DOE
Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:10 pm
The "go-to" guy at DOE is a fellow named Rod O'Conner. He is Stephen Chu's Chief of Staff and, is or was, President of the Ansari X Prize organization. He also organized the Democratic Convention in L.A.
Bear in mind that the BFR will compete with and will likely drive many existing products and systems out of the energy markets. The interests who have a stake in current products and systems will oppose BFR if it is every noticed. It will not do to pick a fight at this point. This is a time wherein it is necessary to seek out allies in key places.
My opinion is that this project does not need a river of funding at this time. It needs numerous trickles of funding from multiple sources. The job should be broken down into discrete pieces with each one being funded separately under discretely worded titles.
Also remember that there is no love lost between the Office of Naval Reactors, a bizarre bureaucratic beast that is both Navy and DOE, and the rest of the Fleet. Take a look at the history of the nuclear power in the USN and you will see what I am talking about. Hyman Rickover wore two hats.
I would be very careful not to upset any Naval Angels the project now has. They are, in all probability, dreaming of a fleet free of the ONR. I think it would be wise to keep them apprised of any other sources of funding the project is seeking and listen very carefully to them if they object.
Bear in mind that the BFR will compete with and will likely drive many existing products and systems out of the energy markets. The interests who have a stake in current products and systems will oppose BFR if it is every noticed. It will not do to pick a fight at this point. This is a time wherein it is necessary to seek out allies in key places.
My opinion is that this project does not need a river of funding at this time. It needs numerous trickles of funding from multiple sources. The job should be broken down into discrete pieces with each one being funded separately under discretely worded titles.
Also remember that there is no love lost between the Office of Naval Reactors, a bizarre bureaucratic beast that is both Navy and DOE, and the rest of the Fleet. Take a look at the history of the nuclear power in the USN and you will see what I am talking about. Hyman Rickover wore two hats.
I would be very careful not to upset any Naval Angels the project now has. They are, in all probability, dreaming of a fleet free of the ONR. I think it would be wise to keep them apprised of any other sources of funding the project is seeking and listen very carefully to them if they object.