The US National Energy Policy

- Suhas Vemuri

History

• Colonial Era – Free Use of Timber

• Early 19th Century – Emphasis turns to Coal for Transport, Heating & Industry

• 1840s- Introduction of Coal & Natural Gas as energy source

• 1940s – Oil consumption exceeds Coal

• 1950s – Oil Imports added as a priority in the US Budget

• 1960s – US identifies hydroelectricity as major alternative. Starts subsidies.

• 1973 – US reaches its peak Natural gas production and prices increase significantly

• 1977 – President Carter creates the US Department of Energy

• 1989 – The Idea of Energy Independence is introduced to reduce dependence on Oil imports and to improve self sufficiency

Energy Independence

• 1973 Oil Crisis cripples the US Economy temporarily

• US starts plans for Energy conservation innovations

• Several Laws are introduced to reduce fuel consumption

• National Energy Act is introduced in 1978

- Energy Tax Act - Public Utility Regulation Act - Energy Conservation Act • Grants & Subsidies are announced for alternative energy projects

Energy Consumption

Energy Efficiency

The United States Government has been driving innovations in improving energy efficiency by continuously supporting and funding startups in the field under President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

• Efficient Water Heaters

• Improved refrigerators

• Improved HVAC Systems

• Advanced Building Control Technologies

• Mandatory Smart Windows

Vice President Joe Biden Announced a $3.2 B investment in energy efficiency and energy conservation projects

Budget

In the 2012 Budget, Pres. Obama announced • a 70% increase in allocation for R&D in renewable Energy

• $2B for Office of Science in Dept. Of Energy for R&D in basic resources

• $457 million for Solar energy

• $341 million for Biofuels and Biomass R&D

• $102 million for Geothermal

General Legislative Policy

Pres. Obama’s administration with Dr. Steven Chu as Head of Dept. Of Energy announced their motto in Energy Policy “The mission of the Energy Department is to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.”

• To encourage innovation the United States Patent and Trademark Office announced

the Green Patent Pilot Program to accelerate the examination of patent applications relating to certain green technologies to encourage development of green technology, including in the energy sector. They also came up with huge incentives for such patents.

• Three Energy Policy Acts have been passed, in 1992, 2005, and 2007, which include many provisions for conservation, such as the Energy Star program, and energy development, with grants and tax incentives for both renewable energy and non-renewable energy.

According to Wikipedia.com, “Several mandates have been proposed over the years, such as gasoline will never exceed $1.00/gallon (Nixon), and the United States will never again import as much oil as it did in 1977 (Carter), but no comprehensive long-term energy policy has been proposed…”

According to energycollective.com “The more time without a plan, the more time wasted… and from a competition-based vantage, the more time competitors gain ground over the US’s lack of coherence…”

According to mnn.com “A consistent and sustainable national energy policy would provide the surest path for all energy providers toward meeting our energy needs, reducing our impact on the environment and maintaining a high quality of life for ourselves and the next generation…”

Sources

www.wikipedia.com http://www.reddit.com/r/RenewableEnergy www.energy.gov http://www.pewenvironment.org http://infogr.am/ Your Move https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/require-all-new-buildings-constructed-usa-starting-2018-have-solar-roof/mspH2L6c