37 item(s) were returned.
Note: Synopsis based on Our Energy Policy Foundation staff review of Congressional committee and office summaries, third party analyses, and media summaries. Synopsis intended solely for the purposes of generating discussion. Renewable Electricity Standard Would require electric utilities to meet 6% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2012, and 20% by 2020. Qualifying renewable energy sources are solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, marine and hydrokinetic energy, certain biofuels, wastewater-treatment gas, landfill gas, coalmine methane, and post-1992 hydropower projects. Up to 1/4 of the 2020 requirement (or 5%) could be met through energy efficiency improvements. If… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] Substantially increase government support for research designed to directly replace oil. Up until now most government research grants in the area of energy went to traditional fossil fuels. The significantly smaller grants for alternative energy have been largely directed to global warming issues. Although we strongly recommend increasing the research grants for global warming solutions, it is critical for the survival of the U.S. and world as a free one… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] An analysis of the current status shows that hydrogen powered cars, generation infrastructure and delivery infrastructure; all at competitive prices to other solutions are 20 years away under the best of circumstances. In any case, an affordable and efficient electric battery car will be available at least 10 years ahead of that and it will not require infrastructure changes. The hydrogen (fuel cell) car simply lost the race to the market.… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] The shift towards natural gas powered vehicles should not be encouraged by any government regulation. This is a tough strategic choice with many pros and cons. Pros The Peak in natural gas is also “around the corner”. There is no point in strategically shifting our transportation sector right into the next peak crisis. The price of natural gas is tied to oil and shifting transportation from oil to natural gas… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] Diesel accounts for 30% of U.S. transportation fuel. In many uses (like trucking), there is no replacement technology in sight. The use of diesel in Europe is double that of the U.S. Bio-diesel is an excellent replacement for oil-derived diesel since it requires only minor infrastructure change or engine change (unlike methanol and ethanol). However, our sources for bio-diesel are limited today. We need to create a larger bio-diesel market… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] Government intervention is not required. Let the best/cheapest solution win. The key is to maintain an even playing field between all oil replacements (like methanol and ethanol). If we find an economically viable alternative which can be used in today’s cars, the priorities of the energy policy should be reviewed. All validated alcohols should benefit from the same tax benefits as ethanol and methanol. Coal to Liquid (CTL) is… [more]
View Insight[Note: The statements below are intended solely to stimulate discussion among the Expert community, and do not represent the position of OurEnergyPolicy.org. Text in italics indicates clarification or expansion.] Critical policy recommendations mentioned above (Flex fuel GEM mandate, Alternative fuel infrastructure tax credit, and Government vehicle purchase mandate). We must solve the “chicken and egg” problem of the alcohol fuel market by forcing initial demand. Increase the blending mandate of ethanol in the gas that we currently buy to 15%. Mandate fuel blenders to buy any ethanol offered to them until they meet the 15% minimum. Cars can… [more]
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