The OurEnergyLibrary aggregates and indexes publicly available fact sheets, journal articles, reports, studies, and other publications on U.S. energy topics. It is updated every week to include the most recent energy resources from academia, government, industry, non-profits, think tanks, and trade associations. Suggest a resource by emailing us at info@ourenergypolicy.org.
Resource Library
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Nearly 47,000 clean energy and clean transportation jobs were announced at more than 170 projects across the country in 2014, according to jobs tracking analysis by Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). Nevada, California, and New York led the nation in new job announcements last year, followed by Michigan, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Utah, and New Mexico. Despite the continued growth, ongoing uncertainty over public policy at both the federal and state levels, coupled with the expiration of beneficial tax policies, continued to cast a cloud over clean energy industries, resulting in fewer announcements than in the past. In 2013, for instance, …
View Full ResourceUCS used the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model to analyze the technical and economic feasibility of Minnesota pursuing a 40 percent by 2030 renewable energy standard (RES). This document describes the methodology and assumptions that were used for that analysis. The ReEDS modeling of the 40 percent by 2030 RES in Minnesota shows that this level of renewable energy penetration is achievable while maintaining reliable and affordable electricity, driving significant economic benefits, and positioning the state to make meaningful reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
ReEDS is a computer-based, long-term capacity-expansion model for the …
View Full ResourceRemaking American Power seeks to help inform federal and state policymakers, energy producers, investors, and consumers about the potential energy market impacts of state and federal policy decisions associated with the Clean Power Plan as proposed. The report outlines the potential electric power sector and broader energy market impacts of policy design options and implementation choices by modeling the Clean Power Plan. In addition to mapping out the impacts on the electric power sector and consumers, the report also assesses the impact of the Clean Power Plan on potential changes in natural gas and coal production at the national and …
View Full ResourceThis year residences and businesses in the United States will spend an estimated $360 billion to meet our total electricity demands – to cool and light our homes, listen to music or watch television, and power our commercial and industrial equipment. Electricity purchases will further enable our access to the Internet and will filter and purify the water that is delivered to our homes, schools, and businesses each and every day.
Although we will derive many important benefits as we pay our monthly electricity bills, the current electricity generation infrastructure annually produces 3.34 million tons of sulfur dioxide. (SO2) and …
View Full ResourceThe United States is reducing oil dependence, slowing the growth of electricity needs, and making energy services more affordable to all Americans. oil and energy consumption remain well below levels seen a decade ago, renewable energy is surging, and growth in U.S. electricity sales continues to decline. NRDC’s 2014 review of the most recent data shows the economic and environmental performance of America’s energy systems has never been better. the single most important contributor to these positive trends is energy efficiency, the nation’s largest and most inexpensive resource to meet our energy needs. Efficiency has allowed America to get more …
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EPA has proposed New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new fossil-fuel burning power plants. In parallel or directly following promulgation of new source standards, Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act directs EPA to issue guidelines for States to follow when implementing performance standards from existing power plants.
Existing power plant guidelines could drive significant GHG reductions in the electricity sector. However, due to the relatively small universe of pollutants covered by Section 111(d), EPA has triggered this provision infrequently. Therefore, EPA has not explored the full potential of options for setting an existing …
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In his Climate Action Plan released June 2013, President Obama called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize regulations controlling carbon dioxide emissions from new and existing fossil fuel–fired power plants. The EPA recently proposed CO2 emission limits for new power plants and is preparing to fulfill its Clean Air Act mandate to issue regulations for existing power plants. These regulations will affect thousands of electricity-generating units, which contribute nearly 40% of CO2 emissions nationwide. This policy brief offers an overview of the substantive and procedural requirements for existing-source regulations and explains the regulatory timeline outlined by the president.…
View Full ResourceSeveral Western states have renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements that have driven significant expansion of wind, solar, and geothermal power. This study examines the renewable energy resources likely to remain undeveloped in the West by the time all these requirements have culminated in 2025. Development beyond that point will likely depend on the best of these remaining resources—where they are located, what it takes to get them to market, and how cost effectively they fit into a diverse portfolio of electric generation technologies.
While the bulk of this study concerns future renewable energy supply, its aim is to reduce some …
View Full ResourceThe Methanol Institute and Hart Energy’s Global Biofuels Center have put together this paper to provide the reader with: A better understanding of what biodiesel is and how it is produced; the role that methanol plays in the production of biodiesel; public policy initiatives that have been undertaken around the world to promote biodiesel production and use; the importance of assuring quality in biodiesel; warranty issues for diesel engines and vehicles; and the safe handling of biodiesel and methanol.…
View Full ResourceEPA and NHTSA, on behalf of the Department of Transportation, are issuing final rules to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy for light-duty vehicles for model years 2017 and beyond. On May 21, 2010, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum requesting that NHTSA and EPA develop through notice and comment rulemaking a coordinated National Program to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions of light-duty vehicles for model years 2017-2025, building on the success of the first phase of the National Program for these vehicles for model years 2012-2016. This Final Rule, consistent with the President’s …
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