Energy Bill Includes Prizes for Innovation

Here's one you could illustrate with a light bulb over an inventor's head: The House-passed energy bill includes a slew of prizes for major innovations that will help reduce energy consumption in the years ahead. They include:

* $50 million in prizes for various hydrogen fuel cell advances;

* A $10 million prize for replacing the 60-watt bulb with one that gives off just as much light -- and the same soft light -- at 10 watts;

* $5 million for replacing the standard halogen bulb; and

* $5 million for a solid-state "21st century lamp."

Jamie Love over at Knowledge Ecology International has long championed the idea of substituting prizes for patent monopolies to spur much-needed and more affordable inventions. He'll be glad to know his ideas are gaining traction on Capitol Hill.