7.27.08 Kelly Carnes Keynotes World Future Society on Government's Role in Clean Energy Technology, Washington, D.C.

As part of the World Future Society's 2008 annual meeting, TechVision21 CEO Kelly Carnes gave a keynote address to discuss the environmental, economic, and social forces that are driving an urgent quest for clean energy solutions.

Carnes outlined global energy demands which are expected to increase by nearly 50% over the next 15 years, as well as fears of increased pollution from a rapidly growing developing world, and the pressure on the U.S. to confront global climate change.

She said consumers are more worried than ever before about clean air, clean water, global warming, soaring fuel prices, and energy security as America continues its dependency on foreign oil.

Carnes outlined how the White House has responded to the pressure to get serious about alternative energy sources, and how the policy landscape has changed dramatically. Driven by comprehensive energy legislation and Presidential energy initiatives, billions of dollars for developing and deploying clean energy solutions are flowing to universities, state and local governments, and the private sector.

The federal government is supporting a broad range of activities from research and technology development, to the purchase of equipment and clean power. Market development, design and construction of demonstration plants, and workforce training are all aimed at building a U.S. clean energy industry and infrastructure. She also discussed the size of investments being made and the unprecedented range of R&D and commercialization activities being supported across the clean energy fields such as hydrogen, biomass, bio-fuels, solar, wind, and alternative fuel vehicles.