I just received the following press release from the campaign of Randy Hemkan, who is seeking to be the Republican candidate in Michigan for the U.S Senate.
Energy: America’s Next ‘Space Race’
Grand Rapids, Michigan – December 30, 2011. Could a new form of virtually limitless energy that promises national security, economic strength and environmental sustainability be in our future? According to energy experts, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’ in a form called Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR). LENR refers to nuclear reactions that happen at room temperature. While nuclear, they involve neither fusion nor fission and require little shielding as they produce negligible radiation.
The significance of LENR technology, according to proponents, is that it has the potential to power virtually everything with little cost and no environmental damage, including the ability to power your home and everything in it, for just pennies a day.
LENR research has the potential to solve climate and energy problems, Dennis Bushnell, chief scientist of NASA’s Langley Research Center said in a June interview with EV World, a sustainability publication.
While claims like these bring a healthy skepticism, there is also growing evidence that this technology can be exploited. In fact, LENR is finding some unlikely allies in political candidates these days including Bruce Tarr, State Senator from Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, Presidential candidate and Randy Hekman, US Senate Candidate from Michigan.
“The simple reality is that our economy depends on energy that now is primarily derived from coal, oil and natural gas to function,” Hekman states. “Energy exploration–mining and drilling–provide needed jobs, and the energy these industries produce keep our economy moving. We need to end the policies that subsidize inefficient sources of energy such as ethanol, wind and geothermal. The best alternative energy program is Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR). Scientists in China and India are hard at work to overcome the technical hurdles and turn this scientific theory into useful consumer products. We need America to be the world leader in this.”
Hekman is no stranger to LENR, graduating from MIT and, in 1996 started his own research company around LENR. In 2004, he was part of a team to appear before a Department of Energy (DoE) panel to present research findings and seek scientific support. While campaigning for US Senate full time, Hekman continues to speak about LENR and is working to connect private funding sources with top LENR researchers in the U.S.
“This is a new, potentially trillion dollar industry that has the ability to solve our nation’s energy crisis, secure our country by not depending on foreign oil and turn America into an energy and technology exporter,” says Hekman. “This is our version of the ‘space-race’ where we need to develop this technology and get it to market first. Can someone explain to me again why this isn’t a top priority?”
Some institutions, such as U.S. Navy SPAWAR and NASA have been funding LENR research along with new interest from the likes of Royal Dutch Shell, the University of Missouri and others.
“But we need much more private investment in this new energy resource,” said Hekman. “The US Department of Energy (DoE) and the current administration has a dismal record in picking winners and losers in the energy area. We do not need more Solyndras. I believe in allowing private investment and market forces to drive new energy technologies like LENR.”
For more on this subject, visit Randy Hekman’s blog at
http://randyhekman2012.com/_blog/Blog/post/Energy_America’s_Next_’Space_Race’_/
Randy Hekman is a Navy veteran, former prosecutor, juvenile court judge, author and administrative pastor. In early 2011, Hekman announced his intentions to run for the United States Senate with a practical plan to bring healing to our nation. He is a Republican candidate running for the position currently held by Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow. He has been married to his best friend, Marcia, for 42 years and together, the have 12 children, ages 18 to 40, and 21 grandchildren.
