Out With the Oil, In With the Green

Sometimes change in technology is facilitated by wise innovation, diligent research, or accidental discoveries. And other times it is forced by an oil leak off the Gulf of Mexico spilling 60,000 barrels of oil a day into the ocean. More than ever, our country is facing the harsh reality of the worlds’ severe dependence on a limited energy source. On June 15, 2010, in his first televised address from the Oval Office, President Barack Obama demanded advancements in clean energy sources and technology, which would require refocusing innovation and creativity towards a solar-based way of life. “The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now,” said President Obama. “Now is the moment for this generation to embark on a national mission to unleash America’s innovation and seize control of our own destiny.”

Before the oil spill, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) decided to execute a green technology pilot program on December 7, 2009, intended to expedite the patent application and examination process involving green technology inventions. If this program is effective, this effort could prove beneficial in facilitating the President’s determination to wean America off its dependency on oil and introduce the country to a clean energy source.