Energy Law

Introduction

Fall 2014

First Class – 26 Aug 14

Prof. Alan Palmiter

http://users.wfu.edu/palmitar/Courses/Energy%20Law/Index.html

Wikibook sources

Energy sources

Energy use

http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/

11

22

33

44

55

66

88

77

1010

99

1. True or false? The largest energy source in the United States is petroleum, which comes 90% from international sources.

2. Which is true in the United States –

a. Coal is a larger source of energy than natural gas

b. Renewable energy is a larger source than nuclear power

c. Fossil fuels represent about 50% of all US energy sources

d. Transportation uses more energy than industrial

3. Which is false in the United States --a. Coal is mostly used in electric

power generation

b. Industry uses more natural gas than petroleum

c. Transportation uses most of the petroleum

d. Energy constitutes about 20% of GDP. EIA

4. True or false? The largest energy sector is electric power, which is generated mostly using coal. EIA data / EIA predictions.

Pop QuizEnergy Sources/Uses

Answers: 1-F (<50%) / 2-C (75%) / 3-D (10%) / 4-T

/www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/pdf/flow/css_2012_energy.pdf

http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/annual/perspectives.cfm

Energy Sources

http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/

Energy Consumption Over Time

http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/

Energy Use Over Time

Federal P

ower Act

(1920)

Natural G

as Act

(1938)

Clean Air A

ct (1

970)

Public U

tility

Regulatory Polic

y Act

(1982)

EPA Amendments

(2005)

Energy P

olicy A

ct (1

992)

EISA (2

007)

Natural G

as Polic

y Act

(1978)

1920 20001980 20201940

Federal energy regulation - timeline

Federal P

ower Comm’n (1

920 / 1930)

FPA Amendments

(1935)

Federal E

nergy R

egulatory Comm’n &

Dep’t o

f Energ

y (1977)

National E

nvironmental P

olicy A

ct (1

969)

Clean Water A

ct (1

972), Safe D

rinkin

g Water A

ct (1

974)

Pop quiz

• DOE• EPA• EISA• FERC• FPA• FPC• NGA• NGPA• PURPA

• 1920• 1935• 1938• 1977• 1978• 1982• 1992• 2005• 2007

Climate change

Elizabeth Kolbert - author of New Yorker series “Climate of Man” (2005) and award-winning book Field Notes from a Catastrophe (2006):

“It may seem impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that is what we are now in the process of doing.”

Carbon dioxide …

Gulf stream …

Geo-engineering …

1. Americans emit how much carbon into the atmosphere? a. 4 tons per person b. 10 tons per personc. 20 tons per person

2. Which statement is true of carbon use –

a. 4 tons of carbon = 15,000 miles at 45 mpg

b. 4 tons of carbon = 400 kwh (coal generated)

c. 4 tons of carbon = 15,000 miles air travel (economy)

3. Geo-engineering means :

a. Solar reflectors in space above Earth

b. Planting desert with plants (new animal husbandry)

c. Shooting sulfites into the upper atmosphere

d. Fertilize oceans to create carbon-eating algae

4. True or false? Today 800 million people are high carbon emitters. By 2030, this number will grow to 1.2 billion.

Pop quizCarbon stuff

Answers: 1-C (Avg=4) / 2-ALL / 3-ALL / 4-T

“We already have the technology we need to take the world off the path toward dramatic climate change.”

Robert Socolow and Stephen Pacala,

Stabilization Wedges (2004)

Carbon Mitigation Initiative

Bill McKibben “That’s the task for our generation”

http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/intro.php

http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/intro.php

The end

The end

Tragedy of commons?

• Antitrust law• Public utility law• Environmental law• Market-traded caps• Taxes