Chu Briefs Regents on Alternative Energy; Support is Pledged

By Ron Kolb

The University of California’s Board of Regents invited Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu to discuss with them his initiatives involving alternative energy sources, and on Wednesday in San Francisco, he gave them a 15-minute synopsis of Helios, the Lab’s solar-to-chemical research program. When it was over, one Regent referred to Chu’s vision as “extraordinary,” and another said that “few priorities are greater” in the UC system.

That support followed an illustrative Powerpoint demonstration of the problem at hand – that is, global warming and its potential consequences. Chu pointed out that initial consequences of warming in California, driven by carbon emissions in the post-industrial-revolution period, could be water shortages from a seriously reduced Sierra snow pack. Taking into account variations in computer models and projections, he told them, “the choices will be ‘bad’ vs. ‘really bad.’”

But he added, “We can do something about this,” and he proceeded to outline his multi-dimensional strategy for turning solar energy into affordable, abundant, carbon-free forms. Of greatest interest to the Regents was Chu’s description of fast-growing plants whose stored energy could replace transportation fuels being used in this country. The trick, he told them, is to figure out how to develop the microbes and enzymes that will allow for the digestion of cellulose and conversion to biofuels. The “proof of principle” has already been demonstrated by Physical Biosciences Division Director Jay Keasling in his work to develop an inexpensive synthetic drug that will treat malaria in third-world countries. “Within two years,” Chu predicted, (the drug) will be available for 20 cents a cure,” a dramatic reduction in the price of current treatments.

The next requirement, he said, will be assembling teams of scientists from diverse fields to attack the problem, bringing fundamental science to bear on problem-solving. “We think the quest for renewable energy will require this,” he said, “if we want it delivered in 10 years. We must cultivate the intellectual genius, and then form teams…to move fast, and move together.”

The Director summarized his success so far in attracting funding commitments for a Helios building, planned on a site near the Molecular Foundry. But he noted, “The key (to success) is not the buildings, the facilities. The key is always the people. In two years, our team has been really engaged; we even have some of our very best researchers thinking of changing their careers (to work on biofuels).”

Richard Blum, businessman and Regent from San Francisco – and the husband of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein – called Chu’s leadership “inspiring.” He said the film documentary on Al Gore’s search to find “An Inconvenient Truth” laid out the global warming problem, “but it doesn’t give us the answer of what we need to do. Steve Chu goes a long way toward telling us where to go.”

Singling out Chu, Keasling, and the late UC Berkeley Engineering Dean Richard Newton as “about the most extraordinary group of people I’ve met in my life,” he added, “Nothing is more important than the work they do. Their projects need to be a major priority.”

Regents’ Chair Gerald Parsky echoed that view, that “few priorities are greater” than solving the energy problem. And Fabian Nunez, ex officio Regent and Speaker of the Assembly in Sacramento, noted to Chu, “We stand together to assist you to make your dream come true.”