I have a dream of a world where we have clean air clean water and all the energy
clean air clean water and all the energy
clean air clean water and all the energy we need my house and electronics are
we need my house and electronics are
we need my house and electronics are powered by wind and solar and I Drive my
powered by wind and solar and I Drive my
powered by wind and solar and I Drive my hydrogen card work but as a scientist I
hydrogen card work but as a scientist I
hydrogen card work but as a scientist I have a confession to make about
have a confession to make about
have a confession to make about renewable energy we’re not there yet the
renewable energy we’re not there yet the
renewable energy we’re not there yet the painful truth is even if we had the
painful truth is even if we had the
painful truth is even if we had the money to replace all of our coal and gas
money to replace all of our coal and gas
money to replace all of our coal and gas plants tomorrow we wouldn’t be able to
plants tomorrow we wouldn’t be able to
plants tomorrow we wouldn’t be able to make it work and to explain why I want
make it work and to explain why I want
make it work and to explain why I want to tell you about a friend of mine steve
to tell you about a friend of mine steve
to tell you about a friend of mine steve is a meteorologist and he comes to work
is a meteorologist and he comes to work
is a meteorologist and he comes to work every day at 430am within two hours he
every day at 430am within two hours he
every day at 430am within two hours he needs to have accurate weather
needs to have accurate weather
needs to have accurate weather predictions for every service area with
predictions for every service area with
predictions for every service area with these predictions he can predict how
these predictions he can predict how
these predictions he can predict how much energy we will use and how much
much energy we will use and how much
much energy we will use and how much wind and solar power we will produce for
wind and solar power we will produce for
wind and solar power we will produce for every hour in the day but for the way
every hour in the day but for the way
every hour in the day but for the way that the grid is set up now if he is
that the grid is set up now if he is
that the grid is set up now if he is wrong even by a little bit it can cost
wrong even by a little bit it can cost
wrong even by a little bit it can cost the utility hard money as they scramble
the utility hard money as they scramble
the utility hard money as they scramble to ramp up their gas plants to
to ramp up their gas plants to
to ramp up their gas plants to compensate unless we get smart about how
compensate unless we get smart about how
compensate unless we get smart about how we deploy renewables in the future this
we deploy renewables in the future this
we deploy renewables in the future this problem will only get worse we need a
problem will only get worse we need a
problem will only get worse we need a way to store renewable energy so that we
way to store renewable energy so that we
way to store renewable energy so that we can use it anytime we need a way to
can use it anytime we need a way to
can use it anytime we need a way to transport this new kind of power so that
transport this new kind of power so that
transport this new kind of power so that we can use it anywhere and we need a way
we can use it anywhere and we need a way
we can use it anywhere and we need a way to convert it into fuel so that we can
to convert it into fuel so that we can
to convert it into fuel so that we can power our planes trains and automobiles
power our planes trains and automobiles
power our planes trains and automobiles what we really need is an energy
what we really need is an energy
what we really need is an energy revolution Thomas Edison was successful
revolution Thomas Edison was successful
revolution Thomas Edison was successful at just such a revolution can you
at just such a revolution can you
at just such a revolution can you imagine him walking into downtown vegas
imagine him walking into downtown vegas
imagine him walking into downtown vegas or Times Square the world we have today
or Times Square the world we have today
or Times Square the world we have today would be unrecognizable to him hey Tommy
would be unrecognizable to him hey Tommy
would be unrecognizable to him hey Tommy you know that light bulb you invented
you know that light bulb you invented
you know that light bulb you invented yeah there are now billions of those
yeah there are now billions of those
yeah there are now billions of those around the world but what we often don’t
around the world but what we often don’t
around the world but what we often don’t think about is just how difficult that
think about is just how difficult that
think about is just how difficult that was because before the light bulb there
was because before the light bulb there
was because before the light bulb there was no reason for you to have
was no reason for you to have
was no reason for you to have electricity in your house so in order
electricity in your house so in order
electricity in your house so in order for him to sell his light bulb he also
for him to sell his light bulb he also
for him to sell his light bulb he also needed to create the infrastructure to
needed to create the infrastructure to
needed to create the infrastructure to get power to those lights but he wasn’t
get power to those lights but he wasn’t
get power to those lights but he wasn’t all that successful on
all that successful on
all that successful on zone for his first demonstration project
zone for his first demonstration project
zone for his first demonstration project he led up his lead investors mansion
he led up his lead investors mansion
he led up his lead investors mansion with 385 lights to become the first
with 385 lights to become the first
with 385 lights to become the first electrically lit home in New York what a
electrically lit home in New York what a
electrically lit home in New York what a spectacle that must have been and so you
spectacle that must have been and so you
spectacle that must have been and so you know he got the library on fire after a
know he got the library on fire after a
know he got the library on fire after a few years he lit up 82 houses with the
few years he lit up 82 houses with the
few years he lit up 82 houses with the nation’s first electric power plant
nation’s first electric power plant
nation’s first electric power plant unfortunately after a few years that
unfortunately after a few years that
unfortunately after a few years that burned down as well over decades science
burned down as well over decades science
burned down as well over decades science and engineering completely transformed
and engineering completely transformed
and engineering completely transformed our world and so was born the lighting
our world and so was born the lighting
our world and so was born the lighting revolution this is the scale of the
revolution this is the scale of the
revolution this is the scale of the problem that we are dealing with for
problem that we are dealing with for
problem that we are dealing with for renewable energy these are not just new
renewable energy these are not just new
renewable energy these are not just new products to plug in but ones that
products to plug in but ones that
products to plug in but ones that require a vastly different
require a vastly different
require a vastly different infrastructure than what we have today
infrastructure than what we have today
infrastructure than what we have today because today our infrastructure is
because today our infrastructure is
because today our infrastructure is built around burning things we burn coal
built around burning things we burn coal
built around burning things we burn coal we burn oil we burn gas we’ve become
we burn oil we burn gas we’ve become
we burn oil we burn gas we’ve become really really good at burning things
really really good at burning things
really really good at burning things we’ve become so good at burning things
we’ve become so good at burning things
we’ve become so good at burning things that our world has essentially become a
that our world has essentially become a
that our world has essentially become a furnace and it’s changing the climate
furnace and it’s changing the climate
furnace and it’s changing the climate all 10 of the warmest years in recorded
all 10 of the warmest years in recorded
all 10 of the warmest years in recorded history have taken place in the last 20
history have taken place in the last 20
history have taken place in the last 20 years last year was the warmest year
years last year was the warmest year
years last year was the warmest year ever and we’re already doing damage
ever and we’re already doing damage
ever and we’re already doing damage control we are currently in the process
control we are currently in the process
control we are currently in the process of resetting our nation’s first climate
of resetting our nation’s first climate
of resetting our nation’s first climate refugees from an island in Louisiana due
refugees from an island in Louisiana due
refugees from an island in Louisiana due to rising sea levels an entire town is
to rising sea levels an entire town is
to rising sea levels an entire town is being moved off the island this is just
being moved off the island this is just
being moved off the island this is just the beginning on a global scale the
the beginning on a global scale the
the beginning on a global scale the United Nations Framework Convention on
United Nations Framework Convention on
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change stated that in order to
Climate Change stated that in order to
Climate Change stated that in order to avoid the truly devastating effects of
avoid the truly devastating effects of
avoid the truly devastating effects of climate change global temperatures
climate change global temperatures
climate change global temperatures should not rise by more than 2 degrees
should not rise by more than 2 degrees
should not rise by more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels we
Celsius above pre-industrial levels we
Celsius above pre-industrial levels we are currently 1 degree Celsius above
are currently 1 degree Celsius above
are currently 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels in order to meet
pre-industrial levels in order to meet
pre-industrial levels in order to meet this ambitious goal a global carbon
this ambitious goal a global carbon
this ambitious goal a global carbon budget was set and if we go business as
budget was set and if we go business as
budget was set and if we go business as usual we are expected to exceed this
usual we are expected to exceed this
usual we are expected to exceed this global carbon budget by the year twenty
global carbon budget by the year twenty
global carbon budget by the year twenty forty our earth as we know it depends on
forty our earth as we know it depends on
forty our earth as we know it depends on is too rapidly divest from fossil fuels
is too rapidly divest from fossil fuels
is too rapidly divest from fossil fuels but society as we know it depends on
but society as we know it depends on
but society as we know it depends on reliable access to affordable power
reliable access to affordable power
reliable access to affordable power these two requirements are at odds and
these two requirements are at odds and
these two requirements are at odds and the only solution lies in innovation so
the only solution lies in innovation so
the only solution lies in innovation so how do we get there how do we make sure
how do we get there how do we make sure
how do we get there how do we make sure our species survives how do we make sure
our species survives how do we make sure
our species survives how do we make sure that our planet is still habitable in
that our planet is still habitable in
that our planet is still habitable in 100 years I believe the answer lies in a
100 years I believe the answer lies in a
100 years I believe the answer lies in a class that many of you probably found
class that many of you probably found
class that many of you probably found very boring statistics in 1991 a
very boring statistics in 1991 a
very boring statistics in 1991 a scientist named John Gilman made an
scientist named John Gilman made an
scientist named John Gilman made an observation that came to be known as the
observation that came to be known as the
observation that came to be known as the rule of 10 the rule of 10 states that
rule of 10 the rule of 10 states that
rule of 10 the rule of 10 states that 10,000 ideas usually lead to about a
10,000 ideas usually lead to about a
10,000 ideas usually lead to about a thousand experiment worth writing home
thousand experiment worth writing home
thousand experiment worth writing home about which results in a hundred patents
about which results in a hundred patents
about which results in a hundred patents of these ten make it to a store near you
of these ten make it to a store near you
of these ten make it to a store near you and one is the game ginger just one is
and one is the game ginger just one is
and one is the game ginger just one is even close to light bulb caliber
even close to light bulb caliber
even close to light bulb caliber industry makes products from patents but
industry makes products from patents but
industry makes products from patents but universities and National Labs make
universities and National Labs make
universities and National Labs make patents from ideas we can’t just sit
patents from ideas we can’t just sit
patents from ideas we can’t just sit around and wait for the next game
around and wait for the next game
around and wait for the next game changer that’s crazy we need to
changer that’s crazy we need to
changer that’s crazy we need to statistically ensure that these game
statistically ensure that these game
statistically ensure that these game changers come to market by funding as
changers come to market by funding as
changers come to market by funding as many ideas as possible in short the
many ideas as possible in short the
many ideas as possible in short the progression of science is not just a
progression of science is not just a
progression of science is not just a series of independent and unpredictable
series of independent and unpredictable
series of independent and unpredictable breakthroughs the game-changing
breakthroughs the game-changing
breakthroughs the game-changing technologies that we are speaking of are
technologies that we are speaking of are
technologies that we are speaking of are built on decades of foundational
built on decades of foundational
built on decades of foundational research at universities and National
research at universities and National
research at universities and National Labs Thomas Edison didn’t just come in
Labs Thomas Edison didn’t just come in
Labs Thomas Edison didn’t just come in one day and change the world the first
one day and change the world the first
one day and change the world the first lamp was invented almost a hundred years
lamp was invented almost a hundred years
lamp was invented almost a hundred years before he came into the picture and
before he came into the picture and
before he came into the picture and lights weren’t commonplace in homes
lights weren’t commonplace in homes
lights weren’t commonplace in homes until decades later so right about now
until decades later so right about now
until decades later so right about now you might be chained yourself well this
you might be chained yourself well this
you might be chained yourself well this all seems really important I bet we’re
all seems really important I bet we’re
all seems really important I bet we’re doing everything we can to make sure
doing everything we can to make sure
doing everything we can to make sure that this all happens well I have some
that this all happens well I have some
that this all happens well I have some bad news for you here’s a picture
bad news for you here’s a picture
bad news for you here’s a picture showing the government’s commitment to
showing the government’s commitment to
showing the government’s commitment to scientific advancement over time you see
scientific advancement over time you see
scientific advancement over time you see that spike there that shows commitment I
that spike there that shows commitment I
that spike there that shows commitment I look at that and I see that we are
look at that and I see that we are
look at that and I see that we are really trying to solve a problem because
really trying to solve a problem because
really trying to solve a problem because the space race wasn’t just another
the space race wasn’t just another
the space race wasn’t just another science project it was a unifying
science project it was a unifying
science project it was a unifying mission
mission
mission for all Americans as a nation we came
for all Americans as a nation we came
for all Americans as a nation we came together to heavily invest in the new
together to heavily invest in the new
together to heavily invest in the new frontier that is why we were able to
frontier that is why we were able to
frontier that is why we were able to achieve such an engineering marvel on
achieve such an engineering marvel on
achieve such an engineering marvel on such a short timeline you see this
such a short timeline you see this
such a short timeline you see this depressing downslope here in our decade
depressing downslope here in our decade
depressing downslope here in our decade it kind of reminds me of the game
it kind of reminds me of the game
it kind of reminds me of the game kerplunk do you ever play this game it
kerplunk do you ever play this game it
kerplunk do you ever play this game it was one of my favorite games as a kid
was one of my favorite games as a kid
was one of my favorite games as a kid the premise of the game as you have a
the premise of the game as you have a
the premise of the game as you have a collection of marbles lying on a web of
collection of marbles lying on a web of
collection of marbles lying on a web of straws the players then remove the
straws the players then remove the
straws the players then remove the straws one by one until eventually the
straws one by one until eventually the
straws one by one until eventually the marbles fall through I am picturing
marbles fall through I am picturing
marbles fall through I am picturing these straws as the resources that we
these straws as the resources that we
these straws as the resources that we give scientists whether it’s money for
give scientists whether it’s money for
give scientists whether it’s money for equipment and experiment labor support
equipment and experiment labor support
equipment and experiment labor support services etc and the marbles they’re the
services etc and the marbles they’re the
services etc and the marbles they’re the foundational research which supports
foundational research which supports
foundational research which supports society as we know it and compared to
society as we know it and compared to
society as we know it and compared to all of the other kerplunk games that our
all of the other kerplunk games that our
all of the other kerplunk games that our government plays we are essentially
government plays we are essentially
government plays we are essentially getting the straws pulled out from under
getting the straws pulled out from under
getting the straws pulled out from under us because we’re scientists were really
us because we’re scientists were really
us because we’re scientists were really good at looking at depressing graphs and
good at looking at depressing graphs and
good at looking at depressing graphs and making conclusions about the universe
making conclusions about the universe
making conclusions about the universe here’s the conclusion we made about this
here’s the conclusion we made about this
here’s the conclusion we made about this graph the government isn’t going to
graph the government isn’t going to
graph the government isn’t going to solve this problem on its own so it’s up
solve this problem on its own so it’s up
solve this problem on its own so it’s up to us that’s why I teamed up with other
to us that’s why I teamed up with other
to us that’s why I teamed up with other clean energy experts to build a
clean energy experts to build a
clean energy experts to build a mechanism for Concerned Scientists to
mechanism for Concerned Scientists to
mechanism for Concerned Scientists to find clean energy research directly we
find clean energy research directly we
find clean energy research directly we are building the first and only
are building the first and only
are building the first and only grassroots funding source for clean
grassroots funding source for clean
grassroots funding source for clean energy research we call it the alt e’
energy research we call it the alt e’
energy research we call it the alt e’ fund as a collection of clean energy
fund as a collection of clean energy
fund as a collection of clean energy scientists and experts we are uniquely
scientists and experts we are uniquely
scientists and experts we are uniquely qualified to make sure that your
qualified to make sure that your
qualified to make sure that your donations go to the most promising
donations go to the most promising
donations go to the most promising projects at universities and national
projects at universities and national
projects at universities and national labs around the u.s. rather than
labs around the u.s. rather than
labs around the u.s. rather than spending time on lobbying Congress to
spending time on lobbying Congress to
spending time on lobbying Congress to amend their type federal budget we are
amend their type federal budget we are
amend their type federal budget we are empowering concerned citizens to fund
empowering concerned citizens to fund
empowering concerned citizens to fund clean energy research directly because
clean energy research directly because
clean energy research directly because one person with ten dollars is limited
one person with ten dollars is limited
one person with ten dollars is limited but a million people with ten dollars
but a million people with ten dollars
but a million people with ten dollars can change the world you see each small
can change the world you see each small
can change the world you see each small contribution is another straw to put
contribution is another straw to put
contribution is another straw to put back in the crib plonk game together we
back in the crib plonk game together we
back in the crib plonk game together we can build up the foundational web of
can build up the foundational web of
can build up the foundational web of knowledge needed for the next Thomas
knowledge needed for the next Thomas
knowledge needed for the next Thomas Edison to come
Edison to come
Edison to come and transform our world and we can do it
and transform our world and we can do it
and transform our world and we can do it in a way so that Steve can make sure
in a way so that Steve can make sure
in a way so that Steve can make sure that you can turn on your lights
that you can turn on your lights
that you can turn on your lights whenever you need to if we invest in
whenever you need to if we invest in
whenever you need to if we invest in that world today one day we’ll live in
that world today one day we’ll live in
that world today one day we’ll live in it thank you
it thank you
it thank you [Applause]
”
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