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Driving on Empty? Fill’r Up with Energy Alternatives
By James Bickford, California
I never expected that my life could change from a high school assembly. Granted I was moved by a presentation given by a Nobel Laureate scientist, Dr. Richard Smiley- but as I sat in the auditorium along with a thousand other science-geeks that is exactly what happened. What I could not have realized then was that the insights he shared that day would have far-reaching repercussions on how I viewed the world and what I wanted to do in life.
"...if man could solve the energy problem, produce plentiful, clean, cheap electricity, then all of the world's other problems would be significantly improved if not eradicated. This simple concept became the focus of my life and has been so ever since.." -James Bickford
Dr. Smiley laid out a stark analysis of the world's top ten problems that would be the top priorities of my generation if we were to continue to function on this planet. The grim facts painted a picture of a world without fresh water, population explosions, environmental demise, war, disease, insufficient food, poor education.
Surprisingly, Dr. Smiley argued that meeting the world's energy demand was the single most daunting challenge. In fact, according to his thesis, if man could solve the energy problem, produce plentiful, clean, cheap electricity, then all of the world's other problems would be significantly improved if not eradicated. This simple concept became the focus of my life and has been so ever since.
My newly-won interest took me from the rainy Pacific Northwest to sunny California where I attended a university that embraced the development of innovative solutions that tackled head-on our gluttonous pursuit and consumption of energy.
Santa Clara University, nestled in the heart of innovative problem solving Silicon Valley further challenged me to develop cutting edge weapons to combat the energy problem. Further, the Department of Energy chose Santa Clara to compete in the International Solar Decathlon in October 2007 in Washington D.C. - a golden opportunity to put energy solutions front and center before the nation and the world.
As engineers, artists, marketers, political scientists, chemists, and others our team spent 18 months designing and building a solar powered house that operated solely with raw sunlight as its fuel. But other innovative ideas to solving the world's biggest problem abounded from other students representing 20 universities from around the world.
The timeliness of the Solar Decathlon matched the world community's concerns over rising energy prices and issues revolving around sustainable living. The National Mall - situated between the U.S. Capitol building and the Washington Monument - was alive with answers. Visitors saw how alternative energy impacted not only science and technology but also finance marketing and politics. When I looked around at what my peers had created, the words Dr. Smiley had said so long ago resonated in a way that almost cannot be described.
Our team represented well. After overcoming many challenges, including our truck breaking down twice en route and taking 18th place in architecture, we made a dramatic come-from-behind to take third place. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman dubbed us "the Cinderella team from California"- the underdog team that had made a spectacular come from behind success driven by our passion for solving this world problem.
Following the competition I spent months speaking with the San Francisco community at town hall meetings, high school events, events at Santa Clara University about what we learned through our experience - proving that solar power is not a hippy movement but something that could be a viable driving force impacting such things as the economy, geo-political stress, national security, environment, and social good.
With a two trillion dollar market poised for dramatic change, the technological know-how to do so, and the economics driving close to the tipping point, this is an extremely exciting and indeed historic time period for the energy industry.
Having just graduated from Santa Clara with a degree in mechanical engineering, I am setting my sights on developing a start-up company focused on intelligent power management and solar technology. As Dr. Smiley hoped, the future holds unlimited challenges, but innovation is set to dramatically change the face of the planet.
When people look back in the history books, our grandparents will be remembered for overthrowing fascism in World War II, our parents will be remembered for ushering in the computer era, and our legacy will undoubtedly be a transition away from fossil fuels and the economic bounty that will reap. We are on the verge of one of the most historic transitions of the human-race. I am ecstatic to be on the front-lines of this new industry, learning every day what it means to power our race.
