La Vista
The bottom line is that the Hispanic community must be part of a high-tech, globally competitive economy. We have to prepare our students to become leaders in innovation, because these jobs have the power to lift Hispanic communities out of poverty. We cannot solely rely on traditional career path- ways and economic sectors to pull our communities out of poverty. We need to be innovators, computer scientists and engineers.
HE&IT: Does it ultimately matter that so many members of Congress—par- ticularly Republicans and even the chair of the Science committee—are climate change skeptics? How does it matter? Luján: It certainly matters in terms of what legislation is prioritized and what policy initiatives gain momentum; but, many of my colleagues and I continue to advocate for policies designed to combat climate change and reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil. It is important that we also demonstrate the economic impact that investing in a clean energy economy can have on our country. Whether you believe in climate change or not, there is no denying that currently other countries are making greater investments in new technologies designed to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. If the U.S. does not make this an important priority, the innovation, and jobs it creates, will occur in other countries.
HE&IT: What will it take to make green energy more economically viable? Luján: We need to make renewable energy cost-competitive with traditional sources of energy, and we are getting closer to this every day. We need to con- tinue to invest in incentives, such as loan guarantees and tax credits, to promote renewable energy development. We also need to invest in clean energy science and R&D, so that we are creating the
most cost-effective, safe and reliable clean energy technologies.
Our Department of Energy National Lab- oratories are performing cutting edge clean energy R&D all over the country. In my district in New Mexico, the Los Alamos National Laboratory recently developed non-precious-metal catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells that are much less expensive than precious-metal-cat- alyst fuel cells, yet generate comparable performance. Developing an inexpensive alternative addresses the issue of high cost, one of the main barriers facing deployment of hydrogen fuel cells. This is an important example of why we must continue to invest in R&D, and why we must stay the course to reap the benefits of this work.
HE&IT: Is that something government will have to spur on by, say, imple- menting cap-and-trade or a carbon tax? Or will market forces align quickly enough for green energy to make bet- ter economic sense? Luján: Both government and market forces can spur clean energy develop- ment. One of the most effective ways for government to encourage the deployment of renewable energy is to institute a clean energy standard. Most states have some form of a clean or renewable energy standard and I have supported Congressional efforts to establish a federal standard. The private sector is recognizing the ben- efits of a clean energy economy and its potential for generating business opportunity and economic growth. Many businesses are also investing in energy efficiency and sustainability ini- tiatives because greening your business has been proven to save money and reduce operating costs.
HE&IT: What are your top priorities as a member of the Science committee? Luján: The United States has the best research facilities and educational
institutions in the world, and we continue to be a leader in develop- ing cutting edge technology in fields spanning from renewable energy to medicine. But our ability to ensure that our country is globally competi- tive relies on our ability to educate our students and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future. This is es- pecially true for Hispanic students. As a member of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, I am committed to ensuring that science and innovation are the drivers of a new American economy. Innovation is the future for our nation—it means a stronger economy and a bet- ter tomorrow for our families, with impacts that can last lifetimes and generations. And together, we must ensure that Hispanic students are trained to be scientists and engineers and prepared to become part of the workforce for the 21st century.
HE&IT: Did anything in your back- ground spark your interest in serv- ing on the panel? If not, what did? Luján: New Mexico is home to two national laboratories, an Air Force re- search lab, and research and agricul- tural universities that all yield a con- siderable resource of highly skilled engineers and scientists. Transferring the technology that is developed in New Mexico from the laboratory to the marketplace has a significant im- pact on the country and our efforts to promote a manufacturing agenda so we can “Make It In America,” spur economic growth, and create jobs.
Serving on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee provides me with an opportunity to build on the important work that is occurring in New Mexico and in labs across the country and foster greater innovation by preparing the next generation of Hispanic leaders in the STEM fields.
8 HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2011
www.hispanicengineer.com
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