This Week in Energy
New Publications in the OurEnergyLibrary
Greenpeace USA and Oil Change International
January 28, 2020
ClimateWorks Foundation, Livermore Lab Foundation
January 31, 2020
Resources for the
Future
February 5, 2020
Find these new publications and others in the OurEnergyLibrary .
We compiled some of the comments we received in our critical minerals discussion into this document with perspectives, recommendations, and insights on the United States' dependency on critical minerals imports for clean energy technology. Read our document or shortened highlights .
February Discussion
Ongoing Discussion
By Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL-22)
U.S. Representative, Florida, 22nd District
OurEnergyPolicy experts continued the discussion this last week on Rep. Ted Deutch's Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763) and various approaches to carbon tax legislation. Join the conversation and add a comment to give Rep. Deutch your thoughts on his bill and/or to give Rep. Jimmy Panetta your thoughts on his Climate Action Rebate Act (H.R. 4051).
"This conversation is critical, but it is important to ground it in empirical history. The short answer to the questions is, (1) Yes, we need carbon pricing, but not as much as we used to. (2) We need a staggering diversity of other policies to make climate markets work; carbon pricing alone will not do it . (3) The evidence to date suggests that what is important is not how the climate dividend is spent , whether or not that dividend results from cheaper low-carbon energy or better pricing of carbon externalities, but when it is delivered to consumers...."
- Carl Pope , Former Executive Director, Sierra Club
"Most economists learn in their first course on microeconomics that a simple tax on a pollution like carbon emission gives the optimal response to reduce that pollutant . that works great if we assume perfect markets. However, more than 80% of US CO 2 emissions (counted rationally) comes from just two sectors —electricity generation and transportation, where markets are anything but perfect. Having studied those two in enormous detail, I would see a carbon price as grossly inefficient; in both cases, more competitive markets could have more impact at much lower cost. ..."
- Paul Werbos , Program Director for Energy, Power and Adaptive Systems, National Science Foundation (retired)
"I want to add my voice to those thanking Congressman Deutch for HR 763 and urging its passage . I think it is essential that we have a carbon-pricing mechanism that r efunds all the money in equal shares precisely because we do not know (a) what the social cost of carbon really is and (b) how much any additional increase in carbon price will curtail the use of fossil fuels...."
- Mike Shatzkin , Founder and CEO, the Idea Logical Company, Inc.
1. Does a price on carbon need to be part of any larger effort to reduce carbon emissions?

2. What are other ways revenue from a carbon fee could be used? Is returning 100% as a monthly dividend to Americans the best use?

3. A carbon fee will not resolve all of the problems of climate change. What other policies could complement a carbon fee policy?
Energy Headlines
Houston Chronicle
Daily News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Update from Congress
Legislation Update
  • Wed, Feb 12 - The House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology advanced five energy bills out of committee.

New Legislation

Hearing
Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Annual Energy Outlook 2020 , from a presentation by Dr. Linda Capuano, EIA Administrator, at a public release event hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center on January 29, 2020.
On this week’s episode of the Interchange , from Greentech Media, Stephen Lacey sits down with solar veteran Barry Cinnamon, the CEO of Cinnamon Solar. Cinnamon has been installing solar for nearly 20 years and knows the on-the-ground trends and where they fit into the broader market picture.
Featured Events
Washington, D.C.
  • When: Wed, Feb 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Agora, 1527 17th Street, Washington, D.C. 20036

  • When: Thurs, Feb 20, 12:00-1:30 p.m.
  • Where: 2325 Rayburn House Office Building

College Park, Maryland
  • When: Thurs, Feb 20, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
  • Where: James A. Clark Hall, University of Maryland

For more events across the country, visit the OEP Events Calendar.
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