The Nuclear Energy Summit featured four speakers to discuss future domestic nuclear deployment, domestic and global nuclear plant development, environmental improvements, and how to build a skilled labor force for the task. The resounding consensus agreed that there is a “bright future ahead for nuclear energy” to “sustain U.S. global leadership as a priority.” James Conca is the Director of the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center in New Mexico. He advocated a sustainable energy plan for the globe by 2040 by using one-third fossil fuels, one-third renewable fuel, and one-third nuclear fuel. Everyone agreed on one thing: “It’s going to cost a lot no matter what you do.”

Cristo and Jeanne-Claude discussed their upcoming environmental installation art at a luncheon at the National Press Club. One project, “Over the River,” is planned to open in Colorado in 2012. The project is a series of fabrics hung over cables which will cover parts of the Arkensas river. The project will use over 5.9 miles of fabric and be visible from the nearby highway and to rafters going down the river. “Over the River” will cost $50 million, and will be funded entirely by Cristo and Jeanne-Cleude. Their main source of income comes from selling sketches and plans of their projects, as well as selling Cristo’s earlier works.

Another project, “The Mastaba,” will take place in the United Arab Emirates. “The Mastaba” will be made of 410,000 multicolored oil barrels stacked into a structure that will be over 500 feet high.

One unique aspect of Cristo and Jeanne-Claude’s work is that all of their artwork is temporary – after it has been on display for a few months it is taken down and the materials from the project are recycled. Human beings have a love and tenderness for things which do not last, said Jean-Claude, such as childhood innocence. We try to capture the aesthetic quality of this love and tenderness in our artwork, she said.

Jeanne-Claude talks about why she and her husband Cristo make artwork that is only temporary. (0:42)

 

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Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman revealed the National Biofuels Action Plan today, an ambitious blueprint that would that would increase the level of biofuel production four times by the year 2022.

The plan would research how to integrate ethanol into the national economy, including the introduction of E-10, E-15 and E-20 gas (gasoline which is ten percent, 15 percent, and 20 percent ethanol, respectively) into the consumer market. The plan would also invest $1 billion into sustainable next generation biofuels.

We can’t rely on ethanol, said Secretary Boden, we need to accelerate the deployment of next generation biofuels. This included cellulosic fuel, in which non-feed crops were broken down and the sugars from the cellulose cell walls are converted into biofuel. A wide range of plants can be used to create cellulosic biofuel, including Switchgrass, Hybrid Poplars and Eucalyptus.

Building a stronger public health system in the United States was the agenda today for the Trust America’s Health report that came out today. In the report recommends investment in more nutrition for America’s children. According to the report this would cost a total of $16 billion over a period of five years. (more…)

Attorney General Michael Mukasey speaking at the American Enterprise Institute [AEI] today called on Congress to act on detainees at Guantanamo Bay possibly trying to usurp the court system. Under the rules of habeas corpus, the 270 detainees at Guantanamo Bay have a constitutional right to challenge their detentions. The overriding issue facing the judicial system at the moment is when they are allowed to pursue legal action under habeas corpus. Mukasey called on Congress to draft legislation that would “act to resolve these difficult questions that have been left unanswered.” (more…)