struggle to cool power stations, a study showed.
Why floating nuclear power plants might actually be a good idea
Keith Wagstaff / Yahoo News
Russia wants nuclear power-generating ships by 2016. It’s not as crazy as it sounds. At first, the idea of floating nuclear plants seems kind of dangerous, especially after an earthquake and tsunami knocked out the coastal Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan in 2011.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
Breakthrough Technologies for Our Long-term Energy Challenges
William Joyce
Basic and early research is critical for developing the breakthrough technologies of the future, and this research is essential for solving our long-term energy challenges and government involvement through funding and research will allow forward-thinking scientists to overcome our current obstacles.
Helping Homeowners Finance Clean Energy
Ben Secrist
While costs remain too high for most homeowners on their own, the federal and local governments can continue to promote clean energy upgrade loans and work with private banks to raise the necessary capital for more widespread clean energy projects.
View From the Top: The world IS changing, and it’s changing FAST
BGen Stephen A. Cheney USMC (Ret.)
The world IS changing, and it’s changing FAST. We need to enhance our national security by moving away from old Cold War thinking – to understand, adapt, and counter the threats we face today.
Lac-Mégantic Disaster Shines Light On North American Oil Transport
Rory Johnston
We need to begin having a serious public conversation about the way we transport oil across the continent—we must ensure that if this oil must be transported, it is done so in the safest manner possible.
Climate Change Poses a Challenge for Nuclear Power Plants
Evan Meltzer
In a recent Bloomberg story, climate change may increase electricity prices by a third in southern Europe as power plants struggle to cool down their facilities.
The American Revolution: Energy History since 1776
Warren Dym
For July 4th weekend the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published a chart showing trends in energy consumption in the U.S. since 1776, the nation’s founding. It provides a useful perspective on America’s stunning industrialization and current trends, as it negotiates a new energy revolution.
ASP In The News
Watch Live Stream of Wednesday’s American Competitiveness Panel
The American Security Project and Harvard Business School Club of Washington D.C. will be collaborating for a panel entitled, “Restoring American Competitiveness: A National Security Crisis” this Wednesday at 1:00 pm. The event will be available for live streaming.
Matthew Wallin Publishes Op-Ed on Current State of U.S. Public Diplomacy in Medium
ASP’s Matthew Wallin published an op-ed on July 3 in Medium exploring the current state of America’s public diplomacy.
Upcoming Events
Restoring American Competitiveness: A National Security Crisis
Recent reports by the American Security Project and the Harvard Business School reveal that American competitiveness is slipping, posing a severe threat to our country’s national security. Join our panel of experts as they discuss these challenges and potential solutions to restore America to a position of global leadership in the 21st century.
The panel will take place Wednesday July 10th from 1:00-2:00 pm in Cannon House Office Building, Independence Ave and New Jersey Ave, SE, Room 122.
If you would like to attend, please email events@americansecurityproject.org by July 8 to RSVP.
The Case For American Competitiveness: A Reception
ASP and the HBS Club of DC are proud to co-sponsor a reception for HBS professor Dr. Jan Rivkin, as well as prominent military leaders. This reception culminates the American Competitiveness Day to inform a bipartisan discourse on Capitol Hill.
The reception will take place on Wednesday, July 10th from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Alliance Bernstein Board Room, 800 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 1001.
Cost is $35 for members and $60 for non-members
Tickets can be purchased here.
