Articles tagged with Energy Policy
A recent study by Benjamin Sovacool recommends transitioning away from centralized coal and nuclear plants to small-scale decentralized generation technologies for a more sustainable energy sector. These alternatives are found to be feasible, affordable, environmentally friendly, reliable, and secure.
The Lancet Series on Energy and Health highlights the critical link between energy and health, calling for global control of greenhouse gases and affordable technologies to reduce indoor air pollution. The series advocates for a low-carbon, low-energy transportation system and economic policies that mitigate harmful energy practices.
The Lancet Series on Energy and Health emphasizes the need for policies promoting clean energy access to improve public health and mitigate climate disruption. Key targets include universal access to modern fuels, electricity supply, and improved cooking stoves by 2015.
The Lancet study highlights the potential of energy efficiency and technology to reduce temperature-related death and illness, as well as alleviate fuel poverty. Implementing renewable energy production and restructuring plans for built environments could lead to significant benefits for urban air quality and health.
A comprehensive review of biofuel literature reveals corn ethanol is the least sustainable feedstock, offsetting only 15% of gasoline demand. Cellulosic ethanol offers a 87% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, making it a more viable alternative for combating global warming.
A national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) would create a level playing field for states by requiring utilities to use solar, wind and other renewable resources. The RPS would prevent price gouging and save money for consumers by preventing inconsistencies between state mandates.
The £12 million Grantham Institute will bring together leading researchers from Imperial College London to develop mitigation techniques and impact public and private policy. Current research areas include heatwave forecasting, airplane condensation trail reduction, and climate change modeling.
A study by Nives Dolsak and Maureen Dunn finds that developed countries invest in developing countries' greenhouse gas emission-reduction projects mainly due to economic reasons, such as reducing air pollution and transaction costs. The authors suggest policy makers to consider regional pollution dynamics when designing international r...
The US joins an international collaboration to build ITER, a project aiming to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of clean fusion energy. Fusion energy could provide significant amounts of electricity and generate hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers are creating a distributed power test-bed to examine the effects of widespread adoption of clean, renewable energy sources on the utility grid. The project aims to understand how small-scale renewable energy generators will interact with the existing grid and identify potential stability iss...
The US Department of Energy is launching two new Bioenergy Research Centers to accelerate basic research on the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. The centers will focus on systems biology research on microbes and plants, with the goal of harnessing nature's own mechanisms for producing energy from sunlight.
Dutch citizens rated various energy technologies with CO2 storage as having consequences between 6.0 and 6.5, indicating acceptance. Informed opinions were more stable than uninformed ones, which were deemed 'pseudo opinions' that don't reflect public acceptance.
New Zealand tops the list with strong commitment to environmental protection, while the US falls short on critical issues like renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions. The report highlights the importance of sound policymaking and good governance in achieving successful pollution control and natural resource management.
The workshop aims to identify national and regional needs, issues, and gaps in technology, policy, and regulations related to the interdependency of energy and water. Participants will discuss region-specific concerns, fresh water impacts on energy production, and science and cost issues.
The IEA GHG Weyburn project, a $40 million research initiative, involved 24 organizations in Canada, Europe, and the US, producing over 470 deliverables. The project's findings demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale CO2 capture and storage.
Arthur B. Weglein, a physics professor at the University of Houston, testified before the US Congress Science Committee on the proposed ultradeep energy bill (H.R. 6). The hearing focused on the benefits of ultradeep water research and development, which could create nearly one million jobs and increase domestic oil and gas production.
A new study by UC Berkeley finds that renewable energy generates more jobs per megawatt installed than the fossil fuel-based sector, with potential benefits for all states. Investing in renewables could create up to 240,000 new jobs by 2020, while reducing trade deficits and reestablishing US leadership in energy technology.
According to L. Hunter Lovins, companies investing in renewable energy will gain a marketing edge as consumers notice environmental benefits. The California Public Employees' Retirement System is screening investments, leading to expected changes in US energy policy.
The American Geophysical Union has selected its 26th Congressional Science Fellow, OHSU student Amerson, who will spend a year working in Congress. She aims to apply her expertise in environmental science to inform sound public policy.
Researchers are exploring government policies to ensure a stable energy supply, including alternative sources like hydrogen, fuel cells, and alkaline fuel cells. Energy R&D spending is linked to energy-related patents, highlighting the need for increased investment in emerging energy problems.
John P. Holdren receives Tyler Prize for his leadership in research and policy on global energy and environmental issues. His work has shaped new understanding and policies on sustainable development, climate change, and nuclear nonproliferation.
The Inner Space/Outer Space II Symposium will explore questions of the hour in particle astrophysics, including the origins of the universe and dark matter. The four-day agenda includes presentations on Extra Dimensions, the Accelerating Universe, and Beyond the Standard Models.
Over 1,500 scientists, including most Nobel laureates in science, call on governments to act immediately to prevent devastating consequences of human-induced global warming. A strong climate treaty would address the planet's most serious threats and protect future generations.
New RFF issues brief examines interactions between climate change policies and the tax system. Research suggests that reducing carbon emissions may produce economic benefits when revenues from pollution control are used to reduce other taxes, potentially offsetting added costs. However, policy approaches can significantly impact costs.
The article argues that deregulation has resulted in lower energy prices for consumers, comparable to those in 1949 when adjusted for inflation. Free markets have also devised solutions to manage price risks through hedging instruments, allowing large consumers to lock in prices and mitigate volatility.
Researchers investigate how climate change affects vulnerable populations, including access to public water supply and education levels. The study aims to understand the potential regional-scale effects of climate change on social groups in specific regions.
Researchers examine obstacles to international technology diffusion, including funding limitations, investment distortions, and intellectual property issues. They also investigate strengthening economic incentives for mutually-beneficial technology adoption.