Another Example of the Trump administration's Efforts to Suppress Science Supporting Climate Change

Photo by Harrison Moore on Unsplash

Since coming into office, President Trump has been on a mission to get rid of any science that supports climate change.  That may sound abrupt.  At every chance, the opportunity to call climate change 'a hoax' made up by China, or pure nonsense. The Trump administration seems intent on dismissing the frequent storms and varying weather patterns as such -- historical changes that occur over time.  The problem with that view is that noticeable changes are occurring in our weather patterns.  Storms are more frequent.



In fact, the Trump administration cannot adequately fund the recovery of a small city or state after such storms (i.e., Hurricane Maria -- Puerto Rico, Hurricane Matthew -- Houston, Hurricane Michael - East Coast, etc.).  What does the future look like with such leadership?  Suppressing science must stop now.  Although, in the current political climate, the chance of that happening is slim. Notably, with reporting from 'Politico Agriculture' on the administration's efforts to suppress recent science directly linked to climate change:

USDA SCIENTIST DESCRIBES CLIMATE REPORT SUPPRESSION: An Agriculture Department scientist, who has researched plants across five administrations, is quitting the department in protest of the Trump administration's efforts to bury his groundbreaking study about how rice loses nutrients due to rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, Pro's Helena Bottemiller Evich reports.

Lewis Ziska, a 62-year-old plant physiologist, told POLITICO he was alarmed when department officials not only questioned the findings of the study, but also tried to minimize press coverage of the paper. "You get the sense that things have changed, that this is not a place for you to be exploring things that don't agree with someone's political views," Ziska said. "That's so sad. I can't even begin to tell you how sad that is."

A POLITICO investigation last month revealed USDA has routinely buried its own climate-related science. Ziska's exit follows the recent departures of several other government officials who have accused the administration of censoring climate science — including an intelligence analyst at the State Department who he left his post after administration officials blocked his testimony to Congress about the national security implications of climate change.

USDA said in a statement response to Ziska's resignation that objections to promoting his rice study were based on scientific disagreement involving career officials, not political appointees. But in describing his decision to leave, Ziska painted a picture of a department in constant fear of the president and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's open skepticism about broadly accepted climate science, leading officials to go to extremes to obscure their work to avoid political blowback.

While he said there was never a department memo that directed USDA scientists to be more careful with their language, it was well understood. "No one wanted to say climate change, you would say climate uncertainty or you would say extreme events," he said. "Or you would use whatever euphemism was available to not draw attention."

A report by 'Politico' detailed the suppression of the scientific report which shed light on the loss of nutrients to rice by the increase in carbon dioxide in the environment.  The total estimated impact would be to 600 million people worldwide.  Although the estimated range of affected is 138 million to 1.4 billion depending on which nutrient is considered.  These projections caused considerable alarm for Dr. Lewis Ziska at the USDA.



Especially since the political blowback, Dr. Lewis Ziska received regarding the results published in 'Science Advances' last year.  As mentioned in the article by Politico, Dr. Lewis Ziska's departure follows other career scientists at the USDA.  Other federal agencies have seen the same departures under the Trump administration.  Which is unprecedented.  Given the Trump administration's views on science and its relation to climate change, the exits are not totally surprising.



A scientist can only work under certain restrictions before quitting (or resigning) seems like a more reasonable solution.  When an administration cuts off a scientist's ability to conduct, report, and share scientific results; then science is not being carried out to the standard accepted by the scientific community.  Scientists do not suppress data -- regardless of what the data shows.



The same reporter last year wrote a report on this controversy.  A video is shown in the article with a brief interview with Agricultural Secretary Sonny Perdue trying to blow off the connection between man and climate change:

The video above, along with the article above (and those cited) show a continuous trend of the Trump administration suppressing science at every level.  If the scientific evidence supports climate change, then hide it.  That seems to be their motto.  Unfortunately, that is what we (the public) are stuck with at the current moment -- at least until 2020 -- when we go to the ballot box and try to change the representation at the highest office.



I have said all along and continue to say that science is funded by the taxpayer.  Therefore, each of us has a right to see the results of the scientific studies which are funded by the money we pay in annual taxes.  Many people are unaware of the fact that the money paid in taxes support such research.



Further, one primary objective of the federal agencies is to educate the public based on the findings of research which is funded by taxpayer dollars.  If the Trump administration (or any other administration) chooses to try to suppress scientific results; that is a direct violation of our right to know knowledge funded with our dollars.  The time has already passed to demand that the Trump administration stop suppressing science.  The remaining choice we have as Americans is to show up in November of 2020 and vote.  Change the system with your vote.




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Thoughts: A Message from a Proud Los Angeles Bicycle Riding Resident!

Source: New York Times

We are living in a divisive society.  At least, that is what is conveyed by the popular news agencies lately.  Especially with the heightened divisive language used by the President of the United States.  One man should not be able to divide an entire nation. Admittedly, not all of the United States citizens believe that we are NOT a nation of immigrants.  We ARE a nation founded on immigrants from around the entire world.

With the above introduction in mind, I would like to share a personal statement from a fellow bicycle advocate who writes a daily newsletter "BikingInLA" -- Ted Rogers:

Let me start with a brief personal message today. 

Like many people, I’ve struggled to comprehend the incomprehensible in recent days, and make sense of a world that doesn’t any more. So let me say how fucking proud I am to live in a city made up of countless races, religions and communities.

Simply put, Los Angeles is richer for all of us.

I love being part of our rainbow-hued, multi-ethnic, multi-faith and multi-oriented bicycling community.

And I’m proud to be a small part of such a vital segment of our city — one that keeps riding, regardless of how much we’re marginalized, and despite those who would force us off the roads and elected leaders who turn their backs on us.

We’ve got a long way to go just to break even and claim even a small part of the streets for our own. 

But we’ll get there. 

And riding bikes helps it all make just a little more sense. 

As Ted noted in the personal statement, several aspects of human society already divide us as a nation.  Let us not let one man (President Trump) divide us further.

Let us stand up as a nation and stand for immigrants along with our citizens in these United States.  Hate and intolerance should be no longer an accepted practice in our country.  Let us strive to get along with one another and work through our differences.    

Have a good weekend.

Disassembling A System is Simple; Assembling One is Not So Easy

                               Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash

Have you ever taken apart something, only to find that recording the disassembly would have helped tremendously in reassembling the part?



Oh, my goodness! Let me tell you about the most common situation which has repeatedly bit me in the rear end. When will I ever learn? Read the instructions. If no guidelines exist, film the disassembly of a mechanical part to assist when assembling the piece back together. Sounds simple right?



My adventure of taking apart a vacuum pump starts without instructions. Only to find out that recording videos on disassembly would have helped out very much.



I had anxiety. I was at work. For the last year, the Mass Spectrometer sat with a broken internal pump.



Each time that I walked down the hallway, the scientists who mainly use the instrument would ask, “Any word on the repair of the Mass Spectrometer Mike?”



My response, “We are still waiting on the funding…”



That was true for the first 11 months. That is until the funding became available and the service engineer came out from the company only to find that an external vacuum pump had seized up.



My thought, “Why did I not check the pump before he came to fix the instrument?” I was kicking myself mentally for the next two weeks.

How to Rebuild a Vaccum Pump?

I ordered a rebuilding kit. A kit with about 20 different o-rings, gaskets, and small springs. None of which I knew where they would go inside the vacuum pump. I had never taken a vacuum pump apart.



The service engineer from the company suggested that I watched a ‘YouTube’ video on the disassembly. That would have helped if there had existed one online. My search for a video revealed that every other model produced had a ‘YouTube’ — just not mine.



Solution: I figured I would follow a similar disassembly of a similar design. From the outside, the two pumps looked very similar in appearances.



On a parallel route of inquiry, I found the actual blueprint of the design from a manual. Problem: no instructions on how to disassemble. The diagram had the part expanded into about 100 pieces with lines and print in a ten font.



What to do next?



I figured, go for it. Be methodical in your disassembly of the pump. Line up all of the screws as viewed in the expanded version.



Sounds good right?



I mentioned above that I did find a video of the disassembly of a different model of the vacuum pump. The two looked similar from the outside. After watching the video, the disassembly seemed rather straight forward.



Upon loosening the first four main bolts, I realized that while the two pumps appeared to look similar, the disassembly was not the same at all. The four main bolts are located on the other side of the pump. Not to mention, they were difficult to access with a traditional tool.



Time for a break, I guess!



When I finally convinced myself that the vacuum pump would not disassemble itself — no matter how hard I tried to send mental signals from my office, I returned to the vacuum pump and re-engaged with the disassembly. I started taking bolts apart. Two halves of the vacuum pump fell apart and almost ripped a connecting wire apart.



How did I miss that connecting wire? And what does that connecting wire do?



Moving on, focusing on one half of the vacuum pump, I chose to disassemble the pump further. I was dead set on accessing the spin vane portion of the pump. I will not go into details.



But yes, the spin vane is responsible for creating a vacuum while a shat spins.



As I disassemble further, more springs and o-rings are appearing out of nowhere. Not nowhere, but I am not keeping track of them.



Right about now, I wish that there is a manual with instructions or some other online content.

Take a Break and Regain Composure

As I sit in my office taking a break, I have a vacuum pump disassembled to the point of near completion. A section of the pump — which is the most critical section is seized up.



I am thinking of that video which made the disassembly of the different model look so easy.



Why can’t my project be that easy?



Now, I think that the personnel on that video had rebuilt around a 1000 vacuum pumps before this rebuild. The video is spot on with instructions and patience, no of which I have at the moment.



I am thinking to myself, how could I have made this process easier on myself?



Maybe I should have used my ‘smartphone’ and filmed the disassembly?



Why did I not use my ‘smartphone’ to film the disassembly?



The most probable cause is that I was having anxiety associated with venturing into the unknown of disassembling a vacuum pump. Further, I was having a fear of hearing the scientists asking me the following question, “Mike, when is the company coming out to fix the Mass Spectrometer?”



Now, I have more anxiety. Why? Because I have disassembled the entire vacuum pump and was unable to fix the pump. The only solution from here is to call a friend or the company and plead for help.



Note to self: In the future, use your ‘smartphone’ to track your disassembly of such a part.




Index of past blog sites:


1) Dimensional Analysis Of Statistics And Large Numbers - Index Of Blog Posts


2) Science Topics, Thoughts, and Parameters Regarding Science, Politics, And The Environment!

DOE Secretary Rick Perry walks a fine line to satisfy both Congress and the Trump administration

Source: PBS.org

Every presidential administration has an agenda to fulfill during their own time in the Oval Office.  The Trump administration is no different.  How is the plan fulfilled? To start, by nominating key personnel into important positions -- such as administrators of federal and state agencies.  Which sets the administration up to guide financing toward projects which fulfill campaign promises of the boss in the Oval Office.  Everything is fine and dandy, right?



Not necessarily.  There is a second branch of government (i.e., Congress) which holds the purse strings of the cash (funding) which supports all funding measures to make the United States operational.  Hence, the need for many 'oversight committees' to hold agency heads accountable.  This much is the basic government.



A refresher from time to time is right.



DOE Secretary traveled to the capital in June of this year to unveil the Fiscal Year budget 2020 for the Department of Energy.  For those readers who are unfamiliar with the general agenda of Congressional meetings, here is a quick outline.



First, each ranking member (Congressional leader) from each party gives an opening statement which is read into the records as a 'testimony.'  After which each member of the panel of experts does the same. Finally, the remainder of the meeting is accomplished through question & answers from members of Congress to the expert regarding the subject matter at hand.  In the end, a decision is entertained, or a motion or a conclusion is drawn at a later date.



Last June, DOE Secretary Rick Perry entered into record the following statement regarding FY 2020 budget:

Testimony of Secretary Rick Perry

U.S. Department of Energy

Before the

U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology

June 25, 2019

Chairwoman Johnson, Ranking Member Lucas, and Members of the Committee, it is an honor to appear before you today to discuss the President’s FY 2020 Budget Request (“Budget Request” or “Budget”) for the Department of Energy (“the Department” or “DOE”).

It continues to be a great privilege and an honor to serve as the 14th Secretary of Energy.

This Budget is a request to the American people through their representatives in Congress to secure America’s future through energy independence, scientific innovation, and national security.

As such, it represents a commitment from all of us at DOE that we will honor the trust of our citizens with increased stewardship, accountability, and commitment to excellence. For too long, government success has been measured by how much we spend on it. This Budget Request makes clear that success will be measured by how effectively and efficiently government is able to manage the precious resources entrusted to them by the American taxpayer to achieve its mission.

When I appeared before this Committee last year, I committed to protect our critical electric grid and energy infrastructure from cyber threats; improve resilience and reliability of the Nation’s electricity system; make progress on the Federal Government’s responsibility to dispose of the Nation’s nuclear waste; focus resources on early-stage, cutting edge Research and Development (R&D); advance exascale and quantum computing; address responsibilities for the cleanup and disposition of facilities; and, rebuild and restore our Nation’s security.

This FY 2020 $31.7 billion Budget Request for the Department of Energy focuses on advancing these commitments – from opening a New American Energy Era to sustaining our recent historic economic growth by investing in reliable, affordable energy, transformative scientific innovation, and national security.

The Department’s world-leading science and technology enterprise generates the innovations needed to fulfill our missions. Through support of cutting-edge research at our 17 National Laboratories and at over 300 universities across the Nation, we are expanding the frontiers of scientific knowledge and laying the groundwork for new technologies to address our greatest challenges.

When I became Secretary of Energy, I made a promise to visit all 17 of the Department’s National Laboratories. I am pleased to report that I have fulfilled that promise and have witnessed first-hand the innovative and brilliant work performed by the dedicated individuals at each of these sites across the Nation. The National Laboratories are doing outstanding work in many areas. Each has a unique, rich history of innovation across a broad scope of scientific expertise, and the record of collaboration across the National Laboratory system – which makes its impact greater than the sum of its parts – has bettered the lives of millions across the globe.

For example, in 2018, the National Laboratories won 32 of the prestigious R&D 100 Awards, including technologies regarding new materials, protecting the environment, incorporating renewable energy reliably to the electric grid, and sophisticated cybersecurity tools. These are just a few examples of the work the National Laboratories have done just last year to push the boundaries of research, development, commercialization, and national security.

I am especially proud of the work the National Laboratories are doing in collaboration with other federal agencies, universities, doctors, and researchers to harness the power of our world-class supercomputers to maintain America’s leadership in High Performance Computing (HPC), advance Exascale computing, and push for breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

To do so, this Budget proposes nearly $11 billion in early-stage R&D that will focus the intellectual prowess of scientists and engineers on the development of technologies that the ingenuity and capital of America’s entrepreneurs and businesses can convert into commercial applications and products to improve the lives and security of all Americans. The Budget also invests in laboratory infrastructure and test beds for future breakthroughs in energy. It prioritizes funding to maintain the world-class nature of national laboratory facilities and better facilitate private sector demonstration and deployment of energy technologies.

Securing Against Cyber Threats

In addition to nuclear security, our national security also depends on a resilient electric grid and successfully countering the ever-evolving, increasing threat of cyber and other attacks on networks, data, facilities, and infrastructure. Among the most critical missions at the Department is to develop science and technology that advances these aims.

At stake is continued U.S. economic competiveness and leadership, as well as the overall safety and security of the nation. We need to understand the increasing and evolving natural and man-made threats and develop the tools to respond to those threats across our energy infrastructure.

To that end, the Budget provides $157 million for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) to develop tools needed to protect the U.S. energy sector against threats and hazards, mitigate the risks and the extent of damage from cyberattacks and other disruptive events, and improve resilience through the development of techniques for more rapid restoration of capabilities.

Securing against cyber threats means we must also protect against threats to the Department’s own infrastructure in science, technology, and nuclear security. This Budget takes major steps to safeguard DOE’s enterprise-wide assets against cyber threats. It provides $71 million for the Chief Information Officer directed funding to secure our own networks, modernize infrastructure, and improve cybersecurity across the DOE IT enterprise. Funding for cybersecurity in the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is increased to $208 million to enhance security for our nuclear security enterprise. In the Environmental Management program, we provide $37 million for cybersecurity at seven cleanup sites.

This Budget provides the resources we require to secure DOE systems and energy infrastructure.

Improving Grid Resilience

As we protect our energy infrastructure from cyber threats, we also must improve the resilience and reliability of the nation’s electricity system. The Budget provides $183 million for the Office of Electricity to support transmission system resource adequacy and generation diversity. The Budget will explore new architecture approaches for electric transmission and distribution systems, including the development of the North American Energy Resilience Model that will provide unique and ground-breaking national-scale energy planning and real-time situational awareness capabilities to enhance security and resilience. The Budget continues to advance energy storage through the Advanced Energy Storage Initiative (AESI), including development of a new Grid Storage Launchpad aimed at accelerating materials development, testing, and independent evaluation of battery materials and systems for grid applications. In addition, the Budget supports R&D at DOE’s National Laboratories to develop technologies that strengthen, transform, and improve energy infrastructure so that consumers have access to reliable and secure sources of energy.

Addressing the Imperative of Nuclear Waste Management

The Budget includes $116 million, of which $26 million is in defense funds, to move ahead in fulfilling the Federal Government’s responsibility to dispose of the Nation’s nuclear waste. This request is dedicated to resuming regulatory activities concerning the Yucca Mountain site and initiating a robust interim storage program.

The Budget Request supports functions necessary to support regulatory activities, including legal support to represent the Department as well as responding to litigation and other legal matters. The Budget also provides for technical and scientific work necessary to support and respond to any challenges in the regulatory process. Resuming regulatory activities at Yucca Mountain and committing to a robust interim storage capability for near-term acceptance of spent nuclear fuel, our Budget demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to nuclear waste management and will help accelerate fulfillment of the Federal Government’s obligations to address nuclear waste, enhance national security, and reduce future burdens on taxpayers. This also will increase public confidence in the safety and security of nuclear energy, thus helping nuclear energy remain a significant contributor to the country’s energy needs for generations to come.

Energy Independence and Innovation

The Budget requests $2.3 billion in funding for energy independence and innovation. Within the applied energy program offices, the FY 2020 Budget focuses resources on early-stage, cutting-edge R&D conducted by the scientists and engineers at our 17 National Laboratories who are striving to develop the next great innovations that will strengthen American competitiveness and transform society as these breakthroughs reach the private marketplace.

The Harsh Environment Materials Initiative (HEMI) is a new coordinated effort within the Offices of Fossil Energy R&D (FE), Nuclear Energy (NE), and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to use common investments. This effort will coordinate interrelated R&D in materials, sensors, and component manufacturing R&D for advanced thermoelectric power plants between FE and NE. 

For example, NE’s budget includes $23 million for the Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies (NEET) Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR) program, which enhances the development of breakthrough technologies that provide the ability to manufacture small/micro advanced reactor components using additive manufacturing techniques. Investments will also be aligned with EERE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office R&D in materials and manufacturing process research, as well as flexible combined heat and power systems.

The AESI is a coordinated effort across DOE that will accelerate the development of energy storage R&D as key to increasing energy security, reliability, resilience, and system flexibility technologies. The AESI will focus DOE’s efforts to take a broad, more holistic view of energy storage as a set of capabilities with temporal flexibility in the conversion of energy resources to useful energy services. The initiative will develop a coordinated strategy for aligning DOE R&D for cost competitive energy storage services.

The Budget supports, and makes for more efficient, programs focused on bringing technologies to the market in the Office of Technology Transitions, requesting a 7% increase from the FY 2019 enacted level. Through coordination with our Labs, these efforts will reduce costs to the taxpayer while at the same time providing an enhanced technology transfer program to transfer breakthroughs from the National Laboratories to the private sector.

Nuclear Energy The Budget for Nuclear Energy focuses funding on early-stage R&D, such as the NEET program, which includes $23 million for the (TCR), at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to continue to develop an advanced manufacturing technique to demonstrate a new approach to nuclear design, qualification, and manufacturing of advanced reactor technologies.

The FY 2020 Budget includes $215 million for the Reactor Concepts Research, Development and Demonstration program. Within this total, the Budget provides $100 million to put DOE on a path to construct the Versatile Test Reactor, a facility that would enable development and testing of advanced fuels and materials for the next generation of commercial nuclear reactors. This is one of the highest priorities for the Department. The Budget also provides $85 million for early-stage R&D on advanced reactor technologies, including $10 million for the Advanced Small Modular Reactor R&D subprogram. 

Within the Fuel Cycle R&D program, the Budget requests $40 million in the Civil Nuclear Enrichment subprogram for the high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) demonstration project. This three-year cost-shared subprogram is designed to demonstrate U.S.-origin enrichment technology that could produce HALEU. We understand that multiple reactor designs under development by U.S. advanced reactor developers will require fuel containing HALEU. In addition, the Budget requests $36 million for the Fuel Cycle R&D program’s early-stage R&D work in support of industry’s development of light water reactor accident tolerant fuels.

Finally, the Budget for Nuclear Energy also supports a safeguards and security program with funding at $138 million for protection of our nuclear energy infrastructure and investments at Idaho National Laboratory facilities.

Fossil Energy Research and Development

The Fossil Energy Research and Development (FER&D) program advances transformative science and innovative technologies needed for the reliable, efficient, affordable, and environmentally sound use of fossil fuels. Fossil energy sources currently constitute over 81 percent of the country’s total energy use and are critical for the nation’s security, economic prosperity, and growth. The FY 2020 Budget focuses 89 percent, or $501 million, on cutting-edge fossil energy R&D to secure energy dominance, further energy security, advance strong domestic energy production, and support America’s coal industry through innovative clean coal technologies.

FER&D will support early-stage research in advanced technologies, such as materials, sensors, and processes, to expand the knowledge base upon which industry can improve the efficiency, flexibility, and resilience of the existing fleet of coal fired power plants.

The request also focuses funding on early-stage component research that will enable the next generation of high efficiency and low emission coal fired power plants that can increase the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid by providing low-cost reliable power 24/7.

Funding is also provided to support competitive awards with industry, National Laboratories and academia geared toward innovative early-stage R&D to improve the reliability, availability, efficiency, and environmental performance of advanced fossil-based power systems. For example, the Advanced Energy Systems subprogram will focus on the following six activities: 1) Advanced Combustion/Gasification Systems, 2) Advanced Turbines, 3) Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, 4) Advanced Sensors and Controls, 5) Power Generation Efficiency, and 6) Advanced Energy Materials. While the primary focus is on coal-based power systems, improvements to these technologies will result in spillover benefits that can reduce the cost of converting other carbon-based fuels, such as natural gas, biomass, or petroleum coke into power and other useful products in an environmentallysound manner.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy budget requests $696 million, including the use of $353 million in prior year balances, towards maintaining America’s leadership in transformative science and emerging energy technologies in sustainable transportation, renewable power, and energy efficiency.

The Budget emphasizes early stage R&D and other activities, which private industry does not have the technical capability to undertake. Knowledge generated by early-stage R&D to facilitate U.S. industries, businesses, and entrepreneurs to develop and deploy innovative energy technologies, and to gain the competitive edge needed to excel in the rapidly changing global energy economy.

The request funds $105 million for the AESI, which takes a holistic approach to energy storage and develops electric grid technologies to create flexible generation and load, thereby increasing the reliability and resilience of the U.S. electric grid.

The request supports DOE’s Grid Modernization Initiative, which includes reliably integrating an increasing amount of variable generation into the electric grid through R&D infrastructure investments at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to accelerate the conversion of the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) campus into an experimental microgrid capable of testing grid integration at the megawatt scale.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The Department of Energy is responsible for the Nation’s energy security, and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), one component of that effort, protects the U.S. economy from disruptions in critical petroleum supplies and meets the U.S. obligations under the International Energy Program. The Budget includes $174 million to support the Reserve’s operational readiness and drawdown capabilities.

The Department is requesting authorization to deposit into the SPR Petroleum Account up to $27 million in proceeds from the sale of one-million barrels of refined petroleum product (gasoline blendstock) from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to fund the cost of drawdowns.

The Budget also proposes to disestablish the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve (NEHHOR). In its two decades of existence, the NEHHOR has not been used for its intended purpose, and the Administration believes the continued taxpayer-funded expense of maintaining the reserve is unwarranted, particularly as the existing commercial storage contracts are up for renewal in March 2020. The Budget also proposes to disestablish the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve (NGSR). The NGSR has not been used since its establishment, and is not considered to be cost efficient or operationally effective. Proceeds of the combined sales of the NEHHOR and NGSR (estimated at $130 million in receipts, net of the $27 million retained for mandatory sale drawdown costs) will be contributed to deficit reduction.

Power Marketing Administrations

The Budget includes $78 million for the Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs). The Budget proposes the sale of the transmission assets of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) and to reform the laws governing how the PMAs establish power rates to require the consideration of market based incentives, including whether rates are just and reasonable. The Budget also proposes to repeal the $3.25 billion borrowing authority for WAPA authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Leading World-Class Scientific Research

The Department of Energy is the Nation’s largest Federal supporter of basic research in the physical sciences, and the President’s FY 2020 Budget provides $5.5 billion for the Office of Science (Science) to continue and strengthen American leadership in scientific inquiry. By focusing funding on early-stage research, this Budget will ensure that the Department’s National Laboratories continue to be the backbone of American science leadership by supporting cutting-edge basic research, and by building and operating the world’s most advanced scientific user facilities, which will be used by over 22,000 researchers in FY 2020.

Support for Core Research and Facilities

We provide $921 million for Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR), a decrease of $15 million below the FY 2019 enacted level. This funding will continue supporting the Nation’s world-class high-performance computers that make possible cutting-edge basic research, while devoting $500 million in the Office of Science to reflect the Department’s plan to deploy an exascale computing system in calendar year 2021. The FY 2020 Request also supports quantum computing R&D and core research in applied mathematics and computer science, and high-performance computer simulation and modeling.

The Budget also provides $1.9 billion for Basic Energy Sciences (BES), supporting core research activities in ultrafast chemistry and materials science and the Energy Frontier Research Centers. We will continue construction of the Advanced Photon Source Upgrade at the Argonne National Laboratory, and initiate the Advanced Light Source Upgrade project at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Linac Coherence Light Source-II High Energy project at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The operations of the light sources across the DOE science complex and supporting research across the Nation maintain U.S. world leadership in light sources and the science they make possible. The Budget also supports continued construction for Spallation Neutron Source Proton Power Upgrade and Second Target Station at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Budget requests $768 million for High Energy Physics (HEP), including $100 million for construction of the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment at Fermilab, $30 million below the enacted FY 2019 level. We will continue to fund ongoing major items of equipment projects, including three new projects at the Large Hadron Collider: the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider Accelerator Project; the High Luminosity ATLAS; and the High Luminosity CMS detector upgrade projects. By supporting the highest priority activities and projects identified by the U.S. high energy physics community, this program will pursue cutting-edge research to understand how the universe works at its most fundamental level.

The Budget for the Office of Science provides $403 million for Fusion Energy Sciences (FES), including $296 million for domestic research and fusion facilities and $107 million for the ITER project to continue to support delivery of the highest priority in-kind hardware systems contributions. For Nuclear Physics (NP), the budget provides $625 million to discover, explore, and understand nuclear matter, including $40 million for continued construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams and operations of facilities. For Biological and Environmental Research (BER), the Budget includes $494 million to support foundational genomic sciences, including the Bioenergy Research Centers, and to focus on increasing the sensitivity and reducing the uncertainty of earth and environmental systems predictions.

Advancing Exascale Computing

As I discussed last year, the Department’s leadership in developing and building the world’s fastest computers faced increasingly fierce global competition over the last decade. Maintaining the Nation’s international primacy in high-performance computing is more critical than ever for national security, economic prosperity, and a continued leadership role in science and innovation.

I am proud to say that, as of the present day, the Department is actively sustaining America’s leadership in this vital area. As of June 2019, the world’s two fastest supercomputers were located at DOE National Laboratories – Summit at Oak Ridge and Sierra at Lawrence Livermore. In fact, the Summit system achieved the global number one ranking as the world’s fastest system in June 2016, was delivered nine months ahead of schedule and $13.5 million below budget, and is another example of the DOE lab continued project management excellence. In all, the United States currently owns five out of the world’s top ten supercomputers, with four of those located at DOE national laboratories. In addition, teams from DOE’s Oak Ridge

and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories captured the 2018 Gordon Bell Prize, the most prestigious award for achievement in high performance computing software and applications. These coupled achievements in both hardware and software are significant, since it is by sustaining integrated capabilities in hardware, software, algorithms, and applications – along with basic research in applied mathematics –that America will maintain leadership in this critical field.

To cement America’s leadership position, the Budget includes $809 million to accelerate development of an exascale computing system, including $500 million in the Office of Science (Science) and $309 million in NNSA. This reflects the Department’s plan to deploy an exascale machine for the Office of Science in calendar year 2021 at Argonne National Laboratory, a second machine with a different architecture in the 2021-2022 timeframe at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and provides support for the procurement of and site preparation for a third exascale system, architecturally similar to the second machine at Oak Ridge, delivered to NNSA at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in FY 2023.

To achieve these goals, the Science/NNSA partnership will focus on hardware and software technologies needed to produce an exascale system, and the critical DOE applications needed to use such a platform. This world-leading exascale program will bolster our national security by supporting the nuclear stockpile, while also supporting the next generation of scientific breakthroughs not possible with today’s computing systems.

Quantum Information Science

Even as we prepare to deploy exascale systems, we are pursuing research in Quantum Information Science (QIS), an emerging multidisciplinary area that has the potential to define the next frontier in information processing and a range of other fields. Our QIS effort is genuinely interdisciplinary, a $168 million investment involving all six major DOE Office of Science program offices: ASCR, BES, BER, FES, HEP, and NP.

The potential of QIS to contribute to a wide range of disciplines is striking. Quantum computing promises the capability to attack large problems that elude classical computing and to provide new insights into materials and chemistry through accurate modeling and simulation of quantum systems. In addition, QIS holds the potential of developing exquisitely sensitive quantum sensors, for applications ranging from biology to the effort to detect Dark Matter. Finally, QIS may hold the key to ultra-secure networking, at a time when cybersecurity is a mounting concern.

The Budget provides $40 million to ASCR, BES and HEP to establish a new QIS center, which would integrate universities with National Laboratories, through investments across all six Science program offices. We are seeking to sustain U.S. leadership in this important and highly competitive area.

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning

Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Machine Learning (ML) defines another critical cross-disciplinary activity, with the potential to contribute to advances across multiple fields. This is another rapidly developing area in which it is vital for America to maintain a leadership role.

In a world awash with data, AI holds the promise of harnessing and deriving new insights from massive data sets. The massive quantities of data generated by DOE Office of Science user facilities such as X-ray lights sources are believed to provide a major opportunity for the development of new AI applications for data analysis. It is also believed that AI may provide a pathway to improving the performance of particle accelerators and other key facilities. The FY 2020 Budget provides $71 million for AI/ML spread across all six Science program offices for both the application of AI/ML to research and the development of new AI/ML approaches and algorithms as well as $48 million requested in the FY 2020 Budget for NNSA for AI.

Microelectronics

By virtue of its leadership in supporting high-performance computing, as well as its longstanding sponsorship of research in materials science, the DOE Office of Science has been a major contributor over the decades to the development of microelectronics. Science has helped lay the fundamental scientific foundation for advances in these technologies, while partnering with industry in the development of new systems requiring new chips. This role is becoming increasingly important as we approach the end of Moore’s Law and stand at the threshold of what is likely to be a new era in microelectronics. In an important new initiative, the FY 2020 Budget provides $25 million for redoubled research efforts on microelectronics.

The research will benefit from groundwork laid at an October 2018 DOE workshop on “Basic Research Needs in Microelectronics,” bringing together top experts and co-sponsored by ASCR, BES, and HEP. 

Biosecurity

As mentioned, back in 1986, the Department provided the original impetus and idea for the Human Genome Project, and later partnered with the National Institutes of Health, to successfully complete the sequencing of a human genome in 2000. Since then the Department’s Office of Science has remained on the cutting-edge of genomics-based system biology, making major contributions to the continued advancement of the relevant technologies. These dual use technologies have now advanced to a point where they pose new and unprecedented security challenges.

To address this growing challenge, the FY 2020 Budget includes $20 million for BER for research related to biosecurity.

Isotopes

One of the Department’s important contributions to medicine and industry is the Isotope Development & Production for Research and Applications Program, known more simply as the DOE Isotope Program. The program, managed by Science’s Office of Nuclear Physics, supports the production and development of production techniques, as well as radioactive and stable isotopes that are in short supply for research and applications. In doing so, it provides a vital contribution to research, medicine, and industry. The Budget provides $5 million to initiate a construction project for a U.S. Stable Isotope Production and Research Center at ORNL.

Fulfilling Legacy Cleanup Responsibilities

The mission of the Department’s Environmental Management (EM) program is to complete cleanup of legacy nuclear weapons development and research sites. It is the largest program of its kind in the world and represents one of the top financial liabilities to the American taxpayer. EM is working collaboratively with regulators, federal, state, and local governments, and others toward a future that drives cleanup toward completion safer, sooner and at a responsible cost. As EM is put on a sustainable path forward, the FY 2020 Budget Request provides the resources necessary to build upon recent successes and bring a renewed sense of urgency to the program for meaningful and measurable progress at projects and sites throughout the cleanup complex.

The Budget Request includes $6.5 billion for EM to address its responsibilities for the cleanup and disposition of excess facilities, radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, and other materials resulting from five decades of nuclear weapons development and production and Government-sponsored nuclear energy research.

To-date, EM has completed cleanup activities at 91 sites in 30 states and Puerto Rico, and is responsible for cleaning up the remaining 16 sites in 11 states –some of the most challenging sites in the cleanup portfolio.

The Budget Request includes $1.4 billion for the Office of River Protection at the Hanford Site for continued work at the Hanford Tank Farms and to make progress on the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. This budget will continue progress toward important cleanup required by the Consent Decree and Tri-Party Agreement to include a milestone to complete hot commissioning of the Low Activity Waste Facility by December 31, 2023. The Budget also includes $718 million to continue cleanup activities at Richland. The Budget continues River Corridor decontamination and decommissioning activities including remediation of the highly contaminated 300-296 waste site under the 324 Building. For Savannah River, the Budget provides $1.6 billion, $91 million above enacted FY 2019, to support activities at the site. This will include the Liquid Tank Waste Management Program, completing cold commissioning beginning operation of the Salt Waste Processing Facility, continued construction activities for Saltstone Disposal Unit #7 and #8/9 design and construction activities for Saltstone Disposal Unit #10-#12, and funding to support design and construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility.

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is essential for the disposition of transuranic defense-generated waste across the DOE complex, and the Budget provides $398 million to safely continue waste emplacement at WIPP. The Budget Request will continue WIPP operations, including waste emplacements, shipments, and maintaining enhancements and improvements, and progress on critical infrastructure repair/replacement projects, including $58 million for the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System and $35 million for the Utility Shaft (formerly Exhaust Shaft). These steps will increase airflow in the WIPP underground for simultaneous mining and waste emplacement operations.

The Budget Request includes $348 million to continue cleanup projects at the Idaho site, such as the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit, and to process, characterize, and package transuranic waste for disposal at offsite facilities. It provides $429 million for Oak Ridge to continue deactivation and demolition of remaining facilities at the East Tennessee Technology Park, continue preparation of Building 2026 to support processing of the remaining U-233 material at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and support construction activities for the Outfall 200 Mercury Treatment Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex and design for a new On-Site Waste Disposal Facility to support cleanup.

For Portsmouth, the Budget Request includes $426 million to continue progress on the deactivation and decommissioning project at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, safe operation of the Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility, and construction activities at the On-Site Waste Disposal facility. At Paducah, the Budget Request includes $277 million to continue ongoing environmental cleanup and depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) conversion facility operations at the Paducah site. In addition, the FY 2020 Budget Request supports activities to continue the environmental remediation and further stabilize the gaseous diffusion plant.

The Budget continues funding of $128 million to address specific high-risk contaminated excess facilities at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Together, these investments for EM will make significant progress in fulfilling our cleanup responsibilities while also beginning to address our high-risk excess facilities at NNSA sites.  National Security through Nuclear Security: Sustaining and Modernizing the Nuclear Stockpile and Infrastructure.

Our national security rests upon the foundation of the Nation’s nuclear security enterprise and the deterrent it provides. The Budget funds the overdue modernization of the nuclear stockpile and the aging infrastructure that supports it; strengthens key science, technology, and engineering capabilities that support stockpile modernization; reduces global nuclear threats through nonproliferation and counterterrorism initiatives; and designs and maintains safe and effective nuclear propulsion systems for the U.S. Navy for years to come.

The Budget fulfills the President’s vision of rebuilding and restoring our Nation’s security through investments in the Department’s nuclear security mission. The Budget provides $16.5 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Of this amount, the Budget Request includes $12.4 billion for Weapons Activities. This $1.3 billion increase supports maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nuclear stockpile; continuing the nuclear modernization program; and modernizing NNSA’s nuclear security infrastructure portfolio in alignment with the Nuclear Posture Review.

The Budget includes $2.1 billion for our ongoing Life Extension Programs (LEP), Major Alteration, and Modifications, a $197 million increase. I am pleased to report that the W76-1 LEP completed its last production unit in December 2018. Final deliveries to the Navy will be completed by the end of this fiscal year. The W76-2 Modification, the low-yield variant of the W76, is on schedule, on budget, and will be completed consistent with Nuclear WeaponsCouncil (NWC) direction.. We also continue to make progress on the B61-12 LEP and the W88 Alteration 370. That said, we are currently working through recently identified challenges that will impact delivery schedules and we are assessing options with the Department of Defense to mitigate delays. The Budget also supports the Air Force’s Long-Range Stand-Off program through an increase of $244 million from the FY 2019 enacted level for the W80-4 LEP to deliver the first production unit in FY 2025 of the cruise missile warhead. The request includes $112 million for the W87-1 Modification Program, which will replace the W78, one of the oldest warheads in the stockpile, by 2030.

The Weapons Activities Budget request also includes $309 million for NNSA collaboration with the Office of Science on the development of exascale computer systems; $778 million for the protection of personnel, facilities, nuclear weapons, and materials across the Department’s nuclear security enterprise; and $309 million for information technology and cybersecurity protection. 

The infrastructure portion in Weapons Activities increases investments to modernize our nuclear infrastructure, improve working conditions of NNSA’s aging facilities and equipment, and address safety and programmatic risks through facility and equipment recapitalization and the stabilization of deferred maintenance. In this Budget is $745 million for construction of the Uranium Processing Facility, which is needed to replace deteriorating facilities at the Y-12 National Security Complex, as well as $123 million for the High Explosives Science and Engineering Facility at Pantex, $27 million for a Tritium Finishing Facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS), and $32 million for a Lithium Processing Facility at Y-12. The Budget also includes $168 million to support the Department’s commitment to finishing the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Facility Project, which is necessary to support the pit production mission and other actinide activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

The highest NNSA infrastructure priority is re-establishing a plutonium pit production capability to meet military requirements, supported by numerous studies and analyses, of no fewer than 80 war reserve pits per year by 2030. Last May, the NWC endorsed NNSA’s recommended alternative calling for plutonium pit production at LANL and SRS. This two-site approach bolsters the nuclear security enterprise’s responsiveness and resiliency.

The Budget also includes $2.0 billion for the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program to reduce global threats from nuclear weapons. This critical national security program prevents the spread of nuclear and radiological materials, and technologies, advances technologies that detect nuclear and radiological proliferation worldwide, and eliminates or secures inventories of surplus materials and infrastructure usable for nuclear weapons.

The Budget invests $774 million at SRS in FY 2020, a 76 percent increase over FY 2019. NNSA will continue termination activities for the orderly and safe closure of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility Project. The Budget will also continue to pursue a dilute and dispose strategy to fulfill the U.S. commitment to dispose of 34 metric tons (MT) of plutonium and modernize SRS infrastructure to support the tritium supply chain.

The Budget provides $372 million for Nuclear Counterterrorism and Incident Response, $53 million above the FY 2019 enacted level, to work domestically and around the world to improve our ability to respond to radiological or nuclear incidents, in conjunction with other agencies in a broader U.S. Government effort.

In the NNSA’s Office of Naval Reactors, the Department has the ongoing  responsibility to provide militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants for the Navy and to ensure their safe, reliable and long-lived operation. The Budget provides $1.6 billion to support the operation of the Navy’s nuclear-powered fleet, the continuation of the Columbia-class reactor plant design, refueling of the land-based prototype reactor, and the construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling Facility.

Today, nearly 45% of the Navy’s major combatants are nuclear powered. The Department’s role in propulsion plant design, spent fuel handling, and recapitalization is critical to the Navy’s ability to conduct its missions around the globe.

Finally, the Budget includes $435 million for Federal Salaries and Expenses at the NNSA. This $25 million increase is essential to ensuring our world-class workforce of dedicated men and women can effectively oversee NNSA’s critical national security missions.

Focusing Priorities on Core Missions

The Budget continues to focus the Department’s energy and science programs on early-stage research and development at our National Laboratories to advance American primacy in scientific and energy research in an efficient and costeffective manner.

Also, in line with Administration priorities, the Budget terminates the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, known as ARPA-E, and the Department’s Loan Programs, while maintaining necessary federal staff to oversee existing awards and loans. Termination of these programs will save over $850 million in FY 2020 alone while significantly reducing financial risk to the taxpayer moving forward.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I reaffirm my pledge that the Department of Energy, along with our National Laboratories, will continue to support the world’s best enterprise of scientists and engineers who create innovations to drive American security, prosperity, and competitiveness. The President’s FY 2020 Budget Request for the Department of Energy reflects the priorities to enhance our energy, economic, and national security today, while making strategic investments to accelerate the breakthroughs that will fuel America’s tomorrow.

In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to working with you and your colleagues in Congress on the specific programs mentioned in this testimony and throughout the Department. Congress has an important role in the path forward on spending decisions for the taxpayer, and I will, in turn, ensure DOE is run efficiently, effectively, and that we accomplish our mission-driven goals. Thank you, and I look forward to answering your questions.

The initial direction of the Department of Energy under the Trump administration has changed given education on Secretary Perry's part.  When Secretary Perry first came into office, he planned to run the DOE in a similar style to his Governing of Texas years ago.



Upon entering the position, Secretary Perry learned the actual way that the Department of Energy operated.  He met a considerable amount of obstacles in implementing the Trump administrations goal of reviving the coal industry at the expense of moving toward renewable energy.



This I classify as his education throughout the last year and a half.  Also, he met considerable opposition each time he was asked to report to Congress.  Which is reasonable for any new administrator.  Although, when the goal is to roll back measures that have been previously passed by Congress, the plan will inevitably be met with a significant amount of opposition.  This is understandable given that Congress has already ruled on the matter.



Here is the full Congressional hearing (in video form) shown below:

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Any Discussions of Climate Plans in the Second Democratic Debate in Detroit?

Source: Politico

A couple of days ago, Politico reported (in brief) on the small amount of discussion surrounding climate change and the environment at the first Democratic Debate in Detroit (Michigan).  Why should anyone care about what is discussed in Detroit (Michigan)? To a first approximation, each American should care about a potential presidential candidate's view on the environment.  Look no further than Houston (Texas) after Hurricane Harvey or Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.  These regions are still experiencing difficulty in repairing the damage done from these storms.



With the increase in the frequency of storms, climate change should be on the back of each American mind.  Of course, yes, there are other more immediate concerns -- jobs, access to healthcare, and taxes to watch before climate change.  Although, the root cause of storms is linked to the changing climate.  Looking back at the second Democratic Debate, what was said regarding climate change plans -- reported by Politico:

DEMS DEBATE CLIMATE AMBITION: It arrived more than an hour and a half into the debate, but Democratic presidential candidates fought over how aggressive their plans to address climate change must be. "Climate change is not a single issue. It's every issue," Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said on the stage, directing his fire at former Vice President Joe Biden. "These deadlines are set by science," he told Biden. "Unfortunately, your plan is just too late."

Biden pushed back that his plan called for "immediate action" and, pressed by moderators, vowed coal and fracking would receive no subsidies in his administration after officials "work it out." But that prompted Inslee to shoot back: "We cannot work this out. Our house is on fire."

Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.) laid out a new benchmark for candidates. "Nobody should get applause for rejoining the Paris climate accord. That's kindergarten," he said. "The only way we're going to deal with this is if the U.S. leads."

Aside from the threat posed by climate change, the investment opportunity presents a real opportunity.  Recently, a report showed the investment group Blackwater has lost around $90 billion in investment opportunities.  Instead of investing in renewable energy, Blackwater has invested in large oil companies which have not paid off as dearly as they had hoped.  This can affect the job market along with other aspects of the economy.



As the frequency of storms increases over time, potential residents and investors have to change their perspective when looking to live (and invest) in a city.  If the city chooses to ignore the need to invest in flood infrastructure, the city could be potentially downgraded on the creditworthiness.  Meaning, when a storm hits, creditors ask: How does the city plan to repay the debt? Especially, before the next storm hits (and the next after)?  These are questions which are starting to emerge on investors minds.

Good Questions

Right before the last presidential election in 2016, I posted the questions from an organization called 'Science Debate.'  The mission is to elevate science in every aspect of society from policy making to voter awareness.  For the 2018 midterm elections, the following questions were posted on the website.  These questions are valid for today's candidates and should be entertained by each of us while watching any political debate:

2018 Q&A for House, Senate and Gubernatorial Candidates

Candidates: Please send responses to answers@sciencedebate.org in a word document with your name, state and seat you are running for in the subject line.

INNOVATION. Science and technology have been responsible for half the growth of the U.S. economy since World War II. What role, if any, should government play in stimulating innovative science and technology so we continue to benefit from them?

CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY. What are your views on climate change and how would they affect your energy policies if at all?

CYBER SECURITY. What will you do to protect America from cyber attacks while also protecting personal privacy?

MENTAL HEALTH. PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, depression, anxiety, drug addiction, and suicide affect millions of Americans with cost of care and lost productivity greater than $400 billion a year. What mental health policies will you support if you are elected?

EDUCATION. In an age dominated by complex science and technology, how can we ensure that students receive adequate STEM education?

WATER. The long-term security of water supplies is threatened by aging infrastructure, pollution, climate variability and a growing population. What should government do to ensure access to clean water?

FOOD. How would you manage American agriculture so it provides healthy and affordable food grown in a just and sustainable way?

SPACE. What should America’s goals be for space exploration and earth observation and what steps would you take to achieve them?

OCEANS. Large areas of our oceans are polluted, acidification is damaging coral reefs and other habitats, and overfishing could wipe out certain species and diminish this vital source of food. What will you do to improve ocean health?

SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY. Politicians are disputing settled science and firing government scientists for political reasons. How will you foster a culture that respects scientific evidence and protects scientists?

Share any science policy issues involving medicine, national security, environment, education, the economy or other pressing issues that impact your state/district that you would like to expand on

The questions above serve as good food for thought regarding a wide range of issues which are related to science.  Typically, science in politics is predominantly linked to hot topic issues like climate change, or the environment.  Although, the range is much wider than expected.  There are more issues linked to the elevation of science in society than previously thought.



The list of questions above could potentially change for the 2020 presidential candidates.  If that turns out to be the case, check back on this site for updated questions from Science Debate.  Until then, read over the questions above and think critically about which candidate offers the best solution to any, if all of the questions.  Science should play a larger role in policymaking.  Especially, since science directly or indirectly impacts every aspect of our lives on a daily basis.



Have a great weekend!



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Did The Environment Come Up In the First Democratic Debate In Detroit?

Source: ABC News

The political fighting going on these days is discouraging.  President Trump is a disappointment (not that I voted for him), and Democratic candidates are widely represented.  Which is to say, there are a whole lot of them?  What are their views on Climate Change, along with other environmental issues plaguing our country today?  In an earlier post last month, I hyperlinked a few of the Democratic candidate's climate plans as offered in the news article cited.



Since I did not get a chance to watch the debate in Detroit, I will rely on Politico to summarize up the debate for me -- as shown below:

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Democratic hopefuls once again only discussed their climate plans briefly last night, but the discussion managed to span issues including the Flint, Mich., drinking water crisis to a declaration by Sen. Bernie Sanders that the fossil fuel industry is criminal.

"We've got to ask ourselves a simple question: What do you do with an industry that willingly, for billions of dollars in short-term profits, is destroying this planet. I say that is criminal activity that cannot be allowed to continue," Sanders (I-Vt.) said.

The response came after more than an hour without a specific climate question. Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney was the first to get a chance to respond to a climate question, by calling for a direct air capture market and panning the Green New Deal as unrealistic. Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, meanwhile, called for "a sustainable and regenerative agriculture system that sequesters carbon into the soil," and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren highlighted a "green industrial policy" plan that "takes advantage of the fact that we do what we do best, which is innovate and create."

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar said "a voice from the Heartland" is required to make progress on infrastructure and climate change, and called for changing the capital gains rate to pay for rural broadband and green infrastructure. Author Marianne Williamson used her time to put the drinking water crisis in plain terms: "We need to say it like it is, it's bigger than Flint. It's all over this country. It's particularly people of color. It's particularly people who do not have the money to fight back."

READY FOR ROUND 2: The remaining 10 Democrats will debate tonight, and it's expected to be more combative. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signaled he'll go after his opponents for their lack of action on climate change. Inslee — who unveiled another climate plan Monday — wrote an op-ed this week on the need for Democrats to increase their focus on the issue, and tweeted last night that he was "mad as hell" climate was not brought up in the first hour. Not to mention, the super PAC supporting him unveiled new ads this week hitting several front-runners for not making climate change a high priority.

Eyes will also be on former Vice President Joe Biden after his previous debate clash with Sen. Kamala Harris, whom he'll face again tonight. This time the California Democrat will come armed with new environmental justice legislation she crafted with Green New Deal author Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Who's debating tonight: Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet; Biden; New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker; former HUD Secretary Julián Castro; New York Mayor Bill de Blasio; Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand ; Harris; Inslee and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.

Regardless of whoever occupies the Oval Office in 2020, the change that accompanies climate change will inevitably have to contain substantial infrastructure changes.  To change an entire nation (the U.S.A) will require an extensive funding measure. A measure which is incomprehensible and unimaginable in size. Which is why modifications made on the state level are better.



State-level management is enough to drive change.  Change that can happen on familiar territory.  A one size fits all plan will not work for the entire U.S.  There are too many diverse states (and local regions) for a one size fits all method to work.  If local and state politicians start realizing plans which will work in their districts, large scale change will be possible.  The one major component which needs to happen first is a change of political will.  Currently, there are 'pockets' of 'political will' throughout the United States, which are proof that change is on the horizon.



Nonetheless, funding decisions need to be made by politicians in Washington, D.C. -- which is why candidates position/platform on such funding is critical toward moving forward.  Funding which will pay for large-scale projects.  Projects looking into the future.  Projects which deal with cleaning up from the past -- a result of climate change disasters occurring more frequently.  The first step toward changing the nation is a discussion.  Enjoy the second debate.


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