WASHINGTON, DC, APRIL 2010 — A group of more than 100 university and college student government presidents submitted a letter (PDF download)
today urging Congress to launch a national program for clean energy
science and engineering education. The presidents – representing more
than one million American students –warned Congress that advanced
energy education is critical for U.S. leadership in the global clean
energy industry.
“The United States is rapidly falling behind in the burgeoning clean
energy industry – especially in comparison to China – and our
educational system and workforce is not prepared to compete,” declared
the 107 presidents, including dozens of the country’s top universities.
“American students are ready and willing to rise to this national
challenge, and we need the federal government to support our education
and training.”
The letter, organized by Americans for Energy Leadership and the Associated Students of Stanford University, calls on Congress to support the RE-ENERGYSE
(“Regaining our Energy Science & Engineering Edge”) proposal, which
would invest tens of millions of dollars annually in energy science and
engineering education programs at universities, technical and community
colleges, and K-12 schools. It was originally proposed by President Obama in April 2009 and is currently under consideration in Congress as part of the Department of Energy’s 2011 budget request.
“RE-ENERGYSE represents the nation’s first comprehensive federal
program to support clean energy education programs and train thousands
of new energy scientists and engineers,” wrote the presidents. “We
believe it is a critical step toward creating new energy industries and
jobs while regaining American leadership in the global clean energy
industry, which promises to be one of the largest new growth sectors.”
RE-ENERGYSE was rejected by Congress last year, despite support from dozens of universities and professional associations.
Teryn Norris, Director of Americans for Energy Leadership, said the
letter represents an overwhelming demonstration of support from the
country’s young leaders. “The next generation of American leaders has
delivered a unified message, and members of Congress should listen: the
United States is failing to compete in a critical industry, and
catching up requires a national strategy for advanced energy
education.” Norris pointed to the report he recently co-authored with
the Breakthrough Institute and Information Technology and Innovation
Foundation, “Rising Tigers, Sleeping Giant,” as documenting the challenges facing the U.S. clean energy sector.
“Federal investment in advanced energy education, including
RE-ENERGYSE, will more than pay for itself,” said David Gobaud,
President of the Associated Students of Stanford University for the
2009-2010 academic year. “These are long-term investments in our
future. Higher education is a foundation for competitiveness and
growth, and the clean-tech industry is one of our generation’s greatest
opportunities. We can lead this industry by investing in the next
generation of clean energy innovators, and Congress must take action.”
The letter observed that the government has started to address the
need for “green-collar” technician training, such as jobs related to
building retrofits and renewable energy installation, but the
government “has not implemented a higher education strategy to keep the
U.S. at the leading edge of energy science, technology, and
entrepreneurship.” A recent report by IEEE
on the energy workforce concluded, “We need more electrical engineers
to solve industry challenges, and … to keep the nation’s electric power
reliable, secure, safe, and competitive. Meeting these needs requires
long-term investment now.”
Foreign countries are producing substantially larger portions of
scientists, engineers, and researchers that will benefit their clean
energy industries. According to the National Science Board,
science and engineering make up only about one-third of U.S. bachelor’s
degrees, compared to 63 percent in Japan, 53 percent in China, and 51
percent in Singapore. “The U.S. ranks behind other major nations in
making the transitions required to educate students for emerging energy
trades, research efforts, and other professions to support the future
energy technology mix,” states the Department of Energy’s RE-ENERGYSE proposal.
Economic studies have found that federal investment in higher
education produces a high rate of return in GDP growth and long-term
tax revenue. According to a report by the U.S. Congress Joint Economic
Committee, the return on investment produced by the post-war G.I. Bill
totaled above 400 percent over the course of 35 years. Most economists
believe that technological innovation drove the majority of U.S.
economic growth in the 20th century.
“This letter and RE-ENERGYSE are only the beginning,” said Norris, also a Senior Advisor at Breakthrough Institute
and public policy student at Stanford University. “We will continue
working with young leaders to develop proposals to advance American
energy innovation, including a national education program on par with
the post-Sputnik National Defense Education Act, and an increase in the
federal energy R&D budget to the level of the National Institutes
of Health. We look forward to working with members of Congress in the
months ahead.”
