Seriously, this could be a huge business in 10 years, but the fact that the govt is picking the early winners and losers depresses me.
I agree. But what's keeping private enterprise from using the technology and making factories?
There are already at least two companies, one in Canada and another in Europe already producing. The thing here is, why should company A with political connections get access to a $1.7 Million taxpayer paid for facility when Company B does not. How many regulatory problems were waived to allow the Forest service to build this site, that Company B will spend years fighting in court?
A public/private effort - especially one where the public owns the means of production ( you aren't bidding to provide services to the government) inherently subsidizes those with political pull, and penalizes those without.Being first to market, especially in new technological fields, can have long lasting effects. If its a wonderful idea, it should be able to find its own private funding. If its such a wonderful but difficult idea we need to add a public incentive- then it should be using an X-prize model to sweeten the pot.