Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., wants to attack the issue of energy subsidies over the next two years. He told the
environmental Internet magazine Grist that $20 billion a year of those subsidies can be transferred to research and development for clean energy.
“I would try to swap the money we're spending on permanent subsidies for energy and invest it instead in research,” he said. “Second, I'd like to focus these funds on the most promising areas of clean energy. I've devised a plan for seven mini Manhattan Projects for energy independence.” Those seven areas include solar energy, batteries, green building, capturing carbon, fusion, producing fuel from unused crops, and handling of nuclear fuel.
“So far we've been able to identify about $20 billion a year of energy subsidies” that could go toward research and development, Alexander said.
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