Energy policy is an intricate web of national interests that collectively shape how nations approach decarbonization, system reliability, resource diversification, technology export potential and electricity access. All of these considerations come together into an international agreement towards common goals.
Price signals and government incentives must take into account the full environmental costs of fossil fuels. We should protect iconic landscapes from energy development while investing energy revenue back into conservation efforts.
Energy Sources
Petroleum (oil), coal, natural gas and nuclear fuels are primary energy sources that can generate secondary energies such as electricity. These forms of fuel are considered fossil fuels due to their production of greenhouse gases during combustion.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources and their consumption contributes significantly to climate change. We must transition away from fossil-based energies in favor of renewable and other low-carbon sources of power.
Policymakers promote renewable energy usage through tax incentives, loan guarantees and research support. At the same time, they strive to balance energy security concerns with economic, environmental and social benefits. Energy scholars study energy policies from different angles – public administration to international political economy – with research on oil and coal often centering around issues of nationalization, privatization and natural monopoly characteristics in these industries; renewable technologies as an alternative have also gained great attention in policy literature.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency uses less energy for similar services, reduces emissions and saves consumers and businesses money. Energy-saving measures may include efficient buildings/ appliances/ electric vehicles/ district heating/cooling as well as behavioral change initiatives.
Enhancing energy efficiency benefits all aspects of society and is therefore a priority for many governments. Successful energy efficiency policies combine regulation, information and incentives in their approach.
Building energy rating systems increase transparency of commercial building performance and encourage investment in efficiencies, while government procurement programs, including setting efficiency standards, boost market adoption while creating economies of scale to further lower consumer prices.
Energy efficiency plays a pivotal role in building resilience, as it decreases energy use during power outages or natural disasters, thus decreasing backup generation or storage needs. North Carolina is actively taking steps towards energy resilience through new building codes, electric vehicle charging stations deployment, and on-bill repayment programs for customers who fund energy efficiency projects.
Renewable Energy
Many states are taking steps towards a low-carbon energy transition by adopting climate and clean energy policies, from supporting responsible renewable energy development on public lands to expanding WaterSense.
Renewable energy refers to usable energy obtained from continually replenishing sources, like sunlight (solar power), wind, tides, falling water (hydroelectricity) or hot springs (geothermal). Another form of renewable energy is biofuels – they produce less greenhouse gases (GHGs) than gasoline or diesel due to crops absorbing carbon during their development process.
State renewable energy standards mandate electric utilities to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from renewables – known as Renewable Portfolio Standards or Clean Energy Standards (CES). RPS policies usually cover qualifying resources like solar, wind, biomass, geothermal energy and emissions neutral coal-mine methane; with deadlines and benchmarks set out for reaching their targets; policy stringency can be measured against actual electricity consumption rates in each state.
Fossil Fuels
Fueling our planet with fossil fuels comes at great hidden cost: greenhouse gas emissions, public health impacts and environmental degradation. Removing subsidies to fossil fuels and setting a carbon price will correct ineffective economic interventions into energy markets while saving taxpayer dollars and decreasing negative social and environmental impacts.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources that take millions of years to form and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. To combat climate change, the Energy Department is working towards speeding research into alternative energy sources like hydrogen and renewables.
Nearly 1.7 million people work globally in the coal, oil and natural gas industries. Their impact can have a major effect on climate policy discussions in their localities; workforce development efforts and clean energy investments focused in these communities may help ensure an orderly transition towards low carbon future. Focusing workforce development efforts and investments on these communities may reduce climate obstructionism that might arise as people adjust to low-carbon living.