According to Reicher’s testimony (emphasis in original):

“Chairman Boxer, it is essential that Congress address this serious energy R&D short-fall by incorporating President Obama’s goal of $15 billion per year in federal energy R&D spending in final climate legislation.”

This testimony followed on the heals of a letter and discussion paper from the nation’s leading universities to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, emphasizing the need for a bottom line investment of $5 billion dollars annually in R&D, significantly more than would be allocated under both House and Senate version of climate and energy legislation.

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However, it also comes in for some anger from the rest of us, who do support the idea of funding a transfer to a renewable energy economy, but worry that we will pay higher costs and believe that the Cap and Trade bill gives too many initial free allowances to polluting industries. But this anger may be unwarranted.

Consumers are shielded from rising energy costs with most of the allowances:

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It is not clear that President Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid (pictured left with New Mexico Democrat Jeff Bingaman - another key climate voice) can win a simple majority for carbon-capping climate change legislation this year, with industrial state Dems already defecting, but the lift for Reid and his whips will be even tougher: they cannot overcome a GOP filibuster without a 60 vote super-majority.

If those Senators in favor of climate legislation get the 60 votes they need to block a filibuster and pass a climate bill, they likely can’t do it without a little help from these six. These are the six Senators that lobbyists will be courting, the White House will be pressing, and you should be watching in the coming days and weeks as the Senate addresses climate change.

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Despite President Obama’s call for the United States to lead the clean energy technology industry, a weak climate bill (H.R. 2454) awaiting the Senate to return from recess promises limited funding for research and development of renewable clean energy technologies.

Asia, however, has recognized the advantages of embracing clean energy development and the race for clean energy dominance is heating up faster than the planet. Here’s a look at the development of clean energy technology in the some of the world’s developing Asian economies.

1. Kunming - China’s “Solar City”

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After a  White House announcement last April regarding the provision of $777 million to fund 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC’s) advancing innovation in clean energy technology, the Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the completion of the funding process last Thursday. The investment represents a much-needed show of governmental support for the research and development of the numerous energy breakthroughs necessary to transition the U.S from dirty to clean energy.

Among the list of 46, 31 centers are affiliated with universities, twelve are DOE national laboratories, two are non-profit organizations, and one is a corporate research laboratory. In total, the DOE has awarded $377 million in funding this year, with $277 million coming from the economic stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -ARRA) and the additional $100 million provided by the DOE’s FY2009 budget.

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The decision to do so was made even harder after he received five letters from local constituency groups, including a Hispanic advocacy group and a local chapter of the NAACP, opposing the legislation. Or so he at first thought. According to an investigation by DailyProgress, it turns out those letters weren’t what they appeared to be and were in fact forged by Washington DC-area lobbyists.

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I became interested in green living before I had my first child, but since the birth of my daughter; I realized the even great impact for the need to protect our environment and our planet. As parents, we are given the enormous responsibility in rearing of our child to raise a compassionate, fulfilled individual, but what’s more important is our role as the guardian of this planet we are entrusted with. Although we as a society might put that care aside or even completely abandon it; I truly believe that we DO and CAN make a difference. Fortunately, I am not the only one who feels this way. A mother and a geneticist, Maggie Zhou headed to Washington, DC to attend Monday’s U.S. Senate hearing on climate change policy. Zhou is paying for the trip with her own money because “I felt I had to be in the same room with the people who are going to make a decision that will determine the kind of world my daughter will live in.”

Zhou is a mother of five year old daughter, but not only is she a mother; she is a scientist as well. Trained as a geneticist, Zhou began digging dipper into the Climate issue by researching scientific reports and discussing her findings with colleagues who specialized in Climate Change. With further exploration, she was convinced that much more had to be done to protect the Earth’s climate. In a press release by Massachusetts Coalition for Healthy Communities, Zhou used the scientific understanding she acquired to open a dialogue with national environmental groups and some of the leaders of the climate protection movement.

“The science shows that we may have a critical window of only a few years to take action before planetary processes take the matter out of humanity’s control and bring on catastrophic warming. Congress needs to get this right now if children like my own are to have a future.”

According to Zhou, the recently passed energy bill in Washington, The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) is an insufficient solution to the quickly escalating energy crisis that we as a nation will soon face. “This bill does as much harm as good, and in many ways it ties our hands by doing so many favors for the fossil fuel lobby.”

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Solar is already a source of power. Now some hope solar projects’ striking appearance can also make them a powerful marketing tool.

For the Fourth of July, concentrating solar-thermal startup eSolar programmed a quarter square mile of mirrors in Lancaster, Calif., to form the American flag and the Statue of Liberty.

The point? To celebrate Independence Day, and to help lobby for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill, which would enact a carbon cap-and-trade program and other emission-reduction measures if approved and signed into law. The House of Representatives passed the controversial bill last month, and the Senate is now considering it.

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“I believe in climate change for a very important reason,” said Colbert during his show last night, “so I can market the new Colbert Report Green. It’s just like the regular Colbert Report except we reduce emissions by jumping on the bandwagon.” Watch it:

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According the survey, more than three quarters of African Americans would back federal policy action on climate change. Conducted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, that survey found that a majority of African Americans (54 percent) characterize global warming as a major problem, with another 24 percent thinking it a moderate problem, while 81 percent believe that the federal government should take strong action to deal with global warming. The poll also found strong support (72 percent) among African Americans for legislative action that would mandate the U.S. to begin achieving the goals of the Kyoto treaty on climate change.

On balance, the survey found that while African Americans do not believe dealing with global warming will be cost-free, they do believe that not dealing with global warming will be more costly, and that a clean energy economy represents a better future.

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Invoking the now-familiar messages heard throughout both his campaign and much of his presidency, like growing new jobs, moving off foreign sources of energy and building a clean energy economy, President Obama implored the U.S. Senate to move forward with a version of the Waxman-Markey climate bill passed by the House of Representatives on Friday.

“My call to every senator, as well as to every American, is this,” Mr. Obama said in his weekly address, “We cannot be afraid of the future. And we must not be prisoners of the past. Don’t believe the misinformation out there that suggests there is somehow a contradiction between investing in clean energy and economic growth.”

Mr. Obama focused on the passage of Waxman-Markey in his address despite reportedly having already recorded an address focusing on health care legislation. Watch it:

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With all signs pointing to a Friday vote in the House of Representatives on the Waxman-Markey climate bill, the right-wing political action committee behind the “Drill here, drill now, pay less” campaign of last summer, yesterday launched a last-ditch effort to block climate change legislation by scaring the crap out of you.

The ad, produced by the group American Solutions for Winning the Future, urges you to contact your Representative to tell them how scared you are of the devastating economic impacts of climate and energy legislation. The new commercial was released on the heals of a Congressional Budget Office report that found the annual cost of the Waxman-Markey climate bill would be an average of $175 per household — far less than previous GOP cost estimates.

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Led by former Republican Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, American Solutions for Winning the Future is no garden variety political organization. Financed by a host of high-profile billionaire-backers including Casino Kingpin and third richest person in America, Sheldon Adelson; co-founder of PayPal and staunch libertarian Peter Thiel; Cincinatti businessman and second-biggest contributor to the GOP, Dick Farmer, and; textile magnate and patron of right-wing causes for almost 50 years, Roger Milliken, the organization has emerged as one of the most powerful and, perhaps, reactionary PACs on the American political landscape.

Although China and India have both refused to submit to carbon emissions limits and are contributing to international stress regarding the outcome of this winter’s climate talks in Copenhagen, both countries are amping up their investment in solar power. China’s has increased its solar power target from 1.8 gigawatts to 20 gigawatts by 2020.

2. Fossil-Fuel Rich Xinjiang Uses Solar

A veritable hot bed of energy resources, Xinjiang province is rich in oil and coal but also an ideal location to host alternative energy sources like this roof-top solar panel.

Source: Washington Post; Bert van Dijk image description
Image Credit: Bert van Dijk on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

Recently, India announced the approval of its National Solar Mission, the pride and joy of its National Climate Change Strategy. This project should increase India’s solar capacity from 3 megawatts (MW) to 20 gigawatts by 2020 – and if all goes according to plan, 200 GW by 2050. The project will cost approximately US$20 billion.

3. Solar Panels Soak up the Indian Sunshine

Dramatically situated in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Indian State of Uttaranchal derives energy from the sun with these residential solar panels.

Source: WorldWatch; National Portal of India
Image Credit: Barefoot Photographers of Tilonia on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

India estimates that its National Solar Mission could bring the cost of solar down to between 4 and 5 rupees per kilowatt hour (US $.08-.10 per kWh) by 2017-2020 - an achievement that makes solar cost competitive with fossil fuels.

4. Rural Villages Benefit from Solar Technology

Even in one of the most remote Indian villages, a solar panel system is helping the community take advantage of one of its most abundant resources - sunlight.
Source: Green Inc., New York Times
Image Credit: Barefoot Photographers of Tilonia on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

Recently, South Korea boldly asserted its competitiveness in the clean energy race by announcing its five-year plant to invest 2% of its GDP in renewable energy and environment-related industries. This investment will add up to $84.5 billion dollars allocated to growing South Korea’s market share of “green technology” products, which includes clean tech R&D, hybrid cars, and solar batteries.

5. A Wind Farm High up in the Hills

A snap shot of a wind farm taken from a train traveling from Danyang to Jeongdongjin, South Korea. South Korea aims to increase its renewable energy use from 2% to 9%, to mediate sky-high oil prices and compete in the clean tech industry.
Source: Washington Post, RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Image Credit: Yewenyi on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

According to the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association, India has an installed wind power capacity of 992 MW. Commercial installation accounts for approximately 940 of those MW. Wind has contributed about 3.5 billion units of electricity to India’s grid since the country began harnessing wind power.

6. Turbine Vanes Ready for Action

A field full of wind turbine vanes awaiting construction in Belur, India.
Source: Indian Wine Turbine Manufacturers Association
Image Credit: Niveditak on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

Although the Philippines makes a minuscule 1% contribution (in comparison to its Asian counterparts) to global greenhouse gas emissions, Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes emphasized the role that renewables will play in Philippines development. Both the Biofuels Act and the Renewable Energy Act, recently passed by Philippine Congress, represent landmark achievements for this developing nation.

7. Technology as Picturesque: Turbines Basking in the Sunset

A sideways view of a wind farm located on Pebble Beach in the Ilocos Norte province of the Philippines. Even in this developing economy, the Philippine government recognizes the economic, international, and environmental advantages of clean energy.
Source: Philstar.com
Image Credit: Storm Crypt on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

As the time for talks at Copenhagen draws nearer and pressure increases on U.S. President Obama to pass a climate bill, China, India, and South Korea’s clean energy actions stand to have major impacts on climate change and the outcome of the clean energy race. It remains to be seen which nation will successfully reap the economic and international benefits of dominating the global clean technology industry.

8. Solar Power in the Making

Solar panels at Yingli Solar, a leading photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer locating in Baoding, China. Baoding is a veritable renewables smorgasbord with almost 200 other renewable energy companies taking root within the city limits. According to an article published in the Christian Science Monitor, Baoding is the first carbon positive city in the world.
Source: Christian Science Monitor
Image Credit: \!/_PeacePlusOne on Flickr under a Creative Commons License

With Speaker Nancy Pelosi likely bringing climate change legislation to the House for a floor vote later this week, a newly-released report by the Congressional Budget Office found that the per-household cost of The American Clean Energy and Security Act was far lower than previously estimated costs.

According to the report, released late Friday afternoon, the annual cost of the Waxman-Markey climate change bill would be an estimated $175 per American household. In addition to the project low cost of Waxman-Markey, the CBO report also suggests the bill would achieve emissions reductions of approximately 17% below 1990 levels by 2020.

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Tom Benson, owner of the World’s Largest Laundromat in Berwyn, Ill., is tired of listening to conservative industry groups’ bluster that climate change legislation is bad for business.

That’s because clean energy saved his.

When Benson bought his business a decade ago, all that hot water helping scrub everything from Speedos to sheets ate up a staggering 25 percent of total monthly revenues. With 153 washers using thousands of gallons of hot water daily, you can only imagine the energy costs. And that’s before factoring in the 148 dryers.

So to cut his natural gas costs, Benson installed a solar hot water system on his roof. Three dozen 10-by-4-foot solar panels now produce more than 2,400 gallons of hot water daily, saving him some $25,000 a year.

“Our energy bills could have sunk this business,” says Benson. “Now, they’re a source of pride.”

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The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), intended to “create jobs, help end our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and combat global warming” according to the official announcement of the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, centers around four titles:

• A clean energy title that promotes renewable sources of energy, carbon capture and sequestration technologies, low-carbon fuels, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission;
• An energy efficiency title that increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry;
• A global warming title that places limits on emissions of heat-trapping pollutants; and
• A transitioning title that protects U.S. consumers and industry and promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.

The bill seeks emissions reductions greater than those proposed by the president: calling for a 20 percent cut in emissions from 2005 by 2020 instead of the 14 percent included in Obama’s Feburary budget. It also calls for utilities to produce one-quarter of US electricity from renewables sources by 2025, and includes a federal low carbon fuel standard modeled on California legislation.

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