A Senators bold dream to capture lightening

Author: Jared Fallon

Amidst the increasing concerns and negative effects of the United State’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels proposed legislation to ease the pain at the pump and on national security risks are increasing. One of the most interesting proposals yet hails from Senator Louie Gohmert (R-TX). In his H.R.6882 he outlines his plans to create the “Electricity Prize Act of 2008” – a lamely entitled proposal but one worth looking into none-the-less. The bill’s text hopes to mandate the National Science Foundation to award a prize of $300,000,000 to the first group or company that can “develop the ability to store multi megawatt electricity for 30 consecutive days with less than a 10 percent decrease in the electricity stored.”

While Gohmert’s idea to lure free-market forces to work towards a sizable goal is not unique, it does outline several unique ideas. According to H.R.6882 dramatic advances have been made for the development and storage of fossil fuels and various forms of alternative energy, but not in the “manner and means of storing electricity, so electricity, when produced, must flow and be used promptly or lost.” Gohmert believes that if the 30 day storage minimum can be met drastic national security and energy benchmarks would be achieved, including satisfying America’s energy needs almost entirely by solar, increasing the chances of capturing lightening for energy use, and would free the US from reliance on foreign energy.

The Senator’s proposal thus far has only reached committee status, where it has been tied up since September 17. The 4 page proposal overall is sound but does not offer any sort of timetable, deadline, nor runner’s up prizes – characteristics that are rather unique for this sort of monetary-incentive plan. Due to the large sum of money Louie is requesting it’s a sure bet that the lack of specifics will be the most heavily debated aspects of the proposal, followed closely by his briefest of brief reference to a completely unexplored idea of energy , stating that his plan “may even lead to capturing lightening.”