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Welcome to "Ask the White House" -- an online interactive forum where you can submit questions to Administration officials and friends of the White House. Visit the "Ask the White House" archives to read other discussions with White House officials.

Michael, from NYC writes:
Brazil officially switched to ethanol, and found that there are no modifications needed to transfertransport same, as the same pipelines, trucks, boats and gas pumps can be used with no changes necessary. What is preventing the United States from doing the same thing? Not only would our dependence on foreign oil be reduced, thus reducing the need for our presence in the Middle East, but the agricultural aspects would reap massive benefits for US citizens, the wealthy and lower classes alike.

Samuel Bodman
I understand why some people wonder why we can’t just do the same thing as Brazil, but it is really a matter of scale. To start, we already produce more ethanol than Brazil.

In addition, every day we use about 20 million barrels of crude oil – that’s 25 percent of the world’s consumption. So as the largest consumer of crude oil, we have to do what we can to diversify our supply and our suppliers. Some of that diversity can come from ethanol.

Currently, we are on a path towards greater use of ethanol – and other plant-based bio-fuels – to power our cars and trucks. Last year, America produced 4 billion gallons of ethanol. This year we’re expecting that number to be closer to 6 billion gallons. However, in order to produce 6 million gallons of ethanol, we will use nearly 20 percent of our nation’s corn crop.

In his State of the Union Address, President Bush unveiled his Advanced Energy Initiative which proposes spending $150 million on research into biomass. That will allow us to fund research into cellulosic ethanol which will allow us to make transportation fuel from switch grass, wood chips and other inedible plant waste.

As I said at the outset, anyone who is interested in the subject of bio-fuels is welcome to attend the October 10-12 renewable fuels conference in St. Louis. I encourage everyone to visit www.energy.gov for more information.

Jeff, from Ely, Nevada writes:
Secretary Bodman,With President Bush's recent visit to an E85 ethanol fueling station in Hoover, Alabama, do you think ethanol will begin to replace gasoline at service stations any time soon?

Samuel Bodman
Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 - which President Bush signed into law a little more than a year ago – you should be seeing an increasing number of E85 pumps around the country very soon. EPAct allows fueling stations to claim a 30%, one-time tax credit for the cost of installing clean-fuel vehicle refueling equipment. In addition, we have just awarded nearly $8.5 million as part of our Clean Cities program which will bring more E85 pumps to interstates throughout the country.

This seems like a lot of information, but it’s good to know that consumers have more practical and affordable options when going to fill up their car or truck.

In the longer term, it’s important that Americans know that there is a substantial amount of research currently underway at our national labs and in the private sector to find better and cheaper ways to manufacture bio-fuels from plants that are usually just plowed under – the technical term for it is cellulosic ethanol. Breakthroughs in bio-fuel technology may make it possible for us to rely on more than just E85 as we move toward our national goal of replacing 30 percent of current U.S. petroleum consumption with bio-fuels by the year 2030.

Eric, from St. Louis, MO writes:
I heard about the government's conference on renewable energy that will be held in my hometown, St. Louis. I think it's great that President Bush's Administration is taking a stand to break our addiction to oil. How will this conference help reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Thanks.

Samuel Bodman
In his 2006 State of the Union, President Bush outlined a series of steps and a plan for reducing America’s dependence on imported oil from unstable parts of the world. As I mentioned in my opening statement, that effort, the Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI), has a number of component parts – all of which contribute to reaching that goal. The AEI includes funding for research and development of hydrogen, fuel cell and vehicle technology, biomass, solar and wind energy, as well as nuclear and clean coal research. The list goes on and on, but the best thing this country can do to address its energy needs is aim to diversify our energy mix. There is no silver bullet, no quick-fix. So we hope that getting the best minds together, in industry and government, will help breakdown obstacles currently preventing us from getting more alternatives to petroleum into the market very soon.

The St. Louis conference is really the first time that many of the key stakeholders from three critical renewable energy sectors – solar, biofuels, and wind – will all be together to discuss ways to accelerate the commercialization of their technologies. In addition, we are going to have members of the venture capital world as well as government representatives and university and private companies there to discuss ways everyone can work together to bring more renewable fuels to market sooner.

We want to make sure that the research we are supporting through the national labs and through other government activities continue to line up with the private sector’s efforts – and that everyone understands the full scope of the issues we’re examining. The government plays a key role in the research and development of renewable energy technology but, by working with the private sector, we can accelerate the pace of change, getting cheaper, cleaner renewable fuels to consumers faster.

Lynn, from San Francisco, CA writes:
I understand that reducing the cost of alternatives to petroleum is the only obstacle keeping more Americans from buying and using alternative fuels? Is this true? And if so, why doesn't the government provide more incentives for companies to make alternatives to petroleum cheaper? Thanks for participaing in this chat.

Samuel Bodman
Thanks for your question, Lynn.

As you know, the energy issues that we are facing today took decades to develop and they’re not going to be solved overnight. But the more people learn about the issues and about what they can do, the faster we will get the solutions we can all live with.

As to your question the cost of renewable fuels – while something we are very focused on – is not the only reason alternative fuels have not widely used by the American public. There is the issue of availability, something we are working on very hard on right now. Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, we were able to offer tax credits and other types of assistance to fuel vendors who chose to make alternative transportation fuels like E85 available. I have been to more than one ribbon cutting at new E85 pumps in the last year and I am hopeful that I will get to go to even more in the future.

In addition, the Department of Energy recently awarded nearly $8.5 million to fund more E85 fueling stations throughout the country. We see this as a positive step. Because not only is ethanol a cleaner fuel, but it is also something that we can produce right here in the United States, throughout rural America. This brings jobs and economic development to the heartland of the country.

You mention the cost of ethanol as a problem. Currently, ethanol is cost competitive with gasoline. It costs about $1.10 to produce a gallon of ethanol from corn. However, it costs about $2.20 to produce a gallon of ethanol from cellulose (non-corn feedstocks). So we need to fund research that will lead to the lowering of the price of cellulosic ethanol. And that’s where the President’s Advanced Energy initiative comes into play. The Initiative will fund new research by our leading labs and biotech companies.

I’m proud of our nation’s biotech industry. It is the world’s leader. There is a lot of work going on right now to develop cheaper ways to make alternative fuels, particularly biofuels, and I am confident that we will see major breakthroughs during President Bush’s term.

Joshua, from Milwaukee Wisconsin writes:
what is the energy plan for this winter

Samuel Bodman
Well, Joshua, I am not entirely clear what you mean by that.

If you’re asking about what the Department of Energy is doing to prepare for the winter, let me say that we are doing everything we know how to do that works, to make sure there is a reliable and affordable supply of energy available for you, and for all Americans, all year round.

In terms of pricing, I’m not one to forecast or make predictions. Right now, the Energy Information Administration – the statistical arm of DOE – is predicting high levels of natural gas inventories when winter begins, which means prices should stay about where they are now. But those projections are based on an “average” winter temperature. Some winters are significantly colder than others and some are warmer.

Having spent much of my life in Boston, I know how cold it can get in places like New England in December, January and February – and home heating oil and gas has to be affordable. It’s not a luxury item – it’s a necessity. So to make sure that year after year, people have what is necessary to heat their homes, we are doing everything we can now, to plan for the years ahead, particularly in terms of diversifying our nation’s energy mix. We want to incorporate more nuclear power and clean coal into our nation’s mix. We want to incorporate renewable and alternative sources of energy anywhere and everywhere it’s deemed appropriate, affordable, and practical for consumers, which is why the scientific research we pursue and oversee now is so critical to our future energy needs.

Scott, from China writes:
Would the high energy prices make the US Economy slow down? How will the DOE try its best to prevent that?

Samuel Bodman
We all saw how important a strong energy sector is to the American economy after last summer’s hurricane, which badly damaged our ability to produce and refine petroleum in the Gulf of Mexico.

President Bush has been focused on energy issues since his first weeks in office and will, I am certain, be focused on them on his last day. Energy issues are tied, in more ways than one, to the health of the U.S. economy. Fortunately, after a clear plan and years of hard work, this Administration was able to win passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the first comprehensive and strategic energy plan enacted in over a decade. This new law, together with the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) and the Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI), form the basis of our strategy to enhance U.S. energy security and protect the health of our economy.

The Department of Energy plays a critical role in both the ACI – a plan to maintain U.S. global leadership in science and technology – and the AEI – which calls for significant new investment in the most promising clean energy technologies. Our website, www.energy.gov, has a wealth of information on all that we are doing on these issues and on everything else the department is doing. I urge you and everyone participating in this chat to check it out.

Getting to your question about high energy prices slowing down the economy – time and time again, the U.S. economy has proven to be resilient and robust. This is really a testament to the American worker. However as the President said, rising energy prices are like a tax on the American family. It’s an unexpected costs that families must endure to live their lives and if families are spending an extra dollar on gasoline or electricity, it’s a dollar they can’t spend on clothing or saving for a college education. That’s why the work that we are doing to diversify our energy sources is so important.

We won’t solve all of our problems in a day, but with hard work and the proper investment we will all be able to enjoy a more energy secure tomorrow.

Scott, from Grove City, PA writes:
Hello, I am curious as to the Bush administration's stance toward nuclear power. I am a strong supporter of nuclear energy and the countries current fear of it frustrates and saddens me. I believe that nuclear energy is a safe and plentiful source of energy and could solve a lot of our current energy needs. I would just like to know if the Bush administration shares this view and if there are any plans to encourage the growth of nuclear power.Thank you for your time, Scott

Samuel Bodman
The President and I both agree with you. Safe nuclear power is a critical part of meeting our future energy needs. It’s true some people still have lingering concerns about it, but that’s beginning to change. Even some prominent environmentalists have come around on the issue, recognizing that it is the only mature power generating source that can meet our current and future needs with zero emissions.

It’s been more than 20 years since we built a nuclear power plant in this country. The technology has improved dramatically in that time. We think that it’s time to start building again and, with the help of the Energy Policy Act signed by President Bush last summer, of 2005, we’re closer to making great strikes to make a new generation of cheap, clean nuclear power a reality for millions of Americans. For example, one of the hurdles nuclear power industry faces is uncertainty about the kinds of regulatory delays they may face. To help address this problem and encourage new construction, the Energy Policy Act provides up to $2 billion dollars (total) in federal risk insurance to help the first utility companies building the next six new nuclear power plants in the United States.

In addition, to help meet the worldwide growing demand for electricity in an environmentally responsible way, the President proposed the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, or GNEP. This is a cooperative partnership aimed to perfect the technology for recycling nuclear fuel, and provide safe, affordable, and proliferation-resistant power plants to developing nations, while also reducing the amount spent fuel.

I should also mention the critical importance of opening Yucca Mountain in Nevada as the nation’s geologic repository for spent nuclear waste. Congress has voted for Yucca as the best site. The science supports Yucca as the best site. We need to get Yucca Mountain open, and our new Assistant Secretary for Civilian Nuclear Waste, Ward Sproat, has an ambitious plan to do just that. Please visit www.energy.gov.

Marc, from Seattle writes:
I am interested in knowing what you believe are the most promising alternatives to the nonrenewable energy sources that most Americans currently rely on. With a growing amount of publicity being given to the wide array of developing energy-related technologies, I believe it is difficult for most Americans to understand which of these technologies might eventually come to market and lead to an improvement in their everyday lives. Which of these developing technologies do you belive are the most promising?

Samuel Bodman
That’s a big question, but your point is well taken, and one the Department of Energy and this Administration take very seriously. The President’s Advanced Initiative really serves as the foundation for our research and development. Whether we’re working on alternatives to petroleum to power our cars, or nuclear energy for electricity, the end goal is to diversify our nation’s energy mix to the point that we do not have to rely on unstable parts of the world for much of our energy. I can’t stress enough how impacting and vital this is to increase our economic and national security.

However, the there are two really promising technologies that I think are under-developed and under-utilized now that I believe can have a significant impact on our nation’s energy security.

One is ethanol. I’ve talked at length about the importance of ethanol and all that we are doing. But the other is in the field of photovoltaics – or solar power. As part of the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative, we are proposing to spend $148 million next year to bring a new generation of solar technology to market. We believe that additional research can make solar panels more efficient and more accessible to more people. I believe that we can power as many as 2 million more homes with clean renewable solar power in just the next few years.

In addition, I would like to mention a campaign that we are working on called “Change-a-Light, Change-the-World”. As part of the campaign, I’m asking people to replace a couple of light bulbs in their homes and offices with energy-efficient, EnergyStar Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, or C-F-Ls as they’re more commonly referred to. By doing this, you can save energy and money.

For instance, a 32-watt CFL, produces the same amount of light as a 100-watt incandescent bulb, but consumes two-thirds less electricity and lasts ten times as long. And the savings, both for the individual consumer and the country as a whole, add up fast. If every household took the pledge and swapped out just one regular incandescent bulb for an Energy-Star CFL, the overall consumption of electricity would be cut by 5.6 billion kilowatt hours and we would save $526 million on our electricity bills.

James, from San Jose, California writes:
I am extremely concerned with the threat of Global Warming. What are you doing to help solve this terrible issue?

Samuel Bodman
Thanks James - your question is timely and I appreciate the opportunity to answer it. This Administration views climate change as a long term global challenge, however President Bush has called for action in the short-term. In early 2002, President Bush laid out a comprehensive strategy to address climate change including a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity 18% by 2012. We are making progress towards this goal and at the same time, investing over $5 billion annually in climate science and technology research to advance our understanding and action on this issue. When I worked at the Department of Commerce, I saw firsthand the scientific investments we are making in this important area of research.

At DOE, just two weeks ago, we released the Climate Change Technology Strategic Plan that builds on much of this research. This 100-year plan establishes guidelines for formulating technology research and development portfolios to identify areas for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The technologies outlined in the plan - hydrogen, biorefining, clean coal, carbon sequestration, nuclear fission and fusion to name a few - we believe, will transform our economy and address not just climate change, but energy security and air pollution as well.

Additionally EPAct and the Advanced Energy Initiative set forth investments and incentives that promote clean energy technologies to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. The AEI as we call it at the Department increases investments in Future Gen - a zero-emission coal-fired power plant, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nuclear energy. It will also improve batteries for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, accelerate the development of zero-emission cars that run on hydrogen, and support biofuels like ethanol.

We're also leading or participating in a number of international partnerships that include countries like China and India and seek to expand markets for investment and trade in cleaner, more efficient energy technologies, goods, and services.

Raymond, from Stratford,CT writes:
Solar energy seems to be a very clean, efficient, and safe form of energy. Do you currently have plans to promote it's use to the American people. Thank You.

Samuel Bodman
Solar, as you may already know, is a key component of the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative. We’re proposing to spend $148 million on solar in the next fiscal year, an increase of nearly 80 percent over this year’s appropriation. Through the Solar America Initiative, we are working to make electric power generated by photovoltaic systems cost competitive with electricity from more conventional sources by 2015.

And I think it can be done. A few months ago I visited the Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado where I dedicated a $22 million Science and Technology Facility. The lab will bring together the best and brightest from the government and private sectors to work on enhancing our solar technology.

The solar energy industry has been growing at an annual rate of more than 35 percent worldwide in recent years with no letup in sight. This is also an industry in which the U.S. has consistently been a global technology leader. And with the help of this new facility and the Solar America Initiative, I believe American companies will stay among the worldwide leaders of this industry for years to come.

john, from texas writes:
When the price of gas was getting high alternative energy was getting off the ground finally. What can we do keep those efforts going now that the oil cartels are lowering the prices to reduce competition from other energy sources?

Samuel Bodman
The Department’s commitment to furthering the President’s Advanced Energy Initiative and to the research and development of cheaper, cleaner alternative fuel supplies is sound and secure, irrespective of gas prices.

You make a valid point about the need to maintain our investment in renewable energy sources. This Administration and the Department of Energy remain committed to expanding the amount of clean energy we produce here at home and reducing our dependence on foreign sources of oil. For the past five and half years – when oil prices have been high, low and everything in between – we have continued to move ahead with renewable energy research. From hydrogen fuel cells, to hybrid electric cars, to ethanol and forms of biofuels, we are pushing the envelope to move America beyond the petroleum-based economy and into a new age of clean, abundant energy.