Alternative Energy Solutions to Create Jobs & for a Secure Future

By Surya "Chili" Yalamanchili

For comprehensive energy solutions that create American jobs, improve our trade imbalances, preserves the environment, and stops enriching parts of the world hostile to our interests.

We must act with clear vision to spur the R&D investment necessary to develop the comprehensive solutions we require. This means investments in diverse solutions such as: wind, solar, geothermal, advanced battery/fuel cell, nuclear, biofuels, wave power and efficiency.

However, simply providing the right federal support through incentives and credits is not enough. We must ensure that it is not just the initial research, subsidized by our tax dollars, that is done is in the US, with the multiplier effects of manufacturing done overseas. This would be a double-theft of taxpayer investment. First, it would mean that we would eventually also lose our advanced high-value jobs to foreign countries as they collocate closer to production. Second, we would once again be dependent on foreign nations for our energy needs.

It's essential that we lay out a clear next generation energy plan and follow through for a brighter, more secure future for all Americans.