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The climate change policy debate and ensuing discussions about industrial energy use and carbon emissions have highlighted the need to: (a) aggregate engineering information to a level relevant for economic policy analysis while maintaining sufficient detail so that results are meaningful for industry decision makers, (b) properly represent an industry’s capital vintage structure to better understand inertia associated with changes in aggregate industrial emissions profiles, and (c) identify policy instruments that leverage an industry’s potential for technological change such that carbon emissions can be noticeably reduced. This paper presents an econometric analysis of energy use and emissions profiles of the US Pulp and Paper Industry and uses the resulting set of equations to specify a dynamic model for the analysis of select climate change policies. Scenarios of cost of carbon, energy tax, and investment-led policies indicate that a combination of cost of carbon and investment-led policies can achieve the desired result of rapidly improving overall efficiency of the industry and promoting changes in fuel mix, which together can result in drastic reductions of carbon emissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Describes the response of American states to federal energy legislation. Discussion of the energy conservation programs that was mandated by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for the state; Explanation of considerable variation in the extent to which states have been able to absorb federal energy; Determinants of state energy policy.

This paper traces the origins and development of the concept of ‘market transformation’, from its beginnings as a part of energy policy in the USA, to its subsequent development in the UK. It discusses whether it could become a strategic option for British business in pursuit of sustainable growth. Drawing together themes from the academic literature on marketing, consumer behaviour, business, and energy policy, together with data from national programmes, and British government sources, the paper argues that such an approach would be based on a twin false premise – that selling energy efficiency to consumers is in accordance with modern marketing thinking, and that it has much to do with achieving sustainable development. It concludes that while achieving sustainable development will certainly encompass the transformation of markets for many products, ‘market transformation’ itself cannot be seen as a key driver for change. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by literature on collaboration, policy adoption, and utility governance, this paper develops and empirically tests hypotheses addressing the implications of collaboration, utility ownership and city-level commitment to sustainability on city-level clean energy policy decisions. This paper offers an answer to the question, "to what extent does collaboration between utilities and local governments influence policy adoption." We utilize cross-sectional data from the United States focused Integrated City Sustainability Database (ICSD) to perform an ordinary least squares regression analysis that investigates the degree that specific city attributes and state policy influence the creation of city-scale policy. This analysis shows that cities with a Publicly Owned Utility (POU) adopt close to two energy policies more than similar cities served by an IOU. Higher levels of collaboration among cities and with an Investor Owned Utility (IOU) can offset a portion of the adoption gap for community-oriented energy policy, but has little to no impact on governmental or renewable policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last five years have been one of the most exciting times for the energy storage industry. We have seen significant advancements in the regulatory process to make accommodations for valuing and monetizing energy storage for what it provides to the grid. The most impactful regulatory decision for the energy storage industry has come from California, where the California Public Utilities Commission issued a decision that mandates procurement requirements of 1.325 GW for energy storage to three investor-owned utilities in four stages in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Furthermore, at the federal level, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Order 755 requires transmission operators to develop pay-for-performance tariffs for ancillary services. This has had a direct impact on the market design of U.S. competitive wholesale markets and the monetization of fast-responding grid assets. While this order is technology neutral, it clearly plays into the fast-responding capability of energy storage technologies. Today, PJM, CAISO, MISO, NYISO, and NE–ISO have implemented Order 755 and offer new tariff-for-regulation services based on pay-for-performance principles. Furthermore, FERC Order 784, which was issued in July 2013, requires transmission providers to consider speed and accuracy in determining the requirements for ancillary services. In November 2013, FERC issued Order 972, which revises the small generator interconnection agreement that declares energy storage as a power source. This order puts energy storage on par with existing generators. This paper will discuss the implementation of FERC's pay-for-performance regulation order at all independent service operators (ISOs) in the United States under FERC regulatory authority (this excludes ERCOT). Also discussed will be the market impacts and overall impacts on the NERC regulation performance indexes. The paper ends with a discussion on the California, New York, and Ontario, Canada, procurement mandates and the opportunity that it may present to the energy storage industry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The nuclear industry in the United States of America has accumulated about 70,000 metric tons of high-level nuclear waste over the past decades; at present, this waste is temporarily stored close to the nuclear power plants. The industry and the Department of Energy are now facing two related challenges: (i) will a permanent geological repository, e.g., Yucca Mountain, become available in the future, and if yes, when?; (ii) should the high-level waste be transported to interim storage facilities in the meantime, which may be safer and more cost economic? This paper presents a mathematical transportation model that evaluates the economic challenges and costs associated with different scenarios regarding the opening of a long-term geological repository. The model results suggest that any further delay in opening a long-term storage increases cost and consolidated interim storage facilities should be built now. We show that Yucca Mountain's capacity is insufficient and additional storage is necessary. A sensitivity analysis for the reprocessing of high-level waste finds this uneconomic in all cases. This paper thus emphasizes the urgency of dealing with the high-level nuclear waste and informs the debate between the nuclear industry and policymakers on the basis of objective data and quantitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research and development manager allocates R&D funds to maximize the expected discounted net value of the R&D programme. Because public R&D managers do not have the same market discipline (or rewards) as private R&D managers, public R&D managers require a methodology for maximizing the expected net benefits. The US National Research Council of the National Academies in Prospective Evaluation of Applied Energy Research and Development at DOE (Phase One): A First Look Forward (2005) proposed a cost-benefit methodology to evaluate US Department of Energy's Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) programmes. This paper specifies and extends this methodology, e.g., by adding cost targets into each stage of the RD&D process. Expected benefits are modelled as a function of funding levels, stage durations, stage transition probabilities, and target costs. With this method, the paper determines an optimal allocation of pre-prototype R&D funding, given a total funding constraint for an advanced energy system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy consumption of buildings in developed countries comprises more than one quarter of total energy use in their countries. In the EU and US, buildings consume more energy than industry and transport. As a result, energy efficiency in buildings has become an important global research topic of critical interest to energy policy makers. This paper investigates whether buildings with eaves consume significantly less energy compared to those without eaves. Results show that the eave-width and window-wall ratio (WW-ratio) have significant interaction effects, that eave effect is a significant factor for moderate WW-ratio buildings, and that the most-effective eave length is 0.25 meter. Specifically, when the window-wall ratio is less than 13% and the eave width is beyond 0.25 meter, the average energy consumption reduction is at least 10%. The methodologies applied in this research integrate several computer-supported cooperative tools, including the statistical software R, which constructs and analyzes the design of experiments; the building-simulation software EnergyPlus; and the graphical software SkepchUp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds on Freudenburg's concept of "privileged accounts" and Hajer's work on the discourse of environmental policy by analyzing the debate over coal-fired power in the United States before and after the 2016 presidential election. A mixed-methods analysis of qualitative interviews with federal energy policy actors shows that anti-regulation narratives were central to the discourse. Results highlight shifts in pro-coal narratives as members and supporters of the coal industry adapted their discursive strategies to align with political and market transitions: whereas respondents used varied narratives during the pre-election period, the core arguments in the post-election period revolved around a more cohesive set of narratives about legal opposition to regulations and the importance of coal as a source of affordable, reliable energy. Additionally, the themes of climate denial and coal jobs—documented as dominant in previous research—were relatively rare and remained peripheral to the central discourse coalitions identified in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the development of energy policy in the mainline churches beginning with Margaret Mead and René Dubos's 1974 commission to prepare a report to the National Council of Churches on the use of plutonium as a commercial fuel. The report stirred a controversy and a broader examination of energy ethics that culminated in the adoption in 1979 of a National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. policy paper and encouraged constituent denominations to make their own studies of energy policy. The development and implementation of these policies is followed from 1980 to the present, using the Presbyterian Church ( U.S.A.) as a representative mainline denomination. This turn to ethical reasoning to support change in U.S. energy policy is a hopeful development, given the stalemate in such discussion when framed in scientific or political terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper briefly reviews some key aspects of U.S. energy policy history and policy-making complexity, considers the issues and pressures that growing international economic interdependency may bring, and suggests some approaches and tools for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) is one of six greenhouse gases central to climate change studies. Although it accounts for a very thin slice of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions pie—a mere 8%—the inclusion of methane gas in climate change policy is warranted, given that it has twenty-one times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide (CO"2"). This atmospheric insulating trait of methane is why United States' policymakers have begun to take greater notice of its sources, both natural and anthropogenic, and have started to investigate possible ways to curb methane emissions. Overall, total methane emissions in the United States have declined from 1990 levels. Illustrative of this phenomenon are improvements in the management of U.S. landfills, the frontrunner of anthropogenic methane gas emissions. Landfills contribute a full quarter of all anthropogenic methane emissions. Interestingly, emissions inventories indicate a steady decline in landfill methane emissions, yet the volume of refuse and rubbish piles in U.S. dumps continues to increase. This negative correlation, which is good news for Earth and its inhabitants, is attributed to the recent aggressive campaign to capture methane gas at landfills and convert it to renewable energy. However, unlike the phenomenon at landfills, other parameters of anthropogenic methane are demonstrating substantial increases above 1990 emissions levels, including wastewater treatment facilities and manure management in farming. Dairy cattle and other animals in the ruminant family, along with swine and poultry, contribute a significant percentage of methane into the atmosphere. This is accomplished largely by way of manure management practices, and not bovine flatulence as is erroneously believed. The dairy industries of California and other top milk-producing states are confronting this issue head-on. Partnerships with federal and state agencies have created programs and incentives to harness livestock manure methane with anaerobic methane digesters to reduce, and in some cases completely eliminate, the enormous outputs of methane associated with manure management at concentrated animal feeding operations ("CAFOs"). This paper investigates several examples of public and private programs designed to reduce methane emissions from manure management at dairy facilities and, given that California is home to 20% of America's milk cows and remains the nation's top milk producer, this paper focuses on California programs. The paper examines policies and initiatives that promote the generation of energy from renewable energy sources, including biomass, and encourage the reduction of methane emissions associated with CAFOs. At the federal level, this includes a review of the 2002 Farm Bill and two substantial loan programs for rural business owners. At the state level, California's Dairy Power Production Program and other similar funding programs that subsidize the planning and installation of methane digesters are assessed.… [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the actions and the factors driving those actions to reduce energy consumption and enhance energy efficiency taken by United States cities. While not much empirical evidence is available on why governments pursue practical sustainability actions, we attempt to shed more light on this important topic by empirically identifying factors that contribute to concrete actions toward sustainability policies. We adopt political market theory as a basic theoretical framework with policy-making applied to city energy consumption. Using the 2010 ICMA (local government sustainability policies and program) data, this study expands the focus of analyses to evaluate the effect of the form of government on energy consumption and energy efficiency by using multiple regression analysis. The findings show that at the city level, the mayorcouncil form of government are negatively associated with governments' efforts to reduce energy consumption. However, cities with at-large elections and municipal ownership are more likely to adopt sustainability actions. We also find that a large-scale economy has significant effects on the effort to reduce city energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. This shows that environmental policies are directly connected to locally relevant affairs, including housing, energy use, green transportation, and water. Thus, local level administrators could take an executive role to protect the environment, encourage the development of alternative energy, and reduce the use of fossil fuel and coal energy. These efforts can lead to important environmental ramifications and relevant actions by municipal governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cadernos Argentina Brasil is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since the 1990s, US policy in Azerbaijan has gone through several important shifts in the areas of energy, security and democracy promotion. How can we make sense of these decisive shifts in the orientation of US policy? In this paper, I identify major shifts in US policy in Azerbaijan based on relative weight given to energy, security and democracy issues. I divide US policy into four different time periods: 1994 to 2001, 2001 to 2007, 2007 to 2015 and 2015 to present. I analyze the changes that took place in US policy in the dimensions of energy, security and democracy. Then, I provide plausible explanations that can account for shifts in US policy. To do so, I utilize foreign policy analysis theory that focuses on domestic and international parameters that bring major foreign policy shifts. My explanation is not monocausal, and focuses on several factors that have influenced US policy in Azerbaijan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the dynamic relationships between US gasoline prices, crude oil prices, and the stock of gasoline. Using monthly data between January 1973 and December 1987, we find that the US gasoline price is mainly influenced by the price of crude oil. The stock of gasoline has little or no influence on the price of gasoline during the period before the second energy crisis, and seems to have some influence during the period after. We also find that the dynamic relationship between the prices of gasoline and crude oil changes over time, shifting from a longer lag response to a shorter lag response. Box-Jenkins ARIMA and transfer function models are employed in this study. These models are estimated using estimation procedure with and without outlier adjustment. For model estimation with outlier adjustment, an iterative procedure for the joint estimation of model parameters and outlier effects is employed. The forecasting performance of these models is carefully examined. For the purpose of illustration, we also analyze these time series using classical white-noise regression models. The results show the importance of using appropriate time-series methods in modeling and forecasting when the data are serially correlated. This paper also demonstrates the problems of time-series modeling when outliers are present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. Clean Power Plan stipulates a state-specific performance-based CO2 emission standard, delegating states with considerable flexibility for using either a tradable performance-based or a mass-based permit program. This paper analyzes these two standards under imperfect competitive. We limit our attention to (1) short-run analyses and (2) a situation in which all states are subject to the same type of standard. We show that while the cross-subsidy inherent in the performance- based standard might effectively reduce power prices, it could also inflate energy consumption. A dominant firm with a relatively clean endowment under the performance-based standard would be able to manipulate the electricity market as well as to elevate permit prices, which might worsen market outcomes compared to its mass-based counterpart. On the other hand, the "cross-subsidy" could be the dominant force leading to a higher social welfare if the leader has a relatively dirty endowment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the proceedings of the International Conference on Nuclear Power and Its Fuel Cycle held in Salzburg, Austria in May 2-13, 197. Observations about several papers discussed at a symposium on the postponed plutonium reprocessing and plutonium breeding is presented. An overview of the completed comprehensive review by the United States regarding energy policy is offered.

This paper estimates the economically achievable potential for improving electricity end-use efficiency in the USA from a sample of policies. The approach involves identifying a series of energy efficiency policies tackling market failures and then examining their impacts and cost-effectiveness using Georgia Institute of Technology's version of the National Energy Modeling System. By estimating the policy-driven electricity savings and the associated levelized costs, a policy supply curve for electricity efficiency is produced. Each policy is evaluated individually and in an integrated policy scenario to examine policy dynamics. The integrated policy scenario demonstrates significant achievable potential: 261 TWh (6.5 %) of electricity savings in 2020 and 457 TWh (10.2 %) in 2035. All 11 policies examined were estimated to have lower levelized costs than the average electricity retail price. Levelized costs range from 0.5 to 8.1 cents/kWh, with the regulatory and information policies tending to be most cost-effective. Policy impacts on the power sector, carbon dioxide emissions, and energy intensity are also estimated to be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biofuel-related land use in the USA and the EU has significantly expanded during the last decade; models have been used to estimate land availability and demand in these regions. This paper provides an overview of different land-use modeling practices applicable to first- and second-generation biofuels. We review the importance of different land categories for biofuels, modeling approaches (top-down/bottom-up) and their integration, data availability for calibration and validation, model scale, and uncertainty. Possible future changes of biofuel land use and research gaps and limitations are synthesized. Key issues are the lack of data for independent validation and the need for better integration of dynamic bottom-up models into the top-down policy analysis. More research is needed to deal with the large-scale introduction of second-generation biofuel crops required. The paper culminates in describing how models can help to meet the challenge of supplying more fuel from lignocellulosic crops ( LCC) in ways that reduce indirect land-use change ( iLUC) and how such transition could be implemented in policy and practice. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of existing financial incentive policies in the U.S. for integrated photovoltaic and battery energy storage (PV-BES) systems. A mathematical model of PV-BES system to evaluate annual energy performance is developed in this paper. Four types of buildings (i.e., hospital, large office, large hotel, and secondary school) located in four different states, which each has their own PV and/or BES incentives, are selected and analyzed. Based on the energy performance data for each building type, the simply payback period (PBP) for the PV-BES system in different locations is calculated according to the local incentive policies. The PBP is chosen as an indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of incentive policies for different locations and building types by comparing it to the PBP for the same PV-BES systems without incentive policies. The reduction of carbon dioxide emission (CDE) due to the PV generation is also investigated since it indicates the potential to reduce the PBP for a further step when a high carbon credit is available. Furthermore, a parametric analysis is conducted to determine the sensitivity and contribution of parameters such as the capacity of the PV-BES system, the capital cost of PV module and the battery storage on the performance of the PV-BES system. Results show that for all the evaluated buildings in California and Hawaii, the existing incentive policy could reduce the PBP effectively below 10 years. However, the PBP for most of the evaluated buildings in New Jersey and New York were high even when both the PV and BES incentive policies were taken into account (approximately from 11 to 29 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of atmospheric trace species in the United States have changed dramatically over the past several decades in response to pollution control strategies, shifts in domestic energy policy and economics, and economic development (and resulting emission changes) elsewhere in the world. Reliable projections of the future atmosphere require models to not only accurately describe current atmospheric concentrations, but to do so by representing chemical, physical and biological processes with conceptual and quantitative fidelity. Only through incorporation of the processes controlling emissions and chemical mechanisms that represent the key transformations among reactive molecules can models reliably project the impacts of future policy, energy and climate scenarios. Efforts to properly identify and implement the fundamental and controlling mechanisms in atmospheric models benefit from intensive observation periods, during which collocated measurements of diverse, speciated chemicals in both the gas and condensed phases are obtained. The Southeast Atmosphere Studies (SAS, including SENEX, SOAS, NOMADSS and SEAC4RS) conducted during the summer of 2013 provided an unprecedented opportunity for the atmospheric modeling community to come together to evaluate, diagnose and improve the representation of fundamental climate and air quality processes in models of varying temporal and spatial scales. This paper is aimed at discussing progress in evaluating, diagnosing and improving air quality and climate modeling using comparisons to SAS observations as a guide to thinking about improvements to mechanisms and parameterizations in models. The effort focused primarily on model representation of fundamental atmospheric processes that are essential to the formation of ozone, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and other trace species in the troposphere, with the ultimate goal of understanding the radiative impacts of these species in the southeast and elsewhere. Here we address questions surrounding four key themes: gas-phase chemistry, aerosol chemistry, regional climate and chemistry interactions, and natural and anthropogenic emissions. We expect this review to serve as a guidance for future modeling efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.) is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study investigates the relationship between media framing and public opinion on the issue of biofuels-transportation fuels made from plants, animal products, or organic waste. First, the paper investigates how media framing of biofuels has changed since the issue regained national prominence in the early 2000s. Through a detailed content analysis of newspaper coverage, the paper documents an increase in negative frames between 1999 and 2008, especially frames focusing on the negative economic effects of biofuels on consumers. Second, using data from a 2010 Internet survey of a random sample of the U. S. public, the paper analyzes the relative influence of these new media frames on public attitudes toward biofuels compared with other common predictors of public opinion, such as party ID, regional economic interests, and personal identity as an environmentalist. In general, the results confirm that public attitudes toward biofuels appear to be shaped by these new media frames, especially among those who indicate a high degree of attention to the media, suggesting the relative importance of framing effects on policy attitudes for environmental and energy policies in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When government policy-makers propose new policies, they need to assess the costs and benefits of the proposed policy measures to compare them to existing and alternative policies and to rank them according to their effectiveness. In the case of equipment energy efficiency regulations, comparing the effects of a range of alternative policy measures requires evaluating their effects on consumers' budgets, on national energy consumption and economics, and on the environment. A useful methodology to perform such policy analysis should represent in a single framework the characteristics of each policy measure and provide comparable results. This paper presents an integrated methodological framework for the prospective assessment of the energy, economic, and environmental impacts of a variety of equipment energy efficiency policy measures. The framework is a comparative assessment tool for energy efficiency policy measures that (a) relies on a common set of primary data and parameters; (b) follows a single functional approach to estimate the energy, economic, and emissions savings resulting from each assessed measure; and (c) summarizes results in a set of metrics to facilitate comparative assessments. It provides a general methodology useful for evaluating a broad range of policies to promote greater equipment energy efficiency and the capability to further compare the impacts of such market interventions. The paper concludes with a demonstration of the use of the framework to compare the estimated impacts of 12 policy measures focusing on increasing the energy efficiency of gas furnaces in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the attention surrounding local climate protection in the United States is associated with two networks: ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability's Cities for Climate Protection and the U. S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement ( MCPA). However, the impact of these networks on member-city actions has not been clearly established. This paper examines whether, and to what extent, participation in climate networks leads to the implementation of greenhouse gas ( GHG)-reducing policies, above and beyond what would have been done in their absence. To account for the possibility that cities which join climate networks are systematically different from those that do not and control for self-selection induced bias, three statistical techniques-propensity score matching, Heckman full information maximum likelihood, and instrumental variables-are employed to estimate the 'treatment effect' of participation. Results suggest that impact is network specific: ICLEI membership causes small to moderate increases in cities' GHG-relevant activity, whereas the MCPA has no such effect. The characteristics of each network are evaluated in light of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly high oil consumption in US road transportation sector, coupled with its significant contribution to greenhouse gases emission, resulted in the implementation of many policies geared towards addressing both challenges. Aiming to enhance the US energy security, the Energy Policy Act encourages the use of alternative fuels and has set forth the requirements for the acquisition of alternative fuels vehicles (AFVs) by Federal Agencies. This paper applies a hybrid, top-down, two-stage model to forecast the share of AFVs in the United States until 2030 and the resulting impact on the US oil demand. In the first stage, a logistic model is being estimated by econometric techniques to forecast the stock of vehicles as a function of socio-economic variables, i.e. population, gross domestic product and saturation point. The second stage applies an S-shape function to forecast the annual share of AFVs based on a trend variable that encompasses inherently fuel cost, cost of AFVs, discount rate and consumer's choice and three different AFV saturation level scenarios (2 per cent, 3 per cent, 4 per cent). The impact of AFV and advanced technologies on oil demand was calculated based on average vehicle miles driven and corporate average fuel economy possible trends for both AFVs and total vehicle stock. The paper concludes that under the 4 per cent saturation level scenario for AFVs, the oil saving is forecasted at 196,000 b/d or 1.8 per cent of total transport fuel requirements in 2030. Furthermore, it was determined that marginal increase of 1 per cent in AFVs saturation level in 2030 results in oil saving of around 49,000 b/d which represents 0.5 per cent of total fuel requirement. Overall, it was concluded that unless stringent policy measures are introduced, or a sustainable level of high oil prices is reached, there is a limited impact of AFVs on the US oil demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid-2000s, rising gas prices, political instability, pollution, and fossil fuel depletion brought renewable domestic energy production onto the policy agenda. Biofuels, or fuels made from plant materials, came to be seen as America's hope for energy security, environmental conservation, and rural economic revitalization. Yet even as the actual environmental, economic, and energy contributions of a biofuels boom remained debatable, support for biofuels swelled and became a prominent driver of not only US energy policy but of US farm policy as well. This paper asks why biofuels became such a powerful force in farm policy debates, and draws on policy windows theory and discourse analysis to analyze biofuels' contributions to the passage of the 2008 farm bill. It finds that budgetary and political factors combined with a particular set of patriotic biofuels-oriented discourses to carry energy policy debates into farm policy. It also comments on the implications of biofuels policies for conservation and sustainable land use in 2008 and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol production in the United States has been steadily growing and is expected to continue growing. Many politicians see increased ethanol use as a way to promote environmental goals, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and energy security goals. This paper provides a benefit-cost analysis of increasing ethanol use based on an analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency. We find that the cost of increasing ethanol production to almost ten billion gallons a year is likely to exceed the benefits by about three billion dollars annually. We also suggest that earlier attempts aimed at promoting ethanol would have likely failed a benefit-cost test, and that Congress should consider repealing ethanol incentive programs, such as the ethanol tariff and tax credit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ambitious target of net-zero emission by 2050 has been aggressively driving the renewable energy sector in many countries. Leading the race of renewable energy sources is solar energy, the fastest growing energy source at present. The solar industry has witnessed more growth in the last decade than it has in the past 40 years, owing to its technological advancements, plummeting costs, and lucrative incentives. The United States is one of the largest producers of solar power in the world and has been a pioneer in solar adoption, with major projects across different technologies, mainly photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and solar heating and cooling, but is expanding towards floating PV, solar combined with storage, and hybrid power plants. Although the United States has tremendous potential for exploiting solar resources, there is a scarcity of research that details the U.S. solar energy scenario. This paper provides a comprehensive review of solar energy in the U.S., highlighting the drivers of the solar industry in terms of technology, financial incentives, and strategies to overcome challenges. It also discusses the prospects of the future solar market based on extensive background research and the latest statistics. In addition, the paper categorizes the U.S. states into five tiers based on their solar prospects calculated using analytical hierarchy process and regression analysis. The price of solar technologies in the U.S. is also predicted up to 2031 using Wright's law, which projected a 77% reduction in the next decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]