Can America simultaneously achieve energy independence and address climate change?
The challenge of controlling climate change is a goal that may appear to be at odds with the equally important goal of energy security. However, the idea that the two goals are somehow mutually exclusive is not one accepted by ORNL energy researcher David Greene. “We want — and we believe it possible — to achieve environmental goals and energy security goals at the same time,” he says. To help determine which technologies have the greatest potential for reaching these goals, Greene and a multidisciplinary group of researchers conducted a study to determine 1) which energy goals are feasible, 2) the technologies needed to realize these goals, and 3) where best to deploy research and development efforts. The study results indicate that several combinations of technologies are capable of reaching the goal of oil independence in 2030. Some of these combinations could also achieve up to a 70 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2050. “The only technology that was absolutely essential to meet
