Agenda
Challenges
Global climate change and the limited access to resources, especially oil, will set the agenda for climate and energy policy in the years to come. The US leads the world in non-renewable energy usage, and given its finite nature, both needs to, and is slowly transitioning towards using renewable sources.
Political
The Department of Energy maintains that the government must invest in the improvement of existing sources (fossil fuels) of energy in order to provide a bridge between current and future technologies.
This includes the following: Maintenance of US leadership in Nuclear energy, as it supplies 20 percent of the Nation's electricity, and 70 percent of the Nation's clean, non-carbon electricity; The importance of the US developing the the technology to ensure that base-load electricity generation is as clean and reliable as possible, which will allow the continued use of the abundant domestic coal resources in the US, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Ending tax subsidies to fossil fuel producers.
This measure is in accordance with President Obama's pledge at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh to phase out certain subsidies for fossil fuels in order to transition to a 21st century energy economy.
Status
Growth
The US is currently the world's second largest consumer of energy, after China. It has the biggest thirst for oil, with 21 percent of global demand. While per capita, the US is seventh in the world in energy usage.
Targets
About 86% of all types of energy used in the US are derived form fossil fuels. In 2007 largest sources of the country's energy were petroleum (40%), natural gas (24%), and coal (23%), followed by a combination of nuclear power, hydroelectric dams, and miscellaneous renewable sources (15%).
Institutional Structure
US Department of Energy (DOE)
The US Department of Energy (DOE) was borne out of the energy crisis of the 1970's, which demonstrated the need for unified energy planning within the federal government. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed the DOE Organization Act centralizing its responsibilities.
The new department was responsible for long-term, high-risk research and development of energy technology, federal power marketing, energy conservation, energy regulatory programs, a central energy data collection and analysis program, and nuclear weapons research, development and production.
Research and Development (FER&D)
The mission of this program is to create technology and technology-based policy options having public benefit through enhancing US economic, environmental, and energy security. Their mission is achieved by developing technologies to enhance the clean use of domestic fossil fuels and to reduce emissions from fossil-fueled electricity generation plants to achieve near-zero atmospheric emissions power productions, with specific focus on dramatic reductions of global carbon emissions at acceptable cost.
Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
The NE focuses on research and development of nuclear energy generation, security, materials, systems, safety, and waste management and technologies and tools, and operates and maintains nuclear infrastructure in a safe and compliant manner to support achievement of national energy, climate, and non-proliferation goals.
Budget
Current
Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) requests $852.5mn for 2012. A decrease of 0.6% from 2010.
Office of Fossil Energy (FE) requests $521mn for 2012.
Highlights
The DOE 2012 budget request represents a strong commitment to bringing the next generation of grid modernization technologies closer to deployment and commercialization. The increased investment will emphasize the integration of renewable energy sources, focus on long-term system planning, expand analytical capabilities, and promote aggressive approaches to next-generation grid technologies. The 2012 budget will also be utilized for expanded analysis and collaboration with the state, local and regional bodies on interconnection-level advanced transmission system approaches.
Miscellaneous
Opinion Polls
Polls reveal that 84% of Americans think the US is too dependent on fossil fuels, while 72% think that it is too reliant on foreign oil.
Transition to Globalisation
US and Russia Stir Up Political Tensions Over Arctic
The recent discovery of oil and resources in Greenland pitted Russian and US politicians against each other, about the future of the far north, fueling concerns about a new Cold War. China became involved in the talks for a potential scramble for Greenland's resources as well. While many experts appear to play down the seriousness of the conflict, the disagreements are nevertheless evident.
Political Tools > Global
Transition to Political Tools
Challenges to Non-renewable Energy Sources
The US Energy Information Administration's 2010 energy outlook estimated that the global demand for all energy resources will continue growing for the next 25 years. A passionate and active debate continues about whether the world will eventually run out of oil.
Political Tools > Global > UN > Policies > Economy > Energy > Non-Renewable
Transition to Political Actors
Democrat vs. Republican Energy Policies
In general, Democrats have opposed tax cuts and incentives to oil companies. They support developing renewable energy, such as Montana's state-supported wind farm and clean coal programs. They also want to set in place a cap-and-trade policy to try to reduce carbon emissions.
Republicans support increasing Federal investments into developing clean alternative fuels, such as ethanol, which, they hope, will result in less dependence on foreign oil.
Political Tools > National > USA > Dom. Policies > Economy > Energy
