Long before World War II, the scientific institutions of the US government attracted some of the greatest scientists. Perhaps the outstanding example is Albert Abraham Michelson (1852--1931) a giant in the annals of optics and the first American Nobel Prize winner (1907), who served with the Nautical Almanac Office in Washington. And of course, in WWII and the post-war years, the various defense labs, Argonne, Brookhaven, the labs of the National Bureau of Standards, the Bureau of Mines, and the many other national research labs have not only employed some of the best scientists, but they have also been directed by men respected by their colleagues for their scientific achievements.
That tradition has now been rudely upset by appointing a new director of the Solar Energy Research Institute. The previous director, an honest and competent scientist, was kicked out of the way with the graceful finesse characteristic of Carter's reshuffles to make room for Denis Hayes, a political demagogue with no qualifications other than promoting stunts like Sun Day.
He started his new career with a press conference in which he demanded $100 million for a building, and more taxpayers' money than the space program ever got, so as to make 25% of US energy consumption solar over the next two decades.
Yep, 25%. Giving this dilletant orator enough rope to hang himself must be counted a positive contribution by an administration that in the energy field has nothing else to show for itself.
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Vol. 7, No. 1
Newsletter: Access to Energy Newsletter Archive Volume: Volume 7 Issue/No.: Vol. 7, No. 1 Date: September 01, 1979 10:13 AM Title: Standing up to the brainwashers
Copyright © 2004 - Access to Energy Newsletter Archive
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