Factors in low-carbon energy transformations: Comparing nuclear and bioenergy in Brazil, Sweden, and the United States

Energy Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 131-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan E. Hultman ◽  
Elizabeth L. Malone ◽  
Paul Runci ◽  
Gregory Carlock ◽  
Kate L. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT — COMPARING THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 1340003 ◽  
Author(s):  
GESA GEIßLER
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Public Involvement ◽  
The United States ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Hydro Power ◽  
Strategic Assessment ◽  
Environmentally Sound ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Germany and the United States are amongst the leading countries regarding installed renewable energy capacity and are steadily adding new facilities. As balancing the strive for a low carbon energy supply with other environmental interests, such as biodiversity conservation, becomes more prevalent with increasing numbers of wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydro-power facilities, the call for a strategic-level consideration of environmental impacts (SEA) becomes louder. The paper compares the practice of SEAs for renewable energy plans, programmes, and policies in terms of discussion of alternatives, consideration of cumulative effects, and public involvement. A case study analysis compares SEAs from Germany and the United States and evaluates their performance.Results indicate large differences between both countries, with Germany performing less well on average. Therefore, a strong need for improvement becomes obvious. A general conclusion is that both countries need to become more open to strategic assessment of environmental impacts from renewable energy policies, strategies, and legislation (policy SEA), in order to allow for meaningful assessment of alternatives and achieve an environmentally sound low carbon future.

Vision for a Low- Carbon- Energy Future

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael B. McElroy
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Petroleum Products ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Us Economy ◽  
Oil And Natural Gas ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

This chapter discusses steps that could be taken to realize the long- term goal of reducing, if not eliminating, climate- altering emissions associated with the consumption of coal, oil, and natural gas. I choose to focus on initiatives that could be adopted over the next several decades to advance this objective in the United States. The key elements of the vision proposed for the United States should be applicable, however, also to China and to other large emitting countries. As indicated at the outset, the overall focus in this volume has been on the United States and China, the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, recognizing at the same time differences in states of development and national priorities of the two countries. The vision I outline here for a low- carbon-energy future for the United States should apply also to other countries. The time scale for implementation may differ, however, from country to country, depending on details of local conditions and priorities— economic, social, and environmental. The data presented in Chapter 3 (Figs. 3.1 and 3.2) provide a useful starting point— essential background— for discussion of potential future scenarios (US EIA 2015). They define how energy is used in the current US economy and the services responsible for the related emissions, with key data summarized in Table 16.1. Generation of electricity was responsible for emission of 2,050 million tons of CO2 in 2013, 1,580 million tons from combustion of coal, and 442 million tons from natural gas, with a minor contri-bution, 34.7 million tons, from oil. The residential, commercial, and industrial sectors accounted, respectively, for 38%, 36%, and 26% of emissions associated with economy-wide consumption of electricity. The power sector was responsible for 38% of total national emissions. Transportation contributed an additional 1,826 million tons, 34% of the national total. The bulk of the emissions from transportation (98%) was associated with consumption of petroleum products, gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel, with the balance from natural gas

The United States and Alternative Energies since 1980: Technological Fix or Regime Change?

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 103-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E Nye
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Perspective ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Policy Failure ◽  
Technological Momentum ◽  
Alternative Energies ◽  
Kaya Identity

Awareness of global warming has been widespread for two decades, yet the American political system has been slow to respond. This essay examines, first, political explanations for policy failure, focusing at the federal level and outlining both short-term partisan and structural explanations for the stalemate. The second section surveys previous energy regimes and the transitions between them, and policy failure is explained by the logic of Thomas Hughes’s ‘technological momentum’. The third section moves to an international perspective, using the Kaya Identity and its distinction between energy intensity and carbon intensity to understand in policy terms ‘technological fixes’ vs. low-carbon alternatives. The final section reframes US energy policy failure and asks: (1) Why, between 1980 and 1999, was America’s actual performance in slowing CO2emissions better than its politics would seem capable of delivering? (2) How and why has the United States since c. 2007 managed to reduce per capita CO2emissions?

Recommendation of the Tax Policy of Low-Carbon Economy in China with Reference to the International Comparison of Carbon Emissions

2013 ◽  
Vol 869-870 ◽  
pp. 1024-1028
Author(s):  
De Fa Cai ◽  
Pei Xin Shi ◽  
Ting Xue
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The United States ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
The World ◽  
Energy Taxes ◽  
Carbon Economy

Currently, the global warming becomes serious and has become the crisis and challenge of all the world. Low carbon economy is the best mode of coping with the global warming and realizing sustainable development of economy and society. At present, The United States is still in the first place of greenhouse gas are worth of using for reference in developed countries. At present, the United States is still the biggest country that exhausts greenhouse gases, such as CO2;however, carbon emissions in China can not be ignored. Recent research indicates that it is valuable to learn from developed countries carbon or energy taxes policy.

Understanding Climate Mitigation Responses in the United States and China from Strategic and Institutional Perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
pp. 1450015
Author(s):  
Xingshu ZHAO
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Innovation Capability ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Institutional Perspective ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Climate Responses

The United States and China have common but differentiated climate mitigation responses. Most studies so far have sought to explain this divergence with a focus on energy resources, technology, economic, or social factors. These studies ignore the role of strategy and institutions, and thus appear incomplete. In this paper, the author investigates the climate mitigation responses of the United States and China from a strategic and institutional perspective, explores how their climate responses are shaped, and identifies possible weaknesses hidden in their climate approaches. The paper finds that the United States and China have distinct national climate positions due to their diverse strategies and institutions. However, they have chosen similar policy tools and have achieved fairly comparable emission reductions thus far. In the long run, the effectiveness and efficiency of the low-carbon transformation will possibly be hindered by weaker policy innovation capability at sub-national levels in China and the operationally volatile energy strategy in the United States.

US pension shortfalls will fuel localised inequality

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
The United States ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pension Schemes ◽  
Public Sector Employees ◽  
The Us ◽  
Public Sector Unions

Subject State and municipal pensions in the United States. Significance Losses from the 2008-09 financial crisis, mismanagement and insufficient annual allocations have led to a severe fiscal shortfall for a group of municipalities and states. However, changes to pension schemes are politically difficult for policymakers to achieve, given the clout of public sector unions. Impacts Firms may relocate or forgo investment to avoid future pension-driven tax increases. Republicans will play to their non-urban base by attacking the benefits of public sector employees. Post-COP21 demand for low-carbon investments is likely to complicate pension managers' search for returns. The US urban-suburban-rural divide poses greater difficulties for the Democratic Party than for Republicans.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document