Energy policies for a clean and prosperous future

Journal Article · · Solar Today; (United States)

OSTI ID:5034634

Brower, M; Meyer, A ^[1]

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1. Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, MA (United States)

The vast and complex system by which energy is produced and used is increasingly at the heart of the environmental and economic challenges facing the United States. Reducing fossil-fuel use is essential to America's long-term economic and environmental well-being. And yet, in the debate over national energy policy, economic and environmental issues are often portrayed as being at loggerheads. According to conventional wisdom, America cannot significantly change the way it produces and uses energy without sacrificing economic prosperity. In implementing energy policy, it is important to pay particular attention to questions of equity and fairness, as well as to the impact of the transition to a new mix of energy resources. For example, higher taxes on energy may well be justified to reflect the societal costs of pollution in energy prices, but some of the revenues from these taxes must be used to offset their disproportionate impact on lower-income and rural Americans. Similarly, while the nation (and the world) must shift away from reliance on coal and oil if we are to lessen the risk of ecologically disastrous rates of global warming, we must also consider the need for job retraining and economic conversion strategies for those workers and regions of the country that will be most affected by this shift. The policies presented here reflect three guiding principles that the United States must follow in order to move toward sustainable energy policies. These principles are harnessing market forces, making efficiency the standard and investing in the future.

• OSTI ID: 5034634
• Journal Information: Solar Today; (United States), Journal Name: Solar Today; (United States) Vol. 6:2; ISSN SOTOE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
296000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power
COMMERCIALIZATION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECONOMIC POLICY
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MARKETING RESEARCH
NORTH AMERICA
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
USA