Energy Policy

Policy Categories

How do we make changes to our energy system? Laws, institutions, and markets set the rules for energy usage.

Targets
Regulatory Approaches
Market Incentives / Subsidies
Market Disincentives / Taxes / Penalties
Standards
Social Transitions
Knowledge generation and dissemination

Targets and Planning

Green New Deal
CA AB 32 2020 GHG levels at 1990 levels
CA 2050 goal 80% reduction from 1990 level
Paris Agreement asks countries to set targets

Direct and Indirect Subsidies

Subsidies are financial benefits to consumers of a product. In the case of energy they can be costs that didn’t have to be paid or a direct payment from the government.

Fossil Fuels

Intangible Drilling Costs Deduction. We provide tax deductions for oil exploration costs.
Social cost of carbon. These are costs we estimate are borne by the public but are not paid for by fossil fuel companies or consumers.

Solar

Federal tax credit for solar panel installation
Renewable electricity production credit

Penalties

Carbon Taxes are money spent for the right to release carbon.

California Market
Northeast US Carbon Market
Canada Carbon Price

Regulations

California Title 24 Building Codes

Standards

Energy Star Appliances