Saudis Hiring Top Names in American Research

Case of a buy out to keep the lid on already existing energy efficient technologies? or a legitimate reason for R&D for energy industry by the Saudis? It could also be a way to tap into the inner workings/dealings of the US oil industry.

Two wealthy new Saudi research institutions focused on the kingdom's energy future are on a hiring spree in the United States, luring away the president of Cal Tech and signing up advisors that include two influential energy market analysts, the CEO of one of Washington's biggest think tanks and even MIT professor Ernest Moniz, President Obama's nominee for Energy Secretary....
Persian Gulf oil interests for the first time face declining demand for their product as the United States looks toward producing much more oil and natural gas, and continues to develop wind, solar and other renewables. The royal family has ramped spending to develop energy from water and the sun and ways to lengthen the life of Saudi oil resources. In a major coup for the Saudis last week, Caltech president Jean-Lou Chameau announced will resign to go lead a second new Saudi university, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, known as KAUST.

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reply to post by hp1229


that's not going to stop a 15 year old kid from designing a fusion nuclear reactor in his parent garage. We have the talent and at some point they cant put a cap on what is an eventuality! they would need to do that in every country and it just isn't going to happen for very long even with all the money they have

I think the Saudi's are wealthy beyond comprehension for most of us average folk. What do the Super-Wealthy want more than anything else? To remain Super-Wealthy. I recall 60 minutes in the mid 1990's running a show about Peak Oil and the fact Saudi Arabia realized the natural gravy train did had a very real end point.

I'd guess they are using their hundreds of billions to set themselves up into whatever they believe will follow Oil as the cash cow. They'd be insane not to, realistically.