Senator Stabenow Introduces Advanced Vehicle Technology Act to Boost R&D Spending
09 December 2009
US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and US Congressman Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the Senate introduction of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009. The legislation, cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), provides funding to ensure manufacturers and suppliers in the United States lead the way in developing the next generation of advanced vehicles.
Congressman Peters introduced similar legislation earlier this year, which passed the US House of Representatives (312-114). The bill would authorize nearly $3 billion for the Department of Energy to carry out advanced technology vehicle and component part research and development.
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act will provide funding to the US Department of Energy for advanced vehicle research and development. The funding will be available through competitive grant awards for small, medium, and large manufacturers and suppliers that develop technologies to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles.
These efforts include hybrid and electrical systems; advanced batteries and energy storage devices; hydrogen and natural gas systems; refueling and recharging infrastructure; and other advanced vehicle technologies. It will also expand the development of more fuel-efficient medium and heavy duty commercial trucks.
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act is supported by a wide range of supporters from small, medium, and large suppliers, manufacturers, environmental associations, and business organizations.
Good. Now, how about some clear oversight of the award process? As we are discovering via Climategate - the money train is easily diverted to a few, favorite players who unduly influence its distribution.
I suggest funding a project to openly document every dollar of the $3B to be handed out. That is, let's follow each dollar from award process through expenditure by the recipient. With a clear look at the resultant benefit to American taxpayers in the end. If any.
Call it "Your Money at Work" or something, and build a tracking web site and make a documentary for airing on PBS. Let's see just how well these DOE grants perform for the American people.
Posted by: Reel$$ | 09 December 2009 at 06:39 AM
"Your Money at Work" sounds sensible.
Posted by: kelly | 09 December 2009 at 11:28 AM
It would be good to account for money spent versus benefits gained. People might learn where their money goes and what is does. They could also learn how much it takes and it usually takes much more than they think.
Many seem to think that roads and bridges appear out of thin air and then they complain about taxes as they drive over the roads and bridges everyday for free. The is NO free lunch and no one else is going to pick up the tab....grow up!
Posted by: SJC | 09 December 2009 at 01:49 PM
SJC - I agree with you on having to pay for what we get.
To be more convincing that money is going to the right places, could up-dated detailed accounting be published on Internet for everybody to see?
If so, would we even look at it?
Posted by: HarveyD | 09 December 2009 at 06:58 PM
And while we're at it, let's open up the budget for the CIA and see where all that money's going. I would like to know.
Not saying it's unimportant.
Posted by: danm | 10 December 2009 at 09:45 AM
"The is NO free lunch and no one else is going to pick up the tab....grow up!"
Exactly what we're telling the alarmists who think they can extort money from developed nations by crying about sea level rise, melting ice and drought. You want money for your development projects?? Go out and EARN it!
Posted by: sulleny | 10 December 2009 at 02:14 PM
If so, would we even look at it?
A downside:
That it was there and accesable may be fuel for the litigious.
Many could be caught by a lack of backgroound info.
An upside:
Would certainly be useful information for the rest.
The rest may not feel the need to 'hover' in the knowledge that it is accounted for.
Posted by: arnold | 10 December 2009 at 06:27 PM