U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-04-25/us-energy-secretary-steven-chu
With gas prices fluctuating around $4, political debate is heating up over reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. The president has called for one-third less oil imports in the next decade. House Republicans have proposed measures to expand and expedite offshore oil and gas drilling. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu joins us to describe new programs to develop clean technologies, speed the roll-out of electric vehicles and help borrowers make energy-efficient home improvements. The Nobel Prize-winning scientist also talks about his mission to stop global climate change.
Guests
Steven Chu
U.S. secretary of energy
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In addition to the crisis at the Fukushima power plant & Chernobyl accident, there is concern that humans could be exposed to harmful amounts of radiation in the event of a terrorist attack with a “dirty” bomb.
Humans are exposed to natural background radiation, as well as radiation during radiologic procedures. It does seems certain that we will continue to be at risk in the future, due to potentially harmful radiation exposures from multiple sources, and preparedness will be critical to minimizing or preventing radiation effects.
It will be urgent and important for USA to collaborate with Japan and China to discover and develop new drug candidate AK-1 for radioprotection (at no charge).
Dear Ms. Rehm,
How refreshing to hear the educated opinions of Secretary Steven Chu. We need more Mr. Chu's in leadership. We are starving for exposure to scientific knowledge from those who finally get into positions of authority. Those who can then intelligently speak to the issues of fossil fuels combined with an equal respect for renewable resources. I believe global warming is real and need not be an argument between blaming man or the cosmos. It is happening and mature ideas are refreshing.
Thank you NPR, Thank you Mr. Chu
Rick Evertsen
There was a documentary made in 1996 called "Who Killed the Electric Car". The link is:
http://youtu.be/nsJAlrYjGz8
Surprising answer: GM, same company we helped bail out.
GM made an electric car to comply with emission standards that were stringent at the time and only leased it to customers. At the end of the leases, all customers were satisfied and wanted to purchase. They were NOT allowed to. All cars were taken to hidden lots, then one by one shredded to pieces. The reason, the economics of good, clean electric autos were costing the auto companies and fuel companies. They lowered emission standards, so the need went away...along with the REAL story. Hope you will post.
xoxoxo love you Diane and your show!
Dr Chu is a Nobel lauriate scientist and he did not say human activity is causing global warming. Good for him. He said it is a complex problem and gave the carbon 14 answer. I'm sure he knows that there are other reasons why the carbon now increasing in the upper atmospere has depleted it's radiation. Volcanism is but one.
Dr Chu's statement that the earth's temperature has been increasing for the last 150 years was interesting for what he did not say. First, he did not point out that we really did not have the means to detect the phenomina prior to that so we really should say, "for the last 150 years as far as we know." He also did not mention the current debate as to how and where to measure the Earth's average temperature. Do we measure in the high atmosphere, at the surface, in the deep ocean; we are not sure. Do we have the technology to measure the entire planet and what is our base data? Of course, we should ask why the temperature started to rise 150 years ago?
Dr Chu's evasive answer was the equal of any politician's obviscation I have heard lately. I think the only occupation that is as political as Energy Secratary is that of scientist.
mumu
Chu is either dishonest or takes us for fools. There is simply no possible way that solar/wind can supply anywhere near the energy that the world needs. To suggest so, is either disingenuous or worse, deceptive.
mumu
Chu is either dishonest or takes us for fools. There is simply no possible way that solar/wind can supply anywhere near the energy that the world needs. To suggest so, is either disingenuous or worse, deceptive.