by Mike Smith and Contributor Liz Bush

A hub of gadgets and gizmos were on display at RETECH 2010 in Washington this week, clearly the technology of tomorrow. The display gave attendees the eerie feeling of walking through a green-themed Star Trek set.

 

There were 100% CO2 neutral Mack trucks from Volvo, solar energy panels, windmills, advanced water filtration systems, and even a booth urging passerby’s to “invest in Denmark.”  Copenhagen was the site of COP15 in December last year and is leveraging its UN Climate Change Summit for economic development.

 

Experts on finance, national security, education, business, legislation, and more came together to offer their advice and opinions regarding the importance of investing in alternative energy at the companion conference.

 

Aimee Christensen from Christensen Global Strategies believes that this is a “critical moment for the future.” Global business and opportunities are being taken elsewhere to countries with clear energy plans. “We will become significantly less competitive if [clean energy] is not pursued.”

 

Boyden Gray, the president of Boyden Gray & Associates, and former US Ambassador to the European Union, remarked on the inextricable ties between energy and national security.  The career diplomat note the dependence the United States has on foreign oil gives the US, of course, a “disadvantage in regards to confrontation in the Middle East.”

 

Gray was just one of the heavyweights on these panels. He was counsel to president George H.W. Bush and worked under Condolezza Rice at State. So Gray has seen the approach to energy from several Administrations.

 

Admiral Dennis McGinn also believes that energy and security go hand-in-hand.  “We will have better and more effective warriors,” says McGinn of new technology’s ability to provide combat soldiers with less volume and weight.  The military has lofty goals with units and bases.  “By 2012 the goal is for strike units to be using 100% alternative fuel – and by 2020, 50% of bases to be operating on alternative fuel,” added McGinn.  He even discussed algae-based fuel for ships. Volvo displayed its Mack truck line with lithium batteries adding a boast to the Air Force’s 28,000 pound truck at the show.

 

Based on the array of support, new technologies, and passionate argument, one could not help but get swept away on the fuel-efficient bandwagon.  However, the subject remains to be controversial, especially with the focus on Cap and Trade.

 

Howard Learner, the executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center says that, “We cannot get there with just an energy bill, we need Cap and Trade.” 

 

“There is much ado about whether we do Cap and Trade” in the US, Attorney Bill Thomas of Skadden Arps said. “How do you integrate North American Carbon without Cap and Trade?” noted Thomas.