Both Directions at Once PROBLEM: Can America simultaneously
achieve energy independence and address global warming? The
challenge of controlling climate change is a goal that, to many,
appears to be at odds with the equally important goal of energy
security. However, the idea that the two goals are somehow
mutually exclusive is not one accepted by ORNL energy researcher
David Greene. "We don't want to sacrifice one for the other," he
says. "We want—and we believe it possible—to achieve
environmental goals and energy security goals at the same time.
"To help determine which technologies have the greatest
potential for reaching these goals, Greene and a
multidisciplinary group of researchers from across the
laboratory conducted the ORNL Energy Assurance Study to
determine (1) which energy goals are feasible, (2) the
technologies needed to realize these goals, and (3) where best
to deploy research and development efforts. "The good news,"
says Greene, "is that, with technology advances in most areas,
the goals a