Chapter 5: The United States: Policies and Scenarios

By Howard GellerSummary by John CarlinCritique by John Cadwell

Business as usual Base scenario for energy usage in

the next 20 years Increase in energy requirements Increase in pollution Digging ourselves in deeper

Possible U.S. Policy Actions Increase passenger vehicle fuel

economy standards Establish national system benefits trust

fund Adopt voluntary agreements to reduce

industrial energy use Establish renewable portfolio standard

for power generators Adopt new appliance efficiency

standards and stronger building codes

Possible U.S. Policy Actions (cont.) Provide tax incentives for innovative

renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies

Expand federal R&D programs Remove barriers to combined heat and

power systems Strengthen emissions standards on

coal-fired plants Establish renewable energy or carbon

content standards for vehicle fuel

Passenger vehicle fuel economy

Increase fuel efficiency standards at a rate of 5% for 10 years 44 mpg for cars 33 mpg for light trucks

Savings of 1.0 million barrels of oil per day by 2010 and 3.6 million barrels of oil per day by 2020.

National system benefits trust fund Establish a surcharge of about 0.2

cent/kWh Fees would go to fund efficiency

programs Savings of 300 terawatt-hours by

2010, 800 TWh by 2020

Voluntary industrial energy agreements Companies or industries would

voluntarily agree to reduce their energy intensity or carbon intensity

Similar to programs established in Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark

Renewable portfolio standard

Require utilities to purchase a certain fraction of their total power from non-hydro renewable resources

10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020 Already enacted in a limited form

(4% by 2010 and 10% by 2020%)

Appliance efficiency standards and building codes

Efficiency standards on all home appliances

Higher standards for transformers, exit signs, traffic lights, and lighting fixtures

95 billion kWh by 2010 and 265 billion kWh by 2020

Tax incentives for energy

Extend tax incentives to all non-hydro renewable energy sources

Increase tax incentives for new homes, commercial buildings, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, CHP

Federal R&D programs Expand DOE’s energy efficiency

R&D by 15% per year and renewable energy programs by 20% per year

Total cost of $190 million per year Expected savings of about 1 quad

by 2010 and 3 quads by 2020

CHP system Barriers Remove government and utility

regulations that hinder CHP systems

Goal of adding 50,000 MW of new capacity by 2010 and another 95,000 MW of new capacity by 2020

Coal-fired plant emissions Change regulations to reduce the

number of old coal fired power plants grandfather in in 1970 by requiring plants to meet new emissions standards

or Provide credits for the shutdown of

old power plants

Energy or carbon content standards for vehicle fuel

Require gasoline suppliers to increase the fraction of renewable content in fuel

Push the development of bioethanol over ethanol to further reduce emissions

Net Effects Total energy use in 2010 down

from 86.5 quads to 79.2 quads Total energy use in 2020 down

from 98.3 quads to 78.4 quads Total savings for US is $554 in the

clean energy scenario

Critical Analysis

John Cadwell

Index Article Viewpoint Strengths Weaknesses Conclusions

Viewpoint of Article Tone and Political Alignments Purpose

Strengths Solutions result in change Could create jobs Monetary savings within specific

sectors

Weaknesses “The MAN”, Stick it to the… Could create jobs Monetary savings by who?

Conclusions Solutions could work But will they?

The End I’d like to thank the Academy, first of

all, for giving us the opportunity to be here. It means so very much to us. I’d like to thank my coworker John Carlin, for all the effort he put in, and Mr. Geller for the time and effort he exerted in creating such a dynamic piece. Without their efforts, I certainly wouldn’t be standing here. Thank you.