TITLE:
Developing and Assessing Investment Options for Economic, Energy, and Climate Security Gains in the United States
AUTHORS:
Pat Delaquil, Gary Goldstein, Hal Nelson, Thomas Peterson, Stephen Roe, Adam Rose, Dan Wei, Jeffery Wennberg
KEYWORDS:
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation, Macroeconomic Impacts, Energy System Optimization, Energy Security, Policy Design, Integrated Security Metrics System, MARKAL/TIMES
JOURNAL NAME:
Low Carbon Economy,
Vol.5 No.2,
May
16,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Recent US data indicate a
clear and progressive decoupling of carbon emissions and energy intensity from
economic growth. This is primarily a consequence of state and national environmental
and energy policy actions, and secondarily a result of shifts in economic
structure and increases in natural gas supplies. To assess future opportunities
of proactive approaches to policy and investment, we analyze 20 sector-based
actions at the national and subnational levels in the US that cannarrow remaining national carbon
emissions gaps by 2020 and beyond, while improving economicand energy efficiency in every sector.
These actions are found to provide favorable returns on investment for job
creation, energy and cost savings, and multiple measures of energy security. Selection
and design of these new actions are based on evaluation of hundreds of policy
options derived from facilitated, stakeholder and consensus-based development
of comprehensive climate action planning in 20 states. They represent top
issues of focus for policymakers, and serve as key drivers for new investment,
collaboration, and governance approaches that are needed to integrate economic,
energy, and environmental security in the US. This same general approach to
planning and analysis is of value to other nations seeking similar benefits.
Techniques for comprehensive, multi-objective, fully integrated, and
collaborative systems of planning and analysis are important as a means for
comprehensive security solutions. This also requires leadership at all levels
of government, and a broadened view of national security.