Union of Concerned Scientists: Developments in Renewable Portfolio Standards
UCS have just produced a facinating report on the proliferation of RPS's in the US. It's starting to look like, just maybe, a federal system would be easier than the current patchwork? I realise that you Americans loving using the states as 'labs' to test various policies...can we consider the RPS policy tested yet?
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- Report (PDF)
- Related: energy and efficiency.
[UPDATE]
LAURENCE BERKELEY NATIONAL LAB'S HAVE JUST RELEASED A COMPLIMENTARY REPORT. DOWNLOAD SUMMARY, FULL REPORT.
Labels: energy and efficiency, report, USA
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posted by Calvin Jones @ 11:00 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
"Renewables" are a deadly misdirection. They will extend the life of the carbon system and enable more sprawl. The human race WILL contract. Either smoothly or harshly. Most of what passes for "renewable" is simply liquifying plant energy at a net energy cost. The others, "wind" etc. are too little too late.
Renewables do enable a continuance of a high energy lifestyle rather than force and energy descent. I think that this is a good thing. Renewables do offer an alternative to fossil fuels and in that sense discourage there usage. If prices continue to decline as fossil fuel prices rise they will have a monopoly on power production.
Contract in what sense? In terms of our numbers? If this is what you mean then for goodness sake dont use Orewllian language you are asking us to accept large scale deaths! We aren't that stupid.
Agrofuels/biofuels have some potential but they cannot simply replace gasoline, our land should be for growing food not fuel, on this we agree. However, biofuels make only a small part of what people term renewable energy.
Wind power is a concept and as such is neither to little nor to late, in the same way that a lawn or a kettle is neither to little or to late, such tools dont have meanings only our approaches and policies can be thus described.
Wind power is the largest portion of all new power generation in Europe. Solar power both electrical and thermal is being invested in to the tune of 10's of billions of dollars. The potential is there, the support levels and the incentives are not yet at the requisite level.
I agree with you CJ. Renewables can be skewed to promote poor policies (ie the US's new enthusiasm toward corn ethanol), but that doesn't mean focusing on non-fossil fuel options is bad. It is impossible to say too little to late because we have no idea what technology will be available 10 years from now. We should have done a lot more sooner, but at least now, finally, these issues have become mainstream. Who knows, maybe the US will even join Kyoto in the next 4 years?
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