If you had the opportunity to draft US energy policy for the next decade, what basic tenets would it include?

Answer 1

Wow, great question. The first thing we need to do is recognize that the oil economy is dying. The second thing we need to do is realize we can't build a hydrogen economy quickly, so we need a bridge. It's already here, it's called electricity. To that end, here's what I would do.

1. Impose a requirement for all auto manufacturers to build plug in hybrid electric vehicles. People plug them in at home at about 25% of the cost of gas.
2. Provide a tax credit for consumers to buy them, paid for by higher gasoline taxes and/or taxes on vehicles with internal combustion engines only.
3. Create a friendly regulatory climate to encourage utilities to build nuclear power plants.
4. Provide incentives for solar and wind power generation systems on people's homes and property, paid for by tariffs on foreign oil, to create price parity with the utility's power.
5. Invest heavily in R&D for alternative fuels and power generation systems.
6. Overhaul local government zoning regulations to prohibit urban sprawl. Permit Neighborhood Electric Vehicles and other low speed electric vehicles on all roads. Eliminate suburbia as a viable development pattern over the next generation. This will reduce the amount of automobile travel necessary.

Answer 2

1. Drill all of the oil from our own territories that we possibly can.

2. Expand on Ethanol production.

3. Expand on oil production from coal.

4. Increase subsidies for wind farms. There is enough wind energy in the Dakotas alone to power ALL of North America.

5. Offer awards for developing new energy conservation technology ideas.

6. Expand on domestic oil refinery capacity.
a. Mandate that all domestic oil refineries be built and maintaind with no less than 10% additional capacity Thsu is one refinery has a problem other refineries can up produciton. This would help stabilize prices.
b. Mandate that ANY company selling fuel in this company have a minimum percentage of that fuel as having been refined in this nation. (like 80% or more) In conjunction with a this would also aid in stabilizing national prices.
c. make federal guidelines on gasoline mixtures and take that authority from the states. Have no more the 5 or 6 differant mixtures. (not the dozens we have now) This will lower the cost of building a refinery AND again help stabilize pricing from one season to the next. With fewer mixes do prepare and manage the commodity price should also lower marginally.

7. Add in more tidal power generation.

8. Create more subsidies for ground source heats pumps in both private homes AND industry. (40-60% savings in reduced energy consumption for heating and AC) Typicla install cost for a private home is around $10,000. Your home heating and cooling costs will be cut by NO less than 40% over a standard system.

I could go on and on, but here are a few.

Answer 3

We have two seperate issues. The first is electric generation, but even that has several arms and legs to consider. The current (no pun intended) state of the art in solar and wind could generate most of the daytime electrical energy needed in the US. To do that would require a concerted federal government involment that would disregard the wishes of the already intrenched energy producing corporations. Further, it would require strong laws concerning the efficency of power using appliances. Coal burning power plants, and to a lesser extent gas burning power plants, would have to be used only as backup sources. Keeping the wheels on the road would involve raising the CAFE standards to a minimum of 35 mpg for heavy vehicals and 40 for passenger cars. That would be a start.....what are the chances of 'getting started'? With our current 'oil/coal/gas' only energy policies, slim and none!

Answer 4

- All passenger vehicles must have >30mpg in five years ... no exceptions.

- All transportation money diverted from road repair to mass transit construction.

- tax on gas to fund alternative energy sources.

- Replace power plants fueled by coal and oil with Nuclear ASAP. Spent nuclear fuel should be shipped to the US - Mexican border and used as a lethal barrier instead of a wall.

Answer 5

Reduce (or stop completely) the tax breaks and/or subsidies to oil and transportation companies.

Expand exploration and drilling in the Gulf and Alaska, which will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Tax breaks to individuals and businesses who increase their green contribution (solar panels on house roofs, green roofs on business buildings, etc).

Increased fuel efficiency standards for autos, as well as offering tax breaks for buying hybrid cars.

Expansion of mass transit in urban areas.

Increased use of cleaner energy sources (wind, geothermal, hydroelectric) and nuclear plants. I would make constructing new coal/lignite plants illegal (TXU wanted to build 6 of them here in TX...what the --?!).

Answer 6

Renewables of course (except ethanol which is just putting our food in our gas tanks)., Drastically increased CAFE standards, increased tax credits for individuals who improve their energy efficiency (home & auto), roll back of tax breaks for big oil. More money for research into alternate fuel vehicles such as the air car, plug in hybrids, electric cars, etc., more money for mass transit where possible.

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Answer 7

Nuclear Power. Like the rest of the westernized world.

Answer 8

subsidies currently paid to oil corporations would be taken away, and funnelled into R and D projects, what the oil companies claim to be using it for anyways...it would just be paid to a third party with no vested interest in keeping oil prices high.

Answer 9

drilling in anwar, drilling off east coast, building new refineries, building nuclear plants