DOE should issue more general RFPs to address the alternative energy problem in general. Presently, their tiny funding is highly specific in what they are trying solve, and is not able to provide funding for the many ideas out there that might not fit in their narrow range of development opportunities.

DOE should also stop funding oil and coal, which are mature industries. They should be able to innovate for themselves. Since much of DOE’s funding goes to oil and coal, this would free up a lot of funding for alternative energy technologies.

Finally, the tiny nuclear fusion committee should be split into 2 teams that would compete against each other for development funding. For too long, fusion has languished for decades as the technology that is always 20 years away. Someone should explain the imperative of getting this technology working, it at all possible.