A query from Dot Earth:
Why not have R&D, especially solar, be
a focal point for the Major Economies
Meetings on Energy & Climate?

It wouldn’t be hard to stimulate energy
research given the diminutive size of the
effort now in the U.S. (green):

For scale, here’s the total U.S.
government investment in R&D –
defense and everything else:

Within the following energy research
menu for industrialized countries, why
is solar such a tiny sliver (orange)?

Some serious innovators have long
understood the potential of solar power.
Who said this (next slide)?

“I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a
source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil
and coal run out before we tackle that.”

“I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a
source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil
and coal run out before we tackle that.”
- Thomas Edison, speaking with Henry Ford & Harvey Firestone, 1931

More info at nytimes.com/dotearth
dotearth@nytimes.com