Why don't we approach the energy crisis as a matter of national security?Like a modern day Manhattan project?

Question

Why don't we approach the energy crisis as a matter of national security?Like a modern day Manhattan project?

Answer 1

The Manhattan project had a goal of developing the atom bomb. As such it was clearly defined and the physic were fairly straight forward.

What would be the goal for the energy crisis? Better mileage for cars? Lower cost to exploit our known oil shale reserves? Alternate fuels? fission power, Fusion power?

Are we talking transportation or power generation?

Right now there are numerous lobbyists, businesses, and special interest groups that all have plans and all want money. There's also the NIMBY (not in my back yard) and conservation groups that would oppose construction, development or digging out more resources.

Pick one solution (say getting cars to double their current MPG) and there will be a chorus of complaints, then charges of waste and special interest claims.

The Manhattan project was done in secret and very likely wouldn't be doable today.

Sure, do the project. Just have a very, very clear goal.

Answer 2

The Manhattan project had a very clear goal and the product it sought had only one customer and one use. The "customer" had to fund the development because it would not have taken place otherwise. Energy enhancement has myriad uses, myriad customers, and many people who can profit enormously from success. There are, in effect, a lot of Manhattan Projects going on every day right now. It is unlikely that there will be simply one answer supplied. There will be several.