Building America’s Energy Future – A Portfolio of Promising Policies

NEPI has concluded its one year extensive energy policy analysis titled Building America’s Energy Future – A Portfolio of Promising Policies.  An Executive Summary is also available. [Use Adobe Acrobat to properly view the full report and the Executive Summary. Note that many of the graphs will pop up for easier viewing when your mouse hovers over them.]  Printer-friendly versions of the full report and the Executive Summary are available.  Click here for the full report; click here for the Executive Summary.

In late 2010 NEPI, along with Resources for the Future, produced an extensive policy analysis titled “Toward a New National Energy Policy: Assessing the Options.”  The objective of the study was to identify, through a unique method of common modeling and metrics, the most cost-effective policies to achieve targeted reductions of oil use and greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

NEPI has chosen five of these previously studied policy areas for further analysis, with the most current energy data:

1.  a technology-neutral Clean Energy Standard requiring that 80% of electricity be generated from clean fuels by 2035;
2. a modest graduated oil tax with all revenues rebated to consumers through the tax system (Oil Security Dividend);
3. continued use of CAFE Standards to increase the development and use of more energy efficient light vehicles;
4. a temporary Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuel tax reduction to encourage changing the fuel of a significant amount of the heavy truck transportation fleet from diesel to LNG;
5. continued use of appliance standards, building codes and residential tax credits to foster a high utilization of energy efficiencies, conservation and renewable energy in appliances, building codes, and residential heating and cooling systems.

Using technical papers from national experts in relevant fields, NEPI has crafted a final report that quantifies an aggressive target by 2035 to reduce oil use and greenhouse gas emissions. It shows how the policies analyzed can achieve these goals at a surprisingly low cost and will enhance our national security, create a healthier environment, and take a significant step toward mitigating climate change. The goal of this report is to make a timely contribution to the debate for a responsible and affordable national energy policy.

Introducing our Portfolio of Promising Policies

Beginning June 10 our Statistic of the Day and Chart of the Day will show the impact of our five individual policies on oil use, emissions and other measures.

Impact of NCES and RPS on NOx emissions, 2010-2035

Source:  Building America’s Energy Future – A Portfolio of Promising Policies (http://nepinstitute.org/)

Nitrogen oxide emissions under the NEPI Clean Energy Standard

The Reference Case projected emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) incorporate the latest EPA rules.  The reduction in fossil fuel use under the NEPI Clean Energy Standard reduces NOx emissions by 24% in 2035 compared to the Reference Case.

Source:  Building America’s Energy Future – A Portfolio of Promising Policies (http://nepinstitute.org/)

Impact of NCES and RPS on SO2 emissions, 2010-2035

Source:  Building America’s Energy Future – A Portfolio of Promising Policies (http://nepinstitute.org/)