Report Identifies Climate-Friendly Energy Policy Options for U.S.
The U.S. has a range of feasible, near-term, "climate-friendly" energy policy options that can satisfy traditional U.S. energy policy objectives while reducing future U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report released by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
The U.S. has a range of feasible, near-term, "climate-friendly" energy policy options that can satisfy traditional U.S. energy policy objectives while reducing future U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report released by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.
“Designing a Climate-Friendly Energy Policy: Options for the Near Term”
examines a number of energy-policy options that it says would advance U.S. energy-policy goals during the upcoming decades while contributing to efforts to curb global warming.
"The notion that energy policy and climate policy objectives are necessarily at odds is simply a myth," said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center. "Energy use and climate change are inextricably linked, so it makes sense for policy-makers to consider options that simultaneously advance the goals of energy policy and climate policy.”
The report identifies chief U.S. energy policy objectives, including: a
secure, plentiful, diverse primary energy supply; a robust, reliable
infrastructure for energy conversion and delivery; affordable and stable energy prices; and environmentally sustainable energy production and use.
According to the report, key elements of a climate-friendly energy policy include increasing natural gas production and expanding natural gas transportation infrastructure, in addition to research and development on non-fossil fuels and carbon sequestration. It also calls for the development of renewable energy technologies and efficient electricity production technologies, without weakening Clean Air Act protections, and the enhancement of energy efficiency in automobiles and light trucks, industry, and buildings.
“Choices made in the current energy policy debate will directly impact U.S. greenhouse gas emissions far into the future,” said Claussen. “In addition, near-term energy policy decisions will affect the costs of implementing any future climate policy."
“Designing a Climate-Friendly Energy Policy: Options for the Near Term”
examines a number of energy-policy options that it says would advance U.S. energy-policy goals during the upcoming decades while contributing to efforts to curb global warming.
"The notion that energy policy and climate policy objectives are necessarily at odds is simply a myth," said Eileen Claussen, president of the Pew Center. "Energy use and climate change are inextricably linked, so it makes sense for policy-makers to consider options that simultaneously advance the goals of energy policy and climate policy.”
The report identifies chief U.S. energy policy objectives, including: a
secure, plentiful, diverse primary energy supply; a robust, reliable
infrastructure for energy conversion and delivery; affordable and stable energy prices; and environmentally sustainable energy production and use.
According to the report, key elements of a climate-friendly energy policy include increasing natural gas production and expanding natural gas transportation infrastructure, in addition to research and development on non-fossil fuels and carbon sequestration. It also calls for the development of renewable energy technologies and efficient electricity production technologies, without weakening Clean Air Act protections, and the enhancement of energy efficiency in automobiles and light trucks, industry, and buildings.
“Choices made in the current energy policy debate will directly impact U.S. greenhouse gas emissions far into the future,” said Claussen. “In addition, near-term energy policy decisions will affect the costs of implementing any future climate policy."
