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Bush: U.S. on Verge of Energy Breakthrough

Energy conservation groups and environmentalists say they're pleased that the president, a former oil man in Texas, is stressing alternative sources of energy, but they contend his proposals don't go far enough. They say the administration must consider greater fuel-efficiency standards for cars, and some economists believe it's best to increase the gas tax to force consumers to change their driving habits.

During his visit to Johnson Controls' new hybrid battery laboratory, Bush checked out two Ford Escapes — one with a nickel-metal-hybrid battery, the kind that powers most hybrid-electric vehicles, and one with a lithium-ion battery, which Johnson Controls believes are the wave of the future.

The lithium-ion battery was about half the size of the older-model battery. In 2004, Johnson Controls received a government contract to develop the lithium-ion batteries.

While Bush is highlighting his budget proposals to help wean America from foreign oil, the lab he visited is meeting a $28 million shortfall by cutting its staff by 32 people, including eight researchers.

"Our nation is on the threshold of new energy technology that I think will startle the American people," Bush said. "We're on the edge of some amazing breakthroughs — breakthroughs all aimed at enhancing our national security and our economic security and the quality of life of the folks who live here in the United States."

Later Monday, Bush visited the United Solar Ovonics Plant, which makes solar panels, in Auburn Hills, Mich., outside Detroit. "This technology right here is going to help us change the way we live in our homes," Bush told reporters.

Bush said he was impressed with the growing commercial uses of solar energy.

"Roof makers will one day be able to make a solar roof that protects you from the elements and at the same time, powers your house," Bush said. "The vision is this — that technology will become so efficient that you'll become a little power generator in your home, and if you don't use the energy you generate you'll be able to feed it back into the electricity grid."

Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., questioned Bush's energy policies Monday, saying the administration also supports subsidies for luxury SUVs.

"This single tax subsidy dwarfs anything being done for hybrid batteries," Markey said in a news release.

On Tuesday, Bush plans to visit the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., to talk about speeding the development of biofuels.

As a complement to Bush's travels, six Cabinet officials are crisscrossing the nation this week, appearing at more than two dozen energy events in more than a dozen states.

 

PITCH YOUR TENT AND POWER UP

Iowa Thin Film Technologies has come up with a lightweight, durable fabric that incorporates a tissue-paper thin layer of specialized solar film, enabling it to double as a solar power generator. The fabric,which is suitable for making Army tents, can be used to run lighting orventilation systems, field communications, GPS systems or laptop computers.

Iowa Thin Film completed three tent prototypes for the Army last monthand says the orders are already pouring in. But beyond the military applications, experts say the introduction of such lightweight, portable fabric to developing countries could have a far-reaching impact
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"Application of these (solar) technologies in the long term is clearly more cost-effective than bringing power lines dozens and dozens of kilometers," says American Energy Society spokesman Brad Collins.

Clothes May Power Cell Phones

Solar firm Konarka teams with textile outfit Textronics to make prototype clothing, accessories that could power mobile devices.

September 28, 2005

The term “power suit” could soon take on a more literal meaning. Solar company Konarka said Wednesday it will pair with textile maker Textronics to develop clothing and accessories that generate energy.
 
The prototype project targets designer-label manufacturers, and will show them how to incorporate new benefits for consumers into everyday clothing and accessories, said Daniel Patrick McGahn, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Konarka.
 
The technology could eventually give consumers the ability to generate power for their mobile devices at all times, overcoming the limited battery life of cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, and PDAs, said Konarka, a Red Herring Top 100 company.

Could these prototypes spark a trend toward adding functionality to clothing? After all, clothing is certainly ubiquitous—far more widespread than mobile phones. The need for longer battery life causes much hand-wringing in the portable industry, and power clothing could be a potential solution.

“We normally wear clothing and women normally carry bags,” said Mr. McGahn. “The idea of enabling things that we normally wear to generate power is something we believe makes sense, and something we’ve had a lot of potential partners say they are interested in.”
 
Solar Fabric

Individual consumers and corporations have asked Konarka to develop solar material for clothing, he said. Konarka already has some solar textile products, including a solar tent the company makes for the military. The plastic-based solar fabric generates power in indoor light, not just sunlight.

The prototype clothing would incorporate Textronics’ fabric-like soft wiring, and would include standard adoptors, such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), said Mr. McGahn. He didn’t disclose when the prototype would be finished, but said the company would spend “the next few quarters” developing the technology. He added that the company hopes to commercialize the solar materials in the next two years.
 
There are challenges, though, such as making the fabric versatile, with different colors and patterns. It could also take some time to make the energy-producing fabric feel comparable to other designer fabrics.
 
“There’s still technology to be developed there,” said Mr. McGahn.
 
The first generation will probably be monochrome, but a lot of the fashion industry excitement surrounds the possibility of patterned fabrics, he said. Think of the Burberry or Louis Vuitton signature patterns, for instance.
 
Konarka didn’t give any estimates on cost, but said it is definitely targeting a high-end—and possibly more tech-savvy—consumer group by appealing to designer labels.
 
The clothing being considered for the prototypes? Outerwear jackets and messenger bags.