To help our leaders address America’s energy future, NEPI has engaged some of the country’s leading energy economists to construct a comprehensive methodology, parameters, and components for a national energy policy.

The following study begins with quantifiable targets and timetables. The goal is to reduce oil use and imported oil by 16% and carbon dioxide emissions by 15% from 2010 levels by 2035. This improvement would include achieving 80% of electric generation from clean energy.

Next, building upon a previous study, we used a common model and metrics to analyze the five most promising policies, all of which use existing technology. Finally, the combination of these potential complementary policies was analyzed for synergistic results.

This work told us how far we would advance toward the targeted goals with each policy, as well as with the combined portfolio, and helped determine the individual and portfolio costs. The five policies consisted of a clean energy standard, an oil security dividend, LNG for transportation, automotive fuel economy, and energy efficiencies. Each policy was tested for cost effectiveness and ability to address the scale of the problem in accomplishing the two targets as well as the societal welfare cost, effect on the national economy and federal budget, and out of pocket consumer costs.