Roy, Vice President at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), currently manages advanced programs business area that focus on addressing our Nation's security. With energy on the forefront of our Nation's security needs, SAIC is working with DARPA to develop commercial scale processes to grow and process algae to liquid fuel for today’s aircraft – with a focus on sustainability.
We are in the early stages of an historic change in the way we organize the earth's energy. The Industrial Age, which began with the carrying of coal from Newcastle several hundred years ago, is now winding down in the oil fields of the Middle East. Our petro-geologists tell us that global production of oil is likely to peak as early as 2010 or as late as 2037. Peak refers to the point at which half of the known reserves of cheap crude oil are used up. Once that point is reached, prices will begin to rise dramatically and continue to do so as society moves down the b
The world’s largest private purchaser of electricity and the nation’s second largest fleet of trucks is striving for increased efficiency and conservation. Wal-Mart’s 7,200 trucks travel over a billion miles a year. By installing auxiliary power units that enable the drivers to keep their cabs warm or cool during breaks from the road, Wal-Mart could save $26 million a year in fuel costs alone. Wal-Mart’s new sustainability plan seeks to increase the efficiency of its vehicle fleet by 50% over the next ten years and reduce energy demands in their facilities by 30%.
On November 10, the Energy Conversation hosted Michael Granoff, Head of Oil Independence Policies at the revolutionary transportation company Better Place (http://www.betterplace.com). Better Place is an international company based in Israel that takes a novel approach to transportation without oil. Since its launch in 2007, Better Place has received over $200M in private financing, altered the tax law in Israel to support its business model and aligned with Renault and Nissan to manufacture its vehicles.
