U.S. energy and the environment : an overview and comparative analysis / Roland H. Terrison, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Terrison, Roland H.

Series:

Energy policies, politics and prices series.

Energy policies, politics and prices

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Power resources--Environmental aspects--United States.

Power resources.

Environmental policy--United States.

Environmental policy.

Energy policy--United States.

Energy policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (225 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

US energy and the environment

United States energy and the environment

Place of Publication:

New York : Nova Science Publishers, c2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Energy supplies and prices are major economic factors in the U.S., and energy markets are volatile and unpredictable. As an aid in policy making, this book presents a current and historical view of the supply and consumption of various forms of energy.

Contents:

Intro

U.S. ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT: AN OVERVIEW AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, THE APOLLO PROGRAM, AND FEDERAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY R&amp

D PROGRAMS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

SUMMARY

THE MANHATTAN PROJECT

THE APOLLO PROGRAM

ENERGY TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE MANHATTAN PROJECT, THE APOLLO PROGRAM, AND FEDERAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY R&amp

D

Funding

Threat Perception

Goal Clarity

Technology Customer

IMPLICATIONS FOR CONGRESS

End Notes

Chapter 2 NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL: ALTERNATIVES TO YUCCA MOUNTAIN

PROPOSALS FOR A NEW DIRECTION

BASELINE: CURRENT WASTE PROGRAM PROJECTIONS

OPTIONS FOR HALTING OR DELAYING YUCCA MOUNTAIN

Withdraw License Application

Reduce Appropriations

Key Policy Appointments

Waste Program Review

CONSEQUENCES OF A YUCCA MOUNTAIN POLICY SHIFT

Federal Liabilities for Disposal Delays

Licensing Complications for New Power Reactors

Environmental Cleanup Penalties

Long-Term Risk

NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY OPTIONS

Institutional Changes

Extended On-Site Storage

Federal Central Interim Storage

Private Central Storage

Spent Fuel Reprocessing and Recycling

Non-Repository Options

New Repository Site

CONCLUDING DISCUSSION

Chapter 3 U.S. ENERGY: OVERVIEW AND SELECTED FACTS AND NUMBERS

INTRODUCTION

OIL

Petroleum Consumption, Supply, and Imports

Petroleum and Transportation

Petroleum Prices: Historical Trends

Petroleum Prices: The 2004-2008 Bubble

Gasoline Taxes

ELECTRICITY

OTHER CONVENTIONAL ENERGY RESOURCES

Natural Gas

COAL

RENEWABLES

CONSERVATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Vehicle Fuel Economy.

Energy Consumption and GDP

MAJOR STATISTICAL RESOURCES

Energy Information Administration (EIA)

EIA home page-http://www.eia.doe.gov

EIA, Publications and Reports - http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf.html

Other Sources

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Chapter 4 BIOCHAR: EXAMINATION OF AN EMERGING CONCEPT TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

BIOCHAR

Potential Advantages

Carbon sequestration

Greenhouse gas emission reduction

Soil fertility

Potential Disadvantages

Feedstock availability

Biochar handling

Biochar system deployment

POLICY CONTEXT

Climate Change Debate

Farm Bill

Long-Term Prospects

International Recognition

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES

SELECT U.S. MANUFACTURERS

Eprida, Inc.

Carbon Char Group, LLC

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

Chapter 5 ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY VEHICLES: ISSUES IN CONGRESS

MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS

Congressional Interest

Legislative background

The Energy Policy Act of 1992

The Energy Policy Act of 2005

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2005

The 2008 Farm Bill

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Other Legislation

Current Issues

Fuel Tax Incentives

Ethanol and MTBE

Cellulosic Biofuels22

Ethanol Imports

Vehicle Purchase Requirements

Vehicle Purchase Tax Incentives

Biodiesel

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

ALTERNATIVE FUEL AND ADVANCED VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY PROVISIONS IN THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009

Hybrid Vehicles

FOR ADDITIONAL READING

Chapter 6 CARBON TAX AND GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL: OPTIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONGRESS

OTHER POLICY OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING GHG EMISSIONS.

COST OR QUANTITY CONTROL: AN OVERVIEW

Economic Theory vs. Uncertainty

A Stark Choice or a Policy Continuum?

A flexible emissions cap

A flexible carbon tax

Limits of the policy continuum

POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES OF A CARBON TAX

Economic Efficiency

Basis for the argument

Underpinnings of the argument

Relative flatness of benefits curve?

Relative steepness of the marginal cost curve?

Short-term time frame

Only cost uncertainty is considered

Modeled efficiency gains

Economic efficiency versus precaution

Price Stability

Tax Revenue Applications

Potential Implementation Advantages

Transparency

Administrative Issues

Policy Modification

POTENTIAL DISADVANTAGES

Uncertain Emissions

Political Feasibility

What's in a Name?

THE ROLE OF COMMITTEE JURISDICTION

Support from industry?

Support from environmental groups?

Consideration of International Efforts and Cooperation

Coordination with existing international efforts

Maximizing participation

International implementation concerns

IMPLEMENTATION OF A CARBON TAX

Point of Taxation

Where to impose a carbon tax?

THE 1993 ENERGY OR BTU TAX

CO2 emissions or All GHG emissions?

Which emissions sources to control?

Level of Taxation

Tax based on estimates of costs and benefits117

Social cost of carbon estimates

Applying social cost of carbon estimates

Tax based on meeting an emissions target

Tax Revenue Distribution

Estimates of tax revenues

Uses of tax revenues

Offset reductions in other taxes

Direct or indirect payments to households

Provide assistance to carbon-intensive industries

Fund specific objectives

Policy considerations of different revenue applications

Overall costs to society

Distributional impacts

Carbon-intensive industries

Technology development.

CONCLUSIONS

APPENDIX. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Chapter 7 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP): STATUS AND ISSUES

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Eligibility and Program Requirements

Program Funding

Subprograms

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

Conservation Innovation Grants

SELECTED ISSUES

Mandatory Funding Levels

Unfunded Application Backlog

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Waiver

Measuring EQIP Accomplishments

CHAPTER SOURCES

INDEX.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and cip data provided by publisher.

ISBN:

1-61122-450-0

OCLC:

680017743