A new division of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy is set to be created focused on climate change policy. Headed by Sally Benson, a Stanford professor of energy and engineering, this new division will direct the transition to renewable energy and make sure the U.S. meets its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Costa Samaras, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon, will also be appointed, serving as the Principal Assistant Director for Energy and Chief Advisor for Energy Policy.
Benson will work with current White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy and the OSTP’s Deputy Director for Climate Environment Jane Lubchenco while serving as the deputy director for energy and chief strategist for the energy transition.
Benson sees this transition as an opportunity for American industry to take the lead. OSTP director Eric Lander states that science and technology have allowed humans to achieve things we never thought possible, such as making solar power the cheapest form of energy and drastically reducing the price of wind power and batteries. He believes that we must now use such knowledge for smart grid technologies, clean hydrogen, and fusion power to make carbon neutral energy the cheapest form of energy.
This announcement comes shortly after the COP26 international climate conference in Glasgow where US officials pledged to lead the fight against climate change. Time will tell whether this new division will achieve the goals they have proposed, nevertheless, it’s a step in the right direction.
Sources:
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/582958-new-white-house-office-to-coordinate-clim ate-change-policies
Meera M
The Carbon Newsprint
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