White House Science Adviser Says Natural Gas Is A Bridge To A Renewable Future
By Rupa Shenoy, WGBH News.
November 9 - Today, President Obama’s chief science adviser, John Holdren, is in town for several events, including a meeting with the Green Ribbon Commission created by Boston Mayor Menino to address climate change.
As nuclear and coal plants retire throughout New England, the natural gas industry is pushing for more pipelines to stabilize the energy supply, while environmental advocates argue against increasing dependence on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
Holdren is director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He says the priority should be placed on renewable energy sources like wind and solar. But he says those sources can’t meet demand overnight, so natural gas makes sense as a so-called “bridge” source of energy.