Few issues are more important in today’s society than energy cost, availability and use. No resource is more critical to our way of life. Controversy abounds on many energy issues such as cost, peak oil, climate change, geopolitics and perceived danger of nuclear-generated power. However, few would disagree that this nation must become much more focused on efficient use of energy, reduction of undesirable emissions from its use and securing energy sources.

Interest in energy in both the public and private sectors will only intensify. Greater effort will be made to develop “alternative” energy sources. State, national and international governmental bodies will increasingly focus on our energy dilemmas and opportunities.

But while governments can mandate particular actions, such as auto fuel economy and carbon dioxide emissions, history tells us that real progress depends on good old fashioned innovation carried out by inventors and entrepreneurs. Only engagement of the intellectual power and risk taking so characteristic of this nation’s past will yield the progress needed.

Recognizing this reality, W|N has formed an Energy Practice Group to provide intellectual property support for energy related inventors and entrepreneurs. Our firm already has considerable experience in this area, having worked to protect intellectual property in areas such as hydrocarbon refining operations, efficient and clean coal combustion, conversion of various forms of biomass into bio-fuels and fuel catalysis. We also have deep expertise in related mechanical and electronic technologies applicable to a wide range of energy forms.

We foresee a compelling need for this service in the many alternative energy technologies being developed, such as bio-fuels, solar, wind, geothermal, carbon sequestration and energy capture. As with the other technolosgies we service, we will provide premier intellectual property services to the energy industry and particularly to innovators in the emerging forms of alternative energy sources.